Posted on 09/04/2009 1:41:52 PM PDT by kingattax
Despite protests, the city of Homestead said they won't ban the controversial symbol ---
Over a century later, the Confederacy seems to have won.
It's a small battle, of course, but it looks like Homestead's Veteran's Day Parade will happen, and, despite protests by the NAACP, organizers decided they could not ban the displaying of the Confederate flag, according to the Miami Herald.
The controversy over the flag began last November, when black residents became outraged that the city allowed the symbol to fly during Veterans Day events.
"I think the Confederate soldiers have always been in the parade. I've seen them there," Chamber of Commerce chairman Jerome Williams told the South Florida Times back in April. "So, why is it an issue this time? I understand the debate, but I've done my own research and realize there were many black people in the Confederacy."
Tensions further flared when the Human Relations Board, who supported the ban, was dismantled by the city - which is not involved in planning the parade -- insisting that it was because of the desire to take it in a different direction, not because of the flag controversy.
A couple months later, the military affairs committee considered canceling the parade altogether, but ultimately decided to go ahead with the festivities, though, according to military affairs chairman Jeffrey Wander, there's a simple solution to saving the drama. "We can't take a position on this," Wander told the Miami Herald, "but we hope the Sons of Confederate Veterans don't bring the battle flag.''
That scenario doesn't seem likely, though.
``It's hard to march in a parade without our flag," said Gregory Kalof, commander of the Miami chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. "It's like going to a rodeo without a horse."
The NAACP did not return calls yesterday for comment.
It’s nice to see that free speech is being upheld...............for now.............
There are so many things tolerated in today's society that are so much more noxious as well as obnoxious, it has become past ludicrous. And we got here by the conservatives being ACTUALLY tolerant instead of pretending tolerance.
Another faux race issue that I am heartily sick of.
vaudine
When a captured black Confederate soldier was marched into Camp Douglas at Chicago,(the Union equivalent of Andersonville) the guards sumarily shot him on sight. There was evil on both sides. My grand fathers brother was captured at the Battle of Vicksburg and was never seen again.
Dr. Lewis Steiner, Chief Inspector of the United States Sanitary Commission while observing Gen. "Stonewall" Jackson's occupation of Frederick, Maryland, in 1862: "Over 3,000 Negroes must be included in this number [Confederate troops]. These were clad in all kinds of uniforms, not only in cast-off or captured United States uniforms, but in coats with Southern buttons, State buttons, etc. These were shabby, but not shabbier or seedier than those worn by white men in the rebel ranks. Most of the Negroes had arms, rifles, muskets, sabers, bowie-knives, dirks, etc.....and were manifestly an integral portion of the Southern Confederate Army."
If you are going to force a slave to do something against his will, arming him and 3000 of his friends might not be a bright idea. ;~)
No need. I’m a student of history at Texas Tech, come from a long, long, LONG line of Confederate and Rev. War soldiers. I know my history. I know there were some free that fought, some slaves that fought. The fact is they were stupid, intentionally kept stupid, and didn’t know what they were fighting for, other than what they knew, what they were told in the South.
In 2002 it changed its name to Commemorative Air Force after a vote of the membership. Many felt the name Confederate Air Force was confusing, did not accurately reflect the purpose of the organization, and was detrimental to fund raising efforts.
This name change was deemed by some fans to be a move of political correctness. The reason for the name change as stated by the organization was "Because the word "Confederate" is offensive to some."
No more Confederate Air Force, but there is in existence a Yankee Air Force.
Perhaps they should change their name because if history is accurate there where no yankee planes in the air during the civil war and because the word "yankee" is offensive to some.
Allowed?
I allow them, they allow me nothing.
Containing my anger with these self appointed busy bodies is becoming a full time job
TT
The Confederates generally were not very bright people. Local Confederate idiots forced a whole regiment of white Unionists from Bradley County, Tennessee into Confederate service and marched them into contact with the Yankees at Cumberland Gap where the regiment dissolved and largely deserted into the Union Army. Confederates serving as recruiting officers for the US Army!
I always thought the name ‘Confederate Air Force’ was pretty cool.
In addition they staged a dog fight between a Japanese Zero and a P-51 Mustang . I thought it was great.
I can only assume that the Commemorative Air Force has continued with the same high quality as\the Confederate Air Force.
Especially since the flag is not a symbol of slavery but of the brave men who fought and died for their country and were respected for their skill and valour by the men on the other side. Blacks who sometimes show contempt for the Stars and Stripes, like Van Jones,ought not to have the final say.
If you offer a man his liberty in return for taking up arms. he might just surprise you and stand with the people he knows.
One Black professor at Southern University said, “When you eliminate the black Confederate soldier, you've eliminated the history of the South”.
If the South had made full use of the Black soldiers, it would have been the larger army. Jefferson Davis wanted black Confederate veterans receiving bounty lands
Some Black info:
1. The “Richmond Howitzers
2. James Washington, a Black Confederate n/c officer became the 3rd Sergeant of the D 35th Texas Cavalry
3. Free Black musicians, soldiers, teamsters and cooks received the same pay as the other troops.
4. The Chief Inspector of the US Sanitary Commission noted that at least 3,000 Blacks were included in Col. Stonewall Jackson's troops. They wore the same shabby uniforms as their white counterparts.
5. It was noted by Frederick Douglas that there were regular Black soldiers in the Confederate Army. He noted they had muskets, bullets, and were ready to shoot down members of the northern army.
6. The Black soldiers returned heavy fire on Union troops at the Battle of Griswoldsville. Griswoldsville was near Macon, GA.
7. Britain and France refused a plan by Jefferson Davis which would have freed the slaves in recognition of the CSA.
8. There were 2 companies of Black soldiers in the Jackson Battalion. They were under Col. Shipp.
9. The Nat’l Park Service recognized that Black citizens were asked to help defend the city of Petersburg, VA. They were offered freedom if they did so.
There were many more facts on the internet about the Blacks who helped defend the South.
People need to do their own research instead of just taking so called facts as the truth. I learned that in my genealogy research.
One other fact. Col. Frank S. Nickerson, US Army described the conditions of southern Black prisoners as, “My cattle at home are better cared for than these unfortunate persons”. He was talking about the care the Blacks received as prisoners of the Federal Army.
If it’s the only family you know.
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