The ugly symbolism of a Confederate flag in the Capitol

I applaud the FBI for arresting the man who carried the Confederate flag into the Capitol during the riot. He has been identified by name in the media, but I’m not going to mention his name here so he doesn’t come to be seen as a martyr. On Jan. 6, 2021, for the first time in American history, the Confederate flag breached federal property and was flown on Capital Hill. Even the Confederacy never managed to achieve this abominable act.

This tells us something about the true nature of certain citizens in our nation. It also serves as a reminder of the long way we have to go as a nation to eradicate racism and hatred. I hope we can learn from this mistake and keep working for progress in our country.

Jaisnav Rajesh, Naperville

Trump’s speech not protected

A Republican member of Congress during Wednesday’s House impeaching debate argued that Trump’s speech was protected by the 1969 Supreme Court decision “Brandenburg v. Ohio.” He got it wrong. Before the Brandenburg decision, speech was protected by the 1st Amendment unless it posed a “clear and present danger” to incite violence, etc. In Brandenburg, however, the Supreme Court raised the bar on government by enhancing the test to “clear and present danger . . . that is imminent.

The facts in the Brandenburg case did not meet that test; therefore the speech was protected from government restriction. The facts in Trump’s case, however, are very different — based on the location of the speech, the timing of the speech and his instructions to the crowd to head directly to the Capitol.

Nicholas Aharon Boggioni, Lincoln Square

We won’t forget GOP betrayal

After almost four years of scorched-earth tactics, Republicans in Congress say that they want to cool the rhetoric. They warn ominously the impeachment of President Donald Trump is “divisive.”

Seriously? How stupid do they think we are? Or, rather, how short do they think that our memories are?

My memory is quite good. I will remember for a long time which party’s representatives in Congress supported their idol’s desire to throw out the results of the 2020 presidential election rather than honoring their oaths to defend the Constitution and, by doing so, standing with the American people and their democracy.

Curt Fredrikson, Mokena

So leave already

If some of the states want to break away and form their own nation, let them go! Most of those states get more money from the United States government than they pay in. The rest of us would save money, and they could have a nation like they want! Maybe they wouldn’t bother the rest of us again.

Karen Wagner, Rolling Meadows