WSET.com - ABC13Two Different Protests, One Similar Message by Mark Kelly

In two weeks I reported on two protest stories that revolved around our Founding Fathers and their interpretation of the First Amendment. The protests I covered were in different towns – one in Lexington, one in Chatham - but the message they sent was exactly the same. In Lexington, City Council proposed an ordinance banning the flying of all flags in public space downtown, except the U.S. flag, Virginia flag and Lexington flag.

If passed, that ordinance would ban flying the Confederate flag downtown. The pro-ordinance folks say the confederate flag is a symbol of hatred and should not fly in public space; whereas, the anti-ordinance people say the confederate flag is our southern heritage and Lexington should proudly fly it.

In Chatham, the protest was not over a flag; it concerned religious speech. The ACLU in Richmond told the county board of supervisors it could not recite a Christian prayer before its public meeting – a 200 year-old practice, according to Chatham residents – which really angered residents.

Many protestors in Lexington and Chatham invoked our Founding Fathers and our Constitution. Interestingly, both sides of the debate – pro-flag, anti-flag; pro-prayer, anti-prayer – said the Founding Fathers were on their side. And, ya know what – both sides were right; not one side had a monopoly on Founding Father quotes.

So, what does that say about the men who started this country and their vision for it?

The Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Federalist Papers, countless letters between the Founders show they had competing ideas for America too. They debated what America should look like, something we continue to do today.

The reality is, in my opinion, Americans will never stop debating – and we shouldn't. As long as the debate stays a debate and doesn't turn in to a fight or a war, both sides of any debate are being true to the Founding Fathers. After all, they disagreed too.