So, a lot has been going on at my school over the past week or so and I thought I'd bring these issues to a topic here. Hopefully this won't become too offensive and end up getting locked, but so be it if it does.
Recently, there has been some controversy over a flag that is on display at the Walker Library. Legal counsel assures MTSU administrators that the flying of this flag is protected by the right to free speech. The flag has been flown at this campus for years without any problems. This flag has been in use nation-wide for years, and can be readily purchased. It's not something new that MT Lambda created.
Earlier this week, the flag was stolen from the display at the library. Campus police located the thief and returned the flag this morning, but isn't it kind of sad that someone felt it necessary to nab this flag? It's a piece of cloth, and personally, the first day they put it, and the other LGBT flags, up in the library, the sight filled me with hope. At the same time, I had a feeling something bad was going to happen, but everyone seemed so indifferent, and that gave me hope. False hope, considering the outcry it has caused.
That flag means we are LGBT but we are also Americans. It is not an American flag, it is a symbol that as citizens of this country we should be treated fairly. It is an expression of self, we are LGBTQ and we are Americans. It is not a slap in the face to veterans, it is not an attack on America, it is simply a flag. A flag that represents the struggle we are facing in this country by not being treated like the American citizens we are. It is not against the law and it is not desecration because it is not the American flag. It is an LGBT flag that resembles the American flag.
Some people claim they don't have a problem with the people, but just with the flag, but I don't see how that can be the case. All the flag stands for is that we are Americans who also happen to be LGBT, so to my eyes, to get violently angry about this flag means you have to be against what the LGBTQ community stands for, because otherwise, it's just a colorful variant of the American flag.
I mean, many countries have the same flag design but with different colors inserted in. The Irish flag is not a desecration of the French flag or vice versa or whatever, you know?
And besides, many people fly the Confederate flag, and there are lots of people, myself included, who only think of slavery and hate when they see that flag, but there are not controversies that make it to the news because of it.
Anyway, yes I'm prepared for some people here to tell me how wrong I am, that this flag is horrible and that it violates America and blah blah. Just if you're one of those people please don't be hateful about it. I'm just curious as to what you MLKers think of all this because this is one of the most diverse places I've ever been, perhaps the most diverse place I've ever been, and I'm interested in some of y'all's perspectives. So please, keep it civil and discuss.
I'm going to try not to post much here myself because this is a very personal issue for me and I don't want to get violently angry and get this locked like I have another thread in the past.