Regional history

Southern MN fire department takes a stand for the Confederacy

Bob CollinsBob Collins Jul 5, 2015
91


(Photo: Lulu Walker)

The man who drove a fire truck festooned with the Confederate flag at a parade in Albert Lea has defended his display in a common manner.

“It’s not that I’m up for the rebel or the slavery part of it, “ Brian Nielsen tells the Albert Lea Tribune. “It’s history. They’re trying to take this flag away. They’re basically trying to change the history and abolish it and get rid of it.”

Speaking of history, the signers of the Declaration of Independence were not breaking away from the Confederacy.

Unspoken in all of this chatter, though, is this: How does it wipe away history? Fifty-thousand people lost their lives in the Vietnam War, but you don’t need a South Vietnamese flag at a Fourth of July parade to know that.

Logically speaking, how can you wipe away history?

According to the newspaper…

Nielsen said he wasn’t looking to get a lot of attention from his decision to fly the flag, and he didn’t think it would spur as much discussion as it has. He, himself, has a family member who is black, he said.

If you didn’t think displaying the Confederate flag would generate a lot of attention — if you’re “not up for the slavery or rebel part of it” — are you really the defender of history you think you are?

Or are you just trolling the streets of Albert Lea in a fire truck?

By the way, the display of the Confederate flag is a sign of disrespect to the American flag, and violates the U.S. Flag Code.

No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag of the United States of America, except during church services conducted by naval chaplains at sea, when the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for the personnel of the Navy. No person shall display the flag of the United Nations or any other national or international flag equal, above, or in a position of superior prominence or honor to, or in place of, the flag of the United States at any place within the United States or any Territory or possession thereof: Provided, That nothing in this section shall make unlawful the continuance of the practice heretofore followed of displaying the flag of the United Nations in a position of superior prominence or honor, and other national flags in positions of equal prominence or honor, with that of the flag of the United States at the headquarters of the United Nations.

The Confederacy is not equal to the United States.

History tells us that.

(h/t: Jim Camery)