Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Call it legal but offensive driving
Commercial Appeal ^ | February 5, 2004 | Wendi C. Thomas

Posted on 02/06/2004 6:08:51 PM PST by stainlessbanner

Call it legal but offensive driving

By Wendi C. Thomas
Contact

February 5, 2004

pictureThe Sons of Confederate Veterans is the latest group in Tennessee to get a specialty license plate, one that includes the Confederate flag logo.

The license plates remind me of a T-shirt I had in college that said: "It's a Black Thing, You Wouldn't Understand."

It was an accouterment of my militant phase, when I taped a poster of Malcolm X to my dorm room wall, when I badgered the university in a futile attempt to get it to divest from South Africa, when my friends laughingly dubbed me "Wendela."

My mom wasn't too fond of the "It's a Black Thing" shirt. She worried that others, mainly white people, would see the shirt and think I was a racist.

Any assumption would be unfair, I argued. Clearly, I'm much more than a pithy saying on a piece of cotton, and I had no time for those who would reduce me to a slogan.

I dismissed the conversation as yet another piece of evidence in the case of Wise Young Wendi vs. Woefully Out-of-Touch Mom.

After my indignation faded, as it usually did, I was left with a question.

Was this shirt and its message so important to me that I was willing to risk being labeled, at the least, indifferent to the feelings of white people, and, at worst, a racist?

I decided that no, it wasn't that important. And I got rid of the shirt. I knew it probably would make many white people uncomfortable. And while the comfort of white people wasn't and still isn't my chief concern, it could stifle any honest conversations about race between my classmates and me.

Any reaction my T-shirt provoked is tame compared with the visceral gut-punch many have at the sight of the Confederate flag.

So I have a question for the Sons of Confederate Veterans and others who will spend an extra $35 on these Confederate-flag emblazoned plates.

Is this flag so important to you that you'll risk being seen as, at the least, incredibly insensitive to black people, and, at the worst, a racist?

In the flag's defense, the SCV's Tennessee Division commander Skip Earle of Franklin told The Associated Press, "We have really changed people's minds on what people think the flag stands for."

No, commander, you haven't. When I - and most people - see the flag, it reminds them of a time when people who looked like the Sons of Confederate Veterans could own people who looked like me.

Worse, the flag has been co-opted by white supremacy groups, while those who claim the flag is merely an emblem of a fight for states' rights look away, their hands stuck in the pockets of their Wranglers.

I believe the SCV has a right to these plates, just as I had a right to wear my T-shirt.

And I have to believe that those who hold this emblem so dear are aware of the risks - the chance that others will see them, see the flag, and wonder if they're a white supremacist or a prejudiced wacko.

And that's a risk they're more than willing to take.

Contact Wendi C. Thomas at (901) 529-5896 or send an e-mail.


TOPICS: Editorial
KEYWORDS: confederate; dixie; license; scv; tag; tn
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-83 next last
To: Freebird Forever
Looks pretty straightforward to me. It claims that there are things the comprehension of which is dependent on having a particular skin color. It seems pretty obvious to me that skin color plays no role in understanding ideas.
61 posted on 02/09/2004 10:41:08 AM PST by thoughtomator ("What do I know? I'm just the President." - George W. Bush, Superbowl XXXVIII halftime statement)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner
I wonder how she would have responded to a white classmate wearing a shirt that said: "It's a white thing. You wouldn't understand."
62 posted on 02/09/2004 11:12:04 AM PST by Terry Mross
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: thoughtomator
It claims that there are things the comprehension of which is dependent on having a particular skin color.

I look at it differently.
I believe that there are inherent aspects unique to a person's heritage and cultural upbringing.

To me, that slogan reflects cultural identity more than melanin pigmentation.

There are portions of that culture which I don't, nor do I ever want to "get".

I'm willing to bet that many new immigrants from Africa & the Caribbean don't want to get it either.

63 posted on 02/09/2004 12:19:25 PM PST by Freebird Forever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: Freebird Forever
It represents a culture that is falsely constructed, that somehow all people with black skin have the same heritage. The truth is there is as much variation in culture with people of black skin as there are with people of any other skin color one wants to pick. The idea that there is somehow some sort of unified black culture does not confirm with my firsthand observations of reality. Its substance goes no further than being a media meme. Given that we can deduce it to be a lie, the question remains to be answered: Who does that idea serve? It does not, in my estimation, serve MLK, who, if the historical presentation of him is correct (and I have no reason to believe it is not), did not see this in his dream.
64 posted on 02/09/2004 1:43:42 PM PST by thoughtomator ("What do I know? I'm just the President." - George W. Bush, Superbowl XXXVIII halftime statement)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: thoughtomator
It represents a culture that is falsely constructed

Its substance goes no further than being a media meme.

Agreed

Who does that idea serve?

All who stand to gain from disunity; humans, elements of government and fallen spirit beings. It ultimately stems from the original deception that mortals can successfully rule themselves apart from the Supreme guidance. (IMO of course)

65 posted on 02/09/2004 5:28:13 PM PST by Freebird Forever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: Stu Cohen
Although it is oft-repeated that the war was primarily about slavery, and I don't believe that is historically accurate.

Slavery and the expansion of slavery into the territories was definitely the cause of the war.

Union men cared little for slaves or slavery, but much for representative government, which is what the rebels tried to toss in the toilet.

Walt

66 posted on 02/09/2004 6:22:07 PM PST by WhiskeyPapa (Virtue is the uncontested prize.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: Stu Cohen
Pennsylvania and West Virginia fought under the Union Flag, and (at least according to hatewatch-type sites), these two states had, and had to this day, KKK membership numbers that would make the average Alabama resident blush. Should we ban the Union flag on license plates? I don't know.

I'd say that since the passage of the voting rights act and the civil rights act, hate groups are using the confederate battle emblem a lot more and Old Glory a lot less.

When I say hate groups I include the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the League of the South with the KKK. They are all cut from the same cloth.

Walt

67 posted on 02/10/2004 2:33:12 AM PST by WhiskeyPapa (Virtue is the uncontested prize.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: Stu Cohen
The confederate movement was made up of many ideals other that just slavery....

No it wasn't.

Lawrence Keitt, speaking in the South Carolina secession convention, said, "Our people have come to this on the question of slavery. I am willing, in that address to rest it upon that question. I think it is the great central point from which we are now proceeding, and I am not willing to divert the public attention from it."

Walt

68 posted on 02/10/2004 2:36:54 AM PST by WhiskeyPapa (Virtue is the uncontested prize.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner
And while the comfort of white people wasn't and still isn't my chief concern,...

Ahem, Ms Thomas, please tell us then, why white people should care how you feel?

69 posted on 02/10/2004 2:41:02 AM PST by American_Centurion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WhiskeyPapa
No it wasn't.

Lawrence Keitt, speaking in the South Carolina secession convention, said, "Our people have come to this on the question of slavery. I am willing, in that address to rest it upon that question. I think it is the great central point from which we are now proceeding, and I am not willing to divert the public attention from it."

Lawrence Keitt was speaking for himself, not for every Confederate in the south.

To opine that West Virginia succeeded from the Confederacy and join the union to protect the freedom of black folks is almost humourous.

The Civil War was not a one-issue war, though we usually remember it as such.

Reminds me of the Simpsons episode where Apu was taking his citizenship exam. The questioner asked "What caused the Civil War".

Apu said "Well, sir, there were many causes of the Civil War, and he went on to rattle off 5 or 6 reasons when the questioner stopped him".

"Just say Slavery" the questioner said.

"Slavery it is!" said Apu.

And he got his citizenship.

Granted it's a silly cartoon, but sometime fiction and life converge in the strangest ways.

70 posted on 02/10/2004 6:45:54 AM PST by Stu Cohen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: Stu Cohen
To opine that West Virginia succeeded from the Confederacy and join the union to protect the freedom of black folks is almost humourous.

No one ever says that.

Walt

71 posted on 02/10/2004 9:04:08 AM PST by WhiskeyPapa (Virtue is the uncontested prize.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner
And while the comfort of white people wasn't and still isn't my chief concern,

Must be a 'black thing'.

72 posted on 02/10/2004 9:06:15 AM PST by cinFLA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Capriole
It is real easy. If you find a photo you like, right click and view properties and copy the address. Then use the html code (keep a copy to cut and paste. Eliminate the space in the example below. It gets a little more complicated but you can make the picture an active link, etc.

< img src="http://freerepublic.com/images/frlogo.gif">

73 posted on 02/10/2004 9:12:41 AM PST by cinFLA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: WhiskeyPapa
They came forward to fight for Union and progress and later, freedom.

And control of the South's agriculture market.

74 posted on 02/10/2004 9:15:02 AM PST by cinFLA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: cinFLA
They came forward to fight for Union and progress and later, freedom.

And control of the South's agriculture market.

Show that in the record.

Walt

75 posted on 02/10/2004 9:21:58 AM PST by WhiskeyPapa (Virtue is the uncontested prize.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: Capriole
Click on the flag below

< a href="http://www.csacurrency.com/csaflag/index.htm"> < img border=0 src="http://www.csacurrency.com/csaflag/csa1flas.gif">

76 posted on 02/10/2004 9:25:24 AM PST by cinFLA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: cinFLA

77 posted on 02/10/2004 9:39:33 AM PST by cinFLA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 76 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner
When I - and most people - see the flag, it reminds them of a time when people who looked like the Sons of Confederate Veterans could own people who looked like me.

This continues to astound me. I wonder if Jews, when they see the Egyptian pyramids, are reminded of their slavery and feel oppressed?

When I personally see Roman architecture (whether in Rome or anywhere else, such as Washington DC), I really don't feel reminded of the time when Romans held my ancestors (Germanic tribesmen) as slaves.

Sounds like a self-confidence problem to me.

78 posted on 02/10/2004 12:13:32 PM PST by xrp
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fredy
Don't forget my favorite:

Congressional Black Caucus!

79 posted on 02/10/2004 12:16:55 PM PST by TexasCajun
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: xrp
Great analogies, xrp.
80 posted on 02/10/2004 12:22:04 PM PST by stainlessbanner
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 78 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-83 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson