THE STAFF is right--the Confederate flag and swastika are insensitive symbols that offend many students. The staff is right--the insensitive buffoons who hung them should take them down. The staff is right--Harvard should not force them to do so.
But we should not call for the voluntary removal of these symbols merely because they offend people. Pink triangles offend people. Black Power posters offend people. The American flag offends people. We would never call for any of these to be taken down.
In a community dominated by racists, a Confederate flag or a swastika might not offend anyone. But they would still be offensive symbols. Both of them would still symbolize oppression, torture, discrimination and hatred. I would still call for their removal.
Kerrigan, McCormack and Townsend may not be racists. But their symbols represent everything The Crimson despises in the human spirit. Their public display should not be condoned. Kerrigan, McCormack and Townsend should clean up their act--not because it's the nice thing to do, but because it's the right thing to do.
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