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Confederate flag salute in program upsets parents
The Nashville Tennessean ^ | May 14, 2003 | LARRY MCCORMACK

Posted on 05/14/2003 5:37:51 AM PDT by WhiskeyPapa

Confederate flag salute in program upsets parents

LARRY MCCORMACK / STAFF

Parents of some students at Avery Trace Middle School in Cookeville are upset because a history program by re-enactors included a salute to the Confederate flag.

By LEON ALLIGOOD

Staff Writer

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. — A program presented by a local camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans last Friday at Avery Trace Middle School has angered parents because students were asked to stand and listen to a recitation of a salute to the Confederate flag.

''My son told me something happened at school. I couldn't have imagined it would be anything like this,'' said Diane Paul, whose son attends the school. She asked that his name not be disclosed.

Paul also said the speakers promoted ''revisionist attitudes'' of the Civil War, particularly in regard to slavery.

The program by members of the Dillard-Judd Camp 1828 was similar to one they had presented last year for seventh- and eighth-grade American history classes at the middle school. The members, many of whom are active Civil War re-enactors, came dressed in period Confederate costumes to show the students what life was like during the 1860s.

According to Alma Anderson, the history teacher who organized the event, having the members come to the school offered a chance to ''make history come alive'' for her students.

Anderson said Friday's program began with the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag, for which students were asked to stand. Afterward, the teacher said, her eighth-graders were asked to remain standing for a salute to the Confederate flag.

''They explained they were going to salute not the Confederate States of America but to salute the thought of the folks who served in the Confederacy,'' Anderson said, adding that students were not required to salute. Neither were they provided the words of the salute.

''They were just to stand respectfully. You're not pledging. You're not saying anything. You're just standing there with respect,'' she said.

Diane Paul, however, said the re-enactors went too far when they asked her son to remain standing in honor of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. ''He knew it felt wrong, but he was there with his whole class, all these kids. No one wants to say anything,'' Paul said.

Anderson said no student or parent has complained to her about the program. She said that after the program, her students had a question-and-answer session with the group members. There were no questions about the salute, she said.

''If somebody had been upset, surely they could have come to me,'' Anderson added.

In contrast, she said, one parent thanked her for making the Civil War so interesting to her child.

In addition, Anderson said, Director of Schools Michael Martin attended the presentation. Martin could not be reached for comment.

Paul said she was troubled by ''revisionist attitudes'' of the Civil War that she said were promoted by the members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

''My son was told that a lot of black slaves liked their masters very much and that many blacks wore the Gray. There's a grain of truth there, but there were reasons why they were true. The whole answer wasn't given.

''What answers were given were distorted, and it's the distortion that disturbs me,'' the Cookeville mother said.

''The whole thing was minimizing slavery.''

Reavis Mitchell, chairman of the Fisk University History Department, said a few blacks did own slaves, as well as members of the Pequot Native American tribe in New England.

''Anyone who could buy slaves owned them, but the predominate owners were white,'' Mitchell said. ''However, most Southerners didn't own slaves because slaves were very expensive. What people don't understand is that slavery kept most people poor. However, their dream was to own them or have their children own them. They've identified with a social and economic quest that the great majority of today's South was not historically a part of.''

Anderson denied that the speakers revised Civil War history.

She said the group's commander, Ed Butler, pointed out that some people had made the Confederate flag a racist symbol.

''But it is not a symbol of racism for the Dillard-Judd group. He made that very clear. He said there's no way anybody on this stage is going to say to you that slavery and what we did to the blacks were appropriate.''

Butler, who lives in Cookeville, could not be reached for comment.

Allen Sullivant, spokesman for the Sons of Confederate Veterans' national office, which is in Columbia, Tenn., said the school programs are a local initiative aimed at giving students a glimpse into the mindset of a Confederate soldier.

''We try to give historic presentations to schools that are willing to do it,'' said Sullivant, who lives in Brentwood.

Typically, a few members dressed in period uniform bring artifacts and speak about the life of the average Confederate soldier and his motivation to fight.

Sullivant said the presentations emphasize the complexity of issues such as slavery and the Civil War. ''People tend to boil things down, and sometimes they boil it to a point that the truth is taken out of the situation or distorted.''

Anderson said she would have preferred to have had Confederate and Union re-enactors talk to her students, but she said she could not find any Union ''soldiers'' in the Cookeville area.

''If I could find a Union re-enactor, I'd be all over that person like a duck on a June bug.''

Paul said she and several other parents, who would not talk to The Tennessean on the record, would schedule a meeting with Principal Skip Overstreet and Director Martin.

''We want our concerns to be heard. I think there's a need for dialogue on the issue,'' Paul said.

Staff writer Margo Rivers contributed to this report.


TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: dixielist
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To: WhiskeyPapa
Well, your single minded insanity IS legendary, as is your propensity to cut/paste large volumes of somebody else's work.
21 posted on 05/14/2003 6:21:41 AM PDT by Treebeard (If a holy war is a jihad, could Walt's war against the south be called a "yeehawd"?)
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To: Tennessee_Bob
I agree, it's a disgrace. It's too bad the upset parents couldn't have just gone to the teacher, instead of making a mountain out of a molehill.

The non-historical crap the SCV passes off as history needs to be exposed for the hate rant that it is.

Walt

22 posted on 05/14/2003 6:21:55 AM PDT by WhiskeyPapa (Be copy now to men of grosser blood and teach them how to war!)
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To: *dixie_list; annyokie; SCDogPapa; thatdewd; canalabamian; Sparta; treesdream; sc-rms; Tax-chick; ...
bump
23 posted on 05/14/2003 6:25:33 AM PDT by stainlessbanner
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To: WhiskeyPapa
People in the North owned slaves as well. Are you forgetting this piece of history?
24 posted on 05/14/2003 6:26:17 AM PDT by elephant
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To: elephant
People in the North owned slaves as well. Are you forgetting this piece of history?

No one is trying to whitewash their history.

The 1860 census showed -64- slaves in the free states, BTW.

Walt

25 posted on 05/14/2003 6:28:11 AM PDT by WhiskeyPapa (Be copy now to men of grosser blood and teach them how to war!)
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To: okchemyst
Your dislike for Walt aside; what do you think of the article posted?
26 posted on 05/14/2003 6:28:14 AM PDT by Sam's Army
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To: WhiskeyPapa
I for one believe they are. I know the victors write history and everyone keeps 'bagging' on the South! The North is just as guilty as slavery as the South. Now put a lid on it!
27 posted on 05/14/2003 6:29:39 AM PDT by elephant
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To: elephant
I for one believe they are. I know the victors write history and everyone keeps 'bagging' on the South!

If the victors wrote the history, there would be no SCV.

Walt

28 posted on 05/14/2003 6:31:36 AM PDT by WhiskeyPapa (Be copy now to men of grosser blood and teach them how to war!)
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To: WhiskeyPapa
The war's over. Get a grip....and a life.

Atrocities were committed by both sides. In a war that killed hundreds of thousands and maimed tens of thousands more, you'll have fanatical acts on both sides. Have you any committed by Union troops to share? Any stories of Atlanta burning? Or, is your agenda such that you'd go apoplectic at the thought of revealing such?

In many quarters, the Civil War is referred to as the Un-Civil War. Any idea why?

By and large, it wasn't the hate-darkie-at-all-costs,-slaughter-for-fun you want to make it out to be. US Cavalry, some of whom were Union veterans, massacred native Americans, women and children, young and old, in the frontier west. Condemn them for the atrocities? Of course! But, don't condemn all those forces in the field who were untrained soldiers fighting a bloody fratricidal war. Do you tremble with unbridled rage at the Stars and Bars? I sure hope not. It flies in many places where patriotic Americans live and work. It's history. It's dirty truths are a part of us. Just as its victorious promise made us the nation we are today.

29 posted on 05/14/2003 6:32:25 AM PDT by Thumper1960
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To: WhiskeyPapa
The "non-historical crap" that is taught in American public schools is the real problem here, wlat. Don't you ever get tired of bashing The South? Your posting this thread is nothing but another troll, looking for some rebs to fight.

Your game is old and tired and boring....a lot like you.
30 posted on 05/14/2003 6:33:20 AM PDT by rebelyell
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To: everyone
"He alone deserves to be remembered by his children who treasures up and preserves the memory of his fathers."

--Edmund Burke (1729-1797)

31 posted on 05/14/2003 6:33:42 AM PDT by stainlessbanner
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To: WhiskeyPapa
Do you remember we happen to be free here in the United States? My great grandfather fought in the Civil War for the South and I for one will NOT forget my heritage. I am not for slavery but I have EVERY right to my heritage. When the KKK march with the Confederate flag they also march with the United States flag. Now, should we also ban the United States flag?
32 posted on 05/14/2003 6:33:59 AM PDT by elephant
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To: stainlessbanner; SouthernFreebird; elephant; Thumper1960; G.Mason
N.C. SCV member bump!

Confederate Memorial Day in N.C. (May 10, 2003)


33 posted on 05/14/2003 6:40:46 AM PDT by Constitution Day
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To: Constitution Day
Proud UDC member! BUMP.
34 posted on 05/14/2003 6:41:36 AM PDT by elephant
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To: WhiskeyPapa
Walt, the war's over. Gone. Adios. Vamoose. Zip.

I know it's easy to linger on the past, but--Time to move on, OK?

35 posted on 05/14/2003 6:42:04 AM PDT by 4mycountry (You never notice how many ZOTs there are 'til you become a Viking Kittie.)
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To: WhiskeyPapa
The Sons of Confederate veterans absolutely use Nazi-like propaganda techniques to hide the real history of these events. Having them allowed into a school is disgusting.

Here's a couple of flags for you.

36 posted on 05/14/2003 6:47:58 AM PDT by aomagrat (IYAOYAS)
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To: 4mycountry
But it's not enough that it's over. Wlat wants to keep the wounds fresh...makes him feel better about his own pathetic life. My theory is that he has had a woman (or three) stolen from him by a real man, a Southerner. Hence his frustration and extreme prejudice. It would humorous if he were only 15....but in someone his age it is merely pitiful.
37 posted on 05/14/2003 6:48:03 AM PDT by rebelyell
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To: Sam's Army
The article is much ado about nothing. There is nothing wrong with presenting differing opinions or views on historical events. That's why the history section of Barnes & Noble is packed with 300 books on the same subject. Please, it's the civil war we're talking about here, not Heather Has Two Mommies! As I said earlier, let folks winnow their own grain.

I don't have a problem with the SCV doing school presentations. I DO have a problem with people like Walt wishing to eradicate any vestige of dissenting opinion.

One of the great physicists, I forget which one, said something to the effect that no new theory gains acceptance because its opponents are suddenly converted, but rather because they die off and a new generation comes along that is raised with it. Walt and those who agree with him are the dinosaurs dying off, albeit not quickly enough.

38 posted on 05/14/2003 6:48:32 AM PDT by Treebeard (If a holy war is a jihad, could Walt's war against the south be called a "yeehawd"?)
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To: aomagrat
B. S.

Cute.

{snicker}

39 posted on 05/14/2003 6:52:11 AM PDT by Thumper1960
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To: okchemyst
I wonder if Walt would approve of a class on honoring the war contributions of Sheriden, when Sheridan approved the executions of civilians and men under his charge raped women and looted houses of God.

Selective condemnation is a sign of fanaticism.

40 posted on 05/14/2003 6:55:02 AM PDT by Thumper1960
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