Muncie wrong to ban flags

The Muncie City Park Department has decided to ban some flags while allowing others in its campground at Prairie Creek Reservoir. Confederate flags, NASCAR flags, Colts flags and Pacers flags are among those banned, while only the American and POW-MIA flags will be allowed.\nThe shrewd move involves banning the Confederate flag after a black family complained of racial insensitivity at the campground last year. Mayor Dan Canan says because the United States is at war, it is appropriate to only allow the American and POW-MIA flags. \n Canan told The Star Press in Muncie, "If somebody wants to make an issue out of that, let them go ahead."\n Mr. Mayor, allow us.\n At the heart of the ban is the Confederate flag. The city does have an unfortunate, racially contentious past. We abhor the fact that the Confederate flag can be morphed into a divisive, archaic symbol. But banning flags from state campgrounds will hardly heal those wounds.\nSome believe Muncie may have banned almost all flags to escape accusations that they are discriminating against a particular viewpoint.\nWhat they have done is nevertheless discrimination by favoring and allowing one viewpoint above all the rest. We must recognize all flags as forms of speech protected by the First Amendment. To ban certain flags while allowing others to fly, no matter what message they convey and to allow some flags is a serious blunder.