Replace Grovetown noose with American flag

Editor:

At a residence on Wrightsboro Road in Grovetown, there is an effigy. Osama bin Laden is hanging with a noose around his neck. Lynching was the preferred method of capital punishment in the West. Lynching, however, is a symbol of injustice, racism and hatred in the South. Lynching is more akin to vigilantism that justice, and it is a reminder of the strange fruit hanging from Southern oaks and pines.

The Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center has aroused patriotism among Americans. However, this patriotism is multi-cultural; it is felt by all. The United States chose the flag as the national symbol of unity against the evil of terrorism.

Lynching is not a national symbol of patriotism; it is an insensitive display of hatred and bigotry. I urge the residents of Columbia County to be inclusive rather than exclusive in their show of support for Americas war on terrorism. The flag is inclusive; the hangmans noose in exclusive.

I urge the residents of this home to replace this effigy with a flag. All Americans stand behind the flag.

Pastor Earl J. Griffin

Rehoboth Ministries International

Grovetown