Walton County Sheriff joins with other panhandle sheriffs

I think Uhlfelder's group want to fly the null flag.

Sorry, I did not think anyone had said anything against Yancey, just saying that I know him and Chief Wells and both are good men. John Tate from the Sheriff's Office in Holmes County was also present. He is a good man too. Sheriff McKeithen is encouraging all these guys to get active and many like Liberty, Gulf, Franklin, Walton, Holmes, Bonifay are following his lead. It is the state motto, hard to argue against it.

Sorry, I did not think anyone had said anything against Yancey, just saying that I know him and Chief Wells and both are good men. John Tate from the Sheriff's Office in Holmes County was also present. He is a good man too. Sheriff McKeithen is encouraging all these guys to get active and many like Liberty, Gulf, Franklin, Walton, Holmes, Bonifay are following his lead. It is the state motto, hard to argue against it.

I'm going to stick with LOTB on this one!

In my humble opinion, that "state motto" is just about as ubiquitous as "Just Do It" or "I'm Lovin' It". It's just so much out there, you hardly notice it anymore. I might be holding it in my pocket. Who knows? It really takes a sour individual to get really riled up about it.

In my humble opinion, that "state motto" is just about as ubiquitous as "Just Do It" or "I'm Lovin' It". It's just so much out there, you hardly notice it anymore. I might be holding it in my pocket. Who knows? It really takes a sour individual to get really riled up about it.

The same could be said about the other issue...perception is everything.

This motto stands for an "all knowing and loving being who promises us everlasting life" and the other thing stands for "armed rebellion to preserve slavery". I'm not seeing that much connection.

This motto stands for an "all knowing and loving being who promises us everlasting life" and the other thing stands for "armed rebellion to preserve slavery". I'm not seeing that much connection.

Then shouldn't the Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson, Franklin etc. memorials also be taken down? They fought to keep their slaves.

I'm not saying those fellers didn't have slaves. I'm saying the conscience of the country evolved, obviously enough, so that a major number of states were against slavery.(The country also evolved enough to grant women the right to vote.) All in all, this country seems to be a progressive, evolving entity for equality. I kind of hope it keeps progressing like that. And I bet God does too.

I'm not saying those fellers didn't have slaves. I'm saying the conscience of the country evolved, obviously enough, so that a major number of states were against slavery.(The country also evolved enough to grant women the right to vote.) All in all, this country seems to be a progressive, evolving entity for equality. I kind of hope it keeps progressing like that. And I bet God does too.

I would hope that if you are going to censor history, you should censor it all. The right to pick and choose is hypocritical.

Not into evolution much, huh?

Homo sapiens use to drag their knuckles too.

Not into evolution much, huh?

I'm not into the notion that if I don't think or believe the same as you or anyone else that my opinion matters less than yours or that yours matters more than mine because you are a "believer".

I don't consider myself a believer. I consider myself a decent, compassionate human being. You raised the fact that our founding fathers were slave owners, as if that made me a hypocrite. Sounds like you are lording your opinion over mine. My opinion remains the same: this country's greatness lies in the fact that we are in the midst of a progressive evolution of civil justice, and celebrating the Confederacy is just plain wrong.

I don't consider myself a believer. I consider myself a decent, compassionate human being. You raised the fact that our founding fathers were slave owners, as if that made me a hypocrite. Sounds like you are lording your opinion over mine. My opinion remains the same: this country's greatness lies in the fact that we are in the midst of a progressive evolution of civil justice, and celebrating the Confederacy is just plain wrong.

Ya know LakeView, I'm not trying to lord anything over you but I still insist (contrary to your assertions) the majority of Walton County does not believe what you or the folks who started this mess do in regard to the flag. I'd like to think I'm also a pretty decent human being. I'm not racist and I'd like to think I'm not morally bankrupt, that I am compassionate and would help my fellow man/woman/child if I were able. I make a concerted effort not to involve myself in things which could end with me being on the opposite side of the law and I do those things because I had parents (who not necessarily religious) did mange to teach me right from wrong and give me a very healthy respect (maybe overtly so) for the basic principals that this Country was founded on including, freedom of religion, freedom of speech and the right to peacefully assemble and protest.

With those principals in mind (rather that what you perceive I think) let me put this to you another way. The masses would bring prayer back into public school, something I may add, the constitution has said the government will not do. I think the Government has found a way to blatantly "skirt the law" just as they did about 15 years ago right here in Walton County by having the Sheriff lead prayer at school functions, using inmate labor to work (actually build churches from the ground up) which in effect, suggested that Walton County was ABOVE the law of the land or if you will, above the Constitution. Not so said the ACLU, those practices will cease immediately. Did it happen overnight? Of course not. Clever representatives of government thought they found a way to "skirt" the law once again by having our children "lead" prayer. Can you imagine how a parent would feel if their child were Jewish and leading a Christian prayer or an Atheist leading any kind of prayer knowing the government is to make no law establishing religion and must not prohibit the free exercise thereof? Did inmates cease building churches from the ground up, well yeah as a matter of fact they did BUT the government found another subtle way to respect "Christianity" by allowing prisoners to put up Christmas decorations on public and government owned land. Today, we got bumper stickers and the masses are saying "it's our State motto" as if that somehow separates Church and State. I don't believe it does but the masses do which is exactly why I was not prepared to put the proverbial target on my own back because I am a minority.

Do I think this is a lawsuit waiting to happen? Yes. Do I think that at some point someone is going to say "enough of these attacks by the masses in their subtle attempts to make this a Christian Nation without respect for the founding principals of this Country"? Absolutely. Do I expect at some point to see the ACLU step in? Well, it has happened before which is in effect why we have the Constitution.

I think the government celebrating Christmas is wrong albeit I don't care what they do in the privacy of their own homes. I think the same principals that Uhlfelder has stated about our government halls and buildings being a place of justice for all should apply equally when it comes to religious references on government owned and operated (automobiles) and land.

And yes, I do believe anything less is hypocritical.

Government allowing Christmas decorations for one month out of the year as opposed to government allowing a display of treason and slavery for 50 years... I got to brush up on my definition of hypocrisy ...

Government allowing Christmas decorations for one month out of the year as opposed to government allowing a display of treason and slavery for 50 years... I got to brush up on my definition of hypocrisy ...

Sin according to Christian scripture is breaking God's law and lawlessness. Accordingly the Christian bible teaches that lawlessness is disobeying government law. Flying that flag isn't against government law but disobeying the laws government imposes on us is.

I'm not sure how one would measure which is the greater sin if one isn't illegal. Slavery is morally repugnant and thankfully today, it is also illegal.

While we are on the subject...everyone understands that the WCSO's BADGES are and as far as I know always have been imprinted with "In God We Trust," right?

The one I received in 1984 has it imprinted.

Anyone who has a problem with this phrase, may want to reconsider using cash money.

While we are on the subject...everyone understands that the WCSO's BADGES are and as far as I know always have been imprinted with "In God We Trust," right?

And that wasn't enough.

Eventually god will be removed from government as people evolve.

Unless the defense contractors continue escalating the holy war. They've figured out nothing makes people fight like religion. Perpetual sales.

Eventually god will be removed from government as people evolve.

That is quite possibly the most frightening statement I've ever seen on this forum.

This is why there won't be a target on my back Danny....LOL!

Who wins in this case? The moral majority or silent minority?

Double edged sword huh?

WEEKEND PROTESTS
By: T.H. Merritt, WZEP
It was a weekend of protests as residents across the area turned out to support God & flag.
In the town of Bonifay in Holmes County, 5 demonstrators showed up at the Police Department on Hwy. 79 around 10 AM Sunday morning to protest Police Chief Chris Wells’ decision to put the official motto of the United States and the state of Florida, “IN GOD WE TRUST,” on his fleet of a dozen patrol cars.
Deputy Chief Greg Yancey said the 5 were met almost immediately with nearly 200 counter protesters in support of the Chief’s decision. “It was incredible to see how quickly people reacted,” Yancey said. He said two of the protestors quickly left when they saw the large number of citizens who opposed them. As church services began to dismiss later in the morning, the crowd swelled to nearly 500 and the other 3 protesters abandoned their position in front of the police station.
Deputy Chief Yancey said things were peaceful but it was clear where the community stood. He said people who haven’t been politically active or have been quiet on issues like this are waking up. “People are only going to take so much,” said Yancey.
Several local Sheriff’s and Police Chief’s have added the IN GOD WE TRUST motto to their vehicles in recent weeks with donated materials or private donations. Walton County Sheriff Michael A. Adkinson, Jr. said during an interview on Friday, "We think it's important for the citizens in this county to know what our core values are."

So Misty, because you were on the majority side on the flag issue you didn't want to fight the fight on the minority side of the bumper sticker issue even though everyone here knows your feelings?

So Misty, because you were on the majority side on the flag issue you didn't want to fight the fight on the minority side of the bumper sticker issue even though everyone here knows your feelings?

Not a chance. I recognize your tongue in cheek sarcasm Bob so let's be real...I'm not going to take on Walton County over whether or not the majority believes in God. I know they do. Majority wins!

Let me also remind you...I don't give a tinkers damn about that flag. Whether it stays or goes, makes me no difference. I supported the right of the majority of individuals to assemble, protest, etc. I respected majority opinion in what they believe (how they feel) as to what that flag represents to them and what history has taught them. Do I believe in God or "In God we trust"? I've said I'm agnostic. I respect your right to believe it whether I do or not. Every individual has the inherent right to respect, believe and support whatever they choose.

I tried to be mindful and respectful of minority opinion by not threatening anyone, calling names, using hateful or racist remarks and I think the few who did, got "trolled" for acting like trolls.