The South will rise again. Well, at least that’s what the people who want a license plate with a Confederate flag must think. In "The Confederate license plate" on Burka’s Blog, Paul Burka, Senior Executive Editor of Texas Monthly, states he would allow for the passing of the plate. This blog post is aimed toward a wide variety of people, from license plate owners to political followers.
Burka states that the reason he is not opposed to the plate is because it is a part of Texas history. He also says that the secession and Civil War were the worst things that happened during Texas history. Burka even claims that, to him, the Confederate flag is linked with segregation. So, with these two negative statements coming from Burka, he still would allow for the plate to be used. But, it comes down to individual interpretation of history. What the individual thinks about history is the deciding factor in whether they would choose the license plate, and that option should be there.
I have to disagree with Burka. Although history is how an individual perceives it, the Confederate flag is not something people should be driving around with on the back (and front) of their cars. In my opinion, the flag symbolizes slavery, as it does to many other people. One of the main reasons the Confederacy was established was so the South could keep its slaves and not contend with the rulings of the North. Some people claim the flag is just in support of the South, but they have to consider how other people will interpret it also. When you see someone with a Confederate flag bumper sticker, you don’t think, “There goes a supporter of the southern United States!” You think, “I guess that guy supports segregation and slavery.” There are so many other ways to express your love for the Confederacy on your car; through Confederate flags flapping in the wind, bumper stickers, or you could even paint your car to look like a Confederate flag.
So, if you really want “the South to rise again,” go ahead and deck your car out with all the Confederate flags you want, just not on a government issued license plate.
"The Confederate license plate"
Paul Burka
Paul Burka
Burka Blog
June 27, 2011
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