Editor,

Some more thoughts about the Confederate flag. I am a Southerner too and there are elements of my heritage I remember with enormous fondness. My heritage consists of soul food, swimming in clear spring water and sudden thunderstorms on warm afternoons. It does not consist of participation in the American Civil War. That ended long before I was born, although its memory lingers on. I am proud that my grandparents were Florida pioneers, but I am not proud of the possibility that some of my ancestors may have owned slaves.

Even as a child I was bewildered by the Confederate flag’s presence at football games, accompanied by the singing of Dixie. Growing up in the Jim Crow South, there were no black faces to be seen at those games. And later when many of the players were black and their parents might be seen among those in the stands, my feelings consisted of more than bewilderment.

There are some things about my heritage of which I’m not gleeful; there are some things for which I’m ready to apologize.

MARY GOOLSBY

Langley