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ACC should be ashamed to back NAACP boycott

Mar 30, 2010, 4:10 PM

ACC should be ashamed to back NAACP boycott
by S.C. Sen. Glenn F. McConnell

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) recently announced a decision to move its 2011-13 baseball championships from Myrtle Beach to North Carolina. The reason? They say the Confederate flag flying on South Carolina’s Statehouse grounds violates their commitment to “diversity, equality and human rights.”

The truth is the ACC folded to pressure from the NAACP, whose economic boycott of South Carolina has thus far been ignored by all fair-minded people. This decision by the ACC is an insult to South Carolinians of all races, creeds and genders. It is unwise, unfair and clearly based on intolerance and ignorance.

Officials at the ACC must not be aware that North Carolina flies a Confederate flag on its dome to commemorate historically significant dates. Other Southern states do even more to celebrate Southern heritage. Mississippi actually has the Confederate battle flag designed into its State flag. Georgia has the national flag of the Confederacy in its State flag. And Alabama flies Confederate flags (including the battle flag) at its Statehouse alongside a Confederate Memorial that is much larger and more prominent than South Carolina’s display.

And yet the NAACP has shamelessly chosen to single out South Carolina for an economic boycott over the issue of the Confederate flag, regardless of the inconsistency and the irrationality of their position. Why? Let me explain.

For decades, dating back to the middle of the last century, the Confederate battle flag flew atop the dome at the South Carolina Statehouse as well as from the podiums of the legislative chambers and in the foyer of the Statehouse. And for years, a heated debate waged over what the Confederate battle flag symbolized.

On one side, supporters of the flag argued that it was a positive symbol of heritage, honoring the sacrifice of those who fought and died in the War Between the States. Others insisted the Confederate flag was a negative symbol of slavery used by hate groups to support racism and should not be flown in a position of sovereignty on top of the Statehouse.

After considerable debate and dialogue, there was a gradual realization by reasonable folks on both sides that the matter should be resolved on the basis of mutual respect. At long last, a compromise was achieved that united people of goodwill.

Ultimately, the compromise had several parts. The Confederate battle flag was removed from the Statehouse dome, the legislative chambers, and the Statehouse foyer and flown, instead, beside the Confederate soldier’s monument, where its military meaning was made clear. At the same time, Confederate and civil rights monuments and street names were protected from change without a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly.

This almost poetic compromise satisfied all but the fringe elements on both sides, which includes the NAACP. In an effort to continue stirring the flames of controversy, the NAACP threatened to enforce an economic boycott against South Carolina unless the Confederate flag was banned altogether from the Statehouse grounds.

Fortunately, leaders of both races and from both political parties were not intimidated by the NAACP’s demands. They did not abandon their determination to resolve the issue with a spirit of reconciliation and to move forward in a way that celebrates our State’s diverse heritage. The compromise was passed by the General Assembly and became law.

Previously, the Statehouse grounds, which is as an outdoor museum, was further broadened to speak to all of our history when South Carolina erected an African-American monument, honoring those who struggled for decades in the cause of civil rights. Today, South Carolina’s Statehouse grounds offer visitors a grand celebration of the valor of her people, spanning the American Revolution, the War Between the States and the Civil Rights Movement, completing the circle of history.

In the years that followed, no one was surprised to see the NAACP continue to push their economic boycott. The fringes of an issue seldom compromise. They thrive on controversy. Their continued existence is ensured by division. Fortunately, until now, they have been largely ignored. That’s why the decision by the ACC to “honor” the NAACP’s economic boycott of South Carolina is so unfair and unwise.

Far from upholding “diversity and equality,” siding with the NAACP on this issue is a victory for intolerance. It also brings economic harm to honorable, hardworking, decent people of all races in the false name of political correctness.

The good people of South Carolina deserve better treatment. And the officials of the ACC, an athletic league that should be in the business of promoting good sportsmanship, would do well to ask themselves a fundamental question: is their decision an example of fair play?

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Mississippi Tiger --------- Clemson University - 8 Time National Football Champions - 1900, 1906, 1948, 1950, 1981, 1983, 2016, 2018

Ku Klux Klan. I was born in the south to parents raised barefooted in south GA. Their great grandparents farmed that land. My grandmother used to say that "darkies were good folks as long as they know their place." This is the same woman who would make rounds 4 times a week to make sure about a dozen black families were taken care of and had their needs met. As a preschooler I went with her on these rounds.

Most posters here could trace the same heritage. All I'm saying is that its time to put that behind us. Is a flag on a state capital a huge deal? No. Is taking it down a huge deal? No. Do I care what Alabama does or doesn't? My heavens, no. I'm I going to let the NAACP, bozos that they are, cause me to fight that stupid war all over again? I take one look at the Alabama flag, I remember those days with my Grandmother, the kindest woman I will ever know, and think, "No, that's a mud hole I chose to stay out of."

ACC should be ashamed to back NAACP boycott

NAACP is the most racist organization on the planet***

Re: NAACP is the most racist organization on the planet***

Re: NAACP is the most racist organization on the planet***

^^^Thinks Ku Klux Kan is misunderstood^^^***

Please

It was put up to commerate the 100th anniversary of the

Re: It was put up to commerate the 100th anniversary of the

I don't care either way, never really have, but

Because a bunch of democrats decided to hoist it?***

Yes the democrats, the party of Jim Crow, hoisted the flag*****

Swoffie using race issue to keep ACC money pouring into NC.***

$$ from ACC BB,FB,Baseball Championships all going to NC.***

Tar Heels? Woffies? Deacons? Devils? Which race?***

so true

If Swofford would simply put in writing that the ACC will

Clemson should secede from the ACC, join the SEC or ANY

the SEC honors the ban too******

Thank you!!!!!

Wait til they start calling our recruits

Yep. All these big dogs wanting to fight this fight will

Re: ACC should be ashamed to back NAACP boycott

Re: ACC should be ashamed to back NAACP boycott

Get it right....

Re: Get it right....

Re: Get it right....

The Confederacy Fired the First Shot...

^^^Still angry over second place finish in the war.

Has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the flag.

The NAACP, those that dress up like Confederate soldiers,

Re: The NAACP, those that dress up like Confederate soldiers,

so are you for or against the flag?***

My viewpoint on it all

Re: ACC should be ashamed to back NAACP boycott

If the flag represents a country that no longer exists, and

Re: If the flag represents a country that no longer exists, and

So? I don't care what they do. If they start a cheap fight

Re: So? I don't care what they do. If they start a cheap fight

Good. Let them drag you down to their level just because

Re: Good. Let them drag you down to their level just because

It's not about the dang flag. Look at Bama's capitol grounds

No, it doesn't work that way. I'm not gonna google for 30

Here's the link.

I take one glance at their flag and all I think is

I still don't think you understand my point.

but but but ... other states

Take the confederate racist symbol down.

I think the point is that singling out SC is stupid when

Take the confederate racist symbol down.

Re: Take the confederate racist symbol down.

Being proud of your race is idiocy defined.

Wow.***

I Stopped Reading at "War Between the States"....

I immediately ignored all the anti-flag posts in this thread

You know what else is taught early on?

they did move forward and moved the flag off cap.

Well.. Spring is officially here. We're arguing about the

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