Confederate Flag -- Possible Scenarios
As a follow-up to my last entry, I would like to consider the various scenarios that could develop with this Confederate flag issue:Situation One:
LSU does nothing. The Student Equity Commission never gains media coverage.
In this situation, the debate would die quickly (until next football season). We would, hopefully, still get national funding. Many students would still be offended but free speech would win out.
Situation Two:
LSU does nothing. The Student Equity Commission gains media coverage.
LSU would have to say they were defending free speech. Normally, the national audience would probably criticize the fans flying the flag but understand the importance of free speech and accept LSU’s decision. However, after the recent events surrounding Katrina, I really think there would be severe backlash. Immense pressure would be put on the school to ban the flag and let it go to court. I doubt the school would change its position once the issue had national coverage, though.
This could mean pressure be put on the state government to ban the flag. If they did, some would be glad it was ban. Others would be outraged that free speech was infringed upon. If they did nothing, national coverage could become more intense. This would be a hot topic on the “scream” shows. As I said in my previous posts, the state could lose federal funding.
Situation Three:
LSU bans the flag. The Student Equity Commission never gains media coverage.
I do not think this would EVER happen. LSU will not cause its own controversy unless they receive outside criticism and media coverage.
Situation Four:
LSU bans the flag. The Student Equity Commission gains media coverage.
Obviously, the Student Equity Commission would be elated.
LSU would look stupid to some for infringing free speech. Others would call it a moral victory and a strong stand for our minority students and minority Louisiana citizens. Despite their opinions, in court, I believe the ban would be ultimately overturned.
However, this could get positive coverage, in that, LSU is standing up for our minority citizens in a time when our government ignored them.
Overall....
I think a ban of the flag would never stand for long (once it went to court) and I don’t think that LSU would try a ban unless national media picked up on the story. Still, it could really hurt us if LSU does not enforce a ban or at least some stronger action against this display of racism once national media picks it up.
Some have suggested that LSU put it to a vote of the student body? Although I am positive this would mean the flag would stay, what would it say? Would the students be protecting free speech or racism?
The best situation for the university is for this to die down but will it? With only one game left in the football season (Friday against Arkansas), there is not much time for media coverage so I would say yes.
posted by Jessie Tucker @ 11/20/2005
5 Comments:
This thing will never go awy. Many of the people who fly and/or defend the flag just don't understand that it's racist, for whatever reason. And the ones that understand this but shamelessly still support it won't change their minds--they grew up learning this, and their kids will too. This seems to be true for too many students.
And both of these groups of supporters are blinded by illusions that this flag somehow represents "southernism
What needs to happen is the anti-flag people need to become more agressive. The 2006 effort was good, but the national media has to be dragged in, and force the supporters to put their faces and names on national TV. Let's not get our hopes up, though: Texas A&M progressives have had trouble getting coverage for their annual hate crimes (2006 saw an Indian student getting jumped). [Sarcasm warning] And also, there's currently no pretty blonde girls involved.
Oh: this should not a 1st ammendment thing (it CANNOT, MUST NOT be banned). People who think that that's what it's about are completely misguided. It's about respect to those offended, to LSU's reputation, and good taste.
correction: 2006=2005. I got worked up looking forward to next year.
Although I absolutely despise the flag, I think you must consider the 1st amendment aspect of this debate. It is most definitely hateful speech; it is disturbing and appalling speech -- and that is exactly why it should be protected.
Freedom of speech would not need to exist if its purpose was not to protect to worst kinds of speech. That is exactly the type of speech people try to infringe on.
With that said, I think a ban (even though it would likely be overturned) could really show strong support by the university for those students offended by the flag.
I think giving the flag so much attention only strengthens the resolve of those that tote it. I'm sorry if people are offended by it, and while I don't believe in judging people consider this:
Let the flag serve as a marker for people that don't need to be associated with. I'd rather know who's a blatant racist so I can save myself the trouble of learning the hard way...
To put this on the university to take action is borderline ridiculous...let's just be real on that one.
On a side note: I think in time it will actually go away. While racism or whatever you want to call it does get passed down from generation to generation to some extent, you're always going to have those persons that break the mold: take homophobia for example. Compare the way things are now to what was "not tolerable" a while back... Like leg warmers, the confederate flag will fade into a thing of the past (some day).
SB,
Although I agree it is a nice marker to distinguish those persons I would never want to associate with, it is sad that African-American students must feel discriminated against until the racism fades. (I, too, believe it will over time).
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