The Political Grill.... two: :: Main chat :: Hundreds gather to fly Confederate flag high?

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Hundreds gather to fly Confederate flag high?

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Hundreds gather to fly Confederate flag high?

Hundreds gather to fly Confederate flag high?

With a rebel yell, “Dixie,” had its day Saturday.
As promised, the Virginia Flaggers heritage group hoisted yesterday a 15 foot-by-15 foot Confederate battle flag on a swath of freshly cleared forestland adjacent to well-traveled I-95 in Virginia. An historian spoke, a rendition of “Dixie,” was sung, a bagpiper played “Amazing Grace,” – and, yes – there was, indeed, a rebel yell. Hundreds gathered for the ceremony, held in Chester, about 10 miles south of Richmond.

The flaggers had announced earlier this year their intention to hoist the red-and-blue flag up a 50-foot pole located on a parcel of privately owned land donated specifically for the purpose. The group’s members – and its advocates – have argued their intention is solely to honor those who fought for the South during the Civil War.

As John Thompson, a 50-year-old Richmond resident, said, “The reason why we’re here is to honor the soldier. We don’t see it as a slavery issue.”But the effort has sparked consternation and controversy from those who counter that the flag of the Army of Northern Virginia is too heavily freighted with connotations of slavery and bigotry. “Their flag is out of context,” said Richmond attorney Brian Cannon, who notably organized a social media protest over the I-95 flag. “It’s a symbol of divisiveness and for many it’s hateful.”

Opponents gathered nearly 25,000 signatures for on an online protest petition, and encouraged Richmond residents to fly American flags as a sign of protest. An American flag about 60 feet wide was unfurled at a construction site in downtown Richmond around noon Saturday. But the flaggers were undeterred, unfurling the banner in a spot prominent to passing motorists on the interstate.

“As sons and daughters of the South, we have inherited a birthright. Ours is a proud heritage,” said Susan Hathaway, a member of the Virginia Flaggers. “We are descendants of Confederates, we are friends of Confederates. ... The flag that is being raised today will be a living, breathing memorial to our Confederate dead.”

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/09/29/hundreds-gather-to-fly-confederate-flag-high-above-5-amid-controversy/?intcmp=latestnews

{I should say right from the start that I am from the north and my husband is from Mississippi. His parents still refer to the Civil war as "The war of northern aggression". The problem with displaying the Confederate flag is not the war itself but slavery. Many Americans both black and white take offence at flying the flag as it reminds them of slavery. I sympathise with that but question its validity.

The truth is most of the years of slavery took place under the American stars and stripes rather then the stars and bars as the Confederate flag was only created in 1861 and flew in the south until the war ended in 1865. A period of only four years can hardly represent the totality of slavery in America. The first slaves were brought to North America in 1619 and slavery was not abolished until 1865 with the 13th Amendment. In this regard I thing the stars and bars is getting a reputation it doesn't deserve. It represents the southern states who broke away from the union and the soldiers that fought under it.

There is no doubt though that many Americans consider the flag divisive and don't want to see it flying anywhere. However surely the south has the right to remember and honor their dead and the flag they died under. We can fly the flag or sweep it under the rug of history. What do you think we should do?}

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"libido sciendi"..... the passion to know.

9/30/2013, 11:10 am

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Re: Hundreds gather to fly Confederate flag high?

Nr,
I confess, I'm a life-long New Yorker, born & raised.

But it seems to me the zeal of red-necks to fly the rebel battle flag is racist tinged passive aggression.

Before beginning any significant undertaking, I consider the cost (risk) to benefit ratio.
Does whatever I may have to gain warrant the risk?
It's why I don't try mainlining heroin, try the high wire across the Grand Canyon, etc.

Southern rednecks flaunt the rebel battle flag. I conclude they do so either because they haven't given it this modicum of consideration, or, they have, and conclude that offending over 12% of the their own nation's population is not a sufficient penalty to deter their own self-indulgence.

What a disgrace! How childish.

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"Gertrude is a lovely name for a turtle." Susa

9/30/2013, 2:06 pm

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