Nelson: In these conflicted times, Mississippi shows the way
Republican Sen. Briggs Hopson (center) of Vicksburg is congratulated by Senators David Jordan (D-Greenwood, left), and Brice Wiggins (R-Pascagoula, for successfully navigating a resolution to suspend the rules and vote to change the state flag Saturday, June 27, 2020, at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss. The resolution passed and now the House and Senate are expected to pass a bill that removes the current flag and establishes a path forward to getting a new one. (Rogelio V. Solis/AP)
Michael Nelson
Michael Nelson is contributing editor and columnist for The Daily Memphian, the political analyst for WMC-TV, and the Fulmer professor of political science at Rhodes College. His latest books are “Clinton's Elections: 1992, 1996, and the Birth of a New Era of Governance" and “The American Presidency: Origins and Development, 1776-2018.”
"Nuance and process are the boring but essential virtues we need to make good decisions about matters like state flags, Confederate monuments and public holidays."
Topics
Confederate flag Confederate monuments Mississippi state flag Subscriber OnlyThank you for supporting local journalism.
Subscribers to The Daily Memphian help fund our not-for-profit newsroom of nearly 40 local journalists plus more than 20 freelancers, all of whom work around the clock to cover the issues impacting our community. Subscriptions - and donations - also help fund our community access programs which provide free access to K-12 schools, community organizations, and more. Thank you for making our work possible.
Related stories
Nelson: Why Mississippi needs a new state flag
E Pluribus unum is our nation’s traditional motto. Conservatives are drawn to the unum – the unity – in that motto. Liberals often prefer the pluribus – the diversity. Wouldn’t it be great if all our flags allowed us to put aside the pluribus among us and experience the unum?
Confederate statue to be moved at Ole Miss
The nickname for athletic teams remains the Rebels, but the university retired its Colonel Reb mascot in 2003 amid criticism that the bearded old man looked like a plantation owner.
Opinion: When the South found its heart and soul — and what it needs to do now
We cannot undo the past. But we most certainly can learn from the mistakes of the past.
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.