Notable Mississippians join chorus to change state flag

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Jerry Mitchell
The Clarion-Ledger
5:54 p.m. CDT August 15, 2015

In a letter appearing in a full-page ad in today's Clarion-Ledger, author John Grisham, actor Morgan Freeman, legendary quarterback Archie Manning, "The Help" author Kathryn Stockett and others are calling for removal of the Confederate emblem from Mississippi's state flag.

With other states removing their Confederate battle flags, Mississippi remains the last with the Confederate emblem flying over the statehouse.

"It is simply not fair, or honorable, to ask black Mississippians to attend schools, compete in athletic events, work in the public sector, serve in the National Guard, and go about their normal lives with a state flag that glorifies a war fought to keep their ancestors enslaved," the letter says. "It's time for Mississippi to fly a flag for all its people."

Former Netscape CEO Jim Barksdale and Mississippi business leader Jack Reed Sr. signed the letter. So did music legend Jimmy Buffet, former Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Reuben Anderson, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Richard Ford, Grammy-winning producer Glen Ballard, Basketball Hall of Famer Bailey Howell, former Gov. William Winter, baseball legend Boo Ferriss and a host of others ...

http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/08/15/notable-mississippians-join-chorus-change-state-flag/31770251/

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1. Changing flag would be welcomed by many

Jim Rosenblatt
2:22 p.m. CDT August 15, 2015

... I ask what heritage is being preserved and whose heritage is being preserved. I can appreciate the respect and pride of having an ancestor who fought in the Civil War. However, in addition to the heritage of sacrifice and battle bravery the heritage of that period reflected rebellion, succession, an economy based on agriculture, no voting rights for women, a state endorsed system of slavery and education that was available only to a few. I suggest that heritage is not appropriate for the Mississippi state flag.

There are other ways to preserve the heritage of that historical era rather than via the Mississippi state flag. One who wants to recognize and preserve the Confederate heritage is free to fly the Confederate flag at their home, business or cabin at the Neshoba County Fair (I did see a few). The Confederate heritage can be supported using our constitutional right of free speech and assembly by joining organizations that reflect that heritage, placing bumper stickers on one’s vehicles, marching and carrying the Confederate flag, getting a tattoo of the Confederate flag (for the strong of heart), participating in a battle re-enactment, or taking one’s children and grandchildren to a museum with a flag display and describing the meaning of the flags of the Confederacy to those family members.

However, groups of people in Mississippi do not have a right to have their personal heritage displayed on the Mississippi state flag. Do I or other citizens have the right to have symbols of my Methodist church, my university, my Rotary Club, my family crest, my athletic teams, my country of origin or my historical heritage displayed on the Mississippi state flag? A state flag should be an inclusive symbol that can be embraced by all Mississippians — not a divisive or controversial one.

To go forward, I suggest that the Confederate flag in the canton of the Mississippi Flag simply be removed. That would leave us with a state flag of equal horizontal stripes of red, white, and blue. As citizens of the United States, this flag would embrace all our citizens. It would show that Mississippi is a proud state in the United States. This flag design would be simple, clear, and recognizable unlike the strange flags of so many other states ...

http://www.clarionledger.com/story/opinion/columnists/2015/08/15/rosenblatt-changing-flag-welcomed-many/31784695/

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2. No longer see flag through eyes of a child

Billy Watkins, The Clarion-Ledger
5:03 p.m. CDT August 15, 2015

... I see a symbol that is divisive and hurtful. I see a symbol that sends the wrong message about Mississippi to outsiders. I’m not sure why we even have to have a state flag ... It’s time, Mississippi.

http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/08/14/watkins-longer-see-flag-eyes-child/31751223/

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3. Manning, Grisham among Mississippians calling for change to state flag

Jerry Mitchell / Jackson Clarion-Ledger
5:06 a.m. CDT August 17, 2015

... "The tide is turning with business leadership saying it hurts our ability to recruit corporations and with coaches saying it hurts our ability to recruit athletes," said state Sen. John Horhn, D-Jackson. "The flag is a turnoff" ...

In a survey conducted by The Clarion-Ledger, 64 of Mississippi's lawmakers said they supported changing the flag, 24 opposed it, nine said they were undecided, and 96 wouldn't respond or give an answer.

Of those that did respond, most Democrats supported the change, while most Republicans opposed it ...

Horhn said it would be a terrible tragedy if the Confederate emblem remained in the state flag at the time the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum opened to the world in December 2017 ...

http://www.wwltv.com/story/news/local/2015/08/17/manning-mississippi/31837909/

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4. Every famous Mississippian calls for state to drop Confederate flag

By Brian Reynolds
Updated 2:07 pm, Monday, August 17, 2015

While it's easy for some Confederate flag supporters to roll their eyes at politicians and civil rights activists, when college football coaches join the fray, everyone in the South listens ...

http://www.chron.com/national/article/Hugh-Freeze-Dan-Mullen-call-for-Mississippi-to-6448890.php