A constitutional right

Dear editor:

There is absolutely no reason for letter writer Diana Hampo to be “furious, embarrassed and heartbroken” concerning American citizens displaying Confederate flags. The last I checked, the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees them that right and there is nothing “immoral, cowardly and irresponsible” concerning the Bill of Rights.

What Diana Hampo should be furious, embarrassed and heartbroken about is her lack of knowledge of this war and this nation’s Founding documents. For her information, the Confederate States were fighting not only to defend themselves against an illegal invasion, but also in defense of the aforementioned Founding documents, which they most certainly were trying to preserve.

If there is one thing Mrs. Hampo should realize, it is the fact that enemies of a flag do not dictate what it represents or symbolizes. That is determined by the ones who design, raise and preserve the standard. The Confederate battle flag is a Christian symbol and was pronounced as such when it was designed and patterned after the national flag of Scotland in 1861 by Confederate Congressman William Porcher Miles. However, according to Diane Hampo’s logic, the enemies of the Stars and Stripes determines what it symbolizes and I can only imagine the American citizens reaction to her sense of reasoning.