Posted on 09/17/2003 6:57:29 PM PDT by stainlessbanner
A group that helped raise a huge Confederate flag above a North Florida highway now wants to bring the symbol to state license plates.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans is planning a campaign to create a specialty automobile license tag honoring what supporters call the state's Southern heritage.
"We know the flag is controversial because it's been misused by misguided people," said John W. Adams of Deltona, division commander for the organization. "But this tag is not intended to be divisive."
Black leaders said the emblem symbolizes oppression and are beginning to mount opposition to the plate along with others who criticize the ballooning number of specialty tags.
"I would hope the legislation proposing this tag never sees light of day," said Rep. Ed Jennings, D-Gainesville, chairman of the Florida Conference of Black State Legislators. "It is only divisive."
Gov. Jeb Bush decided to take down the Confederate flag that had flown at the Capitol for 22 years in 2001, saying he wanted to avert problems encountered by other states flying rebel banners. Those included divisive flag fights in South Carolina and Georgia, where some said the Confederate flag symbolizes slavery and racism.
Bush spokesman Jacob DiPietre said "the governor is adamantly against such a proposal."
Eight other states already have tags on the road available only to members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, which consists of descendants of those who fought in the Civil War. The Florida tag, if approved by state lawmakers, would be available to any motorist.
The group, which boasts 2,000 members in Florida, raised a 20-by-38-foot flag in a February 2002 ceremony at a memorial along Interstate 75 near the crossroad of Interstate 10.
For the tag to gain approval, organizations must conduct a marketing survey showing that at least 15,000 vehicle owners would consider buying the proposed tag, submit a $60,000 application and get the measure approved by the Legislature. Adams said the organization probably will begin moving ahead with its proposal next month.
Specialty-tag buyers pay an additional $15 to $25 for the tags, with the surcharge benefiting a specific cause or institution. Proceeds from the Confederate tag would help fund the group's historic-preservation projects, which include locating Confederate grave sites and maintaining historic flags and artifacts.
Keep rebel flag off license tag
Confederate symbol too inflammatory to represent pride
Florida needs a Confederate license plate like it needs ... well, a Black Panther license plate.
A specialty plate honoring the state's Southern heritage has been proposed by the Sons of Confederate Veterans, who say they are aware that the flag has been "misused by misguided people" and insist the tag is not meant to be divisive.
Please. The Stars and Bars has been used so many times to inflame that it is simply foolish to expect people not to be inflamed by it.
It has flown over way too many Klan and American Nazi rallies. It has come to symbolize racial repression to black Americans, who remember that it was dusted off all across the South when the region dug in its heels against integration. Things have gone way too far to pretend that this flag can be a benign or noble symbol.
That's not the fault of people of good faith who wish to express pride in their Southern heritage, but it's a fact. The Southern pride movement would do itself and society a favor if it found a new symbol.
One of the wisest things Gov. Jeb Bush has done was to quietly remove the Confederate flag that had flown over the state Capitol for 22 years. He wanted to avoid the emotional, hopeless political fights over this potent symbol that have paralyzed Georgia and South Carolina.
We should line up with Bush in opposition to the specialty plate, to stop this idea before it gains any traction. There are powerful, complex racial issues in this state. It won't help to add an inflammatory symbol.
If you want on -or- off the dixie ping list send freepmail
Need I continue.....
Gov. Bush should support this proposal. There are 54 other specialty tags (ie. can o' worms) in the state. Eight other states have SCV tags.
Do you support a movement to create a Florida specialty automobile license tag featuring the Confederate flag?
Yes (4637 responses) - 70.4%
No (1885 responses) - 28.6%
Not sure (68 responses) - 1.0%
6590 total responses
Results are not scientific
With all due respect, Florida was the third state to leave the Union. The Ordinance of Secession was issued January 10, 1861. Florida was very much in line with it's sister state of South Carolina. In fact, the hostilities were expected to start at Fort Pickens in Florida, but the incidents at Fort Sumter occurred sooner.
During the War Between the States, Florida raised:
Our state offered 15,000 of her best men - the highest percentage of any Confederate state. Nearly 5,000 of those men died in the War.
During the war, Florida became a source of cattle and salt - two necessities during the war. As supply lines were cut and the Anaconda plan squeezed the coast, daring blockade runners would leave New Smyrna for the eastbound run to the islands for trade. The blockade runners supplied hogs, beef, salt, sugar, rum, and other necessities all the way up to Virginia. The cattle king Jake Summerlin supplied the Confederacy with thousands of pounds of beef and was never repaid.
Salt was key to preserving meats for transport to far away Confederate states. Families would boil sea water at old Spanish mills in huge kettles to extract salt. Saw Palmettos were another source of salt natives used. Barrels of salted pork, beef, fish, venison, and rabbit were cured in salt up to 25 percent. Often a mixture of molasses and spices were used to improve the taste.
While there were not many battles in Florida, Southerners held their own. The Battle of Ocean Pond near Olustee, FL pitted 5,500 Union against 5,000 Confederate troops on Feb. 20, 1864. The result held 2000 dead Union and 800 dead Confederates. Tallahassee was the only Confederate capital east of the Mississippi River not captured thanks to the young men at present day FSU. The battle of Natural Bridge involved the home guard fending off a Union advance in March 1865.
Florida has always been home to a mix of people - Spanish, French, British, Scottish, Irish, African, Cuba, Puerto Rican, Seminole, Creek, Timucuan, Cherokee, Minorcan, and many others. Pirates, Cow Hunters, Indians, Frontiersman, Pioneers, Preachers, Outlaws, Runaways, Robber Barons, Carpetbaggers, and just about any other walk of life could (and still can be) found in Florida.
Yes, Florida earned her spot in the Confederacy and the title of "Supplier of the Confederacy." The famed "Cow Cavalry" protected local ranches and cattle from Union raids. She made her own contribution and stands proud of the men who served.
If someone wants anything else on their car, they are free to slap on all the bumper stickers, plate frames, window decals, and suction-cup cats they want.
The current system of using license plates as advertising every cause under the sun will, mark my words, get too politicized in the near future, to the point where someone will say "Enough!", and so long to the gimmick plates.
A little high there, stainless. This website puts the casualties at a much more realistic 203 killed, 1,152 wounded, and 506 missing, a total of 1,861 for the Union. Confederate losses were 93 killed, 847 wounded, and 6 missing, a total of 946. If accounts be true then a number of the Union dead were killed while trying to surrender.
The new florida tag
On my side we had a relative die in that battle; another relative on the wife's side was wounded.
The intolerant among us want to forget them. Instead they would - and do - worship & protect war criminals, dictators, gays, socialists, communists, pedophiles, and abortionists. Basically they love those that seek to destroy our Constituion, those that refuse to abide by it, and those that pervert it.
The same seek to remove the Bible from our country, from our government, from our very lives. I choose to honour our ancestors, the Constitution and the Bible. We will serve the Lord.
Kudos to the proud members of the Florida SCV, may they never forget.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.