I was watching the news last night and saw on the Sports that Mississippi State was going to be able to host the first round of a preseason tourney. That’s huge recognition for our basketball program, more games for our team to play against quality opponents, and about $200,000 boosting our local economy. All great stuff, right?
I open up The Daily Journal this morning to these two articles (article #1 and article #2). Seems that the NCAA has a policy of not allowing schools in states where the Confederate flag flies to be a pre-determined site for all championship sporting events. So our historic, tradition laden flag has smacked us.
I remember all the discussion about it in 2001 when it was a national news story. People wanted us to change our state flag because it had the confederate flag in it as well. But we’re Missississpi, by gosh! We don’t take nothing from nobody! And it was a big majority that voted to keep our old flag despite all the advice of how it will hurt our reputation (even more) and future opportunities. But we were stubborn.
To be honest, I don’t like other people trying to force us, as Mississippi, to change our flag just because “they” don’t agree with it. But I’ll admit that I did vote to change the flag. I voted that way because The Flag would be just another issue for the other 49 states to thumb their nose at us. It would be another reason for non-Mississippians to laugh at us. It would be yet another reason for Mississippi to be finishing at the bottom of almost everything.
And it rears its head again…sheesh!
well, even if they fix your flag… your water is still greasy.
"Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence." — Albert Einstein