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Just thought you might like to visit the 5th Ave. Presbyterian Church in Roanoke, Virginia.
It is a quaint little brick church that has had a predominately black congregation for over 125 years. When you enter the church you can't help but notice the beautiful stained glass window directly behind the pulpit. It was paid for by the congregation and installed almost 100 years ago. It is a scene of military tents with one in particular that has a handkerchief tied to the front. This was a symbol that the occupant was in prayer. In the background is a river with a tall tree casting a shadow. The inscription on the window reads; "Let us cross the River, and rest in the shade of the trees" (the last words of Stonewall Jackson) "Dedicated to the memory of Stonewall Jackson"Southerners, Sons of Confederate Soldiers-the greatest army that ever existed; still fly the Flag of our soldiers. The Confederate Flags of each army and each state.
DEO VINDICE
Charles Byrd
Fredericksburg, Va.
Editor:
The Augusta Chronicle editorial staff uses the "divisive" label in regard to the Confederate Battle Flag as if the word has some sort of evil connotation. High school football games are "divisive". All political discussions are "divisive". All elections are "divisive". Diversity is "divisive". Get it?
Being "divisive" is the American way. Our First Amendment provision of free speech is a Constitutionally protected vehicle for being "divisive".
Or is it different if the issue is resolved by the level of misguided political power wielded by one side over the other? Have we been programmed to yield to the politically correct? Has caving in to the hip-hop culture become a correct and proper method of solving all disputes?
If being "divisive" is all that ugly, what do we do about "tolerance"? Are we expected to be "tolerant" of those who disagree with us? Are the views of the mistakenly reviled victims of society not to be "tolerated" even if it is "divisive"?
Has the word, "divisive" become the buzz word to justify surrender?
Or could the issue of the Confederate Battle Flag be different because its removal has become an affirmative action entitlement that can be viewed as a victory for a home-grown terrorist group that uses threats, extortion, bitter hatred and spiteful vengeance, instead of bombs, to win the dispute, gain more power and bring its victims to their knees?
The blight of "Reconstruction" is still taking its toll on the beautiful and glorious South.
The editorial staff mentions "virtues" and "negatives", and sorts them out to fit the views of the NAACP, not the other way around.
Then they mention the money-making(?) NAACP convention coming to town. Now we have the answer: The financial gain to the city is much more important than the principled "virtues" of the local yokels and allows the fabricated "negatives" to kick in and make the final decision.
"So why insult them?" A cop-out, simply put by wimpy simpletons. It's the economy stupid.
Honor, principles, human values and decency were once American style virtues. Now they are a stupid vice.
At some point in time, there has to be an end to this goofy political correctness mess.
It will be interesting to see how the gigantic mistake of removing the flag to make room for the NAACP shindig plays out. Or will reporting the truthful results "insult them"?
Semper Fi and Deo Vindice,
Joe Miller
My great-great uncle, Gustavus Adolphus Miller, was an editor for the Columbus Sun in the 1850’s and editor/owner of the Upson Pilot in Thomaston, Georgia from 1858 to 1861. Although he was 65 years old when the war broke out and too old to join the regular army, he left his newspaper and joined the Upson Coastal Guards and was sent to Savannah to help defend that city and was in Savannah when Sherman made his infamous “march to the sea.” After he was paroled he began his long journey home on foot and later wrote the following:
”I am sure the Biblical plague of ancient Egypt would not compare to the devastation of what I saw from Savannah to Macon. I could not find a home standing or even a barn standing in which to take refuge at night. I encountered women and children and old men and ladies wandering aimlessly. They had been left with only the clothes on their bodies and nothing else. No food or means of procuring food.
I shared with them the meager rations that I had on my person. It was if a giant ball of fire, had descended upon Georgia and burned a path miles and miles wide across the State. Sherman and his army took everything they could use or later sell and burned the rest.
I fear many of our good citizens will die of starvation.” G. A. Miller 1865.
Wake-up Georgia. You have allowed your crown jewel of a city to be overrun by the modern day carpetbaggers (defined by Webster as "a Northerner who went South after the Civil War-WBTS- to profit from the unsettled conditions of the war and Reconstruction period; any person, especially a politician who takes up residence in a place opportunistically) and allied with the modern day scallywags (defined by Webster as "a scamp, a rascal, a Southerner who supported Republican policy during Reconstruction often for political gain").
All of Georgia, including Atlanta, just 30 years ago was noted for its warm hospitality, caring for others, rich heritage, relative safety and an inviting neighborly feeling when visiting. Now Atlanta is more of a Boston, Philadelphia or New York in its attitude, policy and morality. Over the past 30 years the importing of high-level personnel from the north to run business, education, and governmental services has exploded. The expertise they have brought is deception, corruption, and their values of economic profiteering over caring for people. Examples of the recent deterioration have included:
Last Spring “A joint Atlanta Journal-Constitution/WSB Channel 2 Action News investigation found that Georgia's largest school system systematically omitted thousands of serious infractions from a state-mandated report on student discipline.”
And this week “Report Says Atlanta Underreported Crimes Police Report Says Atlanta Underreported Crimes for Years to Help Land 1996 Olympics The Associated Press Atlanta underreported crimes for years to help land the 1996 Olympics and pump up tourism, according to an audit commissioned by police and released Friday.
Police in this relentlessly
self-promoting city of the New South routinely altered or suppressed
thousands of crime reports in a concerted effort to improve
Atlanta's chances for selection, the audit said, citing interviews
with several officers.”
If you read between the lines on these stories you will see a great concern for the true social picture in Georgia. It is not just about lying on reports; it is a sign of a rotting moral fiber now running through government, schools and even your elected officials.
Not too long ago the Southern people were noted for their honor, honesty, integrity, a sense of fair play and high moral standards. In many metro areas of Georgia, including Atlanta that character has been replaced by greed, double dealing, politically correct shenanigans and power-lust by business and politicians. It results in the compounding social ills that you see and it is spreading like a plague. The above two reports in less than a year should send you a clear message.
The metropolitan area of Atlanta no longer represents the native Georgians. The GACC (Greater Atlanta Chamber of Commerce) caters to the new politically correct moral and economic interests of the metropolitan areas. Don't be fooled about the reasons behind the change in your society, values and lifestyles, because it's all about money, getting YOUR money.
Perhaps that is why the flag was changed. Perhaps that is why education is in turmoil and they are trying to manipulate the curriculum. Perhaps that is why crime is up, reporting is down. Perhaps that is why a city once could attract thousands upon thousands of visitors on its merits, now it has to run a shyster-like sham to trick them into visiting. Atlanta, the state capital, seat of government has become the moral shame of Georgia. Wake-up Georgia, vote out those representatives that perpetuated these problems. Get your state back. Hit them in the pocketbook by not financially supporting any organization, business, official, or politician that is part of this modern day scalawag system.
John Griffin
To My Southern Friends:
Candace
One of the more obvious reasons is that the USA is perceived as a big bully because of its politically correct Yankee government and "might makes right" attitude.
Believe me, as a Confed-erate American, I can attest to how it feels to be attacked by the U.S. government pushing its politically correct lies in the indoctrination mills, commonly referred to as public schools.
I know how it feels to have the big bully use its politically correct media like a ministry of propaganda to distort history and lie to turn public opinion against my country, the Confederate States of America.
The world hates the USA because it does not want to be subjugated, indoctrinated and reconstructed into good little Yankees any more than we Confederate Americans do.
Tom Stafford
Nothing nor no one will ever stop me from honoring my ancestors; they fought hard and honorably for a cause they believed in and a land they called home. I know that I lost at least one family member; he died during the battle of Shiloh. That will not be forgotten; not so long as I live, or so long as my children live...or their children.
Eileen Murphy Shannon
To The Southern People:
hi southern messenger,
Shepard Smith at Fox News wrote:
The University of Mississippi has sidelined col. reb and done away with dixie and the rebel flag. "I'm proud of them for helping to move our proud state into the 21st century."To: studiob@foxnews.com
Dear Mr. Smith:
I am not ashamed to be Southern. I am sorry that you have been smitten with
guilt. The people who have brought on this hatred of everything Southern in
the past 2 decades have deliberately done so solely for the enhancement of
their own financial or political fortunes.
It has been less than 20 years since Southerners of all races celebrated their
common culture. Two-thirds of Mississippians, including much of the minority
population recently, voted to keep the battle flag on their State flag. In
Georgia, the polls indicated that the majority of black folks wanted to keep
the State flag with the battle flag when the NAACP and State Legislator Tyrone
Brooks began their attacks.
Now, everything Southern is politically incorrect. The word Dixie, the song
Dixie, the cotton plant, Southern heroes, monuments, food, the word
Confederate, flags, etc, etc, & etc. are all being demonized. We are
called Nazis and our flags called swastikas when Southerners fought and died
in the war against the Nazis in disproportionate numbers. What a crock!!
Please try to learn a little more about why Southern people continue to be
proud of their heritage. Otherwise just report the news without expressing
your uneducated and biased opinion based on your newly found guilt.
Dan Coleman
J.C. Sears wrote in reply:
Sir,
You certainly have the right to your opinions but you should consider that a majority of voting Mississippians do not agree with you. A majority of voting Mississippians recently had their say at the ballot box and voted to keep their state flag with its Confederate banner. I guess the right to vote is holding the great state of Mississippi back. I guess we should do away with voting all together and boldly move into whatever it is you envision. Karl Marx would be proud.
Here in Georgia, the citizens have yet to enjoy that right. We have the whims of a minority backed by the money of Corporate America running our state...citizens be damned. If this were the 1770's or the 1880's ...well you know. I, myself, am not on a white-guilt trip. No one has the right not to be offended. Not that many of those that say they are...are. Its more a game of show me the money.
But, being you think that things should be changed because some are offended, here is what offends me. Please take care of it. Black History Month offends me. Martin Luther King Day offends me. Paying about 50% of my income to government offends me. Having our country as a member of the U.N. offends me. Watching my gun rights as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution be auctioned off each election offends me. Having my ancestors who have been on this continent for over 300 years called "Nazis'" and all sorts of vile names offends me.
That is just warming up. Please consider my feelings and have all these things changed and/or removed for the sake of the 21st century mentality you envision. I am begging you sir....my self-esteem is on the line. I just feel like these things are keeping me from being all the things I could be. Thanking you beforehand and I look forward to you bashing the above offensive things in the near future.
J.C. Sears Waycross, Ga.
Hi I live in Cocoa , Fl. I go a Middle school. Me and my buddies wear Dixie Outfitters shirts to school but when the dean or principal see us with our shirts on he makes us go to the restroom and turn them inside out. They will not let a white person have HERITAGE any more at school. But a black kid can, I get sick and tired of learning about Martin Luther King JR. We even celebrate Martin Luther King day at school. How come we don't have a day for General Thomas J. "stonewall" Jackson ? Martin Luther King JR set people free and in school we learn about that General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson was a General in the army. Why don't we learn about that in school?
Reply: You will have to join a heritage organization and fight with your Southern Brothers.
I am a native of Richmond, Virginia and a proud descendant of Confederate soldiers, including General A.P. Hill. Although I will be the first to admit that Richmond has a late history of being a bit "backwards" about acknowledging the Confederacy, I must say that the recent addition of a statue of Lincoln seated next to his son at the old Tredegar Iron Works surprised this life-long resident. First, remember that Tredegar was literally the heart of the war effort for the Southeast, producing vast quantities of vital artillery materials. Now, consider that Tredegar is the official Civil War Visitor Center and therefore a logical place for anyone to begin a tour of Richmond's sites. Many, if not a majority of heritage-conscious Virginians might have a problem with Lincoln's
returning to their capitol, even in the form of a second-rate sculpture. His likeness featured so prominently at a site that was crucial to the Confederates will perhaps anger those whose ancestors
fought with weapons forged at Tredegar; however, and perhaps more importantly, those who know less about the South and the Civil War might assume that Lincoln was something more than he really was. I believe that there was less protesting of the statue here in Richmond because of the fact that Lincoln is shown having a moment with his young son. That's fine. Except it should be in a museum, or in front of a public building, just not at Tredegar. In fact, he has a
beautiful monument just up the road in D.C. Lincoln's presence at Tredegar makes Richmond appear even more confused to the out-of-state Civil War visitor. Now I know the statue is a peaceful depiction of the President, and it may invoke in some a feeling of resolution or gratitude that such a war has never happened again in America. As for this Virginian, I can assert that my relatives who rode with Mosby's Rangers risked their lives in order to protect their homeland, and to them Lincoln was the aggressor and the!
enemy. The Lincoln statue is the culmination of politically correct.
Letter to Georgia's new Gov. Sonny The Liar From Alabama:
Dear Mr. Perdue,
I hope you at some time soon in your life will finally realize that it is
the CHRISTIAN cross that is under attack - the Christian cross of St.
Andrew. The One World Order cannot be complete until every last one of us
is vanished from the earth - that is their goal. I wonder if you understand
the reason that flag is of that design? The Christian St. Andrew was
sentenced to be crucified in the same manner as Jesus Christ our Savior &
Lord.........because of his Christian teachings....to be crucified in the
same manner as Jesus, St. Andrew said he was not worthy so he requested that
the cross upon which he himself was to die would be tilted so as not to be
like that of Jesus our Lord. Death was not his concern - only that his LIFE
glorified Jesus Christ!
You, Mr. Perdue, have contributed to the genocide that is running rampant
against all that is good, decent & holy. Our Revolutionary ancestors fought
for the basic fundamentals this country was founded upon.......our
Confederate ancestors fought to maintain those basic fundamentals of a
Christian life. Now, you have succeeded to perpetuate these attacks that
have brought our country down to the deep dark depths of despair. This has
been a 140 year old social experiment gone arye. The NAACP wrote their
national resolution in Atlanta back in 1990 that they would rid the earth of
every vestige of the Confederacy. With the continual help from greedy, self
serving politicians such as yourself, Roy Barnes, Ronnie Musgrove, Don
Siegelman, Bob Riley, Glenn McConnell, Arthur Ravenel........the list goes
on & on they will continue to bring our country down.
Again, I say, how this country longs for a statesman again.........to have
a Patrick Henry to come forward and say "Give me back my bullets!" What a
glorious day that would be. But, my money & my prayers will continue to be
with Elija Coleman and as many true Georgians he can find to help him be to
you what a flee is to a dog.
To compromise & appease is not the answer! To tell the NAACP to sit down &
shut up is the answer! Those people should be on their knees thanking our
Lord that their ancestors were strong enough to survive the trip and fall to
the earth & kiss the earth their ancestors stepped off the boat onto! There
is a boat & a plane leaving every day for Zimbabwe....the boats & planes are
not full! If slavery is so painful, why do they constantly capitalize on
this institution that brought their ancestors here to a new world......away
from cannibalism, starvation, filth, ignorance and
barbarianism.........rather it brought them to a world where they were
taught many vocations........masonry, carpentry, farming, blacksmiths, fine
artisans they became in many realms........but most of all they came to know
Jesus Christ.
I hope for the next 365 days times 4 you will be reminded of the day you
joined the ranks of so many who are continuing to contribute to Lincoln's
destruction of our great Republic. Ben Franklin said after the
Constitutional Convention......."Here is your Republic if you can hang on to
it"! WE have failed to hang on to our Republic because of sleezy
politicians. Do you know what a statesman is, Mr. Perdue? Do you know what
a politician is, Mr. Perdue? A Statesman SERVES the PEOPLE - a POLITICIAN
SERVES himself! Look in the mirror.........what do you see, Mr. Perdue -
Statesman or Politician?
I wish Alabama had just one Elija Coleman with the commitment to stand for
what is right and have the vision that we can defeat this Leviathan and that
God will truly vindicate our cause. Truth cannot damage a just
cause.......you should have realized that Mr. Perdue.
GOD SAVE OUR PRECIOUS SOUTHLAND!
Confederately yours,
Patricia S. Godwin
Selma, Alabama......Zimbabwe on de Alabamy!
Home of Senator Hank Sanders, pet thief of Don Siegelman & now Bob Riley!
Gary Smith wrote: SHALL WE STAY AND FIGHT?
When two-thirds of survey polls indicate that Confederate St. Andrews cross flags are revered as historical and real-time representations of who Southerners believe they are, one has to ask from what source of our troubles emanate concerning our flag.
Part of the problem is lies with those controlling the airwaves and print media, chambers of commerce, minority controlled city governments as well as Hollywood's multi- decade defaming of our Southern image. Is there a common thread? Yes, simply put and painful to admit as we must--they are not our people.
The English conquered the Scots many times but their St. Andrew's cross still flies. Perhaps the 800-year battle of the Scots (and because they never gave up) engendered a kind of respect. Plus, the English and Scots have a distant but related and shared past.
The Southerner is a remnant of not only a conquered nation but completely believes the lies of his captor. The lie is that peace can only be had on terms of constant parole (false pledges of allegiance such as "indivisible...") while the old west is becoming, Miami has become, "Don't Mess With Texas" (too late), and countless municipalities become small nations within the great Yankee one.
The South is being heavily repopulated and not unlike Scotland, without home rule, we may have 80 years or less (not 800) to gain respect from our enemies and control our laws--ultimately to have a hand in our own destiny. If a people do not control their media, schools and legislative bodies they are simply not the tribe they claim to be but something remade, cannibalised and new. If you don't fight now then when?
Yesterday, the non-compromisers (steady for the Georgia battle flag supporters) held a flag rally at the Georgia state capitol. Once in a while a heritage group member ventured out to check on us. Their comments: "This compromise is the best chance we have to get a referendum." Yes, with a second flag and a vote in two years, Atlanta coalition forces pounding the state for that time, litigation to prevent the referendum's pro-battleflag results from taking effect (binding referendum not allowed), and a governor off the hook because he fulfilled his campaign promise to give us a referendum.
But we say: We did not help Governor Purdue get elected for another flag substitute. The accumulated result amounts to a Barne's flag, a Purdue flag with a long and tough two-year campaign for a vote that won't count. If it is going to be a long and hard to win our flag back then we do not need tired and worn compromisers.
Don't think Gov. Purdue and his Republican leaders are not watching to see reactions from this booby-trapped referendum legislation. If the legislation attempt fails he can say that as governor he tried. If it passes then legislators can use the excuse of a third $280,000 to change our flag would only be costly and divisive in a future state budgetary crisis. That combined with the anti-flag coalition forces campaigning against us--does that sound like the simple referendum we asked for?
Shall we stay and fight for our heritage or give up and allow our inheritance to fall prey to the complacent and ungrateful citizens willing to slay our culture? In the end, tribes matter.
Gary Smith (Gen. Wade) Hampton, Georgia
Teaching the truth to our children is the only way to stop the yankee myth-makers from corrupting their minds . You've done a fine job on the research , I will do my duty and spread the word to my son when he gets older .
Defending and advancing the colors ,
Jesse R. Justice Sr.
Southern Messenger;
This is a great site with a lot of good information. I live in Arizona now but I am from the great southern state of Texas. I play the Dixie song and I fly the great Confederate Battle Flag.
I pray for the south, but I don't believe the U.S. government will ever let us be truly southern again. Of course we will continue to fight for our Southern
Heritage. This site is good, for our children and their children, and for all generations to come. They must know the truth about The War for Southern Independence. I feel the thirteen original state of the
Confederacy must some how, some way come together "again", speaking with one voice and demand the respect that we deserve. I do believe that because of great sites like this one, more and more people will learn the truth. Thank You, you have my hope and prayers. May God bless you and all of the south.
A Confederate for ever,
David Hunter...
I know that we Southerners are some of the most patriotic people in the world; we are usually the first to support, and come to the defense of our country; in times of war, and in other critical times; remember
Sept 11th? In a particular northern city, they were demonstrating against any kind of war the same week of set 11th, and the ashes of that tragedy, wasn't even cool yet. But, there is a "war" going on right here in this country, and has been one for
many years; and that is A "war" against the white race here and all it's heritage and cultures; and most
particularly, the White Southern Heritage and culture. and we must not forget that; our enemies
haven't, nor did they forget during, and right after Sept. 11th, and haven't forgotten even today. They may have gotten themselves off the front pages of the daily news, but they are as active as they ever was. That is what we must do also, never letting the ball drop. We can't depend on the govt. to fight our war for u!
s; they have other priorities; plus, they were fighting us and our heritage and culture and our civil rights, even before this middle eastern war began ; usually at the request of some anti-white or even
anti-American group or individual. This is why even at this time, we must not forget, or get distracted' and work even harder for our rights and heritage and culture, and our civil rights. You are not being un=patriotic; if you don't do it , who will? Our enemies certainly won't; even now, they are out working just for themselves; so must we. thank you.`
HOWDY; YOU KEEP OL DIXIE FLYING AND UNTIL ALL FOREIGN FLAGS COME DOWN IN THE USA KEEP IT UP THERE. HONOR TO THAT WARRIOR GENTLEMAN , ROBERT E. LEE... AND NOW THEY WANT TO REMOVE HIS PORTRAIT FROM THE STATE HOUSE IN VIRGINIA AND REMOVE THE CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL FROM STONE MOUNTAIN. MOST NORTHERNERS NOWDAYS ARE NOT YANKEES AND THEY DID NOT COME TO USA UNTIL AFTER 1900 AND THEY RESPECT OL DIXIE..YOU KEEP IT FLYING UNTIL EVERY FOREIGN FLAG COMES DOWN IN THE USA. I REALIZE THE PROPAGANDA USED AGAINST THE SOUTH MAINLY BY HOLLYWOOD. THAT DAMM WAR SHOULD HAVE NEVER TAKEN PLACE FOR WE LOST THE BEST ON BOTH SIDES. TOO BAD THE HOT HEADS COULD NOT GET THE ISSUES SOLVED BACK THEN ON BOTH SIDES. ALL HONOR TO YOU AND NEVER LET THEM TAKE OL DIXIE DOWN, AS IT WAS AND IS AN AMERICAN FLAG. EDWARD RICH , SUV, 15TH CT. VOL INFANTRY.
Hello, my name is Michael and I'm a 31 year old from New Jersey. I read much of your web site and enjoyed it. It is very informative. I, like many, "Northern" Americans know the truth about our countries history and we truly love those from the CSA. I may have a different dialect than you but my beliefs are true and
similar.
Best of luck rescuing your flag, I'm pulling for ya. Also, I'm looking forward to seeing your suggested movies.
From Mike, NJ.
To the Editor, Coffee County News:
My name is Kipp Pittman, I reside in Willacoochee, and I recently received the charter for the Wiregrass Rangers Camp #2006, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Douglas, GA. Your paper mentioned this organization in Friday’s edition (03/07/03). I thank you for the invitation to respond to the op-ed piece of Ms. Amy Fields.
I was quite impressed with the full-page color spread you devoted to the "Georgia Flag Controversy" and would respectfully request just a fraction of that space to present my perspective, as well as the perspective of thousands of Confederate descendants in this area. One needs only to go to the local library or the SGC library and get a copy of the roster for Company C, 50th Regiment, Georgia Volunteer Infantry, Army of Northern Virginia (known as the Coffee County Guards) or Roster of Newbern's Cavalry Company, Coffee Revengers (a local militia unit). Then, check the last names against the local phone book. You’ll find most, if not all, of them in the white pages. It’s not a coincidence; I’ll guarantee you.
Like many folks in this area, my ancestors were pioneers to this region. Many of us can trace our roots to the American Revolution and beyond. My own great-great-great-great-great grandfather, John Pittman, came to American colonies from Lancashire, England in 1765. He died at Bunker Hill in 1775. His heirs came to Georgia during the land lotteries of the 1820’s. The next 10 generations of the Pittman family have resided on and have been (or will be) buried in Georgia soil. My wife’s family, the Carvers, came to Coffee County in the 1850’s. My mother’s family, the Tanners…well, I think they’ve been in Coffee County since it was nothing more than a pine barren.
I’m also tied by blood to the Lotts, Paulks, Wards, and many other family names in this area…Georgians who shed that same blood, their sweat, and many tears for the sake of their communities, this state, and this nation. You’ll find these names on the pension rolls from the American Revolution, the War Between the States, and every other war fought by this country. I honor and revere the Confederate Veterans in my family the same as I do the family members who fought in two World Wars, Korea, and Vietnam…as well as those cousins and a nephew preparing for war as I write. They all fought, and will fight, for the same reasons: they loved their country and their country called them into service. John Pittman’s great-grandsons fought for the State of Georgia and the Confederacy to preserve the Constitutional Republic purchased for them with his blood and his life. For Ms. Sally Fields to insinuate that I might somehow be unpatriotic or un-American because I "cling to a symbol of division" (I assume she was referring to the Confederate Battle Flag) is a hard slap in the face. I am a veteran myself, having served in the U.S. Navy for six years before being honorably discharged and retired in 1983 with a VA rated disability of 50%. I was raised in a family tradition of service to country. I flew my flags (U.S. and Georgia) many years before 9-11. How many homes do you find flying that ugly blue rag that’s supposed to represent everyone?
What has sparked the "Georgia Flag Controversy" as well as the flag controversies in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina, and many other Southern states is the attempt by the NAACP and other groups who profit from promoting racial discord to force their perceptions and perspectives on the general public with political clout and threats of what can only be termed as economic terrorism. That’s plain, simple, and it’s been cut and dried for you. Ms. Amy Shields neglected to mention that the NAACP boycott of South Carolina continued because the Confederate Flag was still on statehouse grounds, even though it was moved from atop the Capitol dome to the Confederate monument. That would indicate to me that the NAACP still has a problem and that they do not see any sort of compromise as an option. And to me, compromise would mean both sides give a little. What did the NAACP give up? It certainly wasn’t their right to make unrealistic demands, carry out political threats and economic sanctions, and resort to intimidation and influence peddling. Ms. Amy Shields also neglected to mention that tourism in S.C., under full boycott by the NAACP, created a record economic impact in that state, up 11.1% to $15.65 billion last year. This is according to figures recently released by the S.C Dept. of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism. Investment in tourism related business is up 66.5%. Tourism related tax receipts increased 9.7%. Visitor spending hit a record $7.14 billion. This is the same threatened boycott that is supposed to panic business leaders and legislators in Georgia? I can and will provide you with additional information on tourism and economic increases for Mississippi since they voted to retain their "symbol of division" as their Official State Flag.
Jesse Jackson came to Atlanta during the Olympic games (where, by the way, the Official Georgia State Flag was forbidden to be flown and didn’t fly in Atlanta afterwards) and met secretly with Roy Barnes, Tyrone Brooks, a few influential business leaders, and other key politicians to plot the flag change. This meeting was kept under wraps while a new flag was designed and support for the change very quietly coaxed from other key legislators. Then, just prior to the ramming of the flag change through the legislature in record time, many uncommitted (but weak-kneed) legislators were summoned before King Roy and threatened with loss of grant monies for their districts, bribed with promises of the same, or threatened with political ruin. Sounds like a scene from the Sopranos to me. What we got, after an outrageous and unprecedented disregard for public opinion (public comment period was an entire 6 hours), was the ugliest flag in North America (voted dead last in a field of 72 banners by flag experts). I’m supposed to be thankful to both Jesse and Roy, I guess. Please, forgive me for not finding the gratitude it in my heart.
To explain to Ms. Sally Fields and help her understanding as to why we are revisiting this issue, let me first say that thousands of Georgians throughout the state have never abandoned it. We worked for two long and hard years in campaigns against Roy Barnes and state legislators who voted for the flag change. I personally traveled to dozens of towns and cities throughout South Georgia where these public officials were campaigning with "divisive symbol" in hand and was joined by many others. We attended political rallies, communicated and spoke personally with many other legislators, and made several trips to Atlanta…all in support of a referendum and the right of the citizens of Georgia to fair and honest representation on this "flag controversy". Mr. Carl Sears of Ware Co., the late Mr. Chad Stewart of Ware Co., and I have erected nearly two hundred 24’ flag poles bearing the U.S. flag and that "divisive" symbol (at our cost) to citizens and business owners in Coffee, Atkinson, Berrien, Clinch, Ware, Brantley, Pierce, and several other outlying counties. Over 1100 of these flagpoles and "divisive" symbols have been erected by volunteers across the state, in addition to the tens of thousands erected by citizens themselves. It’s called "Project Wave" and it the brainchild of a Mr. Elijah Coleman. Mr. Coleman’s website is www.southernmessenger.org.
What we find divisive is not the Confederate emblem on the Official State Flag of Georgia. What we find divisive is the attempt by special interest groups to demonize and ban all things related to Confederate and Southern heritage based on their perception of a conflict they obviously know very little about. What we find divisive is the attempt by a small minority of business and special interest groups to extort, threaten, and bribe OUR elected representatives in an attempt to force their perceptions and perspectives on us. What we find divisive is when we attempt to engage in intelligent and factual debate on the issue, we are automatically and without precedent, branded as racist and bigoted. We find it divisive when we present our perspective, we are attacked by the liberal media and compared to Nazis, the KKK, and the Aryan Nation. We find it divisive when we defeat an unbeatable Democratic candidate and put a Republican in the Governor’s Mansion for the first time since Reconstruction, its labeled as "white trash madness" or "rednecks on the rampage". We find it divisive that rural Southern whites are the only ethnic or cultural group it’s politically correct to belittle and ridicule in the Georgia media. We find it divisive that these "civil rights" groups think civil rights only apply to them. We find it divisive that people with prefixes befitting spiritual leaders attached to their names preach "tolerance" and "diversity" with little or no intention of practicing either where we are concerned. We find it divisive that there is a consistent, unrelenting, and concerted effort to remove anything associated with Confederate heritage from public view, including street and building names, monuments and memorials, flags and other symbols…right down to the shirts on our children’s backs.
One only need to get beyond the "pet" issue of slavery with regard to the War Between the States to understand there is no dishonor associated with the Confederate Battle Flag or those who served under it. One needs to realize it is a symbol and can be misused by anyone with less than honorable intentions (i.e. the Christian Cross has been associated with numerous crimes against humanity). The views of white supremacists no more resemble our views than do those of the NAACP. Most of us view black supremacists in the same light as white supremacists. One only needs to get out of Atlanta and away from the liberal propaganda of the AJC to understand why the fact and manner of the flag change is so vehemently opposed by the majority of Georgia’s citizens. One only needs to listen to voices of the people of Georgia to understand that the Confederate Battle Flag (St. Andrews Cross) represents a spirit of independence and self-determination borne of blood, family ties, and Christian values. The Battle Flag represents an intense love for home, hearth, and state. It represents a reverence for the founding principles set forth in the U.S. Constitution. It represents a loyalty and personal devotion to all these things that motivated Confederate soldiers abandon their homes and families, gave them the power to resist the armed invasion of their state, and the courage to fight for what they loved and believed. This is our perspective.
Finally, I’d like to remind both Ms. Shields that it wasn’t the Sons of Confederate Veterans who jumped into the political arena and demanded the removal of memorials to Martin Luther King. We haven’t demanded the renaming of any streets. We haven’t demanded the removal of African flags or demanded white girls participate in the Miss Black America contest. We haven’t denounced Black Entertainment Television, The American Negro College Fund, or black colleges as being segregationist, exclusive, or non-inclusive. We haven’t demanded that "FUBU" clothing, with its segregationist message, be banned from public schools, even though we may find it offensive. We haven’t threatened the NBA with a lawsuit because the racial make-up of the players doesn’t coincide with the racial demographics of the nation. We haven’t even demanded that Rap music with lyrics promoting hatred toward and violence against whites be removed from record store shelves. We haven’t threatened an economic boycott of Atlanta since the flag change. Please, explain divisive…somehow, I must not understand the definition.
All we ask is to restore the right of representative government to the people of Georgia. Let the citizens of Georgia vote on this issue and bestow our wishes and interests concerning the "The Georgia Flag Controversy" on the legislators we elected to represent us. I don’t call that being divisive. I call it democracy. That is, unless U.S.A. now stands for United Socialists of America.
I respectfully and sincerely submit this for your consideration.
Kipp Pittman Willacoochee, GA
FROM TALTON E LEONARD, JR USA/RET
AS A 25+ yr US VETERAN WHO CAME WHEN THE CALL WENT OUT FOR VIETNAM AND THE FAR EAST. I CAN TELL YOU WHAT LOVE OF THIS LAND IS! I HAVE SEEN BLOOD ON THE GROUND OF OTHER LANDS FOR AMERICA. I HAVE TRAINED MEN TO FIGHT FOR THIS FLAG, TRAINED YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TO STAND, AND FIGHT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT. NOW MY SOUTHERN FATHERS ARE STANDING UP FROM THE DUST,,,, TO SAY " I TO HAVE SEEN BLOOD ON THE LAND FOR LOVE OF THE SOUTHERN CAUSE ,IT IS TIME THAT WE STAND FOR WHAT IS RIGHT! HISTORY AND THIS FLAG" A SON OF A CONFEDERATE VETERAN "NOW STAND FOR
SOMETHING OR BE A SLAVE FOR NOTHING" GOD BLESS AMERICA sog@flinthills.com
I am the great great niece of a confederate solider and my family back then were hard working farmers and owned no slaves. My ancestors fit for a right to live just as well as the north and for the right not to be cheated by them! They did not go to war over slavery! I am proud of my heritage and display MY flag with pride. The confederate flag is a symbol of our history and what our men died for. There is no shame in that flag and it really burns me up when I see those people attacking it as though it was something horrible. I do thank you for allowing me a chance to speak my mind. This may sound plain and simple, but that's me. Thank you once again. Diane KY
What in the heck is going on with these " nasse Waschlumpen" of men? Lost Cause, God forbid. A right and just cause is never lost, never, never, never. It is as much a cause today as it was back then and as it will be in 1000 years from today should God permit for this earth to last that long. I suggest that everybody that thinks in terms of lost cause move North of the Dixie line, better yet, sign up at the nearest recruiting office, I am sure the yankee empire's recruiters will be glad to send them over to the Middle East, perhaps this then will become their non-lost cause. With "friends" like this and don't need any enemies!!!!!!!!!! For the Cause, yesterday, today, and tomorrow - Monika Jones
Lost Cause,
But An Honorable One
Lewis Regenstein
The controversy over the Confederate battle flag and what it symbolizes continues to rage. But it is rarely if ever explained why many decent people of good will are so proud of their Confederate ancestry.Basically, it is because our ancestors showed amazing courage, honor, and valor, enduring incredible hardships, against overwhelming and often hopeless odds, in fighting, for their homeland -- not for slavery, as is so often said, but for their families, homes, and country.
Put simply, most Confederate soldiers felt they were fighting because an invading army from the North was trying to kill them, burn their homes, and destroy their cities. And anyone with family who fought to defend the South, as mine did, cannot help but appreciate the dire circumstances our ancestors encountered.
Near the end of the War Between the States, my great grandfather, Andrew Jackson Moses, who ran away from school to become a Confederate scout, at 16 rode out to defend his hometown of Sumter, South Carolina, as part of a hastily-formed local militia. Approaching rapidly was a unit of Sherman's army, which had just burned Columbia and most everything else in its path, and Sumter expected similar treatment.
Along with a few other teenagers, old men, invalids, and wounded from the local hospital, Sumter's rag-tag defenders amazingly were able to hold off these battle-seasoned veterans, Potter's Raiders, for an hour-and-a-half, at the cost of several lives. (Jack got away with a price on his head, and Sumter was not burned after all. But some buildings were, and there were documented instances of murder, rape, and arson by the Yankees, including the torching of our family's 196 bales of cotton.)
Meanwhile, Jack's eldest brother, Lt. Joshua Lazarus Moses, who was wounded in the War's first real battle, First Manassas (Bull Run), was defending Mobile in the last major battle of the War. His forces being outnumbered 12 to one, Josh was commanding an artillery battalion that, before being overrun, fired the last shots in defense of Mobile. Refusing to lay down his arms, he was killed on the day Lee surrendered, in a battle, Fort Blakely, in which one of his brothers, Perry, was wounded, and another brother, Horace, captured while laying land mines.
The fifth bother, Isaac Harby Moses, having served with distinction in combat in Wade Hampton's cavalry, rode home from North Carolina after the Battle of Bentonville where he commanded his company, all of the officers having been killed or wounded. He never surrendered to anyone, his Mother proudly observed in her memoirs. He was among those who fired the very first shots of the War, when his company of Citadel cadets opened up on the Union ship, Star of the West, which was attempting to resupply the besieged Fort Sumter in January, 1861, three months before the War officially began.
The Moses brothers' distinguished uncle, Major Raphael J. Moses, from Columbus, Georgia, was General James Longstreet's chief commissary officer, and was responsible for supplying and feeding some 40,000 men. Their commander, General Robert E. Lee, had forbidden Moses from entering private homes in search of supplies in raids into Union territory, even when food and other provisions were in painfully short supply. And he always paid for what he did take from farms and businesses, albeit in Confederate tender, often enduring, in good humor, harsh verbal abuse from the local women.
Interestingly, he ended up carrying out the last order of the Confederacy, which was to deliver the last of the Confederate treasury, $40,000 in gold & silver bullion, to help feed and supply the defeated Confederate soldiers straggling home after the War -- weary, hungry, often sick, shoeless and in tattered uniforms. With the help of a small group of determined armed guards, Moses successfully carried out the order from President Jefferson Davis, despite repeated attempts by mobs to forcibly take the bullion.
Major Moses' three sons also served the Confederacy, one of whom, Albert Moses Luria, was killed at 19 after courageously throwing a live Union artillery shell out of his fortification before it exploded, thereby saving the lives of many of his compatriots.
One cannot help but respect the dignity and gentlemanly policies of Lee and Moses, and the courage of the greatly outnumbered, out-supplied but rarely outfought Confederate soldiers. In stark contrast, Union generals Sherman, Grant, and Sheridan and their troops burned and looted homes, farms, courthouses, libraries, businesses and entire cities full of only civilians (including Atlanta), as part of official Union policy to not only defeat but utterly destroy the South, in violation of the then-prevailing rules of warfare.
And before, during, and after the War, this same Union army (led by many of the same generals, including Sherman, Grant, and George Custer) used similar tactics, and worse, to massacre and nearly wipe out the Native Americans, in what we euphemistically call "The Indian Wars." So the Union army was hardly the forerunner of the civil rights movement, as many would have us believe.
There are countless stories of valor by soldiers on both sides of this tragic conflict, and their descendants can take justifiable pride in this heritage. This is especially true of the brave and beleaguered Confederates who risked all and sacrificed much in the service of their country, against a formidable, implacable, and often cruel foe. A Lost Cause, yes, but an honorable one, which should not be forgotten.
Lewis Regenstein, a Native Atlantan, is a writer and author.
Letter of support from across the sea:
dear sir, i am submitting this from australia.as you would be aware, there is enormous interest in the american civil war, & nowhere more than here in australia.i, with a group of likeminded friends, are avid readers of anything we can get our hands on which deals with the civil war.we subscribe to various magazines dealing with the conflict, & also have numerous books on the subject.we often re=fight the old battles & theorise how we,[meaning the south, of course], could have turned defeat into victory.ihave followed with interest the attempts by politically correct groups to re-write the history of your country & blot out the valiant deeds of those heroes who gave their all for the cause.it seems to me to mirror the efforts of joseph stalin in the old soviet union.it is my dearest wish that in the near future i will be able to visit your wonderful country & pay proper homage to those heroes like lee,joseph .e.johnston,stonewall jackson,jeb stuart, john hunt morgan, a.p.h!
ill,& all the rest of that wonderfil band of brothers.i wish you all the best in your continuing struggle for truth & justice.
regards from australia from mal burr.
I wept like a baby after reading of the atrocities committed against our citizens by the Yankees during and after the war. It is not the first I've ever heard as my family had our own experiences with rape, theft and starvation by the Yankees in S.E. Georgia during Sherman's Hell and after by the Occupation (Black) Troops. May GOD damn "men" like Milroy and Sherman to an eternity in hell! Yes ours is a just and honorable cause and will be carried on by future generations if we don't bow to the pressures of terrorist hate groups like the NAACP. It is up to us as the SOUTHERN people to not let these groups finally commit the genecide started by there Yankee masters so long ago. GOD bless the Confederacy and GOD bless you for this site!!! With honor, Sam Lyons (a direct lineal descendant of 13 Confederate soldiers, 2 which gave their all.)
I live in Colorado but through reading and looking at the issues I realize the south was attacked for it's rights. I have learned to look past what the text books say about slavery. In research I find this site very useful. I have but one question where can I find the documents on states rights to separate from the Union?
John
Hello John,
On the Secession Page can be found a lot of information, and the
Charles Adams' time bomb of a book, "When in the Course of Human Events:
Arguing the Case for Southern Secession" (Rowman & Littlefield, 2000).
In a mere 242 pages, he shows that almost everything we thought we knew
about the war between the states is wrong.
I'm glad Southerners are checking out the hidden facts.
Thanks,
Elijah Coleman
Lijah - I genuinely appreciated the E-message attachment sent to me by Ray Parks concerning "Private Property and the American Heritage by Thomas J. DiLorenzo" .I lived with my grand parents on a share cropper farm when I was a boy the adjoining 40 acre farms were owned by ex slaves or had been inherited by their children. There were ex Confederate soldiers living close by. My cousins and I spent many evenings sitting on the porch listening to stories of the struggles and hardships of the times before and after the war. When the occupying
union army appointed ex slaves to the State Legislature for the purpose of stealing the lands by the invading flood of carpet baggers taking advantage of the defeated and war ravished southerners.(see the picture of the 1865 state legislators hanging in the hall of the State Capital in Atlanta) .When I was a kid in grammar school the history books told of the problems leading up to the war between the states . Now that all the text books are published in the north we only get the versions that justify northern aggression .Boys High School in Fulton County ,back in the 1930s would ship a box of nails to Chicago for $1.oo and the receiving point in Chicago would return it for a cost of .75 cents. This was a 33-1/3 % tax the north had put on goods being shipped from the South. The war was pure and simple
economics ,just like all wars. The tax was not removed until about1976.Until this very day either 11 or 14 Southern states are under Marshall Law ,called the Civil Rights Act .If the Act is good for the southern States why isn't it good for all 50 states.Didn't mean to get off on a hobby horse.
Again ThanksEd. L. Cole
Georgia born --Georgia breed-- and when I die I'll be Georgia dead.RE: reparations
I'm Scotts/Irish. My ancestors were forced to immigrate to this great country because of the harsh, harsh treatment of the British government. Additionally, the Roman Empire did their fair share of tyranny and oppression in the British Isles before that...does this mean that I'm ENTITLED to reparations from Great Britian and Italy? What about the Norman invasions...The Angles, the Saxons, etc...? Additionally, before child labour laws, children suffered horribly in cruel work environments. As everyone I know was once a child, are we ENTITLED to reparations for that as well?
Dumbfounded
To: Mr. Sonny Perdue Georgia
Governor-ElectCongratulations on your November 5th victory over the supposedly unbeatable modern day Reconstruction Governor Roy Barnes. The real people of Georgia (the ones outside the city-state of Atlanta) have looked forward to this day for many years and I wish you well as our new governor. I support you and have the utmost confidence that you will be an effective leader and a "governor of the people," and not a pawn of the Chamber of Commerce, the multinational corporations, and Jesse Jackson as your predecessor was for the previous 4 years. You have a golden opportunity before you to accomplish many great things for our state and to finally bring the people of Georgia together. The Democrats and the liberal media have worked hard and have succeeded in keeping the people of Georgia divided, especially along racial lines.
Like many other everyday working class people in this state, I worked hard to get you elected. We went out a few weeks before the election putting out signs (that we paid for), passing out flyers, and talking to friends and family on your behalf. This is what got you elected, Mr. Perdue. This grassroots movement is what overcame Governor Roy Barnes’ twenty million dollar ad campaign that was supposed to blow your chances for election out the water, but Roy Barnes and his corporate charlatans couldn’t buy this election.
When Roy Barnes stole the people’s flag in January 2001 with his treacherous and masterful act of political chicanery he drove a spike through the heart of his political career. When Barnes changed our flag against our will he infuriated all of us Georgians that are extremely proud of our Southern heritage and history. Roy Barnes said we would forget. We didn’t. You said during your campaign that we should’ve had a choice and promised if elected that we would get a referendum. We want the same choice that the state legislature had in January 2001, and that is to be able to choose between our real Georgia flag and the Barnes’ rag. We will stand for nothing less. We don’t want any new flag designs and we don’t want a referendum with three or more choices. We will view these tactics as political deception and trickery.
I believe you are a man of your word and will resolve this issue in a way that gives us a chance to get our flag back. Remember, before he was elected governor four years ago, Roy Barnes promised us that he had absolutely no intention of trying to change the flag. He lied. If he had kept his promise he would be governor today, Mr. Perdue. Say what you will, believe what you want, but the flag issue was the primary reason for Roy Barnes’ defeat. He admitted it himself and the liberal media finally admitted it. If you cave in to the liberal special interest groups and deny the people of Georgia the chance they’ve earned and fought for to get their flag back, they will loathe and despise you just as they did Roy Barnes. And their anger will be shown at the polls four years from now. I’m asking you to handle this issue the way the people that elected you expect it to be dealt with, and that is to give us a fair and honest chance to reinstate our flag. This is all we ask. If you do this, the people of Georgia will overwhelmingly support you now and four years from now. We are sick of political correctness and sicker of politicians that pander to it.
Much respects to you for such and informative and outstanding web site!! I don't think I've ever seen such a wealth of information about ever facet of what we're fighting for today. This site will be linked on my main page for all to see when they visit my site...again much respects!!!
Pvt Johnston Hood Wilson Jr (Lone Biker)
Sons of Confederate Veterans Mechanized Cavalry Member #195
Hamptons Iron Scouts Camp #1945
Southern Heritage Friends,
I am a S.C. native and feel your pain with the Flag Issue. I don't know why some people in this country feel threatened by a Flag. I don't care for the Mexican, African, British or Canadian Flags flying outside banks and public buildings, but I don't complain about it. Why do the people we elect to public office end up selling us out? I feel they are scared and don't want to make the minorities mad, bad for business. I would appreciate a gun in the face rather than a knife in the back. I will fly my flags as long as I feel like it. The
Sovereignty, Secession, Confederate Battle Flag and even the S.C. version of the Old Great Georgia Flag. I fly them with heritage in mind, not hate. If you are ashamed of your heritage
that's your business, but I will display mine until I get tired of doing so.
J .L. O. Holliday, Sr.
You should learn the truth about a subject before publishing such misinformation. You certainly make a fool of yourself, when you write so ignorantly of the facts. "Calling it heritage doesn't cleanse it of its sullied history. ' You can call it evil and associate it with slavery, say it as many times as you can and it still doesn't it make it true. Once again, you uneducated journalists are becoming more and more responsible for divisiveness than that flag could ever muster on its own. "By displaying it, fans of the Confederate flag may cause offense to some, but cause just as much embarrassment to themselves to their time warp and their myopic version of history." Have you actually bothered to read the Constitution or do you just quote at random? Are you aware that the right to NOT be offended is NOT guaranteed by the Constitution, while the right to freedom of expression is guaranteed in the First Amendment. Look it up for yourself. You will be surprised at what you might learn, if you actually bother to try. As for embarrassment to myself, I am honored to fly the Confederate Flag to memorialize my great-great-grandfather and other heroes and ancestors, whether it offends anyone or not, is of no concern to me. They are free to turn and look away if they don't want to see it, because it "ain't" coming down!!
"A lost cause, but also a reminder of what was, thankfully, lost." The War of Northern Aggression might have been lost by the South, but our cause will live on forever, as long as there are Southerners, (and yankees, alike) who believe in the CONSTITUTIONAL rights for which our ancestors fought. Believe it or not (and we really don't care, one way or the other), the war was NOT fought over slavery. The proof is out there, you need only to look for it. A good beginning is a book by Charles Adams, a northerner, "When in the Course of Human Events." In this book you will learn the TRUE reasons behind the war, not some propaganda quoted from some yankee rewritten history book. Remember, to the victor, goes the spoils of war, which, unfortunately for the South, include the (re) writing of its history.
As for the NAACP, they vowed at their convention in Houston in 1998, to remove all vestiges of the Confederacy within the next decade. They will not stop their perverted agenda until this is accomplished. It is with the help of uneducated journalists, such as yourself, that this agenda will be furthered. Regardless of your and their agenda, we Southerners will continue until our deaths, to vindicate the cause (NOT slavery) for which our ancestors and heroes, fought, died and were imprisoned.
I do agree that there is no better location than at a Confederate memorial to fly the Confederate Flag. To remove it, will only create more racial problems for any city, who bows to threats of boycotts and extortion. The NAACP is fast becoming "the lost cause", as they have lost all credibility, along with the Jesses, the Al's and all other extortionist, distortionist individuals and organizations.
IN DIXIELAND, I'LL TAKE MY STAND!!
Linda SewellHerr Cortez and symbols of defeated armies and people.
The submission of a recent Editor’s letter bashing the Southern "losers" was a catalyst to the following observation. The Southern army was only defeated by force of arms due to the Anaconda Plan choking off arms, munitions, cloth and critical medical supplies for civilian and military alike as well as to the superior number of armies confronting the superb fighting and leadership qualities manifested by the Southrons. The Southrons won a significant number of the land battles and more than a few naval battles as well but in spite of doing all that brave men can do, they lost the war. This is plain historical fact. The Anaconda was a snake in the wiregrass, bluegrass and saltgrass regions. American civilians died from the snake in the grass.
Digressing a few decades, the Confederacy of Indian Nations formed by Chief Tecumseh also won some of the battles they fought against Harrison and other military representatives of the Colonial government of These United States. Those Native American Indians also lost the war waged upon them by a superior force with superior technology, firepower and troops. The post-American Civil War era also saw a repetition of the same martial fare with various American Indian tribes resisting the encroachment of a superior military force waging an inexorable war upon them. Those Indians also won many battles, i.e. conflicts better recalled as Fetterman’s, Custer’s and Bascom’s follies but it mattered not if they were Souix, Apache, Seminole or Nez Perce, they all lost the Indian Wars. Their multiplying progeny wave American Indian Movement flags. Their plethora of symbols aren’t presently endangered in spite of conquest.
Another martial tale that happened not so long ago is widely known to many American Veterans as the ‘Nam or Vietnam to the rest of us. This was another military armed conflict wherein the combined might and expertise of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Green Berets, Rangers and the CIA of These United States was applied in full force with all the current superior technology, tactics, and weapons that could be brought to bear on a non-industrialized agrarian society. Our fighting men and women won most of the battles fought in the swamps, plains and mountains of that South East Asian land. We lost the ‘Nam "war", plain and simple. We lost a few thousand very good patriotic American fighting men and women as permanent POW’s still unaccounted for. Our bomb craters made nice fish ponds in the rice paddies thereby enhancing the agrarian diets of millions. A happy ending to a tragic political war? "Oh say can you see……"
A significant number of other "break-away" states in many regions of the globe also repeat history by winning some or even many battles but ultimately losing the war in their attempts to establish a sovereign nation. This pattern of independence and self-determination continues unabated in today’s world. One of the most recent flarings of these notions is the EZLN or Zapatistas in Southern Mexico. The ancient Aztecs had the unique symbol of an Eagle perched on a cactus devouring a rattlesnake. They won some battles but lost the war waged upon them by a superior Spanish military force. The Mexican flag has the Aztec symbology displayed and still flies….. The modern Zapatistas won some battles but have "lost" the war to superior military forces supplied with American technology, weapons and training. According to the "Cortez thinking syndrome", the "losers" have no cause or right to fly, exhibit or display the national symbol of their sovereign endeavor. Apply this mushy thinking to the Aztec symbol. Apply this faulty logic to the Mexicans who won some battles but lost the war waged upon them by the Norte Americanos in 1836 and 1846. Apply this train of thought to the Native Americans who sought to maintain and safeguard their rightful sovereignty before and after the War Between the States. Apply this reasoning to the United States involvement in Vietnam. We LOST that armed conflict- so do we Americans have any right to fly the Stars and Stripes? Remember, Cortez emphatically states: the LOSERS forfeit the right to a national symbol representing sovereignty and self-determination. It doesn’t take much analysis to conclude that Mr. Cortez and those of his political persuasion have faulty logic and are highly suspect of reverse racism and spiteful vindictiveness. This is especially evident when such an attack on the American South is so narrowly biased, slanted and vindictive. It seems that the noble ideals and notions of freedom, independence, self-determination and sovereignty are very widespread throughout the human race and the dedicated pursuit of these ideals are even more manifest as time goes on. The Confederate flag is no more than a symbolic representation of independence, freedom, sovereignty, religious freedom and the paramount control of one’s individual and ethnic group destiny. That is the underlying reason it is attacked by those who oppose the notion of people governing themselves. They still do not want to leave us Southerners alone and very likely- never will.
Great letter from a New Yorker
Thank goodness for the Southern Messenger web site. First of all, I am a
Yankee, born and raised in Brooklyn NY and now reside in Long Island NY with
my wife who was born and raised in the Atlanta region.
We have just returned from a nice week long trip to Gainesville GA to visit
my mother in law. We were shocked!!!!
What is happening? The South is loosing all of it's glorious hertiage
Every place we went, it looked like the North. Mc Donalds, Burger King, and
Wendy's have taken over. The traffic going to Atlanta was just like we have
here in New York City. Atlanta itself looked like New York City, and in
Gainesville, things were written in Spanish to accomodate the illegal alien
Mexicans that were there, just like here on Long Island.
And what a disgrace the new Georgia flag is!!!! Because of "Politically
Correct" idiots, the "Stars and Bars" has been taken away. This is
terrible. It seams that in this new society, political correctness and
multiculturalism means that we must erase all of our history if someone gets
offended. I am deeply offended at this. I may be a Yankee, but I
understand that the "Confederate Flag" is not only part of Southern History,
but of the history of my country as a whole. The "War between the States"
is something that Northerners and Southerners CANNOT just wipe out of the
history books. I have seen the Cyclorama in Atlanta, been to Kennessaw
Mountain, Lookout Mountain, and Gettysburg, and have shed tears over the
loss of life of the Yanks AND the Rebels. It was a terrible event, but it
did happen. We can't make believe that it didn't happen. I hope that you
folks down South convince the powers that be to bring back the old Georgia
Flag, and fly the Stars and Bars proudly.
Even BEFORE I met my Southern wife, a "Stars and Bars" flag always flew at
my house and on my car, and it still does. I have taken some heat from
people, but I have also tried to educate them that the flag stands for
Heritige and NOT hate.
Keep up the good work on the web site.
Steven LJ Russo
"Yankee by Birth, Rebel by Choice"
Medford,
Long Island, NY
Great Letter from Linda Sewell to the Tallahassee Fishwrapper
Please do not feel that you need to apologize to anyone for the flying of
that beautiful banner. The right to NOT be offended is not a right
guaranteed to citizens; however, the right to take pride in one's heritage
and history by flying the Confederate flag is a guaranteed right. The sooner the word "offensive" is removed from the shakedown dictionary, the better off
all Americans will be.
The Confederate flag was never viewed as "offensive" nor divisive, until the shakedown artists Je$$e Jack$on, Al $harpton, Morri$ Dee$, Kwa$i Mfume and
other$, found profit in shouting it down. Now it brings in millions of dollars for their respective "causes", which eventually winds up in their
respective pockets, doing nothing to advance unity, only succeeding in furthering divisiveness.
There is nothing "offensive" nor "divisive" about the flag, that a little
education wouldn't cure. I harbor no hatred for anyone and simply want to be left alone to honor my revered ancestors and heroes as I please, without the
advice nor complaints of the profiteers.
The only "racists" are those, who insist that we honor their heroes and
ancestors, yet criticize those same rights for those of us with Confederate
heritage. The only thing being "airbrushed" away, is the truth regarding the causes of the War Between the States. The lies about Abe Lincoln and slavery
are still being perpetuated by those, who wish to portray the South as evil and also wish to erase all remnants of the Confederacy. This, however, will
never change the true history, no matter how hard they try. We will not allow this to happen in our lifetimes and hope that we can teach our children
and their children, to continue to honor their ancestors, by continuing to honor and fly that banner, despite the rantings of the profiteers!!
We do appreciate your honoring our Constitutional rights, by admitting that we DO have a right to display that flag anywhere we so choose, without having
to resurrect that old debate, which was never really a debate to start with,
but rather an order from the extortionists to remove it or undergo a "boycott".
I can't wait to travel that highway and see that glorious flag for myself. I
can assure you I won't be looking for an apology!!
HAVE A DIXIE DAY!!
Linda Sewell
Mobile, Alabama
What a wonderful site this is. Although I'm a northerner form Philadelphia, PA, I agree wholeheartedly with the principles you have expressed. All around us we see the politically corrupt, err correct, attempts to change our history. From the spineless politicians who allow the desecration of the flags to the renaming of schools because some group of whiney hyphenated Americans finds it offensive. Keep up the good work.
John P. Jaster