THE TRUE SPIRIT OF GETTYSBURG'S SOLDIERS
by
Calvin E. Johnson, Jr.
Kennesaw, Georgia 30152
Email: cjohnson1861@bellsouth.net
Recently, Mr. H.K. Edgerton of Asheville, North Carolina was
not
allowed to hold his Confederate flag at a Confederate Memorial
statue at
the University of Texas. Security guards threatened H. K. with
arrest if
he did not take his flag and leave.
Was his freedom of speech violated? Our state and federal
taxes go to
universities. Should these institutions obey the law and be
available to
ALL our people? Should these tax supported schools be
sanctuaries of
open-minded inquiry or totalitarian institutions of
close-minded
indoctrination?
By the way, Mr. Edgerton is past president of the N.A.A.C.P.
chapter
in Asheville, North Carolina. He is a student of American
history and
spends much of his time educating the public. He is a
Southerner and a
member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania now hosts a new art
exhibit by
Florida artist John Sims. Like Edgerton, Sims is black. His
exhibit
depicts the Confederate flag lynched from a gallows. The theme
is
reported to be, "The Proper Way to hang a Confederate
flag" and to
contain colors different from the legitimate red, white and
blue.
Some say the art display is freedom of speech. However, when
Mr.
Edgerton stood by a Confederate Memorial with his Confederate
flag, he
was denied the same freedom of speech. Mr. Sims demeans a
symbol of
bravery and sacrifice of soldiers who defended their homeland
against
the invasion by a foreign power. Mr. Edgerton honors the very
same
symbol.
Which of these two men is the true American? One divides
through
hate and deceit. One brings us together through reverence and
respect.
Yes, that symbol has been badly misused by those who hate and
divide.
That is no reason to demean it for the same reasons. It's true
meaning is
not reflected in the "art" of John Sims. If it were,
Mr. Sims would have
no funding for his exhibit and Gettysburg College would not
have an
exhibit.
When the exhibit opened , a crowd came to protest Sims'
artistic hate.
H.K. Edgerton was there. He wore a Confederate uniform and
carried
the Confederate flag. He was the true history at Gettysburg
because
black Confederates did fight beside their white compatriots in
that 1863
battle.
Northern and Southern veterans of Gettysburg spoke long ago
about
this issue. They put down their guns and embraced each other's
flags.
General Robert E. Lee told his battle hardened soldiers to go
home and
be good Americans. Lee's men were good Americans. There was no
resistance like we see today in Iraq. In all of America's wars
since 1865,
both flags have fought side by side and the blood of Union and
Confederate have co-mingled to make this nation. These flags
have
become blood brothers.
H. K. Edgerton has kept the spirit of the long departed
veterans.
Mr. Sims has not listened to the soldiers nor looked at their
parades
and reunions in which they again became American brothers. He
sees
profit in division and hate. Mr. Sims has the right to do that.
He has the
First Amendment, the support of Gettysburg College and others.
Mr.
Sims knows how to play the game.
H. K. is not given the right of the First Amendment nor the
support of
the University of Texas, nor of the rich and powerful. The
hypocrisy is
obvious.
The hypocrisy will remain. Why? Because those in power are
comfortable with the new segregation.
Come with me to the past when all American flags were
respected.
July, 1863 was hot in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. From July 1st
to 3rd two
armies fought a struggle for the future of America and
thousands died in
that battle.
The Federals won, but at a terrible price. It took a long
time to bury
the dead. Some were never buried. Some where found still
clutching their
battle flags. In the North and South prayers went up for the
dead,
wounded and missing. The soldiers who fought there hallowed
ettysburg's soil and soul.
In 1913 the old veterans met once again, but this time they shook hands
as friends. All were members of either the United Confederate
Veterans
or the Grand Army of the Republic. They brought their families,
food,
flags and war stories to tell around the campsite.
The flags flew side by side. There were no apologies for past
beliefs and
none were demanded. All these veterans, who once opposed each
other,
now came together as countrymen. There was no suppression of
Southern
symbols, no hateful artwork. These men, who fought for their
countries,
did not use cowardly methods to degrade their opponents in that
war.
Instead, they had learned how to again become countrymen.
The Gettysburg veterans said grace to God for the reunion.
That evening more veterans come into camp. The Union hosts
were
surprised to see black Confederate veterans. Tents had been set
up for
the black Union soldiers, but no one expected these Southern
black men
and there was no room.
Immediately these black Southerners were invited to the
Confederate
campsite and were given tents for themselves and their
families.
Black Confederate veterans were always welcomed at meetings
of the
United Confederate Veterans and they attended all such events.
This was
the way it was before it became "correct" to hate the
past.
When you visit Gettysburg or other such battlefields, take
time to walk
the site. There are spirits out there and they may just talk to
you. You
may hear things others do not want you to know.
It is easy to demean the dead when the living will not defend
their
heritage. Mr Sims, Gettysburg College and powerful people know
this.
They can get away with it now, but history is not so
"correct." It has
often recorded how the moral high ground has been eroded by the
arrogance of the victors who become that which they hate.
So, there is an exhibit of art at Gettysburg College. There
will be those
who love the work. They will praise the artist. But the spirit
of
Gettysburg's soldiers will not be among them.
Can we save our history and our symbols from such hate? I
think we
can---and will.
"After all, tomorrow is another day."
Lest We Forget!
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