Oh Beauregard … or was it Belvedere either way come hither folks …

I should learn to keep my damn fool mouth shut but I haven’t got the good sense god gave a squirrel. Well that is not entirely true but we won’t quibble over my sense or lack of it for the moment. I live in the South but not the Deep South. However, I would be remiss if I did not add that I am in fact not a southern. If I were to make such a claim there would be hell to pay. To whom I would have to pay said hell or receive it from, which is more likely the case is not known to me. I have inquired. I am, in point of fact, a Yankee, and more specifically a Damn Yankee. The difference is that Yankees are people from the North who some times come to the South and Damn Yankees are Northerners who move to the South and take up residence. Many southern folk would further make the comparison that Damn Yankees are a kin to a tick burrowed into the skin of some beloved animal’s hind quarters, but only some… others would find it unrefined and boorish to speak in such a manner. There is a lot of stir about the South these days mainly about the Confederacy’s Rebel Battle Flag, referred to incorrectly but most commonly as the Flag of the Confederacy, which it is not, but common reference and popular culture have made the, “Stars and Bars” as the most recognizable symbol of the South in the US Civil War. Which, shall be for purposes of this opinion will be referred to hence as the Rebel Flag for simplicity sake. Pardon if I offend with the use of this but typing out anything longer each time it is mentioned just tries my patience. Regrettably, no nation is without times it would rather not speak of and for the United States our Civil War is but one of those eras. For many in the US and for the rest of the world the Rebel Flag is a historical marker of bloodshed, human atrocities, hatred, bigotry, intimidation of a whole people and a far less civilized time in our history as a nation. Sadly, all the inhumanity, hate, and death are a part of our history and can not be changed. For many reasons beyond the historical placement others look on the Rebel Flag and see pride in being from a part of the US that is a little different than the rest of the nation. Now the many in the rest of the US and world and even some in the South associate being from the South with many negative themes, ideals and stereotypes; such as hate, bigotry, racism, stupidity, etc. Many imply them in a manner as if to suggest that this is the last place these retched things happen. As if the last bastion of hate and racism is in the South and if we can finally reign in the South all of the problems of hate, intimidation, and racism will go away. It won’t. Racism, hate, and intimidation are alive and well in every corner of the world. Not everyone is outspoken about their dislike or hated of others but it still exist and it exist outside of the South. So stop pretending that it doesn’t. There are those in the South who believe that the Rebel Flag is an icon of a simpler way of living, enjoying life and taking in the beauty of the world at a much slower pace than other places. The South, to some is a place of warm weather and warmer hospitality; A summer evening on the front porch sipping lemonade or a fine bourbon. The South is a place of open spaces and fresh air and fields miles wide ripe with harvest. The South has been and is a place of culture and learning, despite the reputation of being backward and dullards. Mark Twain, William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams and many other southern writers have influenced our language and culture. Many fine Colleges and Universities began in the antebellum years and others still founded during the reconstruction to foster education and progress for not just the South but the Nation and the world beyond our own political borders. The South is also a place of strong traditions of family and church. There is ugly in the world no matter where you look and if you look for it you will find it. Without much effort either I suspect. I say, all of this, not to defend the Rebel flag, only to say that is does mean more to some than just a reminder of a terrible time of horrific and heinous crimes and the unspeakable treatment of other human beings. To condemn the South as the only place where racism and bigotry show there face is to be foolhardy and ignorant. It lives in every corner of our country and the world. And it lives without banners and it lives without flags. As to the Rebel Flag and those in the South who see it as more I can truly understand what you are saying. However the modern connection to the Rebel Flag to the traditions of the south is not because the Rebel Flag was made to be a marker for all things Southern it is because politicians, marketing agents and entertainers that have wrapped up anything the want to sell in the South in the Rebel Flag. It has been used by people with no real regard for the meaning of the Rebel Flag other than it will votes, support and or generate money for their pockets because they believe people in the South will identify with the Rebel Flag regardless if what they are selling is good or not. For the most part the South has been sold this bill of tainted goods and come to see the Rebel Flag as an emblem of Southern Pride. You’ve been tricked into this idea to be a true Southerner means you have to embrace the Rebel Flag. The Rebel Flag means no more to Southern Culture than a June bug and the South needs to recognize that while the Rebel Flag has been popularized by everything from political candidates, special interest groups, the History Channel, the Dukes of Hazard, musical groups in every genre from County to Rock, clothing, towels and any other thing that can be sold. All in the name of trying to make a quick connection to the population in the South to benefit them and or to increase the bottom line on a financial spread sheet. The real bottom line is that the Rebel Flag is still a symbol of hate. The South used to have a name for these type of tactics of dishonesty … I believe it was carpet bagger. I do believe that no government building and no public place should fly the Rebel flag. It is a banner of open war against the United States, it is a symbol of hate, intimidation and oppression to many, and it is a symbol of the disenfranchisement of whole groups of people. To raise the Rebel Flag on a government building or in a public place it to tell whole groups of people they do not matter in the eyes of the law, the government and to the citizens who embrace the Rebel Flag. For all the positive things the Rebel Flag might mean to some; intended or not the Rebel Flag is a symbol of oppression and intimidation, it is a symbol of racism, and it is a symbol of bigotry and intolerance. It is a symbol the South should let fade away into history because its meaning is so negative to so many others. The South is a place to take pride in being from and supporting. Let the brighter parts of southern history rise to have time in the sun and let go of those things which hold you down in the eyes of the rest of the world. What do we do when the hate groups replace the Rebel Flag and adopt the cross as their emblem, abolish Christianity? Oh wait they did that already and we have learned to ignore that as an abuse of the symbol. So if someone wants a Rebel Flag on their shirt or truck or belt or bikini that’s on them and if you do decide to wear or use the Rebel Flag don’t be surprised when people think you might just be a racist. Abolishing the flag outright isn’t going to solve the problem either because hate exists with or without a banner or flag but it should not be displayed with the consent of any government in any public place. Well, that’s all for now, other stuff to follow most likely Happy Birthday if it’s your birthday and a very merry un birthday if it isn’t your birthday Thank you for reading, please subscribe, Have a great day and play nice in the neighborhood. Ciao, Invisible Don PS 3 / PS4 Gamer Tag: invisible don Send me post cards … I love post cards. Invisible Don PO Box 4425 Roanoke VA 24015