Those of us who have lived in the South for many years know the unwritten rule that we can talk about our unique relatives (You know dear Aunt Bertha, Bless her heart….) and those last three words let you say anything. However, outsiders, don’t you dare say anything about Aunt Bertha or any other member of our vast extended family!

We dearly love those bizarre family members and our gentle gossip reflects that love. Southern gentility dictates tolerant speech. However, the current trend of eliminating anything that might be offensive is a real concern. We are encouraged to eliminate gender specific words, words that reflect on any religion, any references to color. Politics have become a taboo subject and the list goes on.

We see examples of schools that ban the flying of the United States flag, ban playing The Star Spangled Banner at games, and refusing to allow speakers that may have philosophical disagreements. A local store can refuse to bake a cake with a Confederate flag or a Blue Lives Matter design but are required to bake a rainbow cake.

History is replete with examples of governments erasing history. An Egyptian pharaoh might destroy monuments to his predecessor. During WWII, countless books were burned. Temples of various religions, buildings of historical significance and memorabilia such as flags and music are destroyed as people decided these have become offensive to someone.

Dr. Ben Carson said that America is being destroyed by political correctness at all levels. He said on Fox News that “we need to be in a place where people feel free to express themselves and not to be intimidated by political correctness. It is destroying our nation and there is a reason that our founders  (included) the very first amendment, freedom of speech, freedom of expression. We can never allow that to leave us. Freedom is not free. We have to fight for it every day.”

Martin Niemoller was a prominent Protestant pastor who was an outspoken foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camps. He is perhaps best remembered for this quotation: “First they came for the Socialists and I did not speak out, because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists and I did not speak out, because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.”

You are invited to visit the Sons of Confederate Veterans meeting Tuesday, Oct. 4.  This organization is non-racial, non-political and non-sectarian and dedicated to the preservation of southern history, antiquities and gravesites. The local group meets the first Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. in the House of Flags in Columbus.

Visitors are welcome and applications are available. For more information, contact James McGuinn at jbmcguinn@gmail.com 828-447-1606.

– article submitted by Cheryl Roach