It had seemed inconceivable that a little more than a month after Roof’s rampage, South Carolina’s lawmakers would vote overwhelmingly to remove the Flag from state grounds. This is exactly what lawmakers did. The Confederate flag on South Carolina’s state house grounds came down on July 10. A South Carolina Highway Patrol honor guard lowered the flag to the applause of a large crowd that had gathered for the ceremony. During the week, lawmakers had passed the removal bill and Governor Haley had signed it into law.

Those who advocated for the removal the Flag claimed victory. Yet, the lawmakers’ action did not affect the hundreds of monuments and statues found around the state that “celebrate the old Confederacy.” These advocates had won a Pyrrhic victory. It is my belief that the removal of the flag only served to distract us from the debate over our national identity.

Should New York City’s Mayor De Blasio remove all the statues and monuments in the city that recognize the accomplishments of so-called racists? Who will stand up and suggest to the City’s Council that it rename streets, highways, and even entire communities because of connections to so-called historical racists? Should Princeton University remove all mentions and remembrances of President Wilson because he was a racist? Should all remembrance of General Lee be erased from American history, even though he opposed slavery and was a fine gentleman in every sense of the word? Americans need to know when intolerance becomes the accepted norm.

The reasons why the Civil War erupted are a part of America’s history. The War itself and its consequences are historical events that should never be forgotten. I am convinced that the war defined us as a nation and people. If the Civil War had not been fought and won by the Union, there would not be the United States of America. Therefore, it is understandable why people have chosen to honor Civil War. Memorials to the war can be found in every community of the country. On the other hand, it is absurd to attribute social and economic injustice to the designs and colors on a piece of cloth.

Too often in a democracy, the will of the people can result in decisions based on intolerance. Often, these decisions are nothing more than attempts to socially and politically cleanse the society. What we should take away from Dylann Roof’s Manifesto is the need to work hard to redefine ourselves as Americans.