Hall: Flag issue defining our state leaders

Changing the state flag will not solve racial issues in our state.

Leaving the flag in its current form will not cost us measurable jobs or people.

The Confederate emblem that adorns our flag caused no person to kill another, nor does it inspire the hatred that resides in racists or killers who use it.

The statements above I believe to be true and factual, supported by reason and history. They are my statements, penned above for this very column. I write them as my own, just as I do the one that follows.

The Confederate emblem that adorns our flag is a symbol of hatred, of racism, of slavery, of pain, of fear and of the most disturbing parts of our state's and our nation's history — not to everyone but to far too many for us not to acknowledge this reality and remove the emblem from our state flag.

This has been painfully clear for decades, though only in the aftermath of a mass shooting in South Carolina that claimed the life of a respected state lawmaker did this reality finally urge change. This change was led not by African Americans who despise the symbol or liberals leading a charge for social justice. No, this change has been led by conservatives — many of whom support the symbol for its representation of Southern life — because while they do not see what others see reflected in the field of red, the cross of blue and the stars of white, they recognize that too many of their fellow man do. Out of decency, out of a step toward reconciliation, out of a desire to stand together against the vile hatred shown in that Charleston church, governors and state lawmakers across the South removed the Confederate emblem from state grounds, license plates and other markers.

This is not a new trend. States have been removing the Confederate emblem from flags for many years. Local governments have removed Confederate flags from most all places save historic parks or monuments or museums where they fly with a sense of history and nothing more.

But not in Mississippi. From our cold, dead hands, it seems…

House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, caused a tempest this week when he announced support for changing the state flag. Since then, many a politician have spoken on the issue, many more have stayed noticeable quiet. Only few have shown the courage of their convictions as Gunn did.

Let me be clear: those supporting a change in the state flag are not the only brave ones. No, those who have come out in favor of keeping the state flag and made a clearly reasonable argument why are just as brave. I personally disagree with the positions of Sens. Chris McDaniel and Melanie Sojourner, but they stood up and said they didn't support changing the flag. They weren't ambiguous, and they didn't pass the buck. That takes political courage.

It's the ones who have passed the buck to "the people," who have said a lot without saying anything, or who have refused to say anything who have not the courage of a conviction or — in the case of those who refuse to speak — a conviction of which to have courage.

Gov. Phil Bryant, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and more than a few lawmakers chose "the people have spoken" route. Indeed, people spoke 14 years ago and chose our current flag. Of course, only 30 percent of voters went to the polls, meaning only 20 percent of registered voters actually chose the current flag. A 14-year-old vote where only 20 percent of registered voters supported something isn't exactly a good barometer for decisions to be made today.

For his part, Bryant opened the door to legislative action on the flag, though he would not answer whether he supported changing the flag or if he would sign a bill that did so.

Reeves did no such thing. He said the people may want to revisit again, and he gave us his blessing for such. But by god, this issue won't be decided by "outsiders or media elites or politicians in a back room." Nice political pivot by the lieutenant governor. Instead of actually saying what he would do, he throws jabs as others.

For the record, the people calling for Mississippi's flag to be changed aren't outsiders. The leading voices are Mississippians of some note, many of them conservative and Republican leaders. The media elite is an asinine term, but the media in this state are Mississippians like myself, born and raised here and proud of it. And no one wants politicians to do anything in a back room, which is exactly why The Clarion-Ledger has repeatedly reached out to every state lawmaker and asked a simple question — the same simple question we asked of Reeves, "Do you support removing the Confederate emblem from Mississippi's state flag?"

It's a simple question, but it's amazing how many people are ducking our inquiries, have refused to answer or who say they still need to think about it. While some issues are complicated and worthy of more reflection, this is not one of them. It's an ages old issue with no new arguments to make.

The Confederate emblem is divisive, regardless of its "true" meaning, and it therefore has no place on our state flag.

Contact Sam R. Hall at srhall@jackson.gannett.com or (601) 961-7163. Follow @samrhall on Twitter.