Posted on 02/28/2008 10:39:14 AM PST by cowboyway
The controversial stars and bars of the Confederate Flag could soon find their way to Florida license plates. State Rep. Don Brown, R-DeFuniak Springs, has worked with the Sons of Confederate Veterans to sponsor a bill that would allow the group to create a non-profit license plate that bears the Dixie flag. The tag would cost roughly $25 from the Department of Motor Vehicles. SCV Executive Director Ben Sewell said his organization has been successful in the past at getting the license plates in numerous states and feels theyve met the requirements in the state of Florida to acquire the tag. The laws have been relatively even for non-profit organizations, he said. In Tennessee weve been able to do a lot of things with the money such as sponsoring museums that preserve historical flags. According to the groups estimates, the process for the acquiring the tag in Florida has cost nearly $200,000 and taken three years to be adopted into a bill. Florida SCV Division Adjunct John Adams said he thinks the bill has a pretty good chance of passing and commends Rep. Brown for stepping up to the plate for them. There was a lot of uproar over the MLK and right to live tags, he said. In the end, people didnt care because it didnt cost anyone a dime. These tags will raise revenue for our organization and spread awareness. But not everyone feels these tags will be beneficial. We respect Representative Brown, but we think he is wrong on this, said Northwest Florida National Advancement of Colored People Director Sabu Williams. We will fight and do anything to stop this from getting state sponsored. That includes putting some boots (protest) in front of his office. Sabu said he understands the meaning to certain individuals and believes the flag has its place, but does not agree the state should have anything to do with it. Why ask the state to sponsor something that we know causes pain? he said. I just dont understand it. Rep. Brown has previously sponsored a bill that would name part of Highway 90 Dr. Martin Luther King Dr and said his decision to support the tag is something he thinks is right.. Rep. Clay Ford, R-Pensacola, said he agrees with Browns intentions. Many license plates depict heritage, environmental causes, professions, and achievements, he said. In fairness, I believe any group that meets the requirements of the statute should be allowed to participate in its benefits. Government should treat every group the same. Representative Don Brown has been a good House member for his district. Although the bill is on the table, it still has a long way to go before it is put into legislation. Were not going to let it happen, said Williams. Rep. Brown does not want this fight.
South Carolina's version:
I’ll order one the only problem is I live in Indiana.
I will buy one of those the day that it is stamped, and I would bet that these would be in quite heavy demand.
I live in Colorado. I wonder if Florida would sell me one, just to watch the folks heads pop when I drive around.
This will without question help Governor Charlie Crist’s chances of being picked as McCain’s VP.
“controversial stars and bars of the Confederate Flag”
Uh...actually thats the ‘southern cross’. The stars and bars is the national confederate flag.
When I lived in Georgia the ACLU went to court for a guy who wanted to put on a bumper sticker that said S**T Happens. Large numbers of bumper stickers began to show up, with the Stars and Bars and the legend “Fergit Hell!” on them, making the exact argument made by the ACLU in favour of the scatalogical Free Speech. The ACLU dropped the case.
i have scv tag on nc.truck flag and all,nobody notices it.
I live in the north, but I understand the pride those who live in the old Confederacy have in their heritage. The Confederacy and War Between the States wasn’t about slavery and oppression of Blacks (as the liberal left would have us believe), it was about freedom and states’ rights.
You may live in the north but you must have been educated in the South. ;-)
Hell, there are native Southerners that will argue that the War was fought over slavery. It's a testament to how PC the public schools have become.
You live in NC?
I saw a few of those when I was in the Huntsville area working for the TVA.
I took a picture of one of the historical markers on Hiway 72(?) just north of Decatur that was about Nathan Bedford Forrest. If I can find it, I'll post it.
Doubtful. McCain's come out against the confederate flag. Link.
In fact, I believe the states that wished to leave the Union had the Constitutional right to do so. They voluntarily joined the Union, so they had the right to leave if they wanted. Lincoln’s action starting the War Between the States to force them to remain in an association they no longer wished to be part of was unconstitutional and illegal.
You are a brave individual. My hat is off to you, sir.
Be prepared to be viciously assaulted by your northern brethren. But you won't have to stand alone. I'll fight by your side to the bitter end.
Most of the states didn't voluntarily join anything. They were allowed to enter the Union, admitted only after a majority of the existing states gave their approval through a vote in both houses of Congress. Shouldn't leaving have the same requirements as entering?
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