Second Thoughts

Baldwin: Facts vs. heritage

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (89) takes issue with those who say the Confederate flag represents Southern pride and heritage.
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (89) takes issue with those who say the Confederate flag represents Southern pride and heritage.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin is the latest professional athlete to express his opinion on the history of the Confederate flag and what Southern heritage means, to the world and to himself.

Baldwin wrote an essay on Facebook on Monday detailing his views.

On the history of the flag: "First, let's discuss some facts of history. The flag that we are debating over is not even the original confederate flag. This information may seem irrelevant but it is important to point out for the sake of validity in my argument. Although it wasn't the official flag of the Confederate States of America, it was the battle flag used by Robert E. Lee, a general in the Confederate Army. So the flag at some point did indeed represent the 'rebel' cause. These 'rebels', for the most part, were fighting against the union in an effort to keep slavery in place. (You can check this fact by googling the Articles of Secession). For the sake of this argument, let's negate that simple fact. (Which is a key element to an argument a lot of supporters of the flag are making.) So what is the relevance of the flag without the context of the civil war?"

Baldwin then wrote about the flag's association with Southern pride and heritage:

"I'm sure there are those individuals that understand what the flag stands for and still support it. And to that group I say, may God bless you because I'm having a hard time with grace myself," Baldwin wrote. "As a 26 year old who grew up in the South around many supporters of the Confederate flag, I would like to ask those same people to answer this question: What does Southern pride and heritage really mean? Is it the sweet tea and hospitality? Or is this a sense of pride for the rebellious actions against a national government who had the audacity to say that secession was unconstitutional and slavery was wrong?"

Baldwin, a Stanford graduate, will enter his fifth season with the Seahawks this fall. He caught 66 passes for 825 yards and 3 touchdowns last season to help lead Seattle to its second consecutive NFC championship.

They said it

• From Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times: "Wyoming forward Larry Nance Jr. tweeted this three years ago: 'Gee I sure hope Kobe can keep his hands to himself in Denver this time. #rapist.' Guess who just got drafted by the Lakers?"

• From Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker, to The Tennessean, on why Jim Harbaugh will be a hit with recruits at Michigan: "Young kids love to have a coach who is crazy."

• From TBS's Conan O'Brien, after a fan at Wrigley Field caught a foul ball while feeding his baby: "People were shocked -- not that he was holding a baby, but because someone wearing a Cubs hat caught a ball."

He said it

From Omaha World-Herald columnist Brad Dickson:

• "The University of Kentucky has a new basketball logo. I believe it's an image of an 18-year-old declaring for a draft."

• "Fans are still complaining about the slow pace of play at the College World Series. An idea: fireworks shows between pitches?"

• "Nebraska tight end recruit Matt Snyder stayed in shape by playing rugby. He's ready for the less physical sport of Big Ten football."

SPORTS QUIZ

Who was Doug Baldwin's head coach at Stanford?

ANSWER

Jim Harbaugh.

Sports on 06/30/2015

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