Petition to Ban Confederate Flag from Walton County Courthouse

[Danny Glidewell]

There are fundamental rights that do not require a majority. Freedom of speech, Freedom of religion, Freedom of association and assembly, Freedom to bear arms, Freedom of the press, Right to due process, Right to property, Right to petition your government and the Right to privacy without a properly executed warrant. I would argue that many of these rights are being regularly trampled on by the liberals and socialists who control the Federal government. But as regards what happened in Walton County yesterday let's look at it:
1. Did the BCC honor the right to free speech? Yes, every person who wished to speak was afforded the opportunity.
2. Freedom of religion? Not applicable.
3. Freedom of association and assembly? Each group was able to gather outside the courthouse to rally their supporters and each group could associate with those they chose to.
4. Freedom to bear arms? Not applicable.
5. Freedom of the press? Numerous TV, print and internet media was present and freely reported on the proceedings. The BCC provided streaming video for those not in the room and were available for interviews before and after the meeting.
6. Right to due process? Those who wished to remove the flag were placed on the agenda, pleaded their case at 2 separate meetings and presented all the documentation and speakers that they chose to. Those who wished to keep the flag were allowed rebuttal and to present all their documentation and speakers.
7. Right to property? Not applicable.
8. Right to petition your government? Both sides presented petitions to the BCC and both sides were able to plead their case and present their position. The BCC heard over 2 hours of presentations by both sides and then discussed and voted on the position chosen in the Sunshine.
9. Right to privacy? Not applicable.

So, every freedom or right that applied to this situation was honored by the BCC. They bent over backwards to hear everyone and consider everyone. They then made a decision that did not totally please anyone but should leave anyone who wants to consider all viewpoints and represent everyone at least satisfied. Now those who wished for removal stand intransigent and have pulled their old tricks out of the bag. Threatening to harm the economy is going to first hurt those they claim to represent. They had all the state media, most of the state politicians, with the notable exception of Rep. Brad Drake, money, organization and momentum and they could not convince the majority of Walton County citizens to change their mind. That is not the fault of the 4 commissioners who were courageous enough to be there and make a decision that was going to cost them one way or the other. That is not "good ole boy" politics nor is that "chicken." That is political courage that you rarely see at any level. The "good ole boy" play would have been to listen and do nothing but adjourn.

 

[Jdarg]

When a cause needs to championed or a campaign is underway, you bring in the press. Not so hard to understand. PR 101.

 

[Danny Glidewell]

The NAACP and Mr. Uhfelder created this division in our county. Most people did not know the flag was even there and due to courthouse renovations which have changed the main entrance and parking for the public, most people would never see it. It is a simple memorial to soldiers who died over 150 years ago. Whatever happened 150 or 50 years ago is not even known to most Citizens. This issue was started by people with an agenda and as Ms. Meadows stated, they succeeded. Anyone who objectively watched the proceedings could see the concern and sincerity on the faces of all four commissioners. They crafted a compromise that was sure to cost them some votes from both sides but was best for the majority of their constituents. Now, one side is willing to accept their decision and move on and one side wants to tear down and destroy. I sincerely hope they reconsider their stance, accept the spirit in which the compromise was made and move on. Ms. Commander made her motion with a deep consideration for local Blacks who view the "X" flag with a remembrance of desegregation and all the pain and suffering they endured. The compromise flag is easily confused with the US flag unless you really look at it. So, 6 months from now the flag and monument will be even more obscure unless the NAACP chooses to keep this alive. I hope they allow the monument and flag to return once again to the families of those it honors.

 

[Misty]

When a cause needs to championed or a campaign is underway, you bring in the press. Not so hard to understand. PR 101.

Make no mistake jdarg, I do understand it even if it makes no sense.

BTW, you have championed the "take it down" cause and were visibly absent from yesterday's meeting. What's up with that? Is only signing your name to the petition you have been so passionate about your idea of championing the cause?

 

[Jdarg]

Make no mistake jdarg, I do understand it even if it makes no sense. BTW, you have championed the "take it down" cause and were visibly absent from yesterday's meeting. What's up with that? Is only signing your name to the petition you have been so passionate about your idea of championing the cause?

Not that it is any of your business, but I wasn't sipping champagne, getting my nails done, and living this mythical SoWal life of excess. I was at work. I did watch the entire meeting online. The 9 am DeFuniak meetings are hard to get to with a job- you lose half the day.

 

[Misty]

Not that it is any of your business, but I wasn't sipping champagne, getting my nails done, and living this mythical SoWal life of excess. I was at work. I did watch the entire meeting online. The 9 am DeFuniak meetings are hard to get to with a job- you lose half the day.

The majority of the people in that building yesterday also work and own business in this County and were willing to sacrifice a half a day...passions do run deep.

 

[beachmouse]

Wait until closer to Christmas and let's see which of the "I have a dream/keeper" speechers wants to start another petition because someone offended their mothers brothers uncles cousin 3 times removed over a religious adornment they saw on County property.

Florida is pretty consistent with this- religious displays on public land are okay as long as you make space available to any religious group (or in the case of the atheist parody groups non-religious groups) that wants equal time. Hence the number of counties that end up with Festivus poles and the Capitol police in Tallahassee arresting a fundamentalist Christian woman who vandalized the Satanists' holiday display when it was set up in the Capitol building last year.

Yet they are a minority in this county and do not speak for the people. I have been in minority situations and you have to accept that your opinion will not count as much as the majority opinion.

So those good Southern folks who wanted to keep interracial marriage illegal or schools segregated should have been allowed to do so, what with them being the majority and all?

Sometimes that majority is wrong, and I though that one of the reasons for the Supreme Court was to intervene in those cases.

Silly me, eh?

 

[Cuff]

Danny Udhelder and the press is not the problem. The flag is the problem. The decision to "compromise" had been made before the first speaker rose . The more press and light shone on this place the better. I just put a call in to the NYT.

 

[Andy A]

Once again, Danny, you correctly and forcefully set forth exactly what happened at the BCC meeting. I did not attend it but I did watch every minute of it on live feed. It is too bad that some cannot accept the results agreed to by the BCC. They did an admirable job under very stressful conditions. Regardless of the outcome, I am very proud of MY BCC today and commend them most highly for a job well done. It is now time to put this issue to rest. Despite what some think, a reasonable compromise was reached. It would behoove all to accept it graciously and move to grave matters we have facing us in Walton County.

 

[Misty]

Florida is pretty consistent with this- religious displays on public land are okay as long as you make space available to any religious group (or in the case of the atheist parody groups non-religious groups) that wants equal time. Hence the number of counties that end up with Festivus poles and the Capitol police in Tallahassee arresting a fundamentalist Christian woman who vandalized the Satanists' holiday display when it was set up in the Capitol building last year.

Of course they are consistent with it, we are deep in the heart of the bible belt and the silent minority doesn't stand a chance in Walton County. What is the difference in who you silence?