[Vision2020] Flag Display Was Disturbing

[Tom Hansen]

>From today's (November 22, 2005) Moscow-Pullman Daily News with a special
thanks to Paul Smith (Palouse), Lisa O'Leary (Moscow), and John Watkinson
(Moscow).

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Flag display was disturbing

We are members of a local traditional Irish music band, Potatohead. Though
it was never entirely clear whether we were hired by Christ Church or New
Saint Andrews College, we performed for dances held by some combination of
these organizations for several years in the late 1990s. 
Twice we were hired to provide music for Fourth of July picnic/dances held
in public parks, and these events included people from Christ Church, New
Saint Andrews College, and Logos School. 

In every respect, these events were precisely the sort of "social event"
discussed by the recent letters to the editor by Nick Gier (Opinion, Oct.
20) and Superintendent Tom Garfield of Logos School (Opinion, Nov. 9). In
light of this debate, we felt that we must make public our experience at the
Fourth of July picnic held in 2000 at Ghormley Park in Moscow. 

When we arrived at the park, the stage on which we were to play had a huge
Confederate battle flag as its backdrop. We insisted that the Confederate
flag be removed and received passionate arguments why this flag belonged in
this event, from both adults and students. It was not until we gave them the
ultimatum they could have either their Confederate flag or live music, but
not both, that they agreed to remove the Confederate flag from the stage. 

We resolved never to play for these organizations again, nor have they asked
us. Contrary to Garfield's assertion in his letter that the Confederate flag
is not displayed in any social occasions by these organizations, this is at
least one occasion when this disturbing symbol was prominently displayed and
defended. 

Paul Smith, Palouse 

Lisa O'Leary, Moscow 

John Watkinson, Moscow. 

Two other people also signed this letter.

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Thanks again, Paul, Lisa, and John.

Footnote:  The Confederate flag is obsolete and so is the philosophy it
represents.  Let's take it down and leave it on Doug Wilson's keyboard where
it belongs, ok?

Take care, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"If not us, who?
If not now, when?"

- Unknown