Once again, the controversy over the flying of Confederate flags is casting a pall over an NCAA sporting event. As the Ole Miss softball team and campus prepare to host a regional playoff, the NAACP has demanded that the NCAA, in keeping with a 2001 policy, relocate the event to a locale that doesn’t display relics of slavery on campus.
The Ole Miss softball team won the SEC tournament and, as the conference champs, will host a postseason tourney on their campus.
Complicating the issue is the fact that the NCAA’s existing policy of denying events from schools in states which fly the flag only applies to preplanned tournaments, not ones in which the site is chosen based on a team’s performance. The university itself hasn’t flown the flag since 2015, but it exists as a government-run institution in a state that continues to display one.
Critics also point out, that while the flag may be gone from campus, the spirit of the Confederacy is still celebrated with the school’s team name, the Rebels:
To that point, NCAA associate director Gail Dent stated, “Championships where student-athletes earn the opportunity to play a championship on their own campus are not covered in the Confederate flag policy. This distinction is consistent with the NCAA’s commitment to student-athletes.”
The NAACP, understandably, questions the validity and intent of a policy that allows schools to “earn the opportunity” to host events while flying symbols of subjugation and suffering on their campus. Nonetheless, a Derrick Johnson, the president of the Mississippi chapter of the NAACP, says that the NCAA has a strong track record of opposing racism, which calls into question their semantic approach to policy in this instance.
“If the NCAA truly oppose states where the confederate flag is flown prominently, then they must oppose it in all instances where symbols of racism are prevalent,” Johnson stated.
Despite the flag’s removal from state campuses in 2015, the following year 12 bills were enacted to remove the flag entirely from any government or official use. All 12 bills died, and one effort was ignited to return the flag to all state campuses, though that push was not successful.
Say goodbye or make amends.Image via Canva - Photo by Inna Postnikova
Friends recording on a camcorder.Image via Canva - Photo by capturenow
This is an AI-generated image using the language "A beautiful woman with long eyelashes and red lips surrounded by swirls of colorful makeup." AI/Canva/Elyssa Goodman 
Wiman hiding her face behind a bunch of cashCanva
A mansion and its reflection in the swimming poolCanva
Salzburg at nightCanva
Fancy homeCanva
Happy volunteersCanva
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.