I have stayed out of this partially because I am not a native Southerner but was born and raised a Westerner. I went to completely integrated schools from elementary through high school. In the military, I flew with both black pilots and co-pilots and had them, as well as maintenance support, as friends. I also have three bi-racial (black) grand daughters that I love most dearly. I say all this before I express my opinion on the Confederate flag flying at the memorial. The flag should be considered a part of the overall memorial to Confederate soldiers who gave their lives for a cause, flawed as it was, that they believed in. If you wish the flag to fly on private property, let the county deed the small plot of land to the founders of the memorial. A memorial is just that, a memorial and please don't tell me the flag wasn't always a part of it. The point is, it is now, and should remain so. Racism should not be a part of this debate. The debate should be about what is done to honor those who went before us.