Recently there has been debate on the Confederate flag and the legitimacy of it being flown by government entities in the South. My opinions on this subject have been validated as of late, but this is not why I brought it to your attention, humble reader.
Now, not wanting to step in the muck being thrown at commentators on either side of that debate in this space, I would like to side step a bit and talk about how taking the removal of the flag (or any other ‘banned’ symbol, icon or idea from history) taken too far can become detrimental and quite silly besides.
Now, let’s say the Confederate flag is the negative symbol some think. I could see under those ideals how flying the flag at government buildings is not quite proper.
However, when Apple decided (although they later relented and changed their minds) to remove all games and apps from the IOS platform that included the flag, I was left slightly amiss.
Because regardless of the merits for either side of this debate, to eliminate the flag seemingly from history is irresponsible, needless revisionist history, especially when we are talking about uses that are not meant to offend nor push the ideals of said symbol.
A large majority of the Apple products targeted were strategy games featuring Civil War themes, battles and units.
It shocks me that anyone could be offended by these games because no one mentions how horrible some of the back stories for the symbols and assets are in the other most popular setting for strategy computer games, World War II.
Far be it from me to create a ‘better or worse’ comparison between these two hugely complex and dramatically charged historical events, but in my opinion the war crimes/actions taken by the Nazis were much worse than those that took place during the American Civil War.
Both events are a major part of history over the last one hundred plus years and in some cases, eliminating the reference is eliminating a reminder never to repeat such horrible events.
As the saying goes: “Those that do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.”
Basically as living, thinking and malleable beings, we know the difference between right and wrong. Though some might forget it in the haze of ideology that promotes values that are at times outside common sense, to totally remove something based on a negative aspect blinds us to the possible lessons within.
It seems we live in a world that perceives any situation as an opportunity to eliminate things that never would have even crossed our minds ten or twenty years ago.
Sometimes this can be one hundred percent spot on and necessary to positive progression to a better country and higher quality of life for all involved, while in others it reeks of the coddling standard we have put forth modernly that, in my humble opinion, can cripple self sufficiency and the thick skin to make our own choices and encourage tolerance.
