Petition to Ban Confederate Flag from Walton County Courthouse

[Kaydence]

In a speech in 1861, Alexander Stephens, the Vice President of the Confederacy said that the Confederacy's "corner-stone rests upon the great truth, that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery—subordination to the superior race—is his natural and normal condition. This, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth."

New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu's article on the removal of the city's Confederate monuments is worth the read:

'We Can't Walk Away From This Truth'

Our current President thinks its perfectly acceptable to grab women by the who-ha, disrespect vets and the handicapped. Where's the outrage? The American people have walked away from that truth! The POTUS DOES NOT SPEAK FOR ME!

The Westboro Baptist Church was in Okaloosa County this weekend spreading their racist hate, discontent and anti God sentiment and I'm not aware of anyone protesting their bigotry. Folks walked away from that truth! Westboro Baptist Church does not speak for me!

It's OK to be offended, you have that right but where I draw the line is when a few try to speak for the masses (particularly, the family members of the soldiers whose names are a part of the monument) in NoWal. You don't know the hearts of the men who died or what they believed they were fighting for DESPITE what Alexander Stephens said back in 1861...(a 150 years ago) and chances are he wasn't speaking for the masses either!!

Where do you draw the line at being offended?? What's next? The monuments of our ugly, tainted, bigoted, racist, history? Removing them won't make the truth of what our nation was and in many ways still is go away!! Here we are 150 years later still having conversations about racism, bigotry and hatred.

 

[ShallowsNole]

I have many questions and comments, but I will limit it for now to this...why is a group of liberals in South Walton, led by a narcissistic and generally disliked attorney, so concerned about a flag that flies 35 miles north when most of these same individuals will equate having to cross the 331 bridge to pick up their dog and beach permits next year to having their toenails pulled out? I would bet most have never seen the flag. It has been flying my whole life and I had to look for it the last time I was at the Courthouse.

 

[ShallowsNole]

Also...if anyone who is so convinced the Confederacy was evil lives in or owns land in Point Washington, they may be revolted to find out that most of the donated land along 395, including the cemetery, both churches, and the old school (no longer standing) belonged to Confederate General William Miller, who led the Battle of Natural Bridge and kept Tallahassee from being taken over and probably burned by Union troops. There are several realtors in the area that will help you sell your blood-stained land, probably for a great price.

 

[Jenksy]

Why would a bunch of liberal troublemaking yankees and southern-born negro lovers care what is happening in Alabama?
The Freedom Riders, Then and Now | History | Smithsonian

Simple minds make the issue about heritage vs outsider. It is about humanity. Either you care what minorities think and feel about confederate symbols or you are completely unable to empathize with another human being with a different experience than yourself.

There is a reason nazi symbols are outlawed in Germany but I'm sure you can still find people there who are butt hurt about their missing heritage.

 

[PoppaJ]

Why would a bunch of liberal troublemaking yankees and southern-born negro lovers care what is happening in Alabama?
The Freedom Riders, Then and Now | History | Smithsonian

Simple minds make the issue about heritage vs outsider. It is about humanity. Either you care what minorities think and feel about confederate symbols or you are completely unable to empathize with another human being with a different experience than yourself.

There is a reason nazi symbols are outlawed in Germany but I'm sure you can still find people there who are butt hurt about their missing heritage.

Exactly. No one is trying to erase history, let's just not celebrate this period in our publicly owned spaces. Display all the Confederate symbols you want on your private property.

 

[Jenksy]

Exactly. No one is trying to erase history, let's just not celebrate this period in our publicly owned spaces. Display all the Confederate symbols you want on your private property if you want to give the finger to every black person in america.

Fixed it for you.

 

[PoppaJ]

Fixed it for you.

Lots of ways to celebrate your heritage on private property. You could even dance around a burning cross in your pointy hood and robe.

 

[John G]

Lots of ways to celebrate your heritage on private property. You could even dance around a burning cross in your pointy hood and robe.

Wow, just Wow....

 

[mputnal]

It is disrespectful to offend anyone with intent. There is one side of this debate that intends on being disrespectful. I challenge anyone especially African Americans to read ALL the post and make a statement regarding who is disrespecting who. The problem is of course there are no African Americans who are reading the Sowal forum. If the liberal agenda is diversity where is it in Sowal when it comes to African Americans? If the liberal agenda is about sensitivity and respect and progressive ideals your words come off as omnipotent beings who believe you are the gate keepers to an accurate history, community diversity, morality and general good will to ALL of humanity. Just go back to page one of this thread and read. There are good people on both sides of this issue and then there are a few who choose to call people disgusting names. Everyone who supports removing the Confederate Flag should be ashamed of those that are carrying your torch in this thread. This was a great opportunity to have a debate but it was hijacked by those taking extreme liberal positions. This thread is a good example of what is happening to our Country. Extreme positions will lead us into a never ending cycle of hatred. Why would anyone want to hate? Is that being evolved? Why not listen to what people are saying and take them for their word? If we fly the Confederate Flag as a memorial then why is that not enough for you? If the flag is removed and all the memorials of those Confederate soldiers would you then be satisfied? Based on this forum you would not be satisfied until your ideals are in control of everything. I think that is called supremism...

 

[Kaydence]

The problem is of course there are no African Americans who are reading the Sowal forum.

That's a broad statement.