Every now and then, News 9 at Four features a commentary segment called “Hot Topic.” In it, a couple of talking heads discuss controversial and heated news topics from around the country.
This past Friday, one of those controversial topics was about a black university student in South Carolina who thought it would be neat to hang the Confederate battle flag from his dorm room window. Here are Amanda Taylor’s and Lauren Nelson’s articulate and well thought out opinions on the issue:
In case you’re too lazy to click play and actually watch the video — or you just want to know how many times a news anchor can uncomfortably say “Uh” and “You Know” within a 30-second time span — here’s a transcript of Amanda Taylor’s response. It came right after Lauren Nelson tried to defend the guys actions by looking at everything from his silly point of view.
Amanda Taylor: I think, let’s face it, you know, it [The Confederate flag] does have a negative connotation. You know, some things are like that. Uh, when I, I was thinking about this, and this is probably not the best example, but I was thinking about the N-word, and when it was first originated, it was just to, (pause), it was a very neutral term. But now, I mean, you don't say it. It's taken on a very negative connotation and I think, unfortunately, that's the way the flag has become, too. And, uh, you know, uh, good for him for seeing past that and seeing what the root of the flag was...
Lauren Nelson: But everyone else still sees it the other way.
Amanda Taylor: Yeah, yeah. I think so...
First of all, that was six and a half “Uhs” and “You Knows” in just about 27 seconds. I gave her the half point for the one “I Mean.” Considering how God Damn stupid she sounded, that’s not really that bad.
Seriously, here’s some advice for Amanda Taylor. The next time you think of a “this is probably not the best example” analogy to defend your ignorant stance on a sensitive racial issue, you may just want to avoid using it. That way, you don’t end up looking like an ignorant fool who’s trying to justify the use of the confederate flag or n-word.
You see, the Confederate battle flag is a part of southern culture. It's a culture and heritage that many people died fighting for and something some people still take pride in. That being said, there's nothing in that flag for the student to "see past." It doesn't matter if he's black, white or that weird kid who rides the moped around the neighborhood. Despite what Amanda Taylor thinks, the "root of the flag" was, and always will be, slavery and racism. There's no way around it.
Also, the n-word was a somewhat "neutral term" from the 17th through 20th century...if you were a white landowner. If you were a slave or a free black, it probably wasn't the most flattering name to be called. In fact, I bet blacks enjoyed being called the n-word by white people just as much as the Cherokee's enjoyed being called savages. Just because it was "commonly used" name, does not justify it or make it right.
Anyway, that's all I have for this topic. Unlike Amanda Taylor, I try to avoid sharing my uninformed, ignorant opinions on sensitive topics like race, abortion or being happy that OSU got royally screwed out of the BCS championship game. The last thing I want is to make anyone mad...especially a confederate battle flag-waving hillbilly farmer.
