Lakeside bans Confederate flag

Augusta Chronicle ^ | 11/10/01 | Melissa Hall

[shuckmaster]

Lakeside High School officials are asking students not to wear clothing bearing the Confederate flag, at least for now.

While the Columbia County school system does not prohibit students from wearing the Confederate standard, recent racial tensions at Lakeside have prompted school officials to temporarily ban it on campus.

"On Tuesday we had five students involved in what we call actions preceding a fight; they were yelling at each other and squaring off," Lakeside Principal Victor Lee said. "Three of them were black, and two were white. The black kids came out with the fact that they felt like we were a racist school, with the kids wearing the Confederate flag, and they made an issue out of it."

The five students were suspended, Mr. Lee said. Nine other white students were identified throughout the day trying to promote the fight off-campus.

"As we got involved with those nine, I noticed that some of them were wearing the Confederate flag, and I asked them to work with me as we got through this issue and not wear the Confederate flag for a while," he said.

The students who were wearing the Confederate flag were asked to change their attire, said schools Superintendent Tommy Price.

"It is my understanding that they had other T-shirts to take their place and that they didn't have a problem with it," he said.

Students are generally not prohibited from wearing the flag at school.

"As long as there's no real problem caused by it, we don't have a problem with students wearing the Confederate emblem," Mr. Price said. "But given the disruption it's causing in the school, we felt like we needed to take this stance at this time."

[Balding_Eagle]

I've asked this of you and many others, and never received an answer.

What IS "Southern heritage"?

After reading through this thread, I am begining to suspect that southern heritage has been described to you before.

It sounds like Rush hears better than you do.

[TXLady]

Thanks for the great definition of Southern Heritage. I like this one too-Southerner: A person born or living in the south; gracious, easy-going, slow-talking friendly folk devoted to front porches, oak trees, cool breezes, magnolias, peaches and fried chicken. I'm old enough to remember simpler times like that.

[Bommer]

In order for anyone to be offended, wouldn't they also have to have some knowledge of when and for what the flag was used for? As far as I know, they're not taught that! Hold up both the Cofederate and the American flag and ask the two black kids uder which flag was slavery more predominate. (of course this also only works if they know what nation the American flag flys over!)

[JMJ333]

If I'm German may I wear a Nazi uniform and carry a Nazi flag around with me in School?

The two aren't comparable and you know it. The South never gassed people to death or held them in concentration camps--you're either too stupid to comprehend that or you just hate southerners. My guess is both.

[Illbay]

That's not my point and YOU know it. Black slaves died; they were horribly treated, and the "Confederacy" is not a pleasant memory for them.

My point therefore, was that "freedom of speech" only extends so far.

[sweetliberty]

What the h**l is the matter with these people? Having lived in Columbia county at one time, I am ashamed and appalled by the actions that have recently been occurring in Georgia in the "interest" of political correctness. I have always been proud of my southern heritage and have always stood up to those who would mock it saying most assuredly that the south would NEVER cave to the ridiculous demands of the likes of the ACLU and other pro-divisiveness organizations and leaders. I am proud to wear and fly the confederate flag and any southerner worth his salt, white or black, knows that our flag is about our history, our pride in who we are, a symbol of what sets us apart...and I am outraged by the attempts of outside forces to dilute our history and negate our voice, and disgusted by those who passively allow others to redefine us. Instead of looking to the People's Republic of California as our standard bearer, we should be looking to those who still magnify without apology the heart and guts that made us great, such as our sister state of Mississippi in giving the vote concerning issues of the south to the people of the south. If we passively surrender our symbolism to a few loud-mouthed malcontents, it is only a matter of time until the substance behind the symbol is sacrificed on the altar of political correctness. There are those who are determined to make this a slavery issue. Well, perhaps in a way it is, but not in the sense that is popularly supposed. It is instead about making the people of the modern south slaves to revisionist tyrants who demand that we call THEM "massa."

[sweetliberty]

WE are not so priveleged as to afforded the liberty of being offended...kinda like the "slaves" of the old days, huh?

[sweetliberty]

WwwwooooooooHHhhoooooooooooooo!!!!! I like the way you think!

[sweetliberty]

"How many times have you heard these words slurred by some jabbering village idiot product of genetic roulette with the IQ of a toaster oven ..."

My, you do know how to turn a phrase. And the liberals say we have no sense of humor! ROFL!

[sweetliberty]

"Tell the whites and the blacks, he didn't give a tinker's damn about the way they felt; grow up, get over it."

Hope you don't mind PTBOR, that I borrowed your quote, but it seems fitting.

[JMJ333]

That's not my point and YOU know it. Black slaves died; they were horribly treated, and the "Confederacy" is not a pleasant memory for them.

That must be why 44% of black folks in Mississippi voted to keep the stars and bars on the state flag. You see, unlike you, they understand that the WONA was fought over more than slavery. They have ancestors who fought and died in that war also.

And your definition of free speech stinks. Under your view anyone who is offended or has their feelings hurt [even though it might be because of a knee jerk reaction] has the right to deny the right of others to express themselves. Well frankly abortion offends me, but I don't see anyone rushing to gag those murderers.

And as far as treatment of slaves went, its true some people were treated badly. The 500,000 slaves that came to America and lived throughout the north and south had a tough road--but you know what? It could have been worse for them. They could have been sent to the middle east where black men served as Eunichs and were subsequently castrated so they couldn't procreate. So instead of always focusing on how naziesque the south is, why don't you try getting a clue.

[SirLancelot]

I'm a Southerner, and I'm not a bit ashamed of slavery that existed in the past. Slavery was legal, and although the South fought to keep slavery legal, the REAL fight was over the North FORCING their will on the Southern states, which was a very valid reason for having a war. At the height of slavery, less than 5% of people in the South owned slaves, so that whole "slavery" thing has been blown way out of proportion. IMHO, all Southern states had the legal right to secede from the Union, and if the North would have let them do that peacefully, the war never would've happened. The war, which wasn't technically a "civil war," was in fact, the Norths fault. The BATTLE ended at Appomattox, but the war goes on, with the Northern States wanting more federal control, and more social programs, and the Southern States, continuing to fight for state RIGHTS, and for personal freedom and responsibility. The Confederate flag is a VERY proud symbol, and I fly it often. The Confederate flag shows us what true freedom really means, the freedom to think for onesself. :)

[TLI]

Anyone want odds that the ACLU, who'd leave skid marks to arrive and defend some quasi-hippie wearing anti-American logos
or a militant black wearing a Malcolm X t-shirt, will be conspicuously absent at this one?

Malcolm Ten?  Who the heck is Malcolm Ten? 

< / humor >

[cport]

But it is bizarre to me when "Southern culture" is put forward as some sort of "radical alternative." It's just a set of idiosyncracies, things we're comfortable with from having been reared this way. It's not necessarily "better" or "superior." Just comfortable

And you just answered your own question.

They are taking an issue of culture and making it an issue politically by quantifying the culture as inferior. These same entities that force others' cultures (and in that same venue) on us in the name of diversity.

[dixiemelody]

Good point. But I don't consider myself a "neo Confederate" as you phrased it. I'm a Southerner who is proud of the "idiosyncracies" and wonderful southern traditions with which I've been raised. I love the South. I love my country. I'm tired of politically correct mumbo jumbo and having my rights squashed because of the fact that some thin skinned person might be offended. And I'm tired of people such as yourself referring to slavery with every breath you take. I don't have slaves. My grandparents did not have slaves. My great grandparents did not have slaves. My great great grandparents did not have slaves. My great great great grandparents did not have slaves. They were all too poor as were most people in the South. Furthermore, I've never been one that cared much about the Confederate flag. I've never owned any clothing that displays it. I've never owned one period. But now that so many politically correct people are trying to impose their views on me, and wrongly infer the reasons most people fly it, I think I will go buy one and put it on my car. Because, my ill-willed friend, I think I have that right.

[cport]

I checked out your AW Shucks! link the other day at work (while on break), next morning Internet Explorer had been uninstalled at my computer. Great link, by the way.

[cport]

Your post was as sweet as the music your name inplies, mah deah.

[sweetliberty]

You state it pretty well; the "confederate" issue is not so far removed from conservative issues in general.

[goodieD]

Instead of banning the clothing, why not ban the idiots who are causing the trouble? Typical liberal thinking, let's blame an inanimate object instead of a person.

[yhdypony]

That's already bein done in Stone Mountain GA, people make money off tha greastest Confederate Memorial there is, tha carvin on thA SIDE OF THA MOUNTAIN, LEE DAVIS AND JACKSON . people want ta protest, but at tha same time they won't give up tha money they're makin off tha war of Southern Independance!!!!