Posted on 08/01/2015 5:53:32 AM PDT by lowbridge
Bucking a national trend, a defiant Walton County voted Tuesday after an emotional hearing to replace one Confederate flag with another one at its courthouse in the Florida Panhandle.
Under intense pressure from a deeply divided citizenry, county commissioners agreed to remove the controversial flag with the X-shaped Southern Cross design that has flown at the courthouse in DeFuniak Springs since 1964, the year President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act.
As that flag heads to a local museum, it will be replaced by the first version of the Confederate flag known as the stars and bars, with 13 stars arranged in a circle next to horizontal red and white bars.
"The soil of Walton County has been enriched with the blood and sweat of the people who came before every one of us, some who fought and died in the war between the states," said Commissioner Sara Comander, who suggested the switch. "I want to honor all of those who came before us, but I also want to be cognizant of those that the present flag seems to offend."
Applause broke out after the 4-0 vote as opponents vowed to keep fighting to remove the new flag.
"It's a cop-out, not a compromise," said Daniel Uhlfelder of Santa Rosa Beach, a lawyer who has led citizen opposition to the flag. "Nobody asked for this. It still represents slavery. It's not going to bring the community together."
As the rebel flag fluttered outside, more than 100 people packed a hearing room. Some wore "Take Down the Flag" buttons and others wore T-shirts emblazoned with the flag design.
-snip
"To me, the Confederate flag is a symbol of rebellion, hatred and painful superiority," said Tyrone Broadus, a black pastor and DeFuniak Springs resident.
(Excerpt) Read more at tampabay.com ...
“To me, the Confederate flag is a symbol of rebellion, hatred and painful superiority,” said Tyrone Broadus, a black pastor and DeFuniak Springs resident.
Sometimes I wonder how much of the “hatred and painful
superiority” is actually residual guilt at having not
over thrown the shackles of slavery themselves.
>>”It’s a cop-out, not a compromise,” said Daniel Uhlfelder of Santa Rosa Beach, a lawyer who has led citizen opposition to the flag.
It’s not a cop-out. It’s a giant F-U! Good for them.
When are they going to throw it into the trash heap where it belongs?
Proud to live in Walton County!
They should put up a white flag and get it over with...
Maybe it's guilt because it was blacks who sold each other into slavery. And when those slaves arrived here there were thousands of blacks who were slave owners. There were 3,000 black slave owners in New Orleans alone. Inconvenient facts. Maybe Tyrone's ancestors were slave owners.
Hahaha, I LOVE Free Republic. Loving this funny thread. Good for Walton County.
Most of those that oppose The Confederate Flag are too stupid to recognize that The Stars and Bars was the original Confederate Flag.
That flag looks perfectly natural to me.
The Civil War was about states rights and self determination to break free from the Northeastern power center. The battle CBF represents history and pride.
Me too.
That barky doesn’t want the Confederate Battle Flag flown is enough to raise it from the highest mast.
Eff you forever, øbama!
Is the new flag a good idea, do you think??
The Bonny Blue Flag
and
The Stars and Bars
So far, I guess, nobody has even recognized what they are.
I have seen quite a few bumper stickers with the Bonny Blue flag. I figured I was one of the few who knew what it was.
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.