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Title: As a Confederate battle flag rises along I-95, an American flag is unfurled in Richmond
Source:
Washington Post
URL Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local ... 3-8ab3-b5aacc9e1165_story.html
Published: Sep 29, 2013
Author: staff
Post Date: 2013-09-29 06:51:53 by noone222
Keywords: None
Views: 254
Comments: 19
CHESTER, Va. — Hundreds gathered Saturday in freshly cleared woods along Interstate 95 to celebrate the raising of a Confederate battle flag, an event that stirred strong opposition from those who view the flag as a symbol of division. Those who attended the raising of the 15-by-15-foot flag from the Army of Northern Virginia said the ceremony was not intended to offend, but to honor the South’s war dead in the Civil War. “The reason why we’re here is to honor the soldier,” said James Thompson, 50, a North Carolinian now living in Richmond. “We don’t see it as a slavery issue.” Like many who attended, Thompson said his ancestors fought for the South. A Civil War re-enactor, he wore a slouch hat and a rough wool uniform and carried an Enfield rifle. Since a heritage group, the Virginia Flaggers, announced earlier this summer that a flag would rise along the heavily traveled interstate, many residents of Richmond about 10 miles north up the highway have protested, saying the banner is a symbol of slavery and bigotry. The opponents gathered nearly 25,000 signatures for on an online protest petition, and have encouraged residents of the former capital of the Confederacy to display American flags outside their homes and to flood social media with images of the stars and stripes. An American flag approximately 60 feet wide was unfurled at a construction site in downtown Richmond about noon Saturday. Brian Cannon, a Richmond attorney who was among the organizers of a social media protest over the I-95 flag, said the city already has many memorials to the Confederate cause. He cited statues honoring Southern military leaders such as Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, along Monument Avenue, one of the most coveted addresses in the city. “Their flag is out of context,” he said. “It’s a symbol of divisiveness and for many it’s hateful.” The Confederate flag-raising was held in a circular section of woods that had been cleared recently, with branches and limbs pushed to the side. The private land was donated for the purpose of permanently flying the flag near a highway where it can be viewed by tens of thousands of people daily. From the highway, the bright red and blue flag can be seen through a thin canopy of trees. No protesters could be seen at the ceremony, although a large number of police vehicles were at the scene. The location of the ceremony was withheld until late Friday. Folding chairs were assembled in the dirt before a podium where a prayer was said, a historian spoke and speakers offered fiery oratory about what they said were efforts to silence their history. A rendition of “Dixie” was sung and a bagpiper played “Amazing Grace.” Small Confederate flags were handed out and water was distributed in bottles with the name “Dixie Pride.” Susan Hathaway, a member of the Virginia flaggers, told the crowd Confederate symbols are being snuffed out and they have a duty to responded when the South’s “honor is attacked.” “As sons and daughters of the South, we have inherited a birthright. Ours is a proud heritage,” she said. “We are descendants of Confederates, we are friends of Confederates. ... The flag that is being raised today will be a living, breathing memorial to our Confederate dead.” Thomas Morris, a re-enactor from Crewe, said he couldn’t understand objections to the memorial. “We wouldn’t make comments like that if they were trying to memorialize their heritage,” said Morris, 59. He said a 16-year-old ancestor serving under Jackson was killed in Culpeper in what he called “the war of Northern aggression.” As the flag was unfurled and hoisted up a pole said to be 50 feet, it was greeted by hoots and hollers and more than a few rebel yells. A volley of rifle fire sounded as the flag fluttered lightly in the wind. One-hundred-fifty years after the Civil War, the Confederate flag still evokes strong emotions in the South. Lexington, rich in Civil War history, banned the flag on city light poles after some residents complained about the display. In 1999, the NAACP launched an economic boycott of South Carolina over the Confederate flags that flew atop the Statehouse dome and in the chambers of the House and Senate. A compromise in 2000 moved the flag to a monument outside the Statehouse. Earlier this year, a Confederate battle flag that hung inside the old North Carolina State Capitol to mark the sesquicentennial of the Civil War was taken down after civil rights leaders raised concerns. Poster Comment: many residents of Richmond about 10 miles north up the highway have protested, saying the banner is a symbol of slavery and bigotry. The opponents gathered nearly 25,000 signatures for on an online protest petition, and have encouraged residents of the former capital of the Confederacy to display American flags outside their homes and to flood social media with images of the stars and stripes. The irony is beyond my understanding. The UNITED STATES FLAG is a symbol of modern day slavery under international bankers and should never be called "American" !
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#1. To: noone222 (#0)
The U.S. flag was the flag of slavery way back when, too. NO human farm implements were imported under any of the various Confederate flags. It's nice to see the 'tards chanting "USA!USA!USA!" and thinking that they're free from the grip of Abraham Lincoln's centralized Federal authority today. Obamacare, the NSA, et al, should make people rally 'round the stars and bars, but they're stupid for the most part and deserve every bit of grief and disrespect they get from D.C. The UNITED STATES FLAG is a symbol of modern day slavery under international bankers and should never be called "American" !
-Alex Kurtagic
#2. To: noone222 (#0)
Ultimately, we all know which group stands to benefit from whining and the encouragement of fractionalization among the masses. That being said, ANY symbol could be "spun" into something divisive and even hateful with the proper motives and cunning. “It’s a symbol of divisiveness and for many it’s hateful.”
#3. To: X-15 (#1)
Obamacare, the NSA, et al, should make people kill everything breathing in D.C. Obamacare, the NSA, et al, should make people rally 'round the stars and bars,
But how is this legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime.
Bastiat
#4. To: Buzzard (#2)
Here's my view: Flags are invitations to join some others and generally require a "pledge" of "a" "liege" ants ... Pledging allegiance is for serfs and nobles (kiss the nobles ring or ass) ... freemen salute each other (shake your countryman's hand and kiss noone's ass). Pun intended ! That being said, ANY symbol could be "spun" into something divisive and even hateful with the proper motives and cunning.
But how is this legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime.
Bastiat
#5. To: Rebs (#3)
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
#6. To: noone222 (#4)
You struck me down when I kissed that ring. Pledging allegiance is for serfs and nobles (kiss the nobles ring or ass) ... freemen salute each other (shake your countryman's hand and kiss noone's ass).
Godfrey Smith: Mike, I wouldn't worry. Prosperity is just around the corner.
Mike Flaherty: Yeah, it's been there a long time. I wish I knew which corner.
My Man Godfrey (1936)
#7. To: Esso (#6)
Linkin Park = bad asses !
But how is this legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime.
Bastiat
#8. To: All (#7)
In the end !
But how is this legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime.
Bastiat
#9. To: noone222 (#0)
There is a guy out here that flies the Stars and Bars. He is definitely marking his territory. ;)
"When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
#10. To: noone222 (#0)
I see the Middle Kingdom between Heaven and Earth The whole wide world We see so many tribes overrun and undermined They shoot without shame
Like the Chinese call the country of their birth
We all figure that our homes are set above
Other people than the ones we know and love
In every place with a name
They play the same territorial game
Hiding behind the lines
Sending up warning signs
An endless universe
Yet we keep looking through
The eyeglass in reverse
Don't feed the people
But we feed the machines
Can't really feel
What international means
In different circles, we keep holding our ground
In different circles, we keep spinning round and round
While their invaders dream of lands they've left behind
Better people...better food...and better beer...
Why move around the world when Eden was so near?
The bosses get talking so tough
And if that wasn't evil enough
We get the drunken and passionate pride
Of the citizens along for the ride
In the name of a piece of dirt
For a change of accent
Or the color of your shirt
Better the pride that resides
In a citizen of the world
Than the pride that divides
When a colorful rag is unfurled
#11. To: Lod, noone222, Esso, BTP Holdings (#5)
-Alex Kurtagic
#12. To: noone222 (#0)
#13. To: strepsiptera (#12)
WOW! Rush! That has to be from the 80s. ;)
"When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
#14. To: X-15 (#11)
Wow! That gave me goose-bumps. Nothing better than a great a capella choir.
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
#15. To: noone222 (#0)
The opposition is a pathetic display of personal slavery to bigotry. I was fortunate to have been able to see the Confederate flag still flying atop the Statehouse dome in South Carolina. Would like to have seen this too. Much respect to the Virginia Flaggers and all among the Confederate Honor Guard. many residents of Richmond about 10 miles north up the highway have protested, saying the banner is a symbol of slavery and bigotry. The opponents gathered nearly 25,000 signatures for on an online protest petition
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"They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." -- Col. Puller, USMC
#16. To: noone222, 4 (#0)
Virginia group raises Confederate flag near highway, prompting online petition (0:30) - Video (with Transcript) at uk.reuters.com and YouTube: From the Comments section of the opening thread article at washingtonpost.com: "...the first section of the country to serious[ly] contemplate secession was New England." Jim Limber was also mentioned there, as well as the Post-War case of Jefferson Davis. Interesting article on that issue at southernheritage411.com. "Every ethnic nationality in the world can cite discrimination to them. History is full of such stuff."
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"They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." -- Col. Puller, USMC
#17. To: All (#16)
The Civil War in COLOR for the first time: Painstakingly remastered images of a divided America that recreate era in amazing detail - dailymail.co.uk
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"They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." -- Col. Puller, USMC
#18. To: noone222, loyal Southerners, *Texas!!* (#3)
-Alex Kurtagic
#19. To: X-15, Up the Rebles (#18)
I'm reading this now. It's the best recount of the CW from the Southern perspective that I've ever read. 
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