MVike28
right around the ACC
http://deadspin.com/nfls-benjamin-watson-remove-the-confederate-flag-for-t-1713135379
In a post on his Facebook page, Watson acknowledges right up front that the flag means different things to the people who fly it—“not everyone who embraced the flag embraced prejudice and supremacy alike.” But to get along in this society, it helps to be aware of what it means to those who see it. He recalls moving to South Carolina as a teenager:
I can remember visiting a teammate’s home for the first time my sophomore year. Frank, a white offensive guard on my high school football team, had quickly become my closest friend, welcoming me, the new guy, when others weren’t so quick to do so. As I walked into his room, I froze, staring uncomfortably at the large Rebel flag, hanging above his bed. I remember the lump in my throat as I briefly attempted to convey in the most non-condemning way, what the flag represented to me and many others like me. Because of the lingering heaviness of the moment, I can’t recall much after that but I do remember how valued I felt, when I returned to Frank’s home some time later and the flag was gone! He didn’t have to, but because he cared about our friendship, because he cared about me, he empathetically removed the offensive banner on my behalf and maybe for the first time heard how painful that symbol could be. That day was a turning point in our relationship and today; Frank continues to be one of my best friends.
In a post on his Facebook page, Watson acknowledges right up front that the flag means different things to the people who fly it—“not everyone who embraced the flag embraced prejudice and supremacy alike.” But to get along in this society, it helps to be aware of what it means to those who see it. He recalls moving to South Carolina as a teenager:
I can remember visiting a teammate’s home for the first time my sophomore year. Frank, a white offensive guard on my high school football team, had quickly become my closest friend, welcoming me, the new guy, when others weren’t so quick to do so. As I walked into his room, I froze, staring uncomfortably at the large Rebel flag, hanging above his bed. I remember the lump in my throat as I briefly attempted to convey in the most non-condemning way, what the flag represented to me and many others like me. Because of the lingering heaviness of the moment, I can’t recall much after that but I do remember how valued I felt, when I returned to Frank’s home some time later and the flag was gone! He didn’t have to, but because he cared about our friendship, because he cared about me, he empathetically removed the offensive banner on my behalf and maybe for the first time heard how painful that symbol could be. That day was a turning point in our relationship and today; Frank continues to be one of my best friends.
