Posted on 06/24/2020 5:43:07 AM PDT by Alas Babylon!
There aren’t many Alabama businessmen whose comments make the pages of The New York Times and The Washington Post on the same weekend.
And there are no others along a stretch of U.S. 431 outside Anniston on the way to Lake Wedowee, besides Bob Castello. The 68-year-old former traveling salesman is the owner of the Dixie General Store, one of the places where those who want to remember the Confederacy take their stand and buy its emblems. And not in Confederate dollars, either, although you can buy replicas of them there.
NASCAR’s ban on the Confederate flag brought out merchants at Talladega this weekend, and demonstrations nationwide - and in Birmingham - have brought down monuments to Civil War figures of both the Confederacy and the Union over the last month. But Castello has been selling flags from this roadside store - about 30 miles from the racetrack - for more than five years, and been talking to journalists for about that long, as he did this weekend for stories on the enduring sales of the flag.
He says he has welcomed visitors of all races to the store, been visited by shoppers from every state and 29 countries, and received calls of support from Black local citizens in Cleburne County. Only rarely does he get a visitor who wants to do more than discuss what the flag means.
“Somebody last month said we shouldn’t be selling that racist stuff,” he said. “I just told him he needed to leave and never come back. I’ll talk to anybody. Usually it’s pleasant conversations.”
Castello has Confederate battle flags, regiment flags, sovereign state flags adopted after secession. You can pick up a 12-foot by 18-foot battle flag for $275, for example. You can even buy a rebel flag mask for the pandemic. A flag flying outside urges people to respect, protect and preserve Confederate monuments, and inside, you can buy photographs of monuments suitable for framing. There are T-shirts, dresses, custom holsters and bumper stickers, all with some variation of the stars and bars.
There’s also plenty of merchandise devoted to the 45th president. Trump flags, Trump hats, and merchandise with Donald Trump’s head photo-shopped onto the body of Sylvester Stallone from the Rambo movies are just some of your options.
After years on the road, Castello noticed Confederate memorabilia selling at flea markets and thought a central store selling the goods in a rural setting might do well. He has always been fascinated by the Civil War, remembering a family member who joined up at the age of 46 to take on Sherman’s army during its march through Georgia. As a child, he remembers a family heirloom sword which belonged to a soldier.
Castello said he makes a lot of the merchandise, as it is getting harder to find domestic companies that sell products with Confederate emblems. He sees a day when major manufacturers, wishing to eschew controversy, stop altogether. Alabama Flag & Banner, located in Huntsville, sells the flag but would not speak for this story. Internet searches also turn up other products featuring the Confederate flag.
Castello had a court case with the Alabama Department of Transportation three years ago dealing with his flag display off Interstate 20, which flies flags and features an image of Gen. Robert E. Lee. He contended the displays were on his own property. The case was eventually settled.
“Some people have stopped doing it (manufacturing Confederate flags),” he said. “If they basically intimidate all the American companies into not making them anymore, they’ll just be made in China. It’s not going to stop. That’s all they’ll accomplish.”
Castello said he doesn’t see the flag as an emblem of slavery, as most of the soldiers in the Confederate Army were poor farmers who did not own slaves. He also thinks that attempts to “jerk down statues” will only bring more customers. Incidents like the killing of George Floyd, or the 2015 mass killing of nine Black worshippers in a Charleston, S.C. church are evil, he said, but he sees no connection between them and the Confederate flag. He hopes to continue selling them as long as he is able.
Confederate flag of Louisiana.
Thank you!
I searched Confederate flags, images, and looked at millions of flags; nothing?
Thanks again.
It won’t be long until they tell you to let the Stars and Stripes to sleep, I fly the Stars and Stripes! I ask again which confederate flag do you want to let sleep.
By all means come kick my ass. MEOW!
Your not even in the USA so pound sand.
Glad to help. It’s obscure since it wasn’t around long.
Like I said—so easy to troll....jeez guys, did you even read my first post? Moldavia...its to throw off the beagles, which apparently works just fine.
The more I have learned about Grant the more I admire him. He knew how to take advantage of circumstances in his favor.
I visited the Vicksburg battlefield on a road trip. It was basically impossible for Grant to attack from the south, so that is what he did.
Capturing one of those flags in battle often earned the man that captured it the Medal of Honor.
.................................................
Which is one of the reasons the criteria for being awarded the MOH changed dramatically after the war.
As did the requirement to carry colors in line of battle.
I smell arson in his future. I hope he is well armed, and has lots of range time.
Maybe you should just say to them, “go ahead, make my day.” 😁🤪🤣
Last night I tried to purchase from his online store, but keep getting
.We’re unable to process your payment at this time. Please try again later...
Trying to buy bonnie blue flags. I’ve been wearing bonnie blue trucker hat for a few years. Most aren’t even aware of it,o or what they’re looking at right in their face lol
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonnie_Blue_Flag
I’ll call in the order later this morning and support his business. 3x5 flag for the boat
I can sorta understand the Confederate flag as a provocation because of the slavery issue, though that is a gross simplification of what the CSA was about. While certainly not perfect, I don’t see it as legitimate for the US and its flag to be a provocation. Evil attaches itself to every scar and blemish to do its work against good. Make no mistake, the agitators are out to promote a revolution designed to usher in Marxism. Barack Obama and George Soros are leading this treasonous rebellion.
Up until now, we have been a beacon for freedom and a force for good. No nation before has ever done so much good for the world and its people.
Now, our government has corrupted itself toward its people. Government by the people should now unify for the common goal of casting the elements of corruption from our government lest we soon be hopelessly corrupt. The task at hand will be difficult. Thanks be to God we have Donald Trump to lead us in this effort.
BTTT
just ordered ten Bonnie Blue flags and a hat from him.
Great guy
If you can, support his business too...
https://dixiegeneralstores.com/
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.