A few months ago, I visited the state of Missouri with my family. I had a great time, figuratively died of humidity, and got less bug bites than I expected but more than I wanted. I also noticed something that really bugged me.
Quite a few houses – in Missouri and on the drive to Missouri – flew the Confederate flag, usually in combination with either a U.S. flag and/or a Trump campaign flag. We can also see the Confederate flag in footage of conservative events and the disastrous January 6th protests.
I don’t think that those sporting this flag support a civil war (or slavery, for that matter); it is my understanding that some have and are adopting the Confederate flag as a symbol of states’ rights. This is very concerning to me.
The Confederate flag is one of the worst symbols for states’ rights that I can think of. The idea of states’ rights is a beautiful principle of liberty, limited government, and natural rights. But the nation that flew that flag – the Confederacy – completely ignored natural law, fought to maintain the horrific institution of slavery, literally build a nation on that institution, caused the bloodiest war fought on this nation’s soil, tried to undermined the U.S. Constitution (which features a government with states’ rights built into it) – and, on top of all that, they lost!!! Now I’m not saying that if they had won, the rest of their faults could be excusable; I’m simply trying to make the point that they didn’t do anything right.
The confederacy was built on the facade of states’ rights. They birthed a nation that willfully ignored natural law, which says that each human has specific and unalienable rights and liberties (though they can be taken away under a justice system within the bounds of constitutional and natural law in certain instances), which is completely contrary to the very foundation of slavery.
Is that really the glorious symbol of states’ rights that we seem to be making of it?
No!
So what is the right symbol for states’ rights? Is it the Trump campaign flag (heaven forbid we attach a cause to a fallible person, Trump or not Trump!)? Or perhaps the “Don’t Tread On Me?” flag (an appealing option with a beautiful history filled with smack-talk and impressive orators)?
The best symbol of states’ rights is the U.S. flag itself. Yes, it stands for the Union – but it also stands for the ORIGINAL Union, the one created by the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill or Rights, and unmarred by elite manipulation or contrary amendments.
Inherent in these founding documents is the idea of states’ rights.
For example, the tenth amendment:
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
As another example, this paragraph from Article 1, Section 3:
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.
While this portion was invalidated by the passing of the seventeenth amendment in 1913, the original words of the Constitution gave a huge amount of power (along with a crucial check) to the states.
As another example, the first paragraph of Article 1, Section 4:
The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.
When understood correctly, the U.S. Constitution actually sets up huge states’ rights. Though they aren’t always understood or followed now, they are there, and they are crucial to freedom.
In conclusion, the true symbol of freedom, personal liberty, and states’ rights is the U.S. Flag. It has a glorious and proud history of prosperity and liberty. Let’s not abandon it in favor of the Confederate flag.
