Can a Black Man Fly the Stars and Bars?

polifrog



Island Packet:

The flag that the black 19-year-old University of South Carolina Beaufort student hung from his dorm room window is about Southern pride -- pride that even a black Southerner can feel, he said.

...

Thomas researched the history of the flag for a class project. That research convinced him the banner was about states' rights rather than slavery.

When he hung it from his window, he knew it might offend some people, he said, but he thought it was time to start reclaiming a symbol that earlier generations consider racist.

Among those upset by the flag were USCB's Office of Housing, which asked him to take it down two months after he displayed it.

USCB spokeswoman Candace Brasseur said the housing office heard complaints from students who were offended.

Brasseur said Thomas was told about two weeks ago he could hang it in his dorm room as long as his roommates didn't object.

What does the school do with this independent man who wonders off the plantation?

If he had been white he could have been silenced.  Being that he isn't he is currently being allowed the right to speak, but softly, while the school considers allowing him full access to speech and fly the Stars and Bars. 

Based on how he defines the Stars and Bars he is doing nothing to violate school bigotry codes, therefore he should be allowed to fly it.  Doing so, however, grants him  speech rights others do not enjoy, as those not of Byron Thomas' race are not granted the freedom to define the intent of their message.


It will be interesting to see what the school chooses.  Will the school allow him to define the intent of his message and fly the flag or if the school  restrains Thomas' freedom of speech but he chooses to fly the Stars and Bars anyway,  will they define his intent for him and brand a black man racist for straying off the plantation?

A few days ago I replied to a post at The Spag Report referencing  a Medved commentary:

So if a Christian refuses to vote for a devout Muslim solely because the candidate is a devout Muslim, wouldn't some people call that bigotry?

If that's the case, then what would you call a Jew who refuses to vote for a devout Christian solely because the candidate is a devout Christian?

Is Medved correct about why Jews vote for Democrats over Republicans, and is the fear that he mentions any more rational or justified than the fear some Christians have of Muslims?

I replied:

It we assume that being a part of particular demographic groups entitles one to special privileges, then it seems to me that if one were of a religious nature and were to come to the conclusion that a candidate's religious persuasion disqualified that candidate from receiving their vote, then that would be as acceptable as members of a like race using terms of racial derision as terms of endearment. In this case the demographic group is the religious.

If, however, one were not of a religious nature and voted against a candidate based on religion, then that may be construed by some as bigoted.

This reasoning would make 90% of Jews, those that are Jew in name only, potential candidates for bigotry.

It is interesting that the other 10% who through religious participation are allowed what would otherwise be bigoted voting practices, are instead freed to vote their interests. A case of enhanced individuality through religion.

Democratic group politics is needlessly complex.

Similar, no?




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