Is it nearly enough to simply remove just one symbol of hatred in America?

The recent tragedy of nine lives allegedly taken by a young man with an apparent hatred for certain kinds of individuals is one example of a much broader issue, in my (humble) opinion. I believe we are facing some of our own 'errors in judgment' regarding how we, as a collective society, ultimately raise our children. I believe it is about what we (adults, parents, teachers, etc.) fail to instill in our children that is haunting us. 

We allow them too much access to things that mesmerize, hypnotize, and otherwise flood their vulnerable minds with subject matter that is not conducive to teaching them some of the many far more positive, honorable, and noble attributes that they could aspire to.

This tragedy, like many similar scenarios, tends to bring out some positive improvements toward preventing future similar occurrences, and it is clear that the Confederate Flag has come under close scrutiny because of its association with the alleged perpetrator of the crime and what he seemed to promote in some of his 'back-story-info' that is now being revealed. The flag has become an instant symbol of something that many people say they want to abolish...HATRED. Not necessarily a specific kind of hatred, but hatred in general. And this is a very good thing, in my (humble) opinion.
 

However, I hope that all of us can learn what it really means to strive to abolish all hatred from our social fabric. First of all, of course, we might have to define what "hatred" means, as it relates to everyday life and everyday people and everyday situations and everyday struggles and stresses and frustrations...and...people who won't listen...and...people who don't obey the rules...and...people who think, look, behave in ways we might 'disapprove' of...and...people with emotional, mental, physical, psychological or other 'illnesses', 'syndromes', 'disorders', etc. 

Secondly, I think we need to look at ourselves in the mirror, to see if we are harboring any kind of hatred within that needs to be addressed and ultimately abolished, once we fully understand what 'hatred' means in the grand scheme of things. Am I silently harboring hatred for any persons? For any particular kind of persons? For any specific behaviors? For any particular appearances? For any religious choices? For any mental, emotional, or other illnesses? For any personal choices?  Of course, it can become difficult to know where to stop...or, perhaps we should NEVER stop trying to abolish hatred! Or...maybe it would be too difficult. Can't we just hate those we want to hate? Again...how do we define hatred?

President Barack Obama used the "N" word in an interview or podcast relating to the tragedy in South Carolina; some feel he used it to make a point, others say he used it more casually. I think his real point is that simply striving for "political-correctness" with regard to certain words, phrases, or even philosophical goals or aspirations or dreams can never be enough to actually make things fully and truly embedded in society's DNA, in society's collective and individual thinking and resulting behaviors. It takes years, decades, perhaps centuries for some things to change...if they can change at all, that is.
 

 

We will likely see many 'ripple-effects' from this experience, including more discussions about gun control and other politically motivated "opportunities". Seems like these situations also bring out the best in some who wish to 'ride the coattails' toward an agenda item that might need just such an occasion to solidify its "perceived need".  Time will tell just what will happen, but there's little doubt in my mind that our legislators and policy-makers will be busy again with finding ways to at least 'appease the people'. 

So, IS it nearly enough to simply remove just one symbol of hatred in America?

What about the many other symbols of hatred America still 'embraces'? I can't say I could make a list of them, but surely there are others, as we know that many things in America's past could be associated with some form of hatred, and there are still numerous 'historical reminders' of many of them throughout the nation. Do we need to remove them all? Do we need legislators to make new laws about them? Do we need to continue the empty 'politically-correct-means-it's-ok' mentality? 

Or...is it more important that we just learn to remove what they represent...from within ourselves?

Just sayin'...