(WIAT) — It may be the week our nation celebrates its independence, but controversy has reigned supreme on the topics of freedoms and laws.
From the Confederate flag being removed at the State Capitol to the controversial Supreme Court ruling to allow same-sex marriage, WIAT 42 News spoke with a historian who put it all into perspective and explained what lies ahead.
It’s been a week of protests, rallies, and heated emotion, all while our country prepares to celebrate its independence, and the freedoms we gratefully enjoy.
That patriotic excitement has been overshadowed in recent days by the ongoing controversies over the confederate flag and the legalization of same-sex marriage.
Historian Chriss Doss said we shouldn’t be surprised that there are issues dividing our nation.
“It’s not frequent that there is a long period of time when some issue isn’t dividing up the country,” said Doss.
On the topic of same-sex marriage, Doss understands people’s opposition to it, but said everyone must recognize the Supreme Court was established to have the ultimate say.
“It’s not a perfect system, no one ever advocated as the perfect system, but it’s the best we’ve got,” said Doss.
Still, Doss doesn’t believe the court will ever be able to force pastors or other clergy to marry couples they don’t want to marry.
As for the Confederate flag controversy, Doss said its association with hate and racism are valid concerns.
“Since almost its earliest creation, the flag has been used in a negative sense,” Doss said.
However, he said freedom of speech must still be recognized.
“It may be gross and bad taste in every sense, but it doesn’t mean it’s illegal,” said Doss.
This week, the Confederate controversy led to a resolution to remove a monument at Linn Park, TV Land removing re-runs of the Dukes of Hazzard, the school mascot at Vestavia High School coming into question and Nascar asking fans to no longer wave confederate flags.
As for same-sex marriage, State Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore is encouraging people to petition congress for an amendment to the constitution, to state that marriage is between a man and a woman.
Copyright 2015 WIAT 42 News
