Motel's choice of flag upsetting to some

The owners of a Huntsville motel insist their decision to replace the United States flag with a Confederate flag following Barack Obama's victory last week in the Presidential election had nothing to do with race.

In a written statement to The Record, the owners of the Faubus Motel did say that the reason for the change in flags was politically driven.

The motel is not associated with its former owner, Alta Faubus, who sold the motel in the 1980's. It has been owned by James and Linda Vandiver since 1996.

Ellen Kreth and Fara Faubus, Alta Faubus' grandchildren and owners of The Madison County Record, stated that they have no association with the Faubus Motel and do not agree with the Vandivers' political views or the flying of the Confederate flag at the motel.

A Fayetteville television station reported the motel's choice of flags following Obama's victory. The station inserted interviews from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and former Secretary of State Colin Powell into the story, talking about the historical significance of Obama being elected.

Some neighbors of the motel have complained to The Record and to the TV station of what the flag symbolizes.

James Vandiver said he had flown the flag before and that he had not heard any negative comments, then said he would only respond to questions in a written statement. The Vandivers issued the following statement to The Record on Tuesday morning:

"On election night, we lowered Old Glory from our flag pole because we are no longer the land of the free and the home of the brave (except for our military)," the letter stated. "The sound principals for which Old Glory stood have been abandoned. We raised the rebel flag of the Old South in protest. Since political correctness forces people into a limited frame of reference, we wish to say this loud and clear, this was not about race. We resent having a Marxist in the White House no matter color he is. If Mr. Obama had tried to enter the White House as an ordinary citizen, he would not qualify for a security clearance because of his past associations. We decided if Obama can refuse to properly salute the flag and his buddy, Bill Ayers, could stand on the American flag in a trash-filled alley, then we could take Old Glory down in honor and respect.

"We are angry with a biased, agenda-driven media. We are angry that for the past eight years President Bush and the Republican Party have been blamed by the Democrats and their cohorts in the media for the incomplete and irresponsible way that the group A.C.O.R.N. let down potential voters in the state of Florida in 2000. A.C.O.R.N. has used our tax dollars to carry out, contrary to the law, a partisan "get out the vote" effort of scandalous proportions. The other arm of this nefarious organization bullies and harasses banks and lending institutions to make the risky loans that have jeopardized our nation's financial security. We are outraged that the Democrats, who portray themselves as the great defenders of the night to vote, did not feel compelled to ensure the rights of our military to be guaranteed their full privileges during the election.

"Old Glory is still displayed on our American owned and operated sign. So far, the response from our clientele has been supportive and positive."

Huntsville Mayor Larry Bates had not heard of the motel's choice in flags until Monday.

"I don't have any comment other than to each his own," Bates said. "I wouldn't tell Jim not to do it. It's strictly up to him. It's on his property. The city won't be flying (a Confederate flag)." The motel, located next to Pizza Hut, has a standing sign in front of its offices that reads "American Owned and Operated."

Jessie Bryant, an African-American from Fayetteville who is ending a 14-year run as a member of the Washington County Quorum Court, grew up through the segregation era. Bryant, born in 1926, was asked about her reaction to the Confederate flag being flown at the Huntsville motel.

"It's just his way of expressing his dislike for what happened. If that's his way of protesting what happened, he has the right," Bryant said. "He has the privilege of changing the flag. It's his way of expressing how he feels. It's obviously a dilemma with him. He feels a little bit of his heritage has been taken away, which is not true at all. In America, he still has the same privileges of anybody else. There is nothing we can say or do about it."

Bryant's son, Arkansas State Trooper Louis Bryant, was killed by Wayne Snell during a traffic stop in 1984 on U.S. Highway 71 between De Queen and Texarkana. That stretch of highway is now known as the Trooper Louis Bryant Highway.

Maybe the Cherokees saw what would happen to the rest of the indians in the west and how the north killed all tribes in the north like the pawtucket, etc

Could I have that salad with 'trail of tears' dressing please? Yes, those in the south were ever so gentle with their indigenous neighbors. I'm sorry, but attempting to take the moral high ground on the basis of who treated native Americans better is not anyone's winning hand.

Certainly one of the more creative arguments I've seen on how to divorce the flag from the political quagmire it often is at the center of.

Americans of all stripe are quite good at assigning labels to the symbols of others while remaining happily blind to the associations of their own.

The National (and, if you insist, the Battle) flags of the Confederacy can be stained with the concept of associating a monetary worth to several million living, breathing people of color.

When was the last (or first) time you smeared the Stars and Stripes with the filth of depraved decades and 40 million lifeless and bleeding babies?

I do not have difficulty imaging a time a hundred years hence when the Flag of the ANV could look rather pristine along side our beloved but severely tarnished Stars and Stripes. Assuming God grants us forgiveness and continued existence, that is.

no moral high ground being taken as I have said earlier both sides were wrong

but the fact is that it is people who do not know their history are the ones who get bent out of shape with the battle flag.

It is usually the same ones who say so what it is cloth when the stars and stripes is being burnt but then get all wound up in a tissy with the battle flag.

the fact is mostly liberals and the NAACP try to paint the flag as bad when it is not

There’s an active/passive portion of your argument that you seem not to account for.

The armed forces of the United States, under its banner, are not ripping the pregnant women from their husbands and aborting their babies. I have trouble with your notion that this is somehow staining the flag of the US. At least, that’s not how I see it.

"That is an absurd argument. The battle flag is a representation of the confederacy used on the battle field.

And your argument is nonsense !!

The three flags that represented the Confederate States of America were the 1st National (Stars & Bars), Plus the 2nd & 3rd National. The Confederate Battle flag (Cross of St. Andrew) was none of the above and was not the official flag of the Confederacy at any time.

It was designed by Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard to distinguish Southern forces on the battlefield because the Confederate 1st National was similar to the Stars & Stripes which led to many friendly fire deaths.

Your comment would also mean that the Stars and Stripes did not represent the United States

Hardly! The Stars & Stripes did represent the U.S. because it was officially designated as such. The CBF was not officially designated as such.

"It's revisionist history; give it up.

And your version of history is what ?? I know mine however your version is nonsense.

"If you can dismiss his comments that easily, that's up to you.

No matter how you slice it it's still only one man's opinion!

Perhaps that is why Stephens alienated himself from the Confederate politicians like J. Davis. He was likely considered a "loose cannon".

"said this a few times but it seems those who do not know their history think the battle flag was the Govt southern confederacy flag",/i>
You are certainly correct. Some folks on this forum should heed the old saying "It is better to be thought a fool than to speak up and remove all doubt".
"ever heard the one of well the KKK flies it but if you tell them that the KKK flies the stars and stripes they have an hard time understanding things then."
Sadly, all the time.

yea I hear you.

It is shocking to know that some are so blind and arrogant that they will not learn because they did not like the truth so they argue with no facts and myths thinking that if they keep saying those lies they will be more right.

how sad

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