Posted on 05/09/2006 8:54:07 PM PDT by stainlessbanner
MOUNTAIN BROOK, Ala. Some parents are asking for answers after their children sang a popular marching song of the Confederacy during a Civil War history lesson. At least five black students sang, along with other fifth-graders, the lyrics of "The Bonnie Blue Flag" at the closing of last Friday's program at The Highlands School in Mountain Brook.
The 1861 song was written in honor of the blue flag with the white star that Mississippi flew over the state Capitol upon seceding from the Union.
Some are the lyrics are --quote-- "We are a band of brothers and native to the soil. Fighting for the property we gained by honest toil."
Whitlynn Battle told the Birmingham there's no explanation or excuse for the song's inclusion in the program, which her 11-year-old daughter participated in.
Highlands School is a private school for 4-year-olds through eighth-graders and according to its web site, about 11 percent of its 280 students are minorities.
Dale Hanson, the school's acting head, said he has received a couple of e-mails and the school is handling the issue in-house.
I'm sorry, someone please explain the offense to me. I'm dense I guess.
Blacks (I refuse to ever, ever use the "African-American" term) are playing the victim card once again.
We are a band of brothers,
Native to the soil
Fighting for the property
We gained by honest toil.
And when our rights were threatened,
The cry rose near and far;
Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag
That bears a single star!
chorus:
Hurrah! Hurrah!
For Southern rights, Hurrah!
Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag
That bears a single star!
As long as the Union
Was faithful to her trust,
Like friends and brethren,
kind were we, and just;
But now, when Northern treachery
Attempts our rights to mar,
We hoist on high the Bonnie Blue flag
That bears a single star.
First gallant South Carolina
Nobly made the stand,
Then came Alabama
And took her by the hand;
Next, quickly, Mississippi,
Georgia, and Florida,
All raised on high the Bonnie Blue flag
That bears a single star.
Ye men of valor gather round
The banner of the right,
Texas and fair Louisiana
Join us in the fight;
Davis, our loved President,
And Stephens statesmen are;
Now rally round the Bonnie Blue Flag
That bears a single star.
And here's to brave Virginia,
The Old Dominion State.
With the young Confederacy
At length has linked her fate.
Impelled by her example,
Now other States prepare
To hoist on high the Bonnie Blue flag
That bears a single star.
Then here's to our Confederacy,
Strong we are and brave,
Like patriots of old we'll fight,
Our heritage to save.
And rather than submit to shame,
To die we would prefer
So cheer for the Bonnie Blue flag
That bears a single star.
Then cheer, boys, cheer,
Raise a joyous shout
For Arkansas and North Carolina
Now have both gone out;
And let another rousing cheer
For Tennessee be given
The single star of the Bonnie Blue Flag
Has grown to be eleven!
I suppose some people think it's the first step on the road back to slavery/s
Sheesh. Is there anything that doesn't offend somebody these days?
It's a private school. If you're upset, send your kid elsewhere.
Great melody, too.
ping
oh good grief
I remember learning this in elementary school in NY, and no one made a fuss.
It's the same as asking a black person to sing Dixie.
Some teacher snuck it in under the parental radar to make a political point.
But why would it be that??
Or perhaps, just perhaps, the teacher was actually trying to instruct her students in the history of their state. Yes, even if that means that black students have to temporarily confront the fact that their ancestors were enslaved, at the risk that they'll be "offended." Seems to me that if they learn about the songs and material culture of those times, it's a more valuable lesson than if they just memorize the names and dates of certain battles and generals. There's nothing so offensive in those lyrics anyway.
I hoep the teacher doesn't pay the price of her honesty with her job.
ok, what's wrong with singing Dixie?
I love to sing Dixie to my kids. Ok, we're of the dread "white race" but still....what???
You are not dense, that I know, the offense is beyond me as well.
If they, whoever they are, don't like the song, turn up the bass and hear your fenders rattle.
I shall never apologize for my heritage, the music, or the flag.
There is some speculation that Dan Emmett, credited with writing "Dixie", may have heard it from Black Southerners.
Some people know who (not what) the "property we gained by honest toil" was. We also know, from reading the acts of secession of the various Confederate States, that to which the phrase "Southern rights" refers.
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