Debate over Social Studies curriculum in Nebraska schools led to high emotions on the Unicameral floor this week.
During a filibuster, Omaha State Senator Ernie Chambers referred to the American flag as "a rag." Chambers has railed against the proposal because he believes it would lead to an unbalanced teaching of American history. The state senator says that the bill could require students to learn a skewed version of American history, that puts empahsis on white Americans.
"Senator Groene wants to talk about the meaning of respect. What do white people mean by it and what do black people mean by it? White people mean we've gotta bow down to what they tell us as black people to bow down to. I don't come here for this rag every day, and it's a rag. That's all it is to me. When you show a way to persuade Jews to sanctify and worship the swastika, when you show me that I'll come up here and stand while you all hypocritically pretend that rag is something that it definitely is not.“
Chambers' statements on the Unicameral floor garnered an emotional response from State Senator and veteran Tom Brewer, who says the flag represents those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.
"I think I speak for most of us that have worn the uniform. It rips our heart out to hear someone say that they refer to the falg as a rag because for those of us that have brought home those that we've lost it's hard to refer to the flag as a rag beacuse you have to fold it and you have give it to the parents. That's awful hard to do, and to not call them heroes, I don't know what else you'd call them. They gave everything."
Brewer's response came during a presentation of a different bill that addressed military recruiters.