Petition to Ban Confederate Flag from Walton County Courthouse

[Danny Glidewell]

Poppy, most of those, especially from Walton County, who fought and died were too poor to own slaves. In fact, Walton County opposed succession when it was voted on. They fought to protect their homes and state. The remembrance of them is not racist nor does it seek to revive some long discredited belief.
What really bothers me about this is that we are making knee jerk reactions to an unbelievable tragedy while ignoring the really serious issues. Does anyone seriously think that all of this attention to an historical relic is going to end real racism or bigotry? IMHO it is a useless gesture that gives everyone warm fuzzy feelings while we continue to ignore the real issues. Not to mention that in this county we have serious problems that need attention far more than whether or not a 150 year old flag flies at the courthouse. Things like $600,000 "missing" from the Planning Dept or how the protections of our coastal lakes have been changed and if those lakes are now in danger. I guarantee you there are several members of the powers that be that will love debating the flag instead of those issues.

 

[poppy]

That is your prerogative since you live in a free country and get to choose. If nothing else a flag should remind us that war is pointless. The same mentality that makes people fly them is related to the mentality of aggression. Pride is poison. Ads a great man once said, "this aggression will not stand, man! Let's agree to allow a flag to fly and not get killed for it. On a side note, I appreciate this site allows free discussion and doesn't censor people like on facebook. Will this flag image get removed? Will I be censored? Will it get banned? Will someone see this and want to hurt me? Kill me? A symbol is just a symbol. It's people that give it power. Fight the POWER! [Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet Album] <img src="http://www.sowal.com/bb/attachment.php?attachmentid=41257"/>

Many wars are pointless, but not the civil war. It ended slavery a fact which it seems many just can't get over. No one is forcing any state to remove the flag. If states wish to continue flying this flag they are free to do so, but there will be consequences both politically and economically.

 

[Jenksy]

Poppy, most of those, especially from Walton County, who fought and died were too poor to own slaves. In fact, Walton County opposed succession when it was voted on. They fought to protect their homes and state. The remembrance of them is not racist nor does it seek to revive some long discredited belief.
What really bothers me about this is that we are making knee jerk reactions to an unbelievable tragedy while ignoring the really serious issues. Does anyone seriously think that all of this attention to an historical relic is going to end real racism or bigotry? IMHO it is a useless gesture that gives everyone warm fuzzy feelings while we continue to ignore the real issues. Not to mention that in this county we have serious problems that need attention far more than whether or not a 150 year old flag flies at the courthouse. Things like $600,000 "missing" from the Planning Dept or how the protections of our coastal lakes have been changed and if those lakes are now in danger. I guarantee you there are several members of the powers that be that will love debating the flag instead of those issues.

Good points - can you start a new thread about missing money?

The real issues are lack of education and travel (to prevent bigotry and promote tolerance), and the lack of proper mental health care for those who need it.

 

[Leader of the Banned]

The only "feel good" policy I'm aware of is coming from those who would feel really good if this issue were just swept under the rug. Don't you just love the "there are much more serious issues" argument? In the case of the flag, I think civil disobedience might send a message and achieve desired results. Seeing as it's the courthouse, citizens could refuse to honor your calls to jury duty until this flag is taken down.

 

[Independent Thinker]

If they have a memorial statue why is that not enough ? Why do they also have to have that flag. I seriously doubt that everyone in Walton County was to poor to own slaves. There is some old money folks over there.

 

[Danny Glidewell]

If they have a memorial statue why is that not enough ? Why do they also have to have that flag. I seriously doubt that everyone in Walton County was to poor to own slaves. There is some old money folks over there.

IT, I said "most" not "everyone."

 

[poppy]

Poppy, most of those, especially from Walton County, who fought and died were too poor to own slaves. In fact, Walton County opposed succession when it was voted on. They fought to protect their homes and state. The remembrance of them is not racist nor does it seek to revive some long discredited belief.
What really bothers me about this is that we are making knee jerk reactions to an unbelievable tragedy while ignoring the really serious issues. Does anyone seriously think that all of this attention to an historical relic is going to end real racism or bigotry? IMHO it is a useless gesture that gives everyone warm fuzzy feelings while we continue to ignore the real issues. Not to mention that in this county we have serious problems that need attention far more than whether or not a 150 year old flag flies at the courthouse. Things like $600,000 "missing" from the Planning Dept or how the protections of our coastal lakes have been changed and if those lakes are now in danger. I guarantee you there are several members of the powers that be that will love debating the flag instead of those issues.

Well of course many who fought were to poor to own slaves, what the hell does that have to do with the reason for going to war and what does the planning dept have to do with this? WTF?

Here Danny let one of the Confederate leaders explain it to you, he couldn't have been clearer about what they were fighting for. He even throws in a little Godly justification.

Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens' "Corner Stone Speech" in Savannah on March 21, 1861

"Many governments have been founded upon the principle of the subordination and serfdom of certain classes of the same race; such were and are in violation of the laws of nature. Our system commits no such violation of nature’s laws. With us, all of the white race, however high or low, rich or poor, are equal in the eye of the law. Not so with the negro. Subordination is his place. He, by nature, or by the curse against Canaan, is fitted for that condition which he occupies in our system. The architect, in the construction of buildings, lays the foundation with the proper material-the granite; then comes the brick or the marble. The substratum of our society is made of the material fitted by nature for it, and by experience we know that it is best, not only for the superior, but for the inferior race, that it should be so. It is, indeed, in conformity with the ordinance of the Creator. It is not for us to inquire into the wisdom of His ordinances, or to question them. For His own purposes, He has made one race to differ from another, as He has made “one star to differ from another star in glory. The great objects of humanity are best attained when there is conformity to His laws and decrees, in the formation of governments as well as in all things else. Our confederacy is founded upon principles in strict conformity with these laws."

The Constitution of the CSA:

" (3) The Confederate States may acquire new territory; and Congress shall have power to legislate and provide governments for the inhabitants of all territory belonging to the Confederate States, lying without the limits of the several Sates; and may permit them, at such times, and in such manner as it may by law provide, to form States to be admitted into the Confederacy. In all such territory the institution of negro slavery, as it now exists in the Confederate States, shall be recognized and protected be Congress and by the Territorial government; and the inhabitants of the several Confederate States and Territories shall have the right to take to such Territory any slaves lawfully held by them in any of the States or Territories of the Confederate States."

Read some of these:
South Carolina Secession Statement
Mississippi Secession Statement
Texas Secession Statement
Georgia Secession Statement

 

[Independent Thinker]

The beginning of paragraph 10 of the "Corner Stone" speech. Certainly nothing to be proud of. I have ancestors who fought for the CSA, I think they were wrong. The flag belongs in a museum, not proudly flown on public property. If people fly on their property, that's there business. If gives all who see it a good indicator of what kind of people they are.

 

[Leader of the Banned]

That is your prerogative since you live in a free country and get to choose. If nothing else a flag should remind us that war is pointless. The same mentality that makes people fly them is related to the mentality of aggression. Pride is poison. Ads a great man once said, "this aggression will not stand, man!

Let's agree to allow a flag to fly and not get killed for it.

On a side note, I appreciate this site allows free discussion and doesn't censor people like on facebook.

Will this flag image get removed? Will I be censored? Will it get banned? Will someone see this and want to hurt me? Kill me? A symbol is just a symbol. It's people that give it power.


View attachment 41257

 

[seal]

MYTH - The War of 1861 - 1865 was fought over slavery. FACT - The North fought the war over money. When the South started Secession, Lincoln was asked, "Why not let the South go in peace?" To which he replied, "I can't let them go. Who would pay for the government?" Sensing total financial ruin for the North, Lincoln waged war on the South. The South fought the War to repel Northern aggression and invasion.



MYTH - Only Southerners owned slaves.

FACT - Entirely untrue. Many Northern civilians owned slaves. Prior to, during and even after the war.

Surprisingly, to many history impaired individuals, most Union Generals and staff had slaves to serve them! William T. Sherman had many slaves that served him until well after the war was over and did not free them until late in 1865.
U.S. Grant also had several slaves, who were only freed after the 13th amendment in December of 1865. When asked why he didn't free his slaves earlier, Grant stated "Good help is so hard to come by these days."
Confederate General Robert E. Lee freed his slaves (which he never purchased - they were inherited) in 1862. Lee freed his slaves several years before the war was over, and considerably earlier than his Northern counterparts. And during the fierce early days of the war when the South was obliterating the Yankee armies!

Lastly, and most importantly, why did NORTHERN States outlaw slavery only AFTER the war was over? The so-called "Emancipation Proclamation" of Lincoln only gave freedom to slaves in the SOUTH! NOT in the North! The state of Delaware rejected the 13th Amendment in December of 1865 and did not ratify it (13th Amendment / free the slaves) until 1901.


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Sorry if these facts make some of those that want to revise history uncomfortable.

Here in this link Leland Summers, Division Commander of the Sons of Confederate Veterans says it best: http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/...nfederate-veterans-on-mother-emanuel-shooting

And, yes, there were black as well as white soldiers in the Confederate military. They were all trying to protect their homeland.