10/14/2003

Back to art matters tomorrow.

With respect to all this flag news (below), I'm thinking that to officialdom, the flag has a political and historic meaning; and to the students, it has idiosyncratic, highly personal meanings. The disconnect is in the students rejecting a single, standard interpretation of what the flag means. I like dissent very much. But I also respect the schools wanting absolute control over questions pertaining to good order. Knowing a little about the way of the world, at least this corner of the world, I wouldn't be surprised if Confederate flags are approved for display in a special, secured area 200 feet from the school house. This is how protestors are handled by the Secret Service on presidential trips.