SHAWN CHENG/YH

Seniors must take a moral stand

On Sat., Jan. 1, the NAACP officially imposed economic sanctions to protest the continued presence of the Confederate flag atop the South Carolina state capitol building. The flag, which flies next to the state and national flags, represents the Confederacy and all that it stood for during the Civil War. With selective historical memories, a faction of dissenters claims that the flag does not represent slavery or racism, but that is simply an emblem of Southern history. Alexander Stephens, the vice president of the Confederacy during the Civil War, would beg to differ. On Mar. 21, 1861, Stephens said, "[The flag's] cornerstone rests upon the great truth that the Negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery—subordination to the superior race—is a natural and normal condition." The Confederate flag symbolizes bigotry and slavery.

South Carolina, more than any of our other 49 states, represents de facto racism. It is the only remaining state that both officially flies the Confederate flag and fails to recognize Martin Luther King Day. The Confederate flag has not flown constantly atop the South Carolina state capitol since the time of the Civil War—more deplorably, it was hoisted to its current position in 1961 to spite the civil rights movement. Under such conditions, South Carolina has become a hostile environment for blacks and civil rights activists alike, and in accordance with the NAACP's plea for economic sanctions, it should not receive Yale students' monetary support.

On Mon., Jan. 17, nearly 50,000 people of various races, colors, and creeds marched on the state capital in Columbia to demand the removal of the flag. Kweisi Mfume, national president of the NAACP, cited the rally as the greatest civil rights protest since the 1960s. African-Americans and vacillating politicians are not the only supporters of the boycott. Each individual who feels strongly about abolishing racism in this country should, in whatever way possible, protest the current situation in South Carolina. Given the conscious nature of human decision-making, it is only out of social and political apathy that one would choose not to act. Inaction in such a situation defiles the sanctity of our freedom as Americans and as humans.

The outcome of Yale's Myrtle Beach boycott is yet to be determined. While many students seem receptive to the suggestion of relocating to sunny Virginia Beach, they lack conviction and are sitting on the proverbial fence. Unless Yale seniors decide en masse to boycott the trip to Myrtle Beach, the movement will not be wholly effective. The fact remains that most seniors are loath to commit to Virginia Beach unless their friends are also willing to switch. Both resorts offer similar vacation options with beautiful beaches, bars, beer, more bars, food, and more beer—and with the current discounted offer, Virginia Beach is less costly. But more importantly, the Confederate flag does not fly atop the state capitol in Richmond, where it degrades and offends citizens of our country.

Each senior must decide whether the personal inconvenience imposed by the boycott is worth the vitality of the cause. And for those who less actively support the cause and will be spending senior Dead Week in South Carolina, I hope you take the time to drive through Columbia on your way to Myrtle Beach, and wave in support at those protesters on the steps of the state capitol beneath the Confederate flag billowing in the wind.

Jessica Reik is a freshman in Davenport.

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