It has been difficult for me to reflect on what happened in South Carolina last Wednesday and not wish the state was wiped off the map, partly because it is abundantly clear to reasonable people that a state proudly displaying the Confederate flag outside the State Capitol — even if it’s not flying atop the Capitol — has a distorted view of democracy.
I only know two people in South Carolina — former Kansas City Star editor Mike Waller and his wife Donna — and I thought several times about sending him an email urging them to pack up and leave the state.
I didn’t do it, and I’m glad because I’m starting to think there’s hope for South Carolina. The inspiration is coming from Republican Gov. Nikki Haley, who yesterday passionately called for the Confederate flag to come down.
Flanked by a large, bipartisan group that included both of South Carolina’s U.S. senators, Haley said:
We are not going to allow this symbol to divide us any longer. The fact that people are choosing to use it as a sign of hate is something we cannot stand…That flag, while an integral part of our past, does not represent the future of our great state.
From the outset of this tragedy, Haley, an Indian American with a Southern accent, has demonstrated compassionate leadership. At a press conference the morning after the slayings, she choked back tears and uttered a line that will be long remembered and quoted, in South Carolina and beyond:
“We woke up today, and the heart and soul of South Carolina was broken.”
Yesterday, on MSNBC’s “Hardball with Chris Matthews today,” commentator Robert Costa said that after seeing that press conference, “I knew that flag was coming down.”
The eyes of the many people throughout the country are riveted on South Carolina, to see how its state legislators respond to Haley’s call.
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley arriving with lawmakers, activists and Sen. Lindsey Graham (front left) before a news conference in Columbia, SC. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Indicative of the level of interest in the situation, a New York Times story yesterday about Haley’s press conference generated more than 1,000 comments.
The Times’ story said legislation dating to 2000 provides that a two-thirds vote of both chambers of the South Carolina General Assembly is needed in order to change the law pertaining to the Confederate flag display outside the state Capitol.
Haley said that if the General Assembly did not act soon, she would call it back into a special session to address the flag question.
It appears that won’t be necessary and that opposition to bringing down the flag will not be stout.
The Times’ story quoted Ken Thrasher, a South Carolina leader of the Sons of Confederate Veterans group, as saying: “With the winds that started blowing last week, I figured it would just be a matter of time. Whatever the Legislature decides to do, we will accept it graciously.”
For now, though, the spotlight is rightly on Haley, a governor who seems, to me, deeper and more clear-headed than any of the Republicans seeking their party’s presidential nomination.
In a time of national mourning, it’s good to put politics aside as much as possible. At the same time, it’s very tempting to project Haley into the Republican race.
As Chris Cilizza of the Washington Post wrote today: “It’s no secret…that the GOP needs faces and voices like Haley’s.”
JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC 
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Thanks, Jason…I hate to lose a reader, but I have to say I broke out laughing when I read John’s “comment,” Never had one like that before! Oh, well, readers come and readers go…
Jim,
Glad I could help you and John, both. I didn’t laugh, though.
Some (actually a lot) of your comments lately, probably seem to some folks, like your being racist toward white people. I rate it closer to bigotry. There is a difference between those two things and I’m sure you know it. Not intended as an insult, just an observation.
At any rate, I think I’ll stick around. You can’t really make an objective opinion without looking at all the angles, and your stories are just another angle. We all have our opinions, like it or not. Too bad jenifferm (I think that’s right) didn’t think the same way. We had some interesting debates, Haha! Same can be said for you and I. I’ll wager you a lunch on any occasion!
Cheers!
Jason
This is one of the few places where rational, civil dialog takes places between opposing viewpoints. I wish there were more of it, not less. Always remember that the guy who opposes your viewpoints is the one keeping you from being a tyrant.
I never heard that, but it’s an excellent point. I subscribe.
I just read your 1.23.12 blog (from Related, above) where you refer to South Carolina (how prophetic) as “a mostly irrelevant, backasswards state.” Please tell me time and tide have softened your view, and that you’re not really the bigot that makes you sound like.
This from you, a Kentucky boy … shame on you. Have you ever watched “Justified?”
My, God, I was flame thrower back then! Going into my late 60s and writing this blog for an additional three years has obviously tempered me…I’ll stick to what I said in the headline: South Carolina has been presented with a golden opportunity to come out of the wilderness. Joining mainstream America will take more than getting that flag away from public buildings, but it’s a good, symbolic start.
What more do you suggest they do — completely obliterate all their history? Maybe “mainstream America” ain’t all it’s cracked up to be … and what exactly is it?
Gayle, I copied this from Wiktionary…
“Noun[edit]
mainstream America (uncountable)
that part of American society which is normal, is not deviant because of ethnicity, religion, lack of religion, culture or values”
Hope this helps.
Which raises the age-old question, what is normal?
Oh well, I’m sure Jim is not going to change his opinion so we’ll just have to (you know what I’m going to say …) …”agree to disagree.”
Gayle,
Only a question that has no answer can become an age old question. With the rape and pillaging of the English language, I find myself looking to the Urban Dictionary and Wiktionary, more than Websters’ these days. May I recommend that you bookmark those websites? It will save you some time and confusion when coming across words that have no meaning in the traditional English language.
My point exactly: there is no “normal.” And I’m very familiar with the term mainstream America; that was more of a rhetorical question than anything. But thank you for your help.
You give Haley way too much credit. A courageous politician would have called for the removal of the Confederate flag long before the racist murders that occurred last week. Now at least we know the level of inhuman, hateful behavior that has to take place to prompt Haley and likeminded politicians to act with common sense and compassion, and stop pandering to their narrow-minded constituents. What she and Graham and other S.C. Republicans are doing is jumping before they are pushed.
There is a lot of truth in what you say, Mike, about Haley not being out front on this. However, give her credit for taking the “right” side as soon as she saw where this was going. She could have dragged her feet, or said it’s up to the legislature or made any number of excuses not to get right on board, but she didn’t. To me, that shows very good political instinct and judgment. And with Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and some other spineless Republican presidential candidates equivocating on the issue, Haley’s quick rise to the occasion says a lot. Yes, she should have pushed for removing the flag a lot sooner, but she was on the ship as the ropes were being untied and it was heading into the harbor.
On the ship??? Try bandwagon. Much more truth in that.
What is ironic, is that all eyes are now on that flag and nobody is focusing on the actions of Roof. That kid should be put down like the rabid animal that he is. Of course the liberals will want to feed and shelter this sorry excuse of a human being for the rest of his miserable days.
Let me ask this, if someone showed a picture of him holding an American Flag, would you want that taken down also? The Confederate flags mean nothing to me because I don’t have anyone in my family tree who was here for the civil war. But for some people it does have meaning. When a flag does come down from the pole and starts killing people, then I will jump on the bandwagon with the rest of the flock.
Now I’m laughing! ;)
Jason — You are hereby designated “Explicator in Chief.”
Does this come with a six figure income and health care benefits? lol