The Confederate flag and associated items transmit an overt statement of racism for a group of Americans, and for another group of Americans it is a symbol of their American heritage. Is our heritage really honored by symbols of a failed and heinous endeavor?

In my opinion, only losers identify with a failed army and its government deemed unsuccessful by history.  Maybe some Americans don’t realize yet that the Confederate states lost their fight with today’s United States, and maybe others don’t dare to express their real reason for displaying that item. Who knows?

Still, in this day, too many of our neighbors feel proud to display that flag. In my opinion, the public display of these symbols should be banned. We must strive to respect the feelings of others to ensure our peaceful coexistence.

Our current President? And his friends in the Republican Party? What is their role in the resurgence of racism? Should our current President be held liable for this sad development?

It is a strange coincidence that a country proud of liberating other countries from their dictators, racists, and criminal leaders names military installations after known racists, celebrates statues of criminals engaged in human trafficking and torture.

Recently, a well-known American historian asked the question: What would people say if a statue of Hitler, Mussolini, or Stalin would be erected in Paris, London, Berlin, or Washington DC? Think about glorifying those murderous world leaders…

Fortunately, recent events have spurred developments to again raise awareness and call for condemnation of this situation. I hope that more people here in Andover who are flying the Confederate flag might stop to think that they are hurting other peoples’ feelings.