The Universal Symbol of the Spirit of Liberty

by Clyde Wilson

Well the flag came off the capitol dome, but let's look at the positive side. We really got their attention. Our battle flag became the focus of international discussion as well as an issue in the presidential comedy, er, campaign.

The politicians succumbed, as they usually do, because pressure groups are nearly always more powerful than plain folk. What the politicians thought they had to do signifies a lot about them but absolutely nothing about our flag. The conservative party in the most conservative State in the Union had a chance to say NO to political correctness in a way did would have garnered international attention and applause. Instead they got lost in details.

They chose to make it simply a "heritage" issue. In retrospect it was a mistake for us flag supporters to let the politicians deal with the flag as a "heritage" issue. Heritage can be acknowledged in one place as well as another. As usual, the leftists grasped the real issue while the conservatives dithered. The flag does not represent only or even primarily the Confederate soldier. It represents Dixie and its four centuries of unique and admirable culture.

But why it really gets so much attention (and will continue to do so) is this: it is the most potent symbol in the world today of brave resistance to authoritarian government. That is why it was unfurled by the Eastern Europeans a few years ago when they were liberated. That is why it is hated by every New World Order flunky in the universe. That is why it is now banned from the public space of the world, though it appeared with honor as an American symbol until very recently.

Our representatives have succumbed to the campaign to brand our flag as no more than a symbol of hate. Very well. The bloody and beautiful St. Andrews cross won't fly over politicians any more. That's for the best. It is not a government banner – it is the people's banner and I predict we are going to be seeing it in the future more often and in more places than ever before because they will never be able to suppress the universal symbol of the spirit of liberty.

September 14, 2000

Dr. Wilson is professor of history at the University of South Carolina and editor of The Papers of John C. Calhoun. A version of this essay appeared in The Southern Partisan.