The Confederate battle flag remains an intensely debated topic in Crestview.
Here's what readers said about the flag fluttering above Confederate Park on East First Avenue, and what they thought of the City Council's Aug. 6 special meeting on the issue.
Flag debate a 'dog and pony show'
We all agree that Crestview has 99 problems and this flag should not be one of them.
Unfortunately, the NAACP is pushing this issue instead of going into the community and figuring out why our kids are being bombarded with drugs, why gangs are appealing to our children and why a 7th Special Forces sergeant is (allegedly) involved in a gang-related shooting of one of our community children.
That flag hasn't taken away anyone's right to an education, nor has it taken away a single job from anyone that wanted/needed one
…It's all a dog and pony show to divert attention away from the real issues that deserve attention.
Martha F. Lundy
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See how it all started
The past is over, but should not be forgotten. We should be able to look back and see ( in a positive way) where we are today.
It should make everyone feel great to be able to look back and see where and how it all started, and see now where we are and be happy that we all have learned from mistakes.
If we can't see what happened before, then how can we see that we have learned from our mistakes?
Carol Baker Hughes
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No racist vibe at all
As a black man and newer resident of Crestview, I loved the community talking about an issue that concerns us. As I mingled with all the people, I felt the passion in their voices and didn't get a racist vibe at all.
Roger Perry
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A meeting highlight
It was awesome to hear (an anti-Confederate flag) history professor with two degrees in history be yelled at that he needed to "learn his history."
Patrick J OMalley
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Why does this even matter?
Okay, so I have to admit, I've lived in Crestview for almost 30 years and didn't even know there was a Confederate flag until everyone started throwing a fit over it.
My problem with this whole scenario is that the past is in the past! Learn from it and move on. This applies to both sides. Instead of division here about something that happened 150 years ago, why are we not working together to teach our children to respect each other and work together?
I was raised to love my neighbor, no matter their race, sex, religion, etc. I have worked really hard to pass that on to my children, too.
So much time and energy spent on a symbol that means different things to different people. I wish I understood why this even matters.
Sara La Roche
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Everyone's a historian
Everyone thinks they are an activist and historian when it comes to the flag. I guess they skipped economics and civics class.
Elizabeth Andrews
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About the Confederate flag…
It is no different than a monument honoring MLK, George (Washington) Carver or Rosa Parks.
Jeff Williams
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Examples of white privilege
When a white lady walks into Wal-Mart to buy hair supplies, everything she needs is right there in the aisle marked hair products.
A black lady has to go to an ethnic hair place because Wal-Mart doesn't carry her type, and things like (bandages) come in a color mostly toned to white skin.
History in school is mostly about what white people did, with very little about blacks even though we accomplished much more than written in history.
These are some examples of white privilege.
Anthony Evans
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Tired of being called racist
White people struggle just as much as anybody else in any race. More so now that the likes of the NAACP and (similar) groups make it a point to push that down people's throat.
Now, automatically, if we are white and disagree with another race, we are racist… I am so beyond being called a racist by people in groups that are for the advancement of colored people.
Have you ever taken a moment to realize this group's name is the epitome of racist?
Dorrian Vance
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Some residents are concerned about invocations, or public prayers, before Okaloosa County School Board meetings. Here's some feedback we received on that issue.
Prayer time should include all faiths
I would hope that, just as the school district serves all its students, those wishing to keep prayer would work to include all people of faith.
Raymonda Schwartz
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Try moments of silence
Sounds like a good idea to me: take away all religion in school or accept them all.
Why can't there be generic moments of silence instead of Christians harping about how they are being stomped on and should have only their religion in school?
Stephanie Wahner
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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HUBBUB: Crestview's Confederate flag debate a 'dog and pony show, prayer time should include all faiths