Battle over Confederate flag hits highways

Yahoo News ^ | August 4, 2008 | Patrik Jonsson

[LAforme2008]

Chip Witte doesn't consider himself a Rebel. He doesn't hang Dixie battle flags in his living room, nor does he wear one on the back of his leather jacket.

Yet when the Tampa motorcycle mechanic saw the world's largest Confederate battle flag unfurl above the intersection of I-10 and I-4 in June, he felt a jolt of solidarity with the lost cause and lost rights that he says the battle flag represents. "I think it's great that they're allowed to fly it," says Mr. Witte.

Despite years of boycotts, schoolyard bans, and banishment from capitol domes, the Southern battle colors are flying, higher than ever.

[chaos_5]

OK, thats a good point. Thanks for clarifying your position.

[w1andsodidwe]

I am proud of all of the ancestors who made me who I am today.

And well you should be. As a Northerner, I have no problem with the confederate flag. I consider it a historic symbol.

However, I do have a problem with all the Mexican flags that I see flying in California. I am proud of the history of this country.

My ancestor are mostly from Germany. I do not fly the German flag. I live in this country.

[Diverdogz]

Never forget the last official flag to fly over the confederate states:

[Iron Munro]

We are constantly lectured by liberals that we cannot judge black conduct, black speech or black use of THE BAD NNN WORD because blacks have a different life experience, different view point and the NNN word has a different meaning for them than it does for whites.

Then, the same people say that the only valid meaning of the Confederate Battle Flag is the one they have invented and believe in.

They preach tolerance yet have no tolerance for those that are different than they and their clique.

They preach diversity but are aghast when others think differently or conduct themselves differently than they.

[silentreignofheroes]

Never flew that flag.

[Snurple]

I have a rebel plate on the front of my truck. Screw em.

[imfrmdixie]

The Confederates surrendering to the Republic certainly has not benefited you or your children or your children’s children. When the Confederates surrendered, your rights were given over to the federal government. What has that gotten you? You should be shouting thank yous to the ones that tried to change how our country is governed...not insulting them because they were not successful in their attempt.

[Snurple]

You can bite my rebel di_k.

[Canedawg]

Secession.

[imfrmdixie]

Never claimed to be a rocket scientist.

[Diverdogz]

They may as well have. Here are your heroes, conceding defeat.

[MamaB]

One of my great grandmothers was a NA. I have a cousin who does not want anyone to know that. I am proud of her. We can not find her parents but know she was a Cherokee and her kids were offered land in Indian Territory in either the 1800’s or early 1900’s. Only 2 took up the offer. I have a wife of a cousin who has been into genealogy a lot longer than I have and she has been all over the country talking with experts on Indians and no one can tell her anything. She did find someone who might be her dad and he is on the Dawe’s list so will just have to wait and see what develops. Genealogy is a fascinating hobby and I have 63 generations and over 22,200 names in my FTM.

[Diverdogz]

The Confederates surrendering to the Republic certainly has not benefited you or your children or your children’s children. When the Confederates surrendered, your rights were given over to the federal government. What has that gotten you? You should be shouting thank yous to the ones that tried to change how our country is governed...not insulting them because they were not successful in their attempt.

Some people beg to differ....

[imfrmdixie]

Read your history.

[stefanbatory]

there is no Confederate flag flying at I-4 and I-95...of this I can assure you...twice per day...

[silentreignofheroes]

A good man settin’ there.Reckon Pelosi is what you want.?

[silentreignofheroes]

Who knows where it’s at , if it’s there at all.

[Diverdogz]

Pelosi? No way. And she is relevant to the civil war how? I suppose you want the US to be two countries then. Treasonous.

[NTHockey]

Save your Confederate money - it may be the ONLY thing worth saving.

[silentreignofheroes]

Looks like pictures of my kin from back then.