We must not wage another battle over the flag

As we all know, until 2001, the Confederate battle flag flew atop the South Carolina Statehouse dome. For many years a debate raged over the proper location for the embattled flag. It is instructive to remember the arguments made at the time.

Those who opposed keeping the battle flag on the dome said it should not fly in a position of sovereignty. They argued it should be removed from the dome to a place of historical context.

Others said the battle flag memorialized those who answered the call of their elected government and made the supreme sacrifice on behalf of their state. They argued that moving the flag from the dome to a different location would not satisfy critics permanently — that soon they would be making harsher demands.

After years of debate, a bipartisan compromise was finally crafted. The compromise required the Confederate battle flag to be removed from the dome and relocated to the Confederate Soldier's Monument. Moreover, we required the flag to fly in a size and shape and to be made with materials that were historically accurate — a soldier's flag at a soldier's monument.

Then, to underscore the rich diversity of our common heritage, a monument of similar size was erected to memorialize our state's important African-American heritage. Its purpose is to honor the heroes of the Civil Rights movement and other African-Americans who have contributed so richly to our state's history. I serve as chairman of the commission that created the African-American History Monument.

Taken together, the two monuments demonstrate eloquently that tolerance is the cement of a free society. Without it we cannot have either unity or diversity based on mutual respect. For all fair-minded people, the long controversy was resolved. Finally our state could move on and address other issues.

Today, unfortunately, once again, the voices of intolerance have returned. I realize some of them, like football coach Steve Spurrier, are well-intended. Others are merely returning to the trough of controversy to feed on passions, to appeal to prejudice and to inflame constituents. Such irresponsible grandstanding threatens to unravel the fabric of mutual respect and to divide our state for decades to come.

What does the Confederate battle flag stand for as it flies adjacent to the soldier's monument? At such a location, no one can persuasively argue that it represents bigotry or slavery. It is a soldier's battle flag, and surely we can all respect the valor of soldiers. They left their homes and families to answer the call of their elected government. Most didn't own slaves.

Symbols are defined by the people who display them — and by the context of their use.

Ignorant people quoted the Bible and displayed the American flag, as well as the Confederate flag, in an effort to stop brave children from entering segregated schools.

The value and the nobility of the Bible and the American flag have not been diminished by those who used them for such mean-spirited purposes. The nobility of the battle flag should not be diminished by its abusers.

Unfortunately, there are vocal people in our culture today who make a living by fanning the flames of intolerance and by selling the bigotry of victimhood. Others seek to assert themselves as the moral arbiters of our society. They deal in absolutes where there is no space to tolerate nuance or dissent. And those who deal in the realm of absolutes are forever engaged in bloody campaigns of controversy and hatred.

Sadly, for the voices of intolerance, the Confederate battle flag is a convenient symbol — a symbol they use to promote their agendas, to increase membership, to raise funds or sell newspapers. But at what cost? They appear not to care that their rhetoric picks at old wounds, threatens to re-ignite old passions and panders to the politics of division.

The compromise we crafted was a fair resolution to the issue of the flag. Today, when children visit our Statehouse grounds they can benefit from a history lesson that unfolds as they walk around their capitol. The rich story they learn includes honoring those brave soldiers who fought in the War Between the States as well as other brave souls who fought the more recent battle for equality and civil rights.

We should cherish that diversity and nurture the mutual respect on which it is founded. For all fair-minded people, the issue of the Confederate battle flag has been resolved. Let us not reignite old hostilities. Let us move on to other issues.

Sen. Glenn McConnell is president pro tem of the S.C. Senate.