Dukes movie Confederate flag caused conundrum

The cast member on the Dukes of Hazard movie that had the filmmakers scratching their heads has not been publicity-drenched Jessica Simpson or her rabble-rousing smart-ass co-star, Johnny Knoxville.

It's the General Lee, the bright orange 1969 Dodge Charger central to all Duke boys escapades. More specifically, it's the Confederate Flag emblazoned on the General's roof, a symbol that has become quite the object of controversy since the original TV series' seven-season run starting in 1979.

The filmmakers didn't want to alienate modern audiences, the Wall Street Journal reported recently in a story headlined "Flag wavering." Nor did the moviemakers want to anger long-time fans by tinkering with the Warner Bros show. "So they struck a compromise with the studio."

Quoting a source involved with making the film, the Journal says the film includes scenes where the flag is "derided as an inappropriate symbol of the dark past."

For example, Bo and Luke ask a group of African-American college students for directions. "Is this a joke? Some kind of reality show?" one of them asks. Bo, the dimmer of the Dukes, explains the flag is cool and that their friend Cooter, a Civil War buff, painted it when he fixed the car. But Luke understands, and explains to Bo that some people find the flag offensive and a "symbol of slavery." That Luke, he always was perty' smart.

Well, I suppose we could use the Magnolia blossom, an alligator, a catfish or a pecan pie to symbolize the South, but we don't. The fact is, the Confederate flag does symbolize the South to those of us who were born and raised there, and it always will. I've seen it as far north as Pennsylvania and as far west as Kalifornia, but no matter where I see it, I think of my "homeland".

It's only since the likes of Jesse Jackass et al have made it an issue that it has become an issue. Do I freak out when I see a Mexican flag, remembering from history class the raid of Pancho Villa into New Mexico? Hell no, because I'm not trying to score PC points on those of Mexican heritage. When I see an African flag do I go into convulsions, remembering the British ancestors I may or may not have had who may or may not have died at Rourke's Drift? Again, no. I welcome anyone and everyone to celebrate their heritage, as long as they 1) remember we're all Americans first, and 2) they don't bitch and moan when I celebrate my heritage.

The Stars and Stripes? Of course it waves proudly over all of us, and I salute it proudly. But I guess I'm a truly blessed man...I have two flags that represent my home. Three actually, as I now look at the Idaho state flag with pride.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

I will defend Jessica. She is not dumb. She is making multi millions and I bet her dumb puns are just for show. She openly voted for President Bush. She does have old fashioned values, although she shows a lot of skin.

But all the stories about her indicate she is a very nice person and not a fake like most of hollyweird

I agree. She is a lot more wholesome than she lets on as an act. And that whole thing with her partying wild is probably simply because she went from being a star by herself singing and all to going straight into marriage, w/o sewing wild oats (you don't do it before going into that, you're going to eventually crack--trust me know several friends whose marriages ended because that, and those who are perfectly wholesome types now who were real floozies a few years ago. ). Ashlee on the other hand I wonder about her.... In any event, Jessica should dye her hair brown for the part...

Btw, post 22 may show more, but post 39 is a much better pic of her....

More people probably watched just to see Daisy in those shorts, yet the Confederate Flag was not a problem until the NAACP needed something to stir up trouble. If there is no trouble there is no need for the organization and if there is no organization where would the leaders salary be?

The trouble is that it backfired. More folks fly the flag now then they did before the "war" was declared on it by the NAACP. Even Yankees buy them. There are more Southern heritage groups than ever and the memberships are growing. I am sured they freaked out when Strom's love child announced that she and all her kin were going to join the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Sons of Confederate Veterans. They woke a sleeping dog and in the end hurt folks on both sides needlessly.

Ignorance is a damning thing. Just as ignorance and the bigotry of the KKK is dishonoring to the very heritage they claim to love this ignorance distorts history and only breeds undue hatred.

If every person, Yank or Reb, Black or White would read "The South Was Right" they would develop different attitudes about that conflict and the flag.

The Union army forced Blacks to fight for them and used them basically as cannon fodder while the White troops raped their women. Interestingly, the same glorious Union army kept their army segregated until the late 1950's yet when you think of segregation you only think of the South. The EP only freed Blacks in the South hoping it would cause a massive uprising yet it did not happen. Why?

Why could Southron men go off to war and leave their wives, children and assets without fear of the slaves raping their wives and plundering their assets? Maybe things were a lot different than we have been told.

Am I defending slavery? No, but it has been a fact of life in many countries throughout the world since the Fall of Man and still exists. Indeed, it started in MA with Native Americans and the ships were harbored in Boston, not Charleston or Savannah. Yet, we only hear of the sin of the South. The Yanks are portrayed as righteous. If I beat you up, I can tell the tale.

Indeed, what a grand victory. It took four years to beat an army that you outnumbered 4 to 1 and the comparison between assets is like comparing Fort Knox to a five year old's piggy bank. It took a Reb to beat a Reb because Jeff Davis as Secreatary of the Army both enlarged and modernized the Army that beat him. More Rebel prisoners died than Yank prisoners and yet the only one we see on the History channel is Andersonville. Yanks might need to reconsider their chest beating and do a little study.

Black sentries guarded the Confederate camps as was shown in an 1861 Harper's Weekly drawing. I don't know about you but if I was consistently abusing someone I would not give them a gun to watch over me while I slept or when the enemy was often very close.

The South had its sins, but overall they were correct in their right to secede, which was originally a Northern idea, and far more righteous than the North in battle and in treatment of civilians and private property. Sherman and Lincoln would both be hung as war criminals under Geneva Convention standards.

Boycott the movie. The toy car is still sold. http://www.ediecast.com/cgi-bin/edlist.cgi http://www.hardtofindauctions.com/9330/104231173.php
Everyone that loved the show should buy one. The increased sales would drive the PC crowd nuts. And for the men who have Confederate ancestors call 1-800-MY-South and jine up. Honor your ancestor and respect yourself. Ladies, there is not an 800 number, but here is an e-mail to get you started on your UDC membership. hqudc@rcn.com Yes, there are Black members and more would be welcomed. If you are a copperhead contact one of these organizations and they will tell you about other organizations you can join to be a part of the search for truth and honor.

The true history is not taught in the schools. It is not taught by hatemongers on either side. However, it is available if you desire the truth. Remember, Deo Vindice, God vindicates.

That image is someone's concept rendering of what he thought the new Charger might look like. In reality it's a 4 door - doh!:

http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=101327

"Chrysler fends off a Charger coup
The Chrysler group's revival of the Charger name on a Dodge sedan is generating "hate mail," says a senior executive. Production of the 2006 model starts in January, but correspondence is voluminous opposing the name on a four-door, says Trevor Creed, Chrysler senior vice president of design. The naysayers, writing primarily via e-mail, champion various Charger coupes that ran from 1966 through 1978 and from 1982 through 1987, Creed says. "They all think their Charger is the real thing."

Here's a real photo:

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