Southern Protestors Unhappy with Thompson and Romney’s Flag Remarks

What they still don’t get it NO the thing is they get it the know its racist that’s why they still defend it being flown they know it says No non whites allowed I have a question what other country in the world does the losing sides flag in a civil war gets such for lack of a better word reverance ? Only here not because it reps the south well i guess it does in one way seperation and prejudice. that is all it represents that and the LOSING side of a war.

Personally, my allegiance and respect is for the Union flag, i.e., “Old Glory,” & the American patriots who defeated those who harbor hatred and bigotry, and tried (unsuccessfully) to undermine our one republic, under God, for selfish, unpatriotic, and mean-spirited ends. I suppose if we really wanted to turn back the clock on liberty, justice and equality, we should just hoist the flag of Great Britain over the nation, and all rally round it.

Flying a Confederate flag is showing to the world you believe we should go back to the “good” old days of the South. We all know why these flags are flown,much like flying a Swastika. The Civil War is long over,get over it! You Red states lost!

YOUR RIGHT DK…..we (the south) WOULD be better off. Rockychance hit the nail right on the head! All the people of the south SHOULD support the flag of the south, it is an honorable thing to stand up for what you believe in, win or lose.

Perhaps even Romney and Thompson realize that anyone still flying the Confederate Flag is in serious denial about the outcome of the Civil War and probably too out of touch with reality to vote!

“A scallywag is a white southern who supported the federal gov’t during reconstruction.” What!!!!??? There you have it: The confederate flag represents the worst type of racism….
Consider this: Deval Patrick is only the second black governor since Reconstruction. He’s the first from Mass.–in fact, he’s Mitt Romney’s successor. If it were left up to the old south and those who support the conferate flag and all the hatred it stands for, Reconstruction would not even have taken place. Reconstruction was designed to bring former slaves and Blacks into mainstream society…..And the swallywags were those who supported this,,,,,right? Althouhgh I do not agree with Mitt Romney’s religious teachings, I now have more respect and admiration for him because of his position on the confederate flag. There is no place in public where that stupid symbol belongs…….And I am a bit sadden for so many Blacks in South Carolina who still put up with that trash of a flag……South Carolina has a state flag—-it’s blue with the crescent moon and palmetto tree….And the US flag flies above it. What in the world is that racist confederate flag still flying for?

A question no Confederate apologist will answer:
If it really was about states’ rights like you insist, why were there no free states in the Confederacy? Why did no free states secede, or any seceded state emancipate after secession?

The education systems in most of the southern states ranks lower than those in third world countries.
Some of that Southern pride for a symbol of the subjugation and enslavement of other people ought to be spent trying ensure that those livingand working in the “south” can at least compete with folks from place like Borneo or the jungles of Brazil.
I am from “the south” and know what conditions are still like in much of the area.

Yes! The GOP eating it’s own, gotta love it!

I am a sudent at the infamous University of Mississippi (better known as Ole Miss). The Confederate Flag is still in many areas on campus. The state flag (of MS) still waves proudly above the lyceum (Chancellor’s building). On gamedays in the infamous Grove, all types of Confederate flags are everywhere (we ARE the Rebels after all). When the football game starts the band enters the 60,000+ stadium to delight of fans, by playing Dixie. The South is special in so many ways. We are unique. Our culture stands apart, it gave us the blues, jazz, bbq, and many other things that everyone enjoys. If you like these things, please respect OUR culture for once. Lets not forget the Klan was the strongest in Indiana. The Confederate flag represents our people as a Southern Nation (and yes, we are a nation…a nation is a collection of people we have a common culture and history). For any candidate who wishes to win here, Id say soften your position down here on the Rebel flag. Ole Miss will be hosting one of the three political debates between the nominees next September. Im hoping by then, they are informed to not insult such a banner that so many died for. If you need any info on Ole Miss, and its proud confederate history just google the university grays. Until then…as we say at the end of every football and basketball game down here at the end of slow dixie…THE SOUTH…WILL…RISE…AaaaGAIN!!!…
Hotty Toddy and Yall Com’on down and see us! Be glad to have ya

Hey ABCNews, don’t you think the rest of the country should hear about these sons of the south who feel that their particular brand of racism is sacred and should be protected? The south is the living embodiment of the old saw, “those that don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
There are some here who seemed confused about their own history. They say the war wasn’t about Slavery. They are either misinformed or they’re lying. The war was fought to prevent the expansion of slavery and ultimately, to end the practice altogether. The south relied on slaves to keep their farms operating, plain and simple. Enslaving another human being so that you can enrich yourself or your family is nothing to be proud of, rather, it’s a reason to hang your collective heads in shame. Like it or not, the confederate flag is a symbol of that legacy. The blot of slavery on our history is something the entire nation shares but the south, by choosing to sucede from the nation rather than give up the brutal practice, has a uniquely shameful burden to bear. Instead of recognizing the injustice and inhumanity of their forefathers, these modernday sons of the south want to pretend they’re the victims. Please, I’m sure the Univ. Of Mississippi has a book someplace in their library by Fredrick Douglas or by someone else that offers a firsthand look into the realities of slavery. I respectfully suggest you read it before you lay claim to your precious southern heritage.
BTW–The south didn’t invent the blues.

The confederate flag is a symbol of treason, slavery, lynching, murder, white men raping black women with impunity, denial of human right, all civil rights and the ultimate of white supremacy

Sorry, whenever I see the Stars ‘N Bars I remember my parents carefully planning road trips to avoid stopping in places where our biracial family could have been refused accomodations. My grandparents were considered radical for allowing us in their house. Mom is Asian, but the laws still applied to us. I was three years too young to be relegated to “separate but equal” schools.

What happened to my original comment?

It was actually the most popular battle flag used by Confederate soldiers. They carried it proudly into battle. They fought for what THEY believed in (Lincoln did the right thing holding the Union together). It was a proud symbol and thousands of Southern soldiers fought and died following it into battle. After the war it was a symbol of the sacrifice made by the Southern army, and if it continued to represent that sacrifice I believe most would not object to seeing it displayed. The problem is this once proud symbol was absconded by the KKK and other racist groups. Once these groups claimed the Stars and Bars it no longer represented brave soldiers. The actions of these racist groups converted the flag into a symbol of murder, rape, intolerance, ignorance, hatred and every despicable act perpetrated on blacks and other minorities for the last 140 years. What that flag represents now is RACISM and all the ugliness that goes with it. It should never be displayed as a proud symbol, it’s a disgrace to the memory of the thousands who died following it into battle.

Wow, some of these posts are downright brutal. The posts make me wonder if our ancestors knew what they were doing to want to leave the fellowship of a Union that dislikes Southerners so much. The interesting question is whether Romney and Thompson want to be president of all honest taxpaying Americans (heritage flag flyers or not)? At least Lincoln welcomed Southerners back into the Union and had Dixie played at an event celebrating the end of hostilities. By the way, was Romney disparaging the Confederate battle flag or the Texas state flag (which was also hanging on the wall)? The Texas state flag also flew over Confederate soldiers from that state. He seemed to zero in on the Confederate battle flag instead of the Texas flag. Maybe this betrayed a lack of understanding on his part that he is running to be president of all Americans who obey the law and mind their own business. There seems to be too much 21st and 20th century experiences and hindsight being applied to a mid-19th century historical unpleasantness. Southerners believed strongly during the mid-19th century that their grandfathers’ fought successfully against the British for the right of self-government and that a central government was created to provide for a common defense and a few other delineated items. They felt that the central government they helped create had no rights to invade another state. Seceding from a Union is not the same thing as trying to overthrow a central government. The South was glad to see the United States continue as a free republic representing those states that wanted to remain with the U.S. Three states insisted before signing the Constitution that secession was a perogative of the individual states forming the Union. Those states were Virginia, Connecticut and New York (New York!). New England was the first area to test secession by threatening it in the early 19th century (how treasonous).

“As posted elsewhere, the south committed treason and took up arms against the Union. No one should be allowed to fly a flag representative of this action.”
Exactly.
Personally, I think it was Lincoln’s folly. He should’ve let the South cecede…those states mooch off the federal treasury anyway and bloc vote for incompetent fools like George W. Bush.
We’d be much better off without the ol’ confederacy and their flag, a symbol of slavery and treason.

The War of Northern Aggression was one of unconstitutional roots. A free union held together by gun point dosent seem to embody much liberty to me. Lincoln even stated that people have to duty to liberty as a free citizens to remove themselves from any government that doesnt not represent their interest, and form a new one. Look it up before you hail him so proudly. The problem with some of these radical arguments about the Confederacy and American South itself is that they are uneduacted. Partly due to the American Publica Education System I presume. I hear of northerns history classes and thei biased teachings of the War Between the States. They discust me! How many soldiers fighting for the Union would have stayed of they are told they were fighting for emancipation?? Not many I assure you. The War was very unpopular at the time, much like the current on i guess (Northerners must have zero patience or will). Lincoln never freed a single slave in his own Nation (The Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves only in the states of rebellion…Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri continued to retain slaves). So spare me this love for Lincoln that many of Americans so blindly have, and concern yourselves more will the protection of our constitution. There would have never of been a reason to leave the Union had the Consitution been defended like it was entended. I agree…I hate the Patriot Act…I voted for Bush (he was still better than Kerry), but I can no longer vote based upon the lesser of two evils thought.
As for the Confederate Flag, if you’re not from the South we cant expect you to understand. The expectation is for all Americans to defend anyone’s constitutional right to fly it. That includes the states of South Carolina, Mississippi, and Georgia. These People have chosen this symbol to represent them, and Americans must respect a free People’s decision.
Look Away, Look Away, Look Away Dixieland…
Hotty Toddy and Go Rebels

C Reb,
Don’t sugarcoat it, say what those “unconstitutional roots” were. You just can’t bring yourself to say it but what we’re really talking about is the “right” as southerners viewed things, to continue the institution of slavery. I’m sorry but I just can’t get myself all worked up about you’re forefathers lost constitutional right to enslave people. Slavery was wrong when it was practiced in the north and it was wrong when it was practiced in the south. It had to end for our country to evolve and Lincoln recognized that. Was he perfect? No, he was human just like the rest of us but he knew the time had come to cut this cancer from our collective souls and was willing to risk the union to do it. That is why we hold him in such high regard. He was fighting for, in his words, “the better angels of our nature”. What was your side fighting for?

The Confederate Flag, above all else, is a symbol of treason. Period. There is nothing honorable about the civil war except that the North was kind enough not to crush the South utterly, rather than letting ignorance and cultural recidivism rule the day.
There is a reason why Germans don’t honor their “brave” soldiers that destroyed France.

Hmmm. Interesting perspectives. The flag of the CSA and the battle flag were two different flags. Which do you find so offensive? And why would you find a flag flown in an independent country that engaged in slavery for four years more offensive than one in which slaves lived under in the same conditions for almost 90 years? That flag being the Stars and STRIPES.

The south went Republican when the civil rights bill was passed. Johnson knew it when he signed the bill. Being from Texas he understood that he was signing the south to over to the Republican, but he signed the bill because it was the right thing to do. I don’t see either party making that type of costly decision today, but if one did it will be the Democrats. States Rights? why did it take the army to allow one little girl to go to school.

The Civil War was nothing more than a grandiose,decades long attempt by England to divide the United States using economic manipulation in our banking system,and propaganda through our newspapers(north and south).The Brits have always held tremendous sway in this country and were never completley kicked out of here during the Revolution or the War of 1812.There were plenty of tories north and south whose sympathies never swayed away from England.There was a concentrated, behind the scenes effort across the country as a whole to foment the hysteria which ultimately led to war.The North was just beginning to feel it’s oats as the industrial revolution was picking up steam.The country was beginning to produce a variety of goods to offer the world most of which were made in the factories in the North.This new economic strength on the world stage was a huge threat to England.The Brits of course needed southern cotton for it’s textile mills but also favored the South in that it was essentially a one trick pony whose only real value internationally was in producing a single crop-cotton.Having a neighbor across the pond whose exports were diversified was not in Britains intrest,nor is it in the intrest of the Free Traders of today(If you dig for it, you’ll find the roots of “Free Trade” or “Free Markets” back in the early 19th century).England heavily backed the South.It made southern war ships on it’s ports.It gave the South,on an unoffical level,everything it could through the blockade.Even the Confederate flagw ith it’s blue X in the middle echoed the Union Jack.England(and France)would have officially recognized the South as a nation and come to it’s aid militarily except for one small problem—Slavery.And here the question of flags and causes arises.Slavery and the recognition of it’s inhumanity was being acknowledged and scorned worldwide.During the American Civil War the Russians emancipated the serfs.In the South emancipation was unthinkable because it meant economic ruin for the region as a whole.The average southerner didn’t own slaves but the wealthy movers and shakers did.In short,I believe the South was used unsucessfully by Britain as a wedge to break this country in half.Most people would never in a million years dare to look at their history outside the box like this.But having a new context in which to view the Civil War-one that won’t ever be given in history books(and that is a whole other story)may help some people realize that the whole country was duped.Sadly,like family members who can’t bury the hatchet,we are left 140 years later to point fingers at each other saying who is and who isn’t a racist.Maybe the question of slavery could only have been settled through violent means.I’d like to think not.Unfortunately,that aspect of the Civil War and the issues surrounding it,those of true equality and peaceful coexistance are still being fought over. In this respect maybe england suceeded in breaking us in half.

Its no coincidence that the Stars and Bars are always flown at KKK and NeoNazi gatherings

Posted by: | Dec 7, 2007 8:01:58 AM ABC NEWS
The Confederate Flag is recognized throughout much of the world as a liberation symbol – it was there when the Berlin Wall came down. On the other hand, much of the world looks warily (even with hatred) on the US flag as a symbol of imperialism. So if the people of the world are to ever live in harmony in a global community, it’s the hated stripped banner that should go not some regional flag that is a threat to no one.
NMcC in NC

States Rights – the only Right in question was that of keeping slavery legal. A very bad thing.
HOWEVER: not a Southern thing, exclusively. The Union had slave areas. Also, note that the Emancipation Proclamation, limited as it was, wasn’t passed until very late in the war. You’d think, if slavery were THE issue, it would have been passed immediately when southern delegates were no lonager sitting in Congress. But it wasn’t.
The Union pretty much raped the South both during the war and throughout Reconstruction. It is understandable that the Confederate flag became a proud protest – but unfortunately has also been used by rapists. Context is everything.

If southerners want to fly a flag that is not the stars and stripes, they can do it in another country. Don’t you dare wave that treasonous rag around me. Anyone who says they fly the flag for historical reasons is a liar. Dismiss the fact for a moment that this flag DOES represent racism. The south rose up against the United States of America.

i fought for the Stars and Stripes. I left blood on the battlefield for that flag. i did then and will now defend the right of any citizen to fly any flag he or she wishes.

“The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.” So, did Lincoln have the right to suspend habeas corpus? uh yeah. did Lincoln abuse his powers? yep. but as for states rights…a uniquely American idea. the belief that man has inalienable rights granted him from God – not the government; that the federal governments powers are granted it by the people through the states. not the reverse. yet every time a new federal law is passed we lose not only a right reserved to the states and/or the people but become more dependent on the very institution the founding fathers built so many safe-guards into the Constitution to protect us from. yes, our own government. the important thing is not that we agree or disagree but that we PRESERVE the RIGHT to do so.

Can someone please tell these people that it’s not the 1870s any more? Join the 21st Century, people. Hell, even getting your political rhetoric from the 20th Century would be an improvement. Have you no idea how ridiculous you sound?

Ok. In 1994 I went to the Youth In Government gathering in Columbia, SC. I stood up that day and put forth the proposition that debunks many things said here.
I am a 32 year old mix-race northener who migrated south. In the beginning you may find me very southern, and then again very Northern, but ignore both because I do not write as either.
The Civil War was not just about slaves it was about states rights, the industrialized North forcing the south to trade conditions not benefiting them, and certain issues that were never resolved in the constitution that existed in the Continental congress where we started this great experiment called America.
The Constitution is a document which advocates that many independent states would work together to promote certain goals beneficial to ALL of those states. More or less Defense. Many fights in our congresses halls existed about how strong the Federal government should or shouldn’t be. The Civil War was one of those moments. The South wished to cancel their part of the Contract called the constitution. And should have been given that right.
That being said as a descendant of Black heritage, I though i would fully support the South for fighting for those rights, ideologically on slavery and the treatment of blacks, I could not support the south. I would have inequal rights, no upward mobility, and the designation as less than human. That being said this is only one part of the Confederate flag equation.
That flag which hangs over the capitol of Columbia WAS not there in 1866. In fact it was not there for quite some time. Until 1962 when the flag was placed upon the capitol building. We know exactly at what time that was? It was a political rather than revolutionary stance on the politics of desegregation, voter rights, and basic civil rights. Pretend what you want that flag was not flown for the sense of history, but at fear that federal mandates would change the societal tapestry of SC. It would incorporate a foreign culture the African-American culture to the game. Trust me with a state having the largest minority of Blacks in it, this flag was not their friend.
In the end I filibustered the daylights out of that thing. On the basis that though the flag means different things to people, the reason it was put up was to stand against Civil Rights enforcement. However, again the Federal government did put their hands in state affairs without formally changing the US government to agree that we are just administrative regions called states and no longer states no more.
I say why not pick a flag that everyone can be happy with, not just one or another? It is divisive and destroys the truest testament of states rights, and because of the bigotry of that flags supporters mars the issue. I would like to state I was nominated as most outstanding Statesman by Rev. Jim Clyburn, Strom Thurmond, and Fritz Hollings.

nicely done mr evans. accurate as can be. however, under the US Constitution blacks were 3/5ths persons until 6 December 1865 when the 13th Amendment changed the Constitution. Slaves lived under the Stars and Stripes almost 90 years as opposed to 4 years under the CSA flag. And, yes, there were slave-holding states in the north – 3 of them with a fourth being admitted to the Union in 1863. Why one would hold a flag that repressed black people for 4 years in more contempt than one that did for 90 years is beyond me. BTW, more republicans voted for the civil rights act than did dimocrats.

indeed. both parties are vastly different now. but the argument is still the same as it was in 1789. either a weak or a strong federal government. the founders did not create a perfect union but endeavored to create a “more perfect” union. there were some issues they could not resolve but in order to get a union period they “tabled” them for future generations to resolve. hence, the ability to amend the Constitution. in some instances we have failed miserably. in others we have done admirably. the founding fathers belief that our rights are granted by God, that the people grant rights to the government (unless you are a liberal of course. i mean, damn, you need a seeing eye dog to find some of the rights liberals find in the Constitution), is a uniquely American idea. there are times when the leviathan, aka federal government, moves painfully slow. and yes, it might take it awhile to address things but hey, in 1865 you were no longer 3/5ths of a person; i am still an indian , not taxed (yeah, right!). but in the end it all gets sorted out.
the other major argument is who best can solve the country’s problems – big government or its people. what makes America great? her government or her people? typically, if you believe in big government you think the government made the US great. conversely, if you believe in limited government you believe her people made her great. my money is and always will be on THE PEOPLE. how have so few accomplished so much in such a short time? people immigrated here from all over the world, and still do, to make up the US. we are a country that reflects the “citizens of the world” but at the same time are uniquely AMERICAN. my mother, a liberal (rolling my eyes), once remarked that the US had contributed nothing to the world. my argument was rather terse… “we have given the world its greatest gift – freedom.” that is why so many seek this imperfect union for residence.
my country is not perfect. but she sure is the most perfect union ever created by man. in spite of her shortcomings i had no problem leaving blood on the battlefield for her and what she stands for – and the greatness of her people.
mr evans, you may never resolve some of your conflicts but it is people like you who make this country as great as she is and in the end, when all is said and done, despite our differences it is our bond as Americans that make the difference.