A Guest Commentary
by Michael Ford
CROSSETT, Ark. (Sept. 20) – With incidents like the recent ones in Jena, La., the South deserves its reputation as being the most racist region of the United States. Any white person that hangs a noose anywhere should face prison time. The white students responsible for the nooses at the Jena high school didn’t even get expelled, but merely suspended for three days. I got suspended for five when I skipped a day of school in junior high.
If it was up to me, it would not only be illegal to hang nooses, but to fly the confederate flag. I hear Southerners ramble on about the importance of their heritage. It’s unfortunate that said heritage consists of close-minded, racist bigotry that any decent person should be ashamed of. Instead of admitting such and trying to improve upon the ignorance of their ancestors, many Southerners celebrate it, tricking themselves into thinking it’s something to be proud of.
Blind allegiance, patriotism, etc., is the root of all evil. We should be striving to improve upon the ways of those who came before us, not mimicking them in a celebratory fashion.
For those unfamiliar with the story I speak of, I submit to you these videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSUAl_CImBU