Priceless Letter

Amen

You should consider that whatever the confederate flag means to you, to black Americans, it represents an ugly stain in American history that remains extremely painful. I don?t understand why you would knowingly want to offend 10% of the population.

Ugly sentiments on the order of ?go back where you came from? aren?t helpful and don?t add anything productive, but I don?t suppose that was the intent.

This letter was published in the Paper today. Couldn't say it better myself!

I have to say that I am quite offended, surprised and disappointed Yippie that you feel that way while I sit here on my 3 acres of suburban sprawl, especially in light of the fact that this Yankee has been sympathetic to you.

while that letter was a tad rude on several levels, I get the message. not necessarily approve it, but understand its meaning. the confederate flag car tag issue brings out many different feelings and opinions.. and has different meanings, symbolic and historic, for southern folks. I still feel if someone wants to have a confederate symbol on the back of their car, or anywhere else for that matter, well then they ought to have it.

I am sorry it will offend others. and because I am sensitive to this, I would never choose to have it on my car. but that is my choice.

i could not put one on my vehicle either. I'm not sure if this plate has been approved yet, but personally I feel the state should drop it due to all the controversy associated with it. I understand it is a symbol of historical pride for some, but it represents hurt, embarrassment, and suffering for many more. It is more a negative symbol than a positive, imo.

mangy dahling, I believe yippie was posting an interesting letter. not meant to offend anyone on either side of the issue. its a letter about having so many people from different parts of the world move into our territory and trying to change it, as if it was not perfect to start with! well, I for one can relate. But, change is inevitable as we've all learned. especially when you live in a paradise on the emerald coast that attracts so many. the folks from all over coming into our little piece of the world bring amazing diversity - and that makes it all worthwhile, imo. (but, I can relate to the letter in my own little southern rednecky way).

You should consider that whatever the confederate flag means to you, to black Americans, it represents an ugly stain in American history that remains extremely painful. I don’t understand why you would knowingly want to offend 10% of the population.

Yes, it is a sensitive subject, but seeing only the perspective of black Americans, is about as narrow focused as seeing only the southern heritage perspective. Hundreds of thousands of Southern ancestors were killed, flying that flag, so if you think these ancestors aren't offended when people tell them that the Flag is hateful toward black Americans, you have another thing coming.

I know of at least 5 of my ancestors who went off to fight in the War, and never came back. I don't fly the Flag, but I can understand why some people, other than racists or bigots, choose to fly it.

While the Confederate flag may be a hurtful symbol for some even today, many of us have ancestors who fought for, and died for, the Confederacy or, simply, "the South."

When I see the Confederate flag, that is who I think of. And the fact that while you might not agree with *all* aspects of the Civil War, part of our nation was fighting with another part of our nation - and if you made your home in a southern state, you didn't switch sides. You just didn't.

Yes, it is a sensitive subject, but seeing only the perspective of black Americans, is about as narrow focused as seeing only the southern heritage perspective. Hundreds of thousands of Southern ancestors were killed, flying that flag, so if you think these ancestors aren't offended when people tell them that the Flag is hateful toward black Americans, you have another thing coming.

I know of at least 5 of my ancestors who went off to fight in the War, and never came back. I don't fly the Flag, but I can understand why some people, other than racists or bigots, choose to fly it.

Sometimes it is better to say it with a song!


YouTube - I'm a Good Ol' Rebel

mangy dahling, I believe yippie was posting an interesting letter. not meant to offend anyone on either side of the issue. its a letter about having so many people from different parts of the world move into our territory and trying to change it, as if it was not perfect to start with! well, I for one can relate. But, change is inevitable as we've all learned. especially when you live in a paradise on the emerald coast that attracts so many. the folks from all over coming into our little piece of the world bring amazing diversity - and that makes it all worthwhile, imo. (but, I can relate to the letter in my own little southern rednecky way).

I thought the issue pertained to all Southern States, not South Walton exclusively?

I can sense your resentment for tourists and transplants that have moved into your territory. I myself am a transplant - God-forbid ... a Yankee transplant .... and I think it's too bad that some locals feel this way. But c'est la vie! I won't worry about it.

Interesting letter? It was blatantly prejudice IMO, written by a sadly ignorant man.

Just to quote a few passages "Yankee-American interlopers migrate down to my beloved Southland, visit (or, God forbid, stay) and get sand in their shoes and wrongfully assume they?re now ?native? and free to poke their arrogant snoots into affairs that don?t concern them."

or

"and I strongly implore anyone ? Yankee-American or otherwise ? who feels uncomfortable in my beloved Florida to haul their discontented carcasses back north to whatever odious stretch of overtaxed, polluted real estate they hail from. God bless America." WTF??

Yankee vs. Southerners, African Americans vs. White Americans, native locals vs. transplants ... these divisions when used negatively, as the author of that letter as well as the letters he quoted from both do, serve to do nothing more than pit human against human. It's so stupid - I just can't understand that mentality.

I've got no ancestors involved in the Civil War on either side. They were too busy being horribly oppressed in Poland at the time.

But, say whatever you want about heritage not hate and such, the Confederate Battle Flag is always going to remind a large ethnic minority group in this country of a time of horrible opression and I don't feel it's appropraite for the state to imply an endorsement of such symbolism.

Why not the Stars and Bars instead?

Most people have no clue about the Stars and Bars. If they did, the GA Flag would not look so similar to it.

I thought the issue pertained to all Southern States, not South Walton exclusively?

I can sense your resentment for tourists and transplants that have moved into your territory. I myself am a transplant - God-forbid ... a Yankee transplant .... and I think it's too bad that some locals feel this way. But c'est la vie! I won't worry about it.

you missed my point entirely, IJ. and I don't appreciate your attitude or interpretation of my intention.

most of us are transplants. please don't be a bully on the board. thank you.

mangy dahling, I believe yippie was posting an interesting letter. not meant to offend anyone on either side of the issue. its a letter about having so many people from different parts of the world move into our territory and trying to change it, as if it was not perfect to start with! well, I for one can relate. But, change is inevitable as we've all learned. especially when you live in a paradise on the emerald coast that attracts so many. the folks from all over coming into our little piece of the world bring amazing diversity - and that makes it all worthwhile, imo. (but, I can relate to the letter in my own little southern rednecky way).

Toots sweetie, I know what you are trying to convey about the article being posted, it is afterall our rights as Americans to print these types of opinions, so I think that's what you meant by interesting. Indeed it is interesting to see these views. But, for the initiator of the thread to say " I couldn't have said it better myself", IMHO is offensive because of the brash tone used in that article/oped. There's simply a better way to get one's point across.

And if this oped relates to Northerners infiltrating the area and imposing their views (as I have been told. In addition I am not involved in any way in disputing the plate), in my own little Yankee way I can relate to the opposing view since owning property, having to deal with contractors and the politics of doing business in the South and the "discrimination" I experienced initially and still do.

There is no doubt about it. There are differences in how things are done in the North and South. If Donald Trump was Southern, he'd say,
"YOU'RE FIRED,..... Now Bless Your Heart and can I take you to lunch?

Northerners in business are fast paced, Southerners more laid back.
I could go on with the differences, but that is not what matters.
What matters is opening your mind to a different ideologies and methods. Serving on a Board of Directors for my properties and encountering numerous problems to solve, I know that I have learned a great deal from the locals and Southerners that I have had dealings with and hopefully vice versa.

But there are those that will always feel that their spawing grounds seemingly give them entitlements. God forbid they ever have to leave it.
I shiver at the thought.

Boy, I opened Pandora's Box.

First, I would like to apologize to anyone who I offended. When I read the letter this morning, I was amused that 1. Someone sent it to the paper and 2. The paper printed it.

It did not even enter my mind to think about the license tag. Since Florida has a tag for every cause known to man, that just went right over my head. I am, however, curious of what cause you are contributing to, (most the tags, there is a contribution to some society whether it be the arts or the manatees).

Tootsie hit the nail on the head. Every day in business, someone always says, "We do it THIS way where we are from" It is tiring to hear that and my first thought when I hear this is, well you are HERE for a reason and if you liked the way everything is done at home, then you probably wouldn't have left.

Again, I sincerely apologize to anyone I offended. The letter was NOT posted in regards to the license tag at all. Tootsie, we all have a little red neck in us don't we!

all very well stated Mango. I think Yippie would retract her letter right this minute if possible, and didn't mean to be offensive in any way. sometimes our meaning comes out all bass ackwards.

I love all rednecks and yankees equally! and all the cultures between here and there are rich with tradition and beauty. as well as quirkiness.

we are all transplants here bringing a lot of excellent experience, education and culture to shape a unique SoWal community.

we all need to try to be respectful of the many cultures, imo. and mainly we need to always revere the unique character and beauty of SoWal without the need to make it into suburbia anyplace USA. I think anyone who lives here, or visits frequently, will know what I mean, and probably agree.

as far as the confederate flag issue. well, its been well discussed and hashed over and over on another thread. everyone has contributed. its pretty well covered. I certainly learned a great deal. as a flag of the south, it is one of those things that some of us take for granted and have never really thought about all of its origins, symbolic meaning, controversey, etc. plus, we all learned about the decorative possibilities as in flag bed sheets, towels, etc. when we cover a subject on Sowal we do it with great detail and flair, even if controversial.

btw mangy - if anyone bothers me here, it ain't northerners. I love when northerners come in and bring their liberal views and learn to eat cheese grits. nothing makes me happier. its certain southerners from the big cities who want to have here everything they had there. and many of them do not stay here once they realize that this town isn't all they "need". goody.

I am, however, curious of what cause you are contributing to, (most the tags, there is a contribution to some society whether it be the arts or the manatees).

I found the following in an AP article about the tags:

"The extra $25 motorists would pay for the tag would go to educational programs run by Sons of Confederate Veterans, graveyard maintenance and museum exhibits."

I found the following in an AP article about the tags:

"The extra $25 motorists would pay for the tag would go to educational programs run by Sons of Confederate Veterans, graveyard maintenance and museum exhibits."

thanks jal. . this and more covered in the old thread if anyone feels the need to read and/or revive... I did learn much from it and it did help me to formulate my own opinions on the subject.

Honk for Confederate Pride - SoWal Beaches Forum

all very well stated Mango. I think Yippie would retract her letter right this minute if possible, and didn't mean to be offensive in any way. sometimes our meaning comes out all bass ackwards.

bass ackwards.....I heart you.
Now look at what I would have missed if I hadn't bought some over-priced real estate.

Yippie, as they say in New York, fuhgetaboutit.

Sometimes it is better to say it with a song!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAfHigPsC_s&feature=related

well, that one may be taking it a tad too far.

Well maybe you will like this one beter



YouTube - The Cactus Cuties sing The National Anthem Old Video

Bully? Please.

Just stating my opinion, Tootsie. How is that "being a bully"?

I interpreted your post to be what I interpreted it to be. If I missed the mark, then I obviously misinterpreted the point - nature of the beast of a message board. When you don't know someone well enough to not take what they say at face value (like I did - I have no idea if you are a native local or not - your post made it sound like you were), misinterpretations are going to happen. That is why it's important to state your opinion as clearly as possible in these forums - so they do not get misinterpreted.

Instead of being so offended and calling names, possibly a way to open the dialogue about what you were really trying to say - with a question, with a retort about how I had misinterpreted - may have be a more appropriate route.

Just my opinion.

loved the letter, sense of humor anyone, or do you not appreciate good southern rhetoric when you read it?

?It?s the same old story. Yankee-American interlopers migrate down to my beloved Southland, visit (or, God forbid, stay) and get sand in their shoes, and wrongfully assume they?re now ?native? and free to poke their arrogant snoots into affairs that don?t concern them.
Issues such as this tag proposal are best dealt with by locals who belong here and have a heritage that can be traced beyond Ellis Island.
I am a proud American by birth but a Southerner by the grace of Providence, and I strongly implore anyone ? Yankee-American or otherwise ? who feels uncomfortable in my beloved Florida to haul their discontented carcasses back north to whatever odious stretch of overtaxed, polluted real estate they hail from. God bless America.?


FWIW Indigo Jill I didn't find anything bullying about your post.


This is just an offensive, divisive, and ignorant diatribe. This is the same small-minded self-centered mindset of ?I?ve got mine, now go find yours somewhere else? attitude that is prevalent in EVERY area of the country that is highly desirable for it?s beauty and quality of life.

While I appreciate the rich diversity of our cultural heritages, this is a comparatively young country and frankly IMHO everyone comes from somewhere else. In actuality, we?re all only temporary stewards of whatever it is we think we can claim to own. In terms of location, I?m not so sure a local?s longevity trumps a transplant?s newfound love and enthusiasm for a place. Yes, some transplants may bring a suitcase full of expectations with them, but some locals may be sitting on a trunk of dysfunction.