House Delegation Embarrasses Anderson County (Again)

By Greg Wilson

While the overwhelming majority of members of the South Carolina House voted yesterday to move the Confederate flag from the State House Grounds yesterday, four of the six members of the Anderson County House Delegation took the low road and voted "no" to the move.

Only Reps. Mike Gambrell, R-Honea Path, Craig Gagnon R-Abbeville, voted to take down the Confederate Flag (Gagnon changed his vote on third reading to remove the flag). The other four members passively or actively continuted to show a serious lack of foresight and vision by stubbornly refusing to recognize the definitive truth that moving the flag is not only wise for the state, it is long overdue.

They joined a small minority of other house members (those on the losing end of the 90-20 vote), in attempting obfuscation of the issue with a series of proposed amendments which sought in vain to placate the vocal extremists who supported leaving the Confederate flag in place.

I fear their show of support for allowing the divisive flag to stay in place could have long-ranging effects on Andreson County's image in the months and even years ahead. Why would economic develop offices of other counties not whisper to prospective industries: "You know Anderson is the county whose legislative delegation supports flying the Confederate flag. You might want to be careful associating with those folks."

Hard to imagine the delegation's behavior did not cause a rise in blood pressure and serious indigestion among the leadership of Anderson County's economic development team. The dedicated folks included in this group has been very successful recruiting good companies (and jobs) to the county, all the while working together with other entities to help better facilities and infrastructure to attract the brightest and best to our home. This group, and the rest of us, deserves more informed and insightful leadership from the elected officials who represent them on a state level.

Anderson County is progressive. Word is spreading that it is also a great place to live and work. We have great people, great facilities and a great location. Why members of our house delegation would soil our reputation (and their own) is incomprehensible.

Arguments for allowing the Confederate flag to remain on State House grounds, or allowing some other version of a Confederate flag, are paper thin.

I won't revisit all the reasons in favor of removing the flag. If you want a fuller understanding of the issue I wrote about it earlier here.

But let's make one thing clear, the shootings at Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston are not the reason most in this state, including our conservative Republican Governor Nikki Haley, it is time for the flag to move to a museum.

A number of state officials have invoked the name of God when explaining why they felt the need to vote to remove the flag. Haley said that if she had not moved to take down the flag she "could not have looked her children in the eye." So far, thankfully, I have not heard any state representative saying God told them the Almighty wants a Confederate flag flying over the State House grounds. Stay tuned, though, it could still happen.

Some have further muddied the issue at hand by attempting to make it a referendum on the legality of any Confederate flag, anywhere. That is a smokescreen for avoiding taking responsibility for taking down a flag raised 1961 at the near pinnacle of integration and civil rights laws as a symbol of defiance and racism. It was flown in South Carolina and other states where thousands were lynched and where that very flag was a primary banner for the Ku Klux Klan. Any suggestion that is was a simple reference to some ill-defined heritage are misguided at best, and downright dishonest at worst.

Like a tidal wave, the overwhelming grace and unity the people of the state has shown in the past months has been a marvel to the rest of the world. Those of us whose families have called South Carolina home for generations were not so surprised. There has been a spiritual undercurrent in our state for years, even when it seemed to barely pulse.

As Martin Luther King Jr. said: "We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies."

That power of forgiveness has been on display here for weeks, in stark contrast to the fallout of racial unrest in other parts of the country. Led by our churches and many other leaders, people have stood united in a spirit rarely seen anywhere.

The proper response to this kind of united we stand effort is to put down the sword. There is still time for the Anderson Four who seemed to have missed this opportunity to ask themselves, and their God, what purpose is served by creating unnecessary division when an opportunity for healing has been offered.

You can find contact information for members of the Anderson County House Legislative Delegation here. Might be a good time to drop them a line.