Why people should fly their flag

As an American citizen and being conservative, I say let the flag fly. There were thousands of lives lost for the cause of what these people believed. When the Confederate Army surrendered at Appomattox Court House, Va., and laid down their arms, Gen. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, out of respect for their army, gave them a formal salute as they paraded by, not as a defeated foe, but as men who were brave, courageous and honorable for their cause.

I say let the flag fly — not because to some it is a symbol of racial hatred, but as a honor to those men who died. When I see the Stars and Bars it reminds me that what some meant for evil, God has turned into a blessing. Slavery was wrong, but it must have been by divine providence that it happened. For you see one day God spoke to the heart of a man and told him it was wrong. That man was Abraham Lincoln.

I look back over history and I ask, if it had not been for slavery would I be here today? In my heritage, on my mother’s side my ancestors were black, and on my father’s side they were Cherokee, white and black. So what am I? God knows what he was doing to bring us all to this place called America.

Men like Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver and Frederick Douglass against insurmountable odds, overcame their oppression to reach their goals, and we who live today are the beneficiaries of their sacrifices.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a man of peace, love and faith; the book he believed in would say not to overcome evil with evil, but by doing good. This issue only divides people. The issues that should be addressed are these: 1. the sending of slaves in Sudan by Muslims; 2. the killing of millions of unborn babies; 3. child and sexual abuse; 4. domestic violence against women, 5. drugs and alcohol abuse… not somebody’s flag that they say honors their dead.

Maybe the people of South Carolina and Georgia ought to have a statewide vote on the subject. I say let their flag fly, because the Bible is right: you will reap what you sow. For if you mistreat your brother, you will stand before the judge of all creation, who will judge you by your actions, for he knows what’s in your heart.

Dr. King said the doctrine of black supremacy is as evil as the doctrine of white supremacy. If organizations like the National Association of Colored People, Southern Christian Leadership Conference and United Negro College Fund really want to help change America, then they need a new vision. They can start with a change of names; the NAACP can be the NAP, the National Association of People, not just for black people, but all people. The SCLC can be the American Christian Leadership Conference, for all who believe in God, not just southern folks and the UNCF, can be the United College Fund, open to all children, to go to any school of their choice, not just to black schools, these steps can be the beginning to bring people together.

The most important thing that we need to do as a people in this nation under God, is to repent and humble ourselves and ask God’s forgiveness, starting with the president, for we need to recognize that we are sinners and that we need God to change us, because we can’t do it ourselves. When we learn to love mercy and do justly and walk in his steps, we will treat others with respect.

I say let the flag fly because of the freedom of choice to do what’s right. Dr. King said that God is not just concerned with the freedom of the black race, but with the whole human race. Would you say that’s all of us Americans? The Bible says love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, for only God can change a heart, not man-made laws.

Whoever you are in this country of ours, you can be and do whatever you want, if you will help other people get what they want. John F. Kennedy said we should not ask for ourselves, but what we can do for others. No flag, or cross burning or swastika can stop you, if you believe in a higher call.

In the city of Brewer, with just under 9,000 citizens and not more than 10 people of color, I served two terms on the city council. Was it because of my tan? I don’t think so, but rather because of the content of my character. I learned a long time ago from my grandmother in Atlanta that my color didn’t matter, it was what God thought about me that was important.

I say let the people fly their flag.

Jerry Hudson lives in Brewer.