Dear Editor:

In front of the Ellsworth Courthouse is a statue recognizing those residents that fought in the Civil War. To the south of town is a cemetery for Civil War Widows. For years the Battle Hymn of the Republic has been sung at Ellsworth High School graduations. The reason for mentioning these items is that I have noticed several Confederate battle flags flying and I am confused given the history of our town and state.

Perhaps some folks have the mistaken idea that the Confederate flag symbolizes some type of freedom. That idea demonstrates a cognitive dissonance that is incomprehensible. The flying of the Gadsden flag, the American flag, or the Navy’s first Jack all symbolize freedom from tyranny. These flags were all part of our Republic’s battle for freedom from the tyranny of the British. The Confederate flag represents repression and treason.

Chattel slavery was the economic base of the Southern states. The Civil War was an economic war where the agricultural businesses of the Confederacy were dependent on the labor of slaves much like a Kansas farmer is dependent on a tractor today. The fact that humans were treated worse than beasts is a stain on this nation’s history. This is not Critical Race Theory, but rather a fact that humans were bought, sold, and destroyed for the agricultural South to thrive economically. The Confederate flag represents the wealthy and powerful landed interests of the Confederate states and the desire to keep making money from the labor of slaves.

It would be interesting to see if any of the folks flying the Confederate flag today in Ellsworth are linked to the history of the Confederate states. My guess is that most can trace their family history to Central/ Eastern (Czech, German, etc.) Europe. The Union Army was composed of many recent immigrants that had migrated to our area for a better life than working for wealthy landowners and royalty in Europe. These men and women recognized that having the freedom to sell their labor or make a living off the land they owned/worked was freedom itself.

For many years I wore the American flag on my shoulder along with men and women of all races, religions, and socioeconomic statuses defending our freedoms. It offends me to my core anytime I see folks celebrating treason by displaying the flag of the Confederacy. The claim that the Confederate flag represents “History, not hate,’ is jingoism nonsense that has nothing to do with freedom or patriotism. Please take this symbol of treason/repression down

Please take this symbol of treason/repression down and join me in flying the American flag, Gadsden flag, and Navy Battle Jack to celebrate freedom and patriotism.

Bob Laubengayer

Ellsworth