There is an epidemic of hate and fear sweeping the land; a wave of hostility and intolerance that shows no sign of slowing or stopping; its fury is directed at Southern symbols—flags, monuments, and other displays—in fact everything Southern now appears to be a target. Paul C. Graham has courageously examined this case of mass hysteria; a condition he has aptly dubbed "Confederaphobia."
"It's one thing," writes Graham, "to acknowledge that the meaning of symbols is one of perspective. It's quite another thing to have the meaning dictated by ideologues who are not participants in the cultural tradition .... Southern symbols mean to the Southerner exactly what they say that they do . . . speak for those people for whom Southern identity is a living reality."
Southern people are growing weary of the ongoing demonization; of being bullied and harassed; and have begun to realize that Confederaphobia is not a matter of monuments, but a campaign to expunge their identity. If you are a self-identified Southerner, you are a potential target! It's not too late to inoculate yourself from the dangerous effects of this disease, but this is only possible if you recognize the problem.
The problem is not Confederate flags, monuments, markers, belt-buckles, stickers, do-dads, knick-knacks, what-nots, or Dukes of Hazzard re-runs—the problem is Confederaphobia!
 |
Paul C. Graham
is a member of the Lt. Gen. Wade Hampton Camp No. 273 SCV. He holds a Bachelor and Masters degree in Philosophy from the University of South Carolina. His writings have appeared in several publications including the Simms Review, the Palmetto Partisan, the Transactions of the S. C. Masonic Research Society and the Abbeville Institute’s Blog and Review. He lives with his wife in Cayce, South Carolina.
| |
|
