Each of us deals with issues and problems every day or our lives. We often may disagree about an issue – it’s part of being human.

But it’s how we handle those disagreements and how we treat others that show true signs of our character.

Using that as a character measuring stick, we were proud of how our city leaders, specifically Mayor Larry L. &uot;Butch&uot; Brown, handled a potentially divisive problem in our community – one that could have easily festered had it not be resolved.

After a local minister took issue with the city flying a Confederate battle flag over the Natchez Visitor Reception Center, Brown made the executive decision to swap the flag out with the Confederate national flag.

The move should resolve the issue for good.

For history buffs, the new flag is as appropriate to fly beside the other six representing the past of Natchez as the Confederate battle flag. The new flag may not offend some people as much as the battle flag since the battle flag has been adopted by many reputed hate groups.

As Alderman Theodore &uot;Bubber&uot; West said our community has bigger issues than which flags fly over the visitor center.

West was absolutely right.

And we suspect issues such as our children’s educational future and the future of economic development in the area to be much higher on most folks’ lists of important things.

Brown’s action proves that the city is focusing in the right direction and working to tear down those old barriers that threaten to stand in the way of our entire community’s progress.