Glasgow's Grand Ole Opry to decide on usage of Confederate flag through voting

Scotland's renowned country music club, Glasgow's Grand Ole Opry, is facing a heated debate regarding its use of the American Confederate flag. Last month, club officials decided to ban the flag, but members are now voting on whether to reinstate it. The flag originated during the Civil War in the 1860s and was associated with states in the South that practiced slavery. While many Americans now view it as a symbol of racism, some argue that it represents southern heritage. The Confederate flag has been a central feature of a flag-folding ceremony held at the end of each night at the venue. However, one anonymous member of the Opry criticized its use, stating that it is embarrassing that some members still advocate for the flag in modern times. The decision to remove the flag resulted in the president of the club resigning. In response to members' requests, an emergency meeting will be held tonight with a secret ballot vote. The club officials stated in a statement that the flag has offended visitors and members, causing disturbances and jeopardizing the safety of all involved. They also mentioned that numerous bookings and events have been canceled due to the flag's associations. The Confederate flag has been adopted by white supremacists, including the perpetrator of the church shooting in South Carolina in 2015 and participants in a right-wing rally in Virginia in 2017, which led to the death of counter-protester Heather Heyer. It was also displayed by Kevin Seefried, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, during the storming of the US Capitol in 2021. As a result of these incidents and efforts to challenge symbols of the Confederacy, the flag has been removed from public display in certain parts of the southern United States. While Mr. Trump defended the use of the Confederate flag as a form of freedom of speech, organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center argue that public institutions should not honor a government that fought to uphold white supremacy and enslavement. The Grand Ole Opry draws its name from the famous country music venue in Nashville, which is considered the home of country music. The Glasgow club holds a flag-folding ceremony called the "American trilogy" at the end of each club night, aiming to commemorate the estimated 620,000 Americans who lost their lives during the US Civil War. The club's website explains that the Southern flag, often referred to as the Confederate Battle flag, is folded because the South, being the major source of trends influencing their music, dress, and dance, supplied Scotland back then and continues to do so. Accompanied by Elvis Presley's 1972 hit "An American Trilogy," which combines the southern Confederacy's unofficial anthem, Dixie, with the northern Union's Battle Hymn of the Republic, the flag-folding ceremony also involves shots fired as a tribute. The occasion is described as a traditional salute to honor all the men and women lost from both sides of the Civil War.