Lake Wales, Fla., NAACP President David Smith, Says Confederate Flags in Local Cemeteries Racist, a Reminder of Slavery

Lake Wales, Fla., NAACP group up in arms over Confederate flag being allowed in cemeteries. Says it's racist and a throwback to slavery.

Here we go again. Another dustup between the NAACP and the Confederate flag. David Smith, the President of the Lake Wales NAACP chapter said a change in cemetery rules is racist, according to ABC Action News. The city council of the Florida town, passed an ordinance in December on the cemetery's rules. The ordinance reportedly states ornaments that offend or insult a segment of the community cannot be placed in the cemetery. Here's the part that stuck in the craw of the local NAACP chapter, the other section of the ordinance which states that people can fly the confederate flag on Confederate Memorial Day.

"That is a slap in the face to me because of my race. To me it means slavery," said David Smith, President of the NAACP.  Smith says he wants those flags banned from the cemetary, but not everyone agrees.

Ed Bowling is a retired Marine who feels the city should honor southern soldiers who fought in the civil war."I believe when it comes to asking the American community to disrespect veterans, I believe they have overstepped their bounds," said Ed Bowling. Source: ABC News

Are we so jaded that we are insulted at every mention of the Confederate flag? Yes, I understand what the Confederacy meant for blacks in this country, but when will we just stop screaming racism every time one is flown on Memorial Day? Isn't the Confederacy as much a part of our history, good or bad, as our independence is? It is also meant to honor the fallen soldiers who fought in the civil war. Not all those soldiers were racist.

Besides, Mr. Smith's faces a hard task in getting the city to remove that language because flying the Confederate flag is a right afforded under the state law. Here's my challenge to Mr. Smith, I am sure that there are thousands of people in Lake Wales who are struggling under the weight of the recession. Why not channel your energy into helping the residents of Lake Wales weather this economic storm? Whether you like it or not, the Confederate flag is here to stay.