It will give you chills and some damp eyeballs. Thank you for posting.

I've worked in Columbia, S.C. - spent quite a bit of time there. It's a decent city full of very wonderful people. I'm very happy to be alive to witness this day....

I've lived in the South for over half of my life. I'm originally from Indiana - another bigoted state - if you're unaware, please see this...

http://www.iub.edu/~imaghist/for_teachers/mdrnprd/lstmp/Klan.html

The klan is still very influential in that state. Don't ever think otherwise...

I'm wondering why, if the intention was to get rid of a flag that represented so much hatred and bigotry, there was such a ceremony? Why didn't they burn the damned thing once it was down? Rip it off of the flag pole, throw it into a barrel and burn the thing? I think they paid it too much respect to be honest. The civil war was fought for one reason only. We should never forget what we are guilty of in this country.

I'm currently ending a 2 week vacation in the North Georgia mountains. I've seen a number of vehicles driving down the roads here flying the confederate flag. I've seen it flying on many houses as well. It's obviously in response to the movement.

I am a firm believer in freedom of speech. I believe that everyone of us, no matter what the view of others is, has the absolute right as an American to state their opinion on any matter. I also believe that public property - PROPERTY OWNED BY ALL AMERICANS - Not the local Wal-Mart.... should be governed by EVERY ONE OF US. Wal-Mart can do whatever they want. If the majority decides that a flag flying on OUR PROPERTY is offensive, and that it needs to be removed, then the damned thing should be removed permanently... period... end of discussion.

But... and this is the controversial point I'm getting to... If a redneck wants to fly the confederate flag at his home, on his property (or her - sorry ladies), then they have every right to do so.

In my mind, we're not asking individuals to NO LONGER BE BIGOTED (although that is the ultimate goal) - as we all are fully aware they will be... what we are asking is that our government(s) - federal, state, county, AND local - pay US ALL the attention we are asking them for and REMOVE THAT GOD DAMNED FLAG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

of America's bright future put the MINORITY of SC citizens who want SC to celebrate a brief and shameful part of its past in their place.