See other Dead Constitution Articles
Title: Confederate flag spurs discussion among residents
Source:
The Journal (West Virginia)
URL Source: http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/508269.html
Published: Jul 8, 2008
Author: Jenni Vincent
Post Date: 2008-07-10 02:29:36 by X-15
Keywords: None
Views: 101
Comments: 4
MARTINSBURG - Things have changed for some Villages of Washington Trails residents since a version of a Confederate flag was put up by a neighboring homeowner last week. Those who oppose this move find it offensive, especially since the three-year-old subdivision boasts a racially diverse neighborhood where everyone gets along well despite their differences. They are also afraid that it sends a bad signal, one that mistakenly implies race is an issue there. But Richard Bushong, the homeowner with the controversial flag, said that wasn't his intention, and he is displaying it because of his interest in history. In fact, Bushong said he wasn't even aware that the flag had caused any hard feelings among his neighbors. He said he displayed the flag for the July 4th holiday but intends to take down in the next day or two. It's meant to be a replica of an early version of the first national Confederate flag, one known as "the Stars and Bars," which features a circle of seven white stars against a blue background in its upper left corner, along with two red stripes on either side of a white stripe, Bushong said. Historians say this version was used as the official flag from March 1861 to May 1863. The seven stars represented the original Confederate states: South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. This is less common today than the Navy Jack, which is generally regarded as the Confederate's flag, according to historians. Bushong said he "would never consider flying the Navy Jack or any other battle flag," because of the strong feelings they can evoke. Bushong said he's not even sure this is a true Confederate flag replica since it has 13 stars in a circle instead of seven. "It may very well just be a colonial flag," he said. Displaying this type of flag is part of Bushong's interest in his own family's history as well as his involvement with the Sons of Confederate Veterans' local group, Camp 199 Berkeley Border Guards, he said. "It's a national organization that does a lot of research. For instance, we just identified two Confederate veterans at Greenhill Cemetery and we had a ceremony for that," Bushong said, adding that there is ongoing work to identify all Confederate soldiers buried throughout Berkeley County. Neither hate nor racism are condoned by these efforts, he said. "The biggest problem we have is distancing ourselves from groups like the Ku Klux Klan. We have absolutely no use for them or any other groups that are based on hate," Bushong said. However, just seeing the flag brought tears to homeowner Renee Brunson's eyes, who said the mere sight of it brought back memories of family members who were slaves and suffered the inhumane consequences of that fate. "I did, I broke down and cried because to me that represents racism and slavery, and we don't need to be reminded of that," said Brunson, a former teacher who has lived in the neighborhood for two years. "It's a very beautiful community, it's very diverse and we just don't want any of that to change or for people to get the wrong idea about here. The truth is that we have a lot of unity here," Brunson said. "But this right here causes division." Kelly Hester, Brunson's friend and neighbor, agreed that the flag's presence has already had a negative impact on the area. "It's just not appropriate because we don't see colors here, we just see people and that's the way it should be - the way we want it to be," Hester said. "We really don't want there to be any trouble over this, we just want it taken down because it's not representative of how we feel and live here," she said. Tom Clagett, vice president of Clagett Management, which oversees the development's homeowners association, said he doesn't know of any prohibition for homeowners against flying flags in this subdivision. He also said that his corporation acts as a "middleman" but doesn't make any decisions when disputes arise. Citizen complaints come to his firm's representative and are then taken to the development's board of directors, which is ultimately responsible for making any decisions or taking action, he said. "Basically we enforce the covenants and restrictions as they were created," Clagett said.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: X-15 (#0)
"I did, I broke down and cried because to me that represents racism and slavery, and we don't need to be reminded of that," said Brunson, a former teacher who has lived in the neighborhood for two years. Mind controlled sheep who have been trained by the Media to think of the Confederate Flag as something it never was. I suspect that this has been an intentional program to villify the Confederacy and obscure the real reason for the War of Northern Aggression. I suspect the motivation goes deeper than villifying the South to villifying the concept of States Rights and individual liberty.
"The difference between an honorable man and a moral man is that an honorable man regrets a discreditable act even when it has worked and he is in no danger of being caught." ~ H. L. Mencken
You speak the ultimate truth about the condemnation of the CSA.
I suspect the motivation goes deeper than villifying the South to villifying the concept of States Rights and individual liberty. Once again I fully agree.
Yeah, well, obviously some rat went and whined to Jenni.
The topic of racial variation is admittedly disturbing, and in an ideal world might be passed over in silence, but accusations against whites have made such discretion impossible. The right of the accused to present his case includes the right to raise issues that distress his accuser. A plaintiff demanding damages for a broken leg cannot ask at the same time that his leg not be talked about, nor take offense when the defendant presents evidence that the injury was congenital. By claiming harm he opens up the question of why his leg is game. Claiming racial harm has opened the topic of racial differences.
However, just seeing the flag brought tears to homeowner Renee Brunson's eyes, who said the mere sight of it brought back memories of family members who were slaves and suffered the inhumane consequences of that fate.
#2. To: Original_Intent (#1)
I suspect the motivation goes deeper than villifying the South to villifying the concept of States Rights and individual liberty.
“The best and first guarantor of our neutrality and our independent existence is the defensive will of the people…and the proverbial marksmanship of the Swiss shooter. Each soldier a good marksman! Each shot a hit!” Schweizerische Schutzenseitunt (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
#3. To: Original_Intent (#1)
I suspect that this has been an intentional program to villify the Confederacy and obscure the real reason for the War of Northern Aggression.
"You have delusions of adequacy."
#4. To: X-15 (#0)
But Richard Bushong, the homeowner with the controversial flag, said that wasn't his intention, and he is displaying it because of his interest in history. In fact, Bushong said he wasn't even aware that the flag had caused any hard feelings among his neighbors.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest