Bigotry did not bring down Confederate sign

I know I am late in my rebuttal to the story in The Columbia Star July 14, 2006, but this is a perfect time since we are celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I beg to differ with Warner Montgomery and the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV).

It was not bigotry that brought down the SCV's sign. It was forward and right- thinking people that did it. Nobody is caring nowadays about defending southern heritage, and I for one don't care and will never care!

Why? Because I shudder to think what plight non- white people would be in now if the South had won the war. It would probably be similar to the old apartheid system in South Africa.

Coincidentally, it was maintained by so- called Bible scripture and the members of the Dutch Reformed Church. Their thinking was that the Bible stated that nothing was wrong for blacks to live, work, and die always being lorded over by a minority white society. They found they were gravely and deathly wrong. And it is a travesty that so many went to their graves at the hands of a murderous and unjust system.

To me, the SCV is no different than the racist groups that did and still do exist inside South African society. The Civil War was long, long ago. I am not interested in recognizing Confederate soldiers, sons, daughters, or old submarine wrecks.

My ancestors were killed and oppressed and were servants during that time. The only ones that may have earned any recognition on the side of the Confederate rebel flag wavers were forced to fight or were killed. So a little chance of surviving outside of a slave system was better than no chance at all.

Now you can see why I want to see the May holiday, the so- called Confederate Memorial Day, end. It is not a holiday that this state embraces. If it were, then the rebel flag would have never been taken off the statehouse dome and called to be brought down by President Clinton, Vice President Gore, and so many other good and powerful people of all races and colors.

Bringing down that sign at Darlington was a good start. I hope people have enough courage to not let rebel signs or racist slogans be put up and put the brakes on racist establishments. This state should move forward from its racist past into better race relations for the 21st century.

Sheldon "Chip" Rice

Columbia, SC