Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Hunley flag dispute shows historical inaccuracy WES WOLFE GAMECOCKVIEWPOINTS@HOTMAIL.COM One more Confederate flag issue to bother South Carolina. Can we go a year in South Carolina without discussing “the flag” or something else that draws out all the crazies dis cussing the Civil War? On the other hand, maybe it is the War Between the States or The War of Northern Aggression; I can never remember correctly. Well, the battle at the end of this year seems to be shaping up around what flags will be draped on the coffins of those who died while manning the Confederate sub marine C.S.S. H. R. Hunley in 1864. For those new to South Carolina or who have not been paying attention, the Hunley sank after sinking the U.S.S. Housatonic in the Charleston harbor, with all hands on board. When the Hunley was salvaged from the bottom of the harbor in 2000, the bodies of the sailors were found inside. The sailors will finally be laid to rest next April. Here is where the prob lem starts. Republican state Sen. Glenn McConnell of Charleston, who is head of the Hunley Commission, wants U.S. flags draped over the coffins. Quite honestly, this is one more example of screwing with history. These sailors died serving under the second flag of the Confederacy and should be buried with the flag, as they would have been buried in February 1864. This act seems like simple logic, but as usual, sim ple logic is lost on the leaders of our great state. Now, I am not a Confederate flag-waver of any sort. As a Southerner, a descendant of Confederate soldiers and a liberal, I un derstand issues surrounding flags of the Confederacy and usually side with those against using the flag for anything. For instance, the controversy over the Confederate naval jack on top of the State House was easily settled for me. First, the flag was installed over the State House dome and in the S.C. House and S.C. Senate cham bers as a protest of the Kennedy adminis tration’s civil rights policies, no matter what spin the General Assembly wished to put on the situation at the time. Hence, the flag was illegitimately placed on top of the dome to begin with. Moreover, the flag Was the Confederate naval jack, a flag meant to be flown from the baclfof Confederate ships from 1863-1865. Putting such a historically inaccurate flag with its political baggage on top of the State House should have seemed ♦ HUNLEY, SEE PAGE 5 Tuesday, September 23 7:30 PM Marina I mmtmv, Pinna Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, op. 23 Thursday, October 23 7:30 PM Nicholas Walker, String Bass His cum composition, Pop Sang Scott Herring, Percussion Schwantner's Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra Thursday, November 20 7:30 PM Handers Messiah with soloists and CoBaVoae chorus Friday, January 23 8:00 PM Invitation to the Dance featuring the Cotumbia Classical Bdht Tuesday, February'24 7:30 PM Richard Ormrod, Plano Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1, op. 15 Tuesday, March 23 7:30 PM Vadim Ghizman, Violin DvorGks Violin Concerto, op. 53 Tuesday, April 20 7:30 PM Xm Wd to, Violin Max Bruch's Scottish Fantasy, op. 46 Chinese composition Butterfly Qyneerto Welcome Parents i to PALMETTOS Casual Fine Dining In The Vista Specializing in S.C. Regional Cuisine" 902-F Gervais Street Columbia, SC 29201 -- 779-6400 J • Study Area • Lounge Area • Multi Station Computer Lak •Fax & Modem Station linked to USC Campus •Tennis Courts • Swimming Pools • State"of “tlie-art Fitness Center •T4 Bedroom Apartments 100RrverbeiulDrive wn; gnin eat Columbia '^“^P J