To the editor:

I’m writing to express appreciation for Anna Hofstetter’s insight and courage in bringing up a difficult subject to the town council. I was disappointed in the several members of the town council who handled an important issue in a defensive and negative manner rather than engaging in an open and considered discussion about what might be best for our community.

I am also disappointed in the Brown County Democrat’s reporting of this debate which gave only the history of the thin blue line with its positive connotation of representing the courage of fallen officers while ignoring the negative connotations which have been connected to the symbol since at least 1978, namely that the thin blue line can refer to an unwritten code of silence used to cover up police misconduct and to enforce the unspoken rule that officers not speak to outsiders about hazing and harassment within the force itself. (See Wikipedia article, “Thin Blue Line.”) If the symbol is roughly 100 years old, then for at least 40 percent of that time the symbol has carried multiple meanings depending on who is looking at the symbol.

When the name of the BC Music Center was being debated, a name that many people liked was discarded because it could have been perceived to be offensive to people of color. No one proposing the name intended offense — the idea of music at sundown seems charming — but when it was pointed out that “Sundowner” communities were those once known as communities where Black people dare not linger after dark, the name was discarded because that was not the message that the publicly-owned music center wanted to convey. It was a commendable decision to choose a non-offensive name.

I think it is right that Ms. Hofstetter expects her fellow town council members to engage in an honest conversation about what is best for the community, what we want our community to represent and whether or not the symbol of the thin blue line belongs on public, government-funded property. After all, Nashville seeks to be a world-class tourist community that is hospitable to all. It would have been great if the town council had listened to Ms. Hofstetter’s concern and had a serious discussion rather than trying to discredit her leadership.

Sincerely,

The Reverend Mary W. Cartwright, Brown County

Editor’s note: I respectfully disagree with the opinion that the story gave only the positive history and ignored the negative connotations of this flag. This story cited an NPR story which tied the flag to an appearance at a white supremacy rally in Charlotte, N.C., and a quote was included that “many believe it connotes opposition to the goals of ending police brutality and systemic racism.” Our print story did not mention the flag’s connection to the “blue code of silence,” but I did add that reference to the online version before it posted, agreeing that that historical connotation needed to be made more clear.

 

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