Throughout my lifetime I have heard or read varying debates on Confederate (Southern) heritage and the rebel flag. Upon reflecting on current events recently, I started looking more into history and historical documents than relying on opinions and slogans. While there are many resources to research, one collection of documents stood out to me above the rest: “The Declaration of Causes of Seceding States.” These documents are stunning to read (especially Mississippi) and leave no debate that the subject of preserving slavery was front and center for the southern states of Texas, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia. I would encourage everyone to read “The Declaration of Causes of Seceding States” before solidifying your position on confederate flags, monuments, and associated symbols. This is not about whether all southern state occupants participated or believed the same way. The representation of the Confederate states spoke clearly as to their position and what they stood for and ended up fighting a bloody war over it. This was all done under the banner of the Confederate rebel symbol. So the question has to be asked, would you support what was submitted in the “Declaration of Causes” and fight under the Confederate rebel flag/symbols today? Also, more importantly, the real question is would the love of God promote such a cause when there is so much discord and divisiveness associated with a flag/symbol that flew in support for the Confederate states’ rights to continue slavery. In the Holy Bible, Matthew 22:37-40 says the following: “37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” All of our positions, stances, and causes should align and reflect according to God’s Word and our love for Him and our neighbor.
Rodney Godfrey
Columbus
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