I thank Sen. Glenn McConnell for his measured and thoughtful words on the placement of a Confederate battle flag at the State House in the April 25 Post and Courier. I appreciate his tone because most of the letters to the editor criticizing USC Coach Steve Spurrier's recent call for the flag's removal have been far too shrill, inflammatory, derogatory, obstinate and utterly misinformed to merit a response.

Since the senator eloquently stated his case, I'd like to respond as former first vice president of the South Carolina Conference of the NAACP and as one of those who drafted the resolution for the NAACP's interstate tourism sanctions.

The senator and I disagree on what constitutes "sovereign placement." The NAACP sanctions resolution called for the flag's removal "from all places of sovereignty" in anticipation of its possible placement in front of the State House. The NAACP maintains that the only flags that should fly in front of any public building - be it a post office, a school or the Statehouse - should be the flags of existing sovereign governments. The "bipartisan compromise" has failed to settle the issue for a couple of reasons.

The first is that the "compromise" was reached among members of the Senate in the early morning hours of the day when it was passed by the Senate. By the time it reached the House of Representatives, the vote shows that bipartisan and bi-racial support had waned considerably. The second is that "compromise" requires two opposing sides to meet in the middle. There was general agreement that the flag should be moved from its former locations. The compromise discussion thereafter included two opposing positions: that the flag should be removed from the grounds entirely, and that the only possible alternative placement was at the Confederate Soldier's Monument. By that measure, one side simply prevailed and the other side did not, and that's not real compromise.

The senator also rightfully acknowledges his role in the creation of the African-American history monument. I initially served on the planning committee, as well, but stepped away when it became apparent that the African-American monument would eventually become a tactical "quid pro quo" resource to justify the placement of the flag.

Having offered that clarification, let me add a few personal words. I share the senator's passion for tolerance and mutual respect, but those virtues go both ways. I therefore encourage the senator to refrain from accusing those who believe that the issue still needs resolution of "engaging in irresponsible grandstanding," asserting that we "make a living by fanning the flames of intolerance and by selling the bigotry of victimhood" or claiming that we see the flag as a "... convenient symbol ... to promote ... agendas, to increase membership, to raise funds or sell newspapers." Mutual tolerance and mutual respect require those on opposite sides of an issue to be tolerant and respectful of each other.

I have no interest, whatsoever, in obliterating the role of the flag in Southern history. The armies that marched, fought and died behind that flag are an interwoven element of the fabric of Southern history. That history, however, is of a nation formed in part to assure the right of states to maintain an economic system based on people owning people. Slavery is also a part of American history and the flag of the United States of America flew for a time over northern slavery. The United States of America, however, is still an existing sovereign government. The Confederate States of America no longer exists as a sovereign government.

While that history is a part of my history, the accompanying heritage is not my heritage. History is a matter of objective facts, while heritage involves a fond embrace and ownership of the causes tied to the facts. I respect the heritage of those whose ancestors fought, suffered and died for the cause they embraced and encourage them to display it by appropriate means. I can not, however, embrace their heritage.

There's adequate room on the grounds of the Statehouse for the placement of the flag in a position that clearly denotes history and not heritage, and I do hope that it's found and agreed to sooner rather than later so that the matter can be resolved and so that all South Carolinians can celebrate our shared history and offer appropriate respect to our diverse heritage.

The Rev. Joseph A. Darby is senior pastor, Morris Brown African Methodist Episcopal Church.