But the participants in one event are not likely to be at the other, largely because they have differing views of Alabama's past as well as its future. It manifests itself from time to time in different ways. There are powerful undercurrents and what we call history is a manifestation of those undercurrents bursting through the surface. One of those undercurrents was the civil rights movement, born in Alabama with the black boycott of Montgomery's segregated bus system in the 1950s. Sanders would not talk about whether he agreed or disagreed with Saturday's Montgomery rally, but it's safe to say that most who will come to Selma on Sunday will not feel much common ground with the battle flag bearers.
States rights is a longstanding American principle.
States rights was the argument that countless Southern leaders, such as Gov. George Wallace, used to defend segregation against federal attempts to overturn it. Those memories are still very much on the minds of many black Southerners, and they have transmitted those memories to their children. Symbols of all sorts can be misappropriated. But he also said the Montgomery rally may be part of the recurring Southern assertion of pride against Yankee stereotyping and condescension. I don't remember people getting this exercised over the flag in the past.