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A time for racists to celebrate

South Carolina has made a statement, and it's a racist one. Last week, the South Carolina State Legislature voted to continue flying the Confederate flag; and allow state employees to choose between either taking off the newly named "Civil Rights Day" or one of three Confederate holidays. South Carolina needs to mature into a modern state in this union and realize that racism is not a substitute for state pride.

Rep. Joe Neal, House leader of the Legislative Black Caucus attacked racist pride, stating that, "The prevailing sentiment here was that there would be no holiday honoring a black person in this state." As hard as South Carolina legislators try to convince the nation and the world that this bill is for the greater good of the state, all know too well that there's no good to come of the legislation.

Debate over the flag is focused on whether it stands for racism or state respect. Southerners who proudly display bumper sticker renditions of the flag on their bigfoot-like pickup trucks argue that it signifies pride for the region. These are the same worthless white trash that drag black men from the backs of their trucks until the bodies are limp. It's no coincidence. Surroundings have a profound effect on actions.

For the majority of this nation, the Confederate flag signifies not pride, but hatred. It is the hatred that drove an entire culture to battle, to bleed, in order to maintain the suppression and oppression of a whole race. Neal pointed out that "The Confederate flag is racist. It has been perceived as racist by millions of people across this country and around the world." How does a state body validate keeping such a symbol flying? Republican Rep. Al Robinson tried, finding that "there is also a need to acknowledge that the War Between the States is of ... significance to many South Carolinians as well." Significance?

South Carolina's future is looking bleak as racism is being heralded. To all the Billy Bobs and Sally Sues in that great southern holdout, I send my deepest sympathies. The state is officially and legally a victim of sanctioned racism. Legal papers that "represent" the views of all South Carolinians prove as much.

Additionally, the holiday name change reeks of bigotry. State officials decided to remove the label "Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday," to replace it with the more general "Civil Rights Day." The label difference isn't of the greatest import, but it does strip the real value from the holiday. It no longer honors a man who arguably had the greatest impact on civil rights reform and racial equality, but rather trivializes King's place in history.

Far more upsetting is the fact that confederate-related holidays can be taken in place of the new civil rights day by state employees, again allowing prejudiced sentiments to replace civil rights observances. Clearly, the Confederate spirit will die hard, if ever, in South Carolina. Allowing employees to choose lets them forget about a civil rights day, having already lost sight of Martin Luther King, Jr. The importance of racial equality is slowly and systematically being phased out.

Rednecks of the world, celebrate. South Carolina is leading the way to racistville, showing the rest of the country just how to get there. Honkey tonks the nation over can pull out the white sheets and pointy hats, dancing the boot scoot boogie with their siblings. Hell, spring for an extra can of Skoal and regular Bud - no light beer tonight at the hootenanny.

Please Represenative Robinson, as a government official, don't lead your colleagues, your state and your nation into the gutter. Remember the Civil War and the lives lost there, but don't remember them as heroes fighting for right. Remember them as men who knew no better.

Legislators of South Carolina, the bill is being reviewed and you, as leaders, can usher South Carolina into modernity. Stamp out racism and restore the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Take down the confederate flag. Nothing is gained from exhibiting the mark of hatred. By doing these things nothing can be lost, but a great deal can be gained. Remember the past and celebrate the heroes.