Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Motel's choice of flag upsetting to some
Madison County Record ^ | November 2008 | Kyle Mooty

Posted on 12/01/2008 11:13:21 AM PST by fella

Motel's choice of flag upsetting to some

by Kyle Mooty Madison County Record Editor

The owners of a Huntsville motel insist their decision to replace the United States flag with a Confederate flag following Barack Obama's victory last week in the Presidential election had nothing to do with race.

In a written statement to The Record, the owners of the Faubus Motel did say that the reason for the change in flags was politically driven.

The motel is not associated with its former owner, Alta Faubus, who sold the motel in the 1980's. It has been owned by James and Linda Vandiver since 1996.

Ellen Kreth and Fara Faubus, Alta Faubus' grandchildren and owners of The Madison County Record, stated that they have no association with the Faubus Motel and do not agree with the Vandivers' political views or the flying of the Confederate flag at the motel.

A Fayetteville television station reported the motel's choice of flags following Obama's victory. The station inserted interviews from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and former Secretary of State Colin Powell into the story, talking about the historical significance of Obama being elected.

Some neighbors of the motel have complained to The Record and to the TV station of what the flag symbolizes.

James Vandiver said he had flown the flag before and that he had not heard any negative comments, then said he would only respond to questions in a written statement. The Vandivers issued the following statement to The Record on Tuesday morning:

"On election night, we lowered Old Glory from our flag pole because we are no longer the land of the free and the home of the brave (except for our military)," the letter stated. "The sound principals for which Old Glory stood have been abandoned. We raised the rebel flag of the Old South in protest. Since political correctness forces people into a limited frame of reference, we wish to say this loud and clear, this was not about race. We resent having a Marxist in the White House no matter color he is. If Mr. Obama had tried to enter the White House as an ordinary citizen, he would not qualify for a security clearance because of his past associations. We decided if Obama can refuse to properly salute the flag and his buddy, Bill Ayers, could stand on the American flag in a trash-filled alley, then we could take Old Glory down in honor and respect.

"We are angry with a biased, agenda-driven media. We are angry that for the past eight years President Bush and the Republican Party have been blamed by the Democrats and their cohorts in the media for the incomplete and irresponsible way that the group A.C.O.R.N. let down potential voters in the state of Florida in 2000. A.C.O.R.N. has used our tax dollars to carry out, contrary to the law, a partisan "get out the vote" effort of scandalous proportions. The other arm of this nefarious organization bullies and harasses banks and lending institutions to make the risky loans that have jeopardized our nation's financial security. We are outraged that the Democrats, who portray themselves as the great defenders of the night to vote, did not feel compelled to ensure the rights of our military to be guaranteed their full privileges during the election.

"Old Glory is still displayed on our American owned and operated sign. So far, the response from our clientele has been supportive and positive."

Huntsville Mayor Larry Bates had not heard of the motel's choice in flags until Monday.

"I don't have any comment other than to each his own," Bates said. "I wouldn't tell Jim not to do it. It's strictly up to him. It's on his property. The city won't be flying (a Confederate flag)." The motel, located next to Pizza Hut, has a standing sign in front of its offices that reads "American Owned and Operated."

Jessie Bryant, an African-American from Fayetteville who is ending a 14-year run as a member of the Washington County Quorum Court, grew up through the segregation era. Bryant, born in 1926, was asked about her reaction to the Confederate flag being flown at the Huntsville motel.

"It's just his way of expressing his dislike for what happened. If that's his way of protesting what happened, he has the right," Bryant said. "He has the privilege of changing the flag. It's his way of expressing how he feels. It's obviously a dilemma with him. He feels a little bit of his heritage has been taken away, which is not true at all. In America, he still has the same privileges of anybody else. There is nothing we can say or do about it."

Bryant's son, Arkansas State Trooper Louis Bryant, was killed by Wayne Snell during a traffic stop in 1984 on U.S. Highway 71 between De Queen and Texarkana. That stretch of highway is now known as the Trooper Louis Bryant Highway.


TOPICS: History; Local News
KEYWORDS: america2point0; cbf; crossofsaintandrew; dixie; flag; obamanation; ohplease; protest; saintandrewscross; slavery; weirdcoincidence
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141-148 next last
The letters to the editor on this story are something else.
1 posted on 12/01/2008 11:13:21 AM PST by fella
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: fella

US flag, Confederate flag, and flaunting American ownership?

Obviously racist.

And jingoistic!


2 posted on 12/01/2008 11:21:20 AM PST by CE2949BB (Fight.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fella

If it upsets the permanently offended, queasy or unsettled, I suggest they quit whining and NOT stay at the hotel. How hard is it to NOT spend money there?


3 posted on 12/01/2008 11:21:43 AM PST by mgc1122
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fella

I guess they have the right to fly whatever flag they want. But replacing the Stars and Stripes with a Confedreate Battle Flag is probably in poor taste.


4 posted on 12/01/2008 11:22:01 AM PST by Cyber Liberty (Pretending the Admin Moderator doesn't exist will result in suspension.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: manc; GOP_Raider; TenthAmendmentChampion; snuffy smiff; slow5poh; EdReform; TheZMan; ...

ping


5 posted on 12/01/2008 11:23:30 AM PST by stainlessbanner
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CE2949BB

A business in America owned by Americans? Tsk,tsk! What would the global commmunity say?


6 posted on 12/01/2008 11:25:10 AM PST by liberalism is suicide (Communism,fascism-no matter how you slice socialism, its still baloney)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: fella

Well, it’s nice to know that someone is joining the fray.

On inaguration day, Ole’ Glory will not be raised on the homestead flagpole. She will be retired with honor.

Instead we will raise: {from the top},,a 4’ x 6’ flag of Bonnie Blue, below her will be a 3’ x 5’ flag of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s HQ, below her will be a 3’ x 5’ flag of the Fifth Virginia Cavalry, Company A, CSA [a unit in which an ancestor rode and fought]


7 posted on 12/01/2008 11:26:00 AM PST by fifthvirginia (keeping their memory green)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fella
He feels a little bit of his heritage has been taken away, which is not true at all. In America, he still has the same privileges of anybody else. There is nothing we can say or do about it."

He didn't say his heritage was taken away from him. He said his nation has been overtaken by a radical marxist element that disrespects the flag by trashing it in an alley way and throwing bombs at the Pentagon.


8 posted on 12/01/2008 11:26:42 AM PST by weegee (Sec. of State Clinton. What kind of change is it to keep the Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton Oligarchy?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fella
I think I need to come up with a reason to go to Arkansas and spend a few nights in this motel.

Let freedom ring!

9 posted on 12/01/2008 11:27:20 AM PST by basil (Support the 2nd Amendment--buy another gun today)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fella

They should’ve flown the Bonnie Blue or the Stars and Bars instead of the Battle Flag. It would’ve taken months for liberals to figure out and even longer to conjure up a slight.


10 posted on 12/01/2008 11:27:24 AM PST by Doohickey (The more cynical you become, the better off you'll be.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fella

It is even stranger that they went and asked Ms. Bryant about it. The guy who killed her son was up to his neck in the alleged Mena/Clinton stuff. When they put him to death, he told Jim Guy Tucker to look over his shoulder (before JGT was arrested). Strange.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Wayne_Snell


11 posted on 12/01/2008 11:27:46 AM PST by Soliton (This 2 shall pass)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fella
"On election night, we lowered Old Glory from our flag pole because we are no longer the land of the free and the home of the brave (except for our military)," the letter stated. "The sound principals for which Old Glory stood have been abandoned. We raised the rebel flag of the Old South in protest. Since political correctness forces people into a limited frame of reference, we wish to say this loud and clear, this was not about race. We resent having a Marxist in the White House no matter color he is. If Mr. Obama had tried to enter the White House as an ordinary citizen, he would not qualify for a security clearance because of his past associations. We decided if Obama can refuse to properly salute the flag and his buddy, Bill Ayers, could stand on the American flag in a trash-filled alley, then we could take Old Glory down in honor and respect.

Amen brother!

12 posted on 12/01/2008 11:27:54 AM PST by pgkdan ( All Catholics should know supporting Obama constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cyber Liberty

Morons perpetuating a stereotype that accomplishes nothing


13 posted on 12/01/2008 11:28:49 AM PST by PurpleMan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Cyber Liberty

I’ll tell you what is in bad taste, I saw a tattered American flag that had been left out in the rain numerous times and was torn at the edges flying next to a perfectly maintained McDonalds’ flag.

Let me know if you ever see a McDonalds’ with a tattered corporate flag flying over the business. That wouldn’t set right with the corporate office. But an American flag can be treated like trash in this country.


14 posted on 12/01/2008 11:28:58 AM PST by weegee (Sec. of State Clinton. What kind of change is it to keep the Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton Oligarchy?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: CE2949BB

US flag, Confederate flag, and flaunting American ownership?

Obviously racist.

And jingoistic!
______________________

I’ll add xenophobic to that list! I consider the South a different country, altogether, and love it. Wouldn’t live anywhere else....’cept Alaska, of course.


15 posted on 12/01/2008 11:30:23 AM PST by RushIsMyTeddyBear
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: weegee
I’ll tell you what is in bad taste, I saw a tattered American flag that had been left out in the rain numerous times and was torn at the edges flying next to a perfectly maintained McDonalds’ flag.

You see that again, take a picture and send it to me. I'll host it on my webspace and post it here numerous times. Or I'll tell you how to do it yourself.

16 posted on 12/01/2008 11:31:49 AM PST by Cyber Liberty (Pretending the Admin Moderator doesn't exist will result in suspension.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Cyber Liberty
But replacing the Stars and Stripes with a Confedreate Battle Flag is probably in poor taste.

He explained why he did it in the article.

I take it that you don't like the Confederate Battle Flag................

17 posted on 12/01/2008 11:33:04 AM PST by cowboyway ("The beauty of the Second Amendment is you won't need it until they try to take it away"--Jefferson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: fella

The VanDivers were able to get out information on ACORN, Obama’s marxist ideas, etc. through a mainstream media vehicle.

More power to them.

BTW, to those who cry “racism”, the Dixie flag has nothing to do with racism. It is about the South’s wishes to be autonomous.


18 posted on 12/01/2008 11:33:52 AM PST by hoe_cake (" 'We the people' tell the government what to do, it doesn't tell us." Ronald Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fella

Replacing the US flag with a Confederate flag specifically in response to Obama? Yeah, it probably IS about race. But the point ought to be that it’s the motel owners’ right to fly what they like on their own property and espouse whatever message they like. The consequences from any lost revenue are their own.


19 posted on 12/01/2008 11:35:12 AM PST by Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus (Nihil utile nisi quod honestum - Marcus Tullius Cicero)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Doohickey
They should’ve flown the Bonnie Blue or the Stars and Bars instead of the Battle Flag. It would’ve taken months for liberals to figure out and even longer to conjure up a slight.

Personally I prefer the direct approach.

After all, the Confederate Battle Flag is also know as the Rebel Flag and he's rebelling against this incoming marxist regime.

20 posted on 12/01/2008 11:36:00 AM PST by cowboyway ("The beauty of the Second Amendment is you won't need it until they try to take it away"--Jefferson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141-148 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson