Confederate Flag Fight Rises Again in High School

WVLT-TV, Knoxville, Tennessee ^ | 1/17/06 | Stephen McLamb

[detsaoT]

Needless to say, Hollywood had a reputation for "embellishing" stories of the Klan's activities even that far back.

On second thought, this needs clarification:

As you've seen from the pictures I've posted (and countless others are available if you search Google Images for kkk march), the Klan had a tendency to prefer the Union flag, and had no history of using the "rebel" (Battle) Flag in any of their marches. Hollywood introduced this into Klan folklore in their epic tales of the Civil Rights struggle of the '50s and '60s, produced in the late '60s through today, all of which took an extremely ... negative ... view of Southerners, whites in particular. I think the adoption of the Battle Flag by racially-motivated groups is a direct result of Hollywood's movies, not something that was acurately documented by them.

In other words, the point I am trying to make is that Hollywood had the same reputation for "embellishing" events as they do now, and that this invention of storylines out of whole cloth ("Syriana") is nothing new.

[L98Fiero]

"I think everybody's got a right to wear what they want, but let's not kid ourselves about what it means"

Perhaps you shouldn't kid yourself about what it "means". What it means to you is likely to be the exact opposite of what it means to another.

THE CSA flag isn't as cool looking and doesn't carry the "rebel" connotation that these folks appear to be looking for. The "Rebel" flag (as I heard it called my whole life) is just that to meany Southerners and others. A symbol of rebelling against conventional society. Kind of a "Don't Tread on Me".

I was born and raised in the South. NEVER have I EVER known anybody to sport a CBF to intimidate blacks or to send any negative message. It's a uniquely Southern symbol which is why I believe it's hated so much.

You should know as well as I do, the American flag flies right beside the CBF at every Klan rally. That group does not define either flag.

[NJ_gent]

"can't believe so many Southerners still want to defend the right for their kids to wear the flag of the treasonous Confederacy to school."

The difference between the Confederacy and the American colonies is who won the war. Both fought for the freedom to govern themselves, but only the latter succeeded in battle. It wasn't treason; it was patriotism, and the response of the Federal/Union government was antithetical to the spirit of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.

[puroresu]

The proud descendants of those traitors (as you would describe them) are among the most patriotic Americans. It's the south, along with the rural heartland & Rocky Mountain states, that keeps the far left from turning America into another Sweden. Take the south out and this country will be dominated by the socialist voters from the northeast and the Pacific Coast. You should like those voters. They're the ones who get the most bent out of shape over the sight of a Rebel Flag.

[DaoPian]

Wearing a Confederate Flag whilst surrounded by antagonistic people, I'm only picking Oakland because it's recognizable as a place that a proud Rebel would likely hide his true feelings.

White, Black, Yellow, who cares really what your color is.

The only reason I brought up the tattooing is to eliminate the dress code issue. On the other hand, only the most committed Rebels would do so, the ones doing it for fashion would quickly be revealed. I love the challenge of free speech, how far would those people go to regulate the expression of these kids? You sensitive flaggers sure get upset easily. Ha!

[L98Fiero]

"The proud descendants of those traitors (as you would describe them) are among the most patriotic Americans..."

Great post!

[azhenfud]

The Confederate Banner will NEVER offend anyone.



Unless they LET it.

[wardaddy]

White, Black, Yellow, who cares really what your color is.

I bet you care. I bet it's the foundation of your persepctive. Scratch most South bashers around here and you'll find some sort of minnority identity resentment towards peckerwoods cloaked in highminded naivete.

[azhenfud]

"Waving that flag to show Southern heritage is no better than waving a Soviet flag to show ones Russian heritage."

ignorancegonerampant.

[DaoPian]

Totally sweet vest

[DaoPian]

What's a 'peckerwood cloaked in highminded naivete'?

That's pretty classic...I gotta work that in more often.

[groanup]

But if history or heritage is any guide, the Rebel flag has no business flying in Maryville, Blount County, Tennessee.

What history is that? The history of Nazi Germany? The history of the Iron Curtain? If the flag has no business flying anywhere then, by the same token, you have no business expressing your opinion on this board.

[DaoPian]

Yeeee Hawww

[NJ_gent]

"Actually I meant voluntary tattooing."

Would you find it offensive for someone to ask the same of German-born Jews living today?

"My categories do reflect my experience with these folks."

Then you have very limited experience with them. I grew up in the South. My experience has been quite different in most cases. Those I've known have often times been college educated, often small business owners, and generally very good, decent, friendly people. I'm sorry that there are so many poor, uneducated folks living nearby you, but that small sampling has nothing to do with Confederate supporters as a whole. Simply talking with people on this site should provide ample evidence of that.

"I think the claim of 'heritage' here is pretty weak as these people probably couldn't remember past one generation anyway."

It's rather difficult for anyone alive today to remember 150 years ago. Rather, heritage is about studying what happened, and why it happened in wherever it is you're from. In my home state of Virginia, we actually learned a great deal about that war in school from a different perspective than those in the North. I grew up learning about my heritage, but it wasn't until high school that I really began appreciating it and wanting to learn more about it.

"The laws of probability would likely prove my educational assumption"

What on Earth gave you that idea? As I said, my experience, growing up with real southerners, has been very different from your's. Of course, a lot of kids go off to college and end up coming out as brainwashed liberals, and of course they aren't going to have an ounce of pride in their heritage. Instead, they're going to hysterically decry the horrors of the world and generally be miserable, as liberals tend to be.

"Also, there is nothing wrong with being dirty or a racist."

I disagree. The former shows a lack of respect for one's self, and the later shows a lack of respect for others. Racism is inherently illogical and prone to inconsistency. Every attempt to "prove" claims made by racists has been plagued by extremely biased methodology that doesn't pass the laugh test.

"You Confederate Flaggers sure get defensive, I thought this was something you'd do irregardless of what others think?"

We're not defensive; merely tired of being lambasted by torrents of factually void and objectively false arguments telling us we should be ashamed of who we are and where we come from. We're tired of people being spoon-fed liberal lies about the "Civil War" and about the Confederate States of America. We're tired of being lumped in as a group of stereotypical "banjo kids" from Deliverance. It's not true, it's not right, and it's irritating to have to explain it to people over and over. That's my take on it, at least; others may feel differently.

[To Hell With Poverty]

"I thought this was something you'd do irregardless of what others think?"

"Irregardless" is not a word. Now, who's uneducated?

[DaoPian]

NewsFlash! Confederate Flags out, Bikinis in!
Something is Rising, and it ain't the South.

[NJ_gent]

""Irregardless" is not a word."

Err... actually it is. From Merriam-Webster:

"usage Irregardless originated in dialectal American speech in the early 20th century. Its fairly widespread use in speech called it to the attention of usage commentators as early as 1927. The most frequently repeated remark about it is that "there is no such word." There is such a word, however. It is still used primarily in speech, although it can be found from time to time in edited prose. Its reputation has not risen over the years, and it is still a long way from general acceptance. Use regardless instead." - m-w.com

[wardaddy]

Nice posting.

[OldSmaj]

Better run and hide, boy.

You're getting beat up pretty bad here.

My ol' Granny (God rest her soul.) always told me that if you found yourself in a hole, the best thing to do was to quit digging.

Put the shovel down, son.

[wardaddy]

btw...not sure if it's been noted but Maryville while very bucolic is also arguably one of the more liberal hamlets in the state.