Posted on 11/12/2001 6:27:35 PM PST by shuckmaster
The issue of Confederate History Month may have decided the outcome of the gubernatorial elections. The issue championed by the Sons of Confederate Veterans followed the politicians all across the state. In fact, the single most popular sticker for the past year was the "I Support Confederate History Month" lapel sticker. Since the Wakefield Shad Planking in April, more than 175,000 people have worn the stickers at almost every social and political gathering in Virginia.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans support education and equality. We believe firmly in the U. S. Constitution and feel everyone should be granted the same rights and privileges. Without such, the freedoms our forefathers established and fought for will die.
Last year Governor Gilmore challenged us to prove that more Virginia citizens wanted Confederate History Month than just our membership. In response to Governor Gilmore's challenge, we gathered sixty thousand petition signatures in less than eight weeks. Governor Gilmore then ignored our petition and refused to meet with us even though me continued to meet on several occasions with the NAACP, our primary antagonist when it involves Confederate issues. He acted in a vacuum when he should have followed the example of Chesterfield County, who recently won top honors from the Virginia Municipal League for their open and honest dialogue about Confederate History Month. These dialogues resulted in Chesterfield County unanimously passing a proclamation declaring April as Confederate History Month. Instead, Governor Gilmore issued a weak Civil War Remembrance Proclamation, which we feel was an insult to the honor of our ancestors. This was a blatant politically correct attempt to pander to minority voters and did nothing to bring citizens together as he claimed.
Thousands of Virginians were angered when former Attorney General Mark Earley supported this Civil War Remembrance Proclamation and appealed our hard won Sons of Confederate Veterans license plate case. These events coupled with Governor's Gilmore's challenge led us to institute the sticker program to illustrate that there is widespread public support in Virginia for our issues. Without any doubt, we have proven that there is overwhelming support for Confederate History Month. As Virginia Division Commander I pledge that our issues will remain a primary part of every future Virginia political campaign. We will demand fair and equitable treatment and will accept nothing less from our elected officials. I strongly suggest to politicians that they should not ignore the strength of our public appeal. There are tens of thousands of Virginians who are justifiably proud of their Confederate ancestors and these citizens are tired of being denigrated by the media and politically correct politicians.
Commander Henry Kidd
Virginia Division, SCV
***"There is no sacrifice that I am not willing to make for the preservation of union save that of honor." --Robert E. Lee***
Bwhahahahahahahahaha
I'm happy to admit that my efforts to get conservative voters to look into Earley before voting for him were added to those of the SCV, LoS and others. I think that our efforts were worthy, and had the desired effect. The blame for Earley's loss belongs in small part to me, and I'll wear that blame proudly.
BUT, who knows, if he aspires to spend his millions on future political endeavors; it wouldn't hurt to throw a bone to the SCV's and their supporters.
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