[nathanbedford]

Many FReepers have asked me privately as well as publicly to comment on the intermittent attacks on the image of Nathan Bedford Forrest and, more recently, on a the movement now gaining increasing momentum to ban the Confederate battle flag. My fundamental feelings about this subject are to be found on my about page to which I invite interested readers.

These comments were written more than a decade ago and they seem to stand the test of time. I think they anticipate the sliding scale of values imposed upon us by the left depending on the flavor of the day. It is a profoundly dangerous tendency to censor speech based on the subjective reaction of a class, or in this case a race, of people because pandering to subjectivity is an open invitation for that class to move the goal posts. A short review of the threads on FreeRepublic will reveal that the left senses blood and will pursue this to the point past absurdity and seek to ban all vestiges of conservatism. Certainly it does not take a prophet to foresee that the next great jihad will be waged against the cross and everything it stands for.

I would add this to the thoughts expressed on the about page that the battle over Confederate indicia is already lost, just as the battle over homosexual marriage is already lost no matter how the Supreme Court rules. These battles are not won or lost in the courts or the legislatures so much as they are won or lost in the institutions which mold the culture and which invariably are forced-funded with public monies such as our public and private schools and universities, our NGOs, The Southern Poverty Law Ctr, our eleemosynary institutions like Rockefeller and Ford, and flat-out propaganda organs like a ACORN and him Planned Parenthood.

Talk radio and common sense alone are inadequate shields against relentless well-heeled propaganda onslaughts. Once the left can appropriate, rather misappropriate, the issue of race the argument is over and pusillanimous Republicans who were described in the About Page are certainly not going to brave a media storm to argue for common sense.

Because we have failed to fight this fight in the kindergartens we cannot expect to win it today in governors' offices, legislatures, or courts. The rampage must burn itself out.

[Raycpa]

I think our Constitution is in the cross hairs before the bible. The erasing of history (Jackson, confederacy, etc) is necessary to remove the Constitution from its base. Once removed it can be anything anyone claims it is.

[tet68]

Excellent post. I have been pondering the idea that
so much of the bruhaha over “white privilege” can
actually be traced to black guilt over not revolting
and freeing them selves but having been freed by whites.

I’m over the race thing, I treat all who treat me with
civility and respect the same way, but then this is
not now the America I grew up in.

Appreciate as always, your writing.

t.

[IncPen]

I’ve read this post and your FR page, which offer much to think about.

I think one of the most important things to note about the left and their mendacious race-baiting hatred of the US is the fact that they never mention: 350,000 northerners lost their lives in defense of the freedom of the black people.

The debt is repaid, many times over.

[Caipirabob]

You're spot on. Sadly, this sort of rampage has not worked out well for us in the past.

[buckalfa]

Well said Sir. Well said.

[Sola Veritas]

“Because we have failed to fight this fight in the kindergartens we cannot expect to win it today in governors’ offices, legislatures, or courts.”

Wise words that are really ringing true. But how to fix this? I was blessed enough to be able to send my son (now 19) to a private Christian school where he didn’t get the left wing redacted history or was told that be homosexual is just fine.

I fear these “private” schools will start being put out of business (although most ARE NOT a business).

Anyway, how to help the young being raised in secular institutions? The not only have to contend with the school’s propaganda, but with the popular culture put on us by Hollywood.

[LeonardFMason]

“Certainly it does not take a prophet to foresee that the next great jihad will be waged against the cross and everything it stands for.”

How true. Is there any doubt that if Christ were alive today he would be crucified, both figuratively and literally, by the virulent Left. John the Baptist would suffer the same fate to dare preach about Repentance.

The Bible is absolutely current for today.
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

[LS]

"Talk radio and common sense alone are inadequate shields against relentless well-heeled propaganda onslaughts."

This is quite brilliant. I have fought the battle in classrooms for 30 years (retiring next year), and not without effect. I constantly get students write me saying they recall the lessons, are running for office, are leaders in their communities. Probably too few, but it's something.

This article offers a remarkable analysis of the radical individualization of our society. In arguing that the "old" forms of community action/leftist organizing aren't working, he DOESN'T say that the alternative is if the people turn around, the only direction they can head is back toward traditional forms of organizing---but that defeats them as well because most of that "traditional collective action" comprises churches, fraternal organizations, parades---all the stuff that works against the left.

[Biggirl]

What I sense is that the effort is to get the Confederate flag made into a private or museum historic piece.

[matginzac]

I’m sure you know about this but I’ll mention it anyway...
In the documentary “The Civil War” by (ugh) Ken Burns, there’s a lovely comment by Shelby Foote on meeting the direct relatives (sisters?) of NBF and swinging his sword around...truly charming as well as humorous (their opinion of Lincoln)...
My bona fides as a proud reb: a close relative is named after Wade Hampton...will his statue in Columbia SC and Charleston be taken down?