Opinions about the Confederate flag from around South Carolina

South Carolina is watching

The legislative sea change on the Confederate flag has become fully evident in The Post and Courier poll results showing sufficient support on the pending vote to furl the flag that now flies on the Statehouse grounds.

More than two-thirds of each chamber have declared their support for removing the flag in the wake of the June 17 murder of nine people at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston. Among the victims was state Sen. Clementa Pinckney. …

So in a commendable spirit of unity, the General Assembly is moving toward a welcome resolution of this painful controversy, possibly next Monday. The votes are there, and every member of the Legislature should be present and accounted for on the flag vote.

Apparently only some ill-considered parliamentary delaying tactic could halt the inevitable.

The state will be watching to see whether its elected officials do the right thing.

Act in unity to move flag

Waves of unity and messages of hope and reconciliation have swept over South Carolina, and indeed the country, after the unthinkable tragedy that took place in a Bible study class less than two weeks ago at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Our state finds itself in a place many once thought impossible — not just because of the unspeakable horror that occurred in one of the most famous African-American churches in our nation, but also, especially, because of how the families of the Emanuel Nine have inspired us through the love and mercy they have shown during their darkest days. …

This call to move South Carolina beyond the divisiveness created by such a prominent display of the Confederate flag has been the opposite of a premature action. In light of what happened the night of June 17 and the soul-searching that it unleashed, this call has been proper and indeed, necessary.

Our state has been brought together in a transcendent way because of the murders of the Rev. Clementa Pinckney, Cynthia Hurd, the Rev. Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, Tywanza Sanders, Ethel Lance, Susie Jackson, DePayne Middleton Doctor, the Rev. Daniel Simmons and Myra Thompson. We can honor their lives and remember their sacrifice by continuing this journey toward genuine unity and reconciliation.

No hedging on flag solution

Some already appear to be hedging their bets. They are talking about alternatives to removing the flag, such as replacing the battle flag with some other Confederate flag.

“I don’t see it as just a leave-it-up or take-it-down scenario,” said state Rep. Gary Simrill, R-Rock Hill this week.

We think he’s dead wrong. That’s exactly the scenario facing state lawmakers if they hope to offer a credible sign that they understand the anguish the Confederate flag causes a significant number of South Carolinians, both black and white.

Taking down the flag is the only fitting response to the appropriation of the banner by those such as Dylann Roof who use it to convey their racial hatred and intolerance. As Graham, Haley and many others have urged, let’s take down the flag and move South Carolina forward.

▪ “We have fought this fight as long, and as well as we know how. We have been defeated. For us as a Christian people, there is now but one course to pursue. We must accept the situation.”

▪ “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself.”