[Texas2step]

Things that make you go, hmmmm.

[Texas2step]

Didn't see this posted. Thought it may be of interest to some here. I'm not a NASCAR fan, myself. But maybe I ought to.

Is this the last bastion of non-PCness?

[BenLurkin]

None of those pictures has the "Stars and Bars" in them.

[Moose4]

Ping, suh.

}:-)4

[stainlessbanner]

Dixie Ping!

[lovecraft]

Jeez, it seems the entire United States loves the South, its sports, its beautiful lands, its low cost of living....they just hate us as a people. They hate our heritage, our history, our loyalty to our decendants. Reminds me of the line from the British King in Braveheart...

The problem with the South is that it's full of Southerners.

Well, history is a funny thing, if some people don't like it, they just make up a new one.

[newgeezer]

There are many people who insist the Confederate flag doesn't mean what everyone thinks it means, that the flag has been hijacked by others to mean something it never meant.

I can certainly understand and to some extent sympathize with their point. I'm all for the Constitution and states' rights.

But, perhaps those pro-flag people should be encouraged to use the word "gay" when they mean "happy."

[TexasCajun]

Well, cry me a river!

And it's just fine for Mexicans, legal & illegal, to wave their flags in everyone's face and demand citizenship?

Rainbow flags for queers is A-OK too?

[JamesP81]

The appeals had little impact, so the school finally banned the sticks that held the flag, citing "fan safety."

IOW, the good folks of Mississippi weren't drinking their kool aid so they forced it down their throats. How nice.

[viper592]

Did anyone Consider this:

NBC's Coverage of NASCAR sucks, and BIG TIME.
Half of the NBC covered races are on cable, and well alot of nascar fans are poor white folks like myself, who have to choose between cable TV and the internet. So we miss all the cable TV races on TNT.

NBC's coverage crew isnt near as good as the FOX crew, that covers the beginning of the season.

There is a reason the ratings are down, and it has little to nothing to do with "The Flag of the Army of Northern Virgina" flying in the infield.

Personally I like nascar for the following reasons.

1)Its the last all American Sport
2)Its not Politically Correct, there is no affirmative action going on. If a non white american has the gumption to get involved in racing as a driver, there is nothing stopping them as far as I know. It wouldnt offend me at all if there were minority drivers as long as they are US citizens.

I dont watch indie league because I dont want to watch brazilians and frenchies drive around an american track.

Personally I think the reason you dont see minority drivers is most american minorities are busy Dominating Football, Basketball, and Baseball.

And Finally, no offence to minorities intended, but what the heck is wrong with having a majority population dominated sport?

[JamesP81]

My mom is always freaked out that I someday might start to like NASCAR because it's a 'redneck sport'. I never cared for it because auto racing isn't an interest of mine (although I think being an engineer working on designing and building the cars would just be too dang cool) but I appreciate the culture of NASCAR. People like France and my mother, however, make me want to become a fan just to drive the point home.

[al_c]

When that is the best you can get out of nearly three dozen supposedly fearless, independent and talkative drivers, the silence is as telling as the sagging TV numbers.

I think those "sagging TV numbers" are due to NBC's pathetic coverage of the races. If the entire season was on Fox, those numbers would be way up. I'd like to see a numbers comparison between the 1st half of the season (Fox) and the 2nd half (NBC).

[Dick Bachert]

This controversy is closely related to the call for reparations for slavery. After all, had there been no slavery in America, there MIGHT have been no War Between the States. I say "might" because slavery was NOT the primary cause of the conflict between the North and the South: It had more to do with Northern exploitation and domination of South.

Having said that, had there been no War Between the States, the Stars and Bars would not have achieved the national prominence it has today and the unfair negative connotations which raised THE issue and the subject of this thread.

I wrote this piece on the subject of reparations quite some time ago and draw your attention to the Alex Hailey quote toward the end.

Mr. Hailey was a very perceptive man.

---

Let me make it clear right up front: I am NOT a racist. I campaigned for and gave money to Alan Keyes. I considered him the most principled, intelligent and articulate man in the race. And if he runs again, I will support him again.

I also consider Thomas Sowell and Walter Williams two of the finest economists and minds extant today. In case you don’t know them, both are black.
But I believe Keyes, Sowell and Williams would oppose calls for reparations.

The modern descendants of slaves brought here in chains in admittedly miserable, soul-gutting conditions who are now calling for reparations need to remember a few things:
They should not only be glad to be in America, they should be glad to be ANYWHERE !

Had that NOT happened, the blood of their ancestors would have run into the earth over there several centuries ago and these modern day would-be "plaintiffs" would not even exist.

And should the great-great-great grandchildren of the approximately 3,000 SLAVE OWNING BLACK plantation owners in this country also be subject to PAYING these reparations?

If so, how do we find THEM?

And the holier-than-thou Northern liberals are strangely silent on recent archeological evidence from NEW YORK CITY clearly tracing the financing of the slave trade to NORTHERN BUSINESSMEN!!

Robert Hitt Neill tells of attending a Tennessee Mountain Writer’s Conference years ago with several other authors. Among them was Alex Hailey, celebrated author of “Roots.” Watching a TV news show, a group of them watched a demonstration in a Southern state against the “Rebel” flag incorporated into that state’s flag. The very next report covered a famine in Africa. Graphic images showed dead bodies, starving children with distended tummies and runny noses and dying people covered with flies, too weak to brush them away.

Mr. Hailey intoned in a low, serious voice, “Every time an American black sees a story like that, they should find a Confederate flag and kiss it.” He then pointed to the TV screen and continued, “Because these would be me and my descendants, except for American slavery. I thank God that my family and I are here instead of there.”

Mr. Hailey was a most perceptive man.

Next problem!

[geezerwheezer]

Interesting article. I noticed the comment Professor Houston made when she said she didn't want to associate with anyone who had the flag on their car or truck. Gosh Professor, if you met me you might find out I'm a really nice person, and I would hope the loss is hers. Is she biased, or just plain prejudiced as I find quite a few African-Americans to be towards anyone white and might be proud of their heritage too. The professor needs to learn a little tolerance and understanding-especially if she supposedly teaches that crap!

[the OlLine Rebel]

Geez, how many "Confederate" threads are going to crop up this week and start how many wars?

This is the 3rd 1 in 2 days I've seen come up on the "recent threads".

Waiting for the war to start......

[Toby06]

If it's OK to burn the American flag, what's wrong with flying the stars & bars?

[Mrs. Darla Ruth Schwerin]

"Because the symbol has been used [in] racist, segregationist ways does not mean everyone used it that way," Coski said.

A good reply to this statement would be in regards to the illegals and U.S. citizens BURNING the United States flag and flying the Mexican flag IN OUR COUNTRY. Now, how stupid and disgraceful is it that we allow such a thing? Wouldn't this make Washington proud!!! Just what the Founders fought for, right? I think not.

Authorities(that are supposed to be smarter than a three year-old) stood by and did nothing.

And then there's the historically challenged folks who pull the communism regime and get all in a tizzy if their perverted version of WBTS is not strictly adhered to.

Getting back to the point, the United States flag burners pose an imminent threat to society. Confederate flags do not. When was the last time somebody got beat up by the Confederate flag. Anyway, NASCAR not only needs a brush-up course in history, but they also need a lesson in economics. Perhaps they'll develop a stronger spine while widening their horizons...

[aomagrat]

Not since Martinsville in April has a telecast's numbers improved year over year.

That's no surprise. I'd rather watch a short track race anyday. Those cookie cutter 1.5 mile triovals that dominate the circuit are just plain boring. Give me a Martinsville, Bristol, North Wilksboro, Richmond or Darlington (It's not a short track, it just drives like one) any day.

[stainlessbanner]

In America, a NASCAR race is the last major sporting event where the Stars and Bars is still so prevalent,

Pompous ignorant fool. Should we believe anything else this joker writes?

How many folks have seen this one at a race?

[glock rocks]

The same great freedom that protects the flying of the Confederate flag in this big, beautiful Alabama infield is the same great freedom that allows people troubled by the symbol to ignore it or leave NASCAR altogether.

That's America. And for NASCAR, even after all these years, it's still its greatest challenge.

Bull. France has screwed around with what was working amazingly well for a half century to where NASCAR is a shell of its former self. To wit, change the restrictor plate at their biggest, fastest track on an impound race and allow no further practice. Duh. Change the rules on whim. Duh. Let's make the whole shebang PC. Make all the cars identical. Beige. No flyovers... no invocation... no national anthem. There. Sure don't want to offend anybody. Hell, why not adopt the Dept of Education philosophy of EVERYONE'S A WINNER and just drive around the track at 55 for an hour. Then into the infield for a group hug.

Duh.

How in the world could ratings be going down Mr. France???

Duh.

[lentulusgracchus]

Things that make you go, hmmmm.

In all things "hmmmmm", Google is NOT your friend (they play favorites, they save and sell searches, they suck), but metasearching is:

From Wetzel's blurb for his book Runnin' Rebel about basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, found online at
http://www.talesofthegame.com/site/1567191/product/1-59670-018-1

Author Dan Wetzel is a national sports columnist for Yahoo! Sports. The award-winning sportswriter, author, and screenwriter has covered all levels of basketball, as well as college football, the NFL, Major League Baseball, and the NHL. He was an editor and writer at Basketball Times for five years and has won numerous national writing awards. He has also been featured in several editions of The Best American Sports Writing and is the co-author of the critically-acclaimed investigative book Sole Influence. Wetzel graduated with a political science degree from the University of Massachusetts. [Emphasis added.]

Need I say more? Massapuketts snot, come down here to tell us our damn business.

Get on back to Hyannisport, jerk! Go pick a fight with your Southie neighbors, then tell us how things went!