Take it down now

One is reluctant to exploit the Charleston tragedy for "political" purpose. But in the case of the confederate flag, the purpose is moral, not political. As usual, Ta-Nehisi Coates gets it almost exactly right. Just almost, because TNC wants to wedge this tragedy into his overarching narrative of plunder:

The Confederate flag’s defenders often claim it represents “heritage not hate.” I agree—the heritage of White Supremacy was not so much birthed by hate as by the impulse toward plunder. Dylann Roof plundered nine different bodies last night, plundered nine different families of an original member, plundered nine different communities of a singular member. 

But that's all rhetorical flourish, TNC. No plunder for Roof... just hate. Stephen Singleton, former pastor of Emanuel AME Church, had a better take on it, on NPR:

This isn't run-of-the-mill racism. This was closer to evil.

Also, let's get rid of the damn guns.