History is being written on YouTube, not by victors

Who gets to write history?

The Confederate flag debate has now moved to Congress, where Democrats tried to ban Confederate flag souvenirs from the gift shops at national parks, and then Republicans tried to undo the ban and restore the Confederate souvenirs.

Clearly there are some members of Congress who feel this attack on the Confederate flag is somehow an attempt to “wipe away 150 years of Southern History.”

Related: South Carolina’s Confederate flag comes down Friday

That’s what puzzles me – that anyone could think that’s even possible.

Once upon a time, history may have been written by the victors, but today, history is written by anyone with a YouTube channel.

I found a video of a white guy riding his motorcycle who says the Confederate flag stands for nothing but good times.

“When I picture the rebel flag this is what I see: Kids in their lifted trucks, cans of dip, fishin’ and hanging out, having fun,” the man said.

And I found a black guy carrying the flag at a Confederate cemetery who says it’s about peace, love, and racial harmony.

“It is a great honor for me to be here today, sons of former slaves sitting down at the table of brotherhood with the sons of former slave owners,” he said. “Every time I pick this flag up, I’m at a gathering of life.”

And unless the Supreme Court changes its mind, they will be free to wave that flag, or burn it – provided it’s their flag – no matter what Congress does.