Create a national Day of Reconciliation. Let's retire the Confederate flag and raise something new we are all proud of.

The Confederate battle flag carries too much baggage of slavery, hate and treason to be helpful nowadays. But while the Confederate flag is mercifully flushed away, couldn't we craft something new, all of us, North, South, and West to further some healing? On a national Day of Reconciliation, we could celebrate the fact that it's patriotic to let grudges go, and we could all take our turns saying "I am sorry" and "I forgive you." It's not a time to force anything, if you're not ready to apologize, or accept an apology, then don't, but please let's create a little space for the idea that Reconciliation is an American value, and that maybe just maybe forgiveness and compassion can help us get where we want to go. Let's take that flag down, and put up something we can all be proud of.