Huge confederate flag to be raised in Tampa
 

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=4978568&page=1

Its up.....My dad saw it on I-4 on his way to work today......... Apparently it was put up today specifically to celebrate Jefferson Davis' birthday.....I would expect something like this up in the northern part of the state, but in Tampa....I was surprised....

I haven't seen it yet..you're right though...I never expected it in Tampa.

Cool.

As long as they didn't do it to stir up controversy or offend those who are offended by "The Flag."

Even if they did do it to stir up controversy, fine by me. I would only object if its sole purpose is to offend.

BON Shinerbock, I agree with you.

Eh...exactly.

The First Amendment is a great and powerful thing.

We are agreeing way too much these days...

You noticed that too?

Quick, say something annoying and overly fratty so I can snark on you and we can get back on keel.... ;):p

I agree-110%;):):D

Indeed it is!

The local media is making a big deal out of it showing citizens who think the county should not have granted the permit! I just fine that funny being that even the NAACP is saying that it is offensive yet completely legal!

Stupid Constitution . . .always getting in the way of a good ol' mob mentality hate fest!

I don't think there would be near as many issues with the "flag" if the media didn't make such a big deal about it. As a matter of fact, I have lived in the South my entire life, and there really wasn't a "stir" about it until people had issues with it atop the SC state house.

As DSTCHAOS mentioned, I hate it when people (normally not from the South) use it to stir up trouble (as a symbol of racism).

I don't think it's the media and I don't think the people who use it to stir up trouble are normally not from the South.

People know the history behind the Confederate flag. I have seen bumper stickers with the Confederate flag and sayings like "next time I'll pick my own damn cotton." Those are clearly people who have taken Confederate pride and the right to fly the flag to an offensive and unnecessarily controversial level. That nonsense does a disservice to those who actually use their First Amendment right for more sound reasons. This includes blacks who display the Confederate flag and have respect for the role that blacks had in the Confederate Army, etc.

This article seems to be about people just using their First Amendment right.

Thats a good point DST, this flag is being raised to honor fallen confederate soldiers, many of whom were black. Anyone who is honestly offended by this doesn't understand the significance of the memorial.

Maybe so, but I was referring to some of the hate groups out West etc. that use the flag "flap" as a symbol of hate and have never even been to the South!

I've also wondered about the blacks who display the Confederate flag out of respect for the blacks who served in that Army because from what I understand about that time period is very little record keeping was kept on blacks, so the only "real evidence" they have is word of mouth...

"No accurate record has been kept of black units that served the South, since most of them were state militia and never mustered into the Confederate Army."
http://www.civilwarhistory.com/slave...oldiersCSA.htm

And what supports that is that it's the Sons of Confederate Veterans raising the version of the Rebel Flag that was the Battle Flag of the confederacy. I think it needs to be taken on face value that these are relatives of veterans, honoring the symbol of the veterans who fought (regardless of race). If it were another group that wanted to make a more political statement, it would have been done with more fanfare and with obvious intent to make a "point". It doesn't seem like the group that raised the flag are the ones making the noise about it. That doesn't stop others who see it from inferring whatever they want and then possibly taking offense regardless of the meaning behind it, but hey, then we're back to the greatness and power of that darned 1st Amendment.

Hate groups aren't on my radar when it comes to this topic. The Confederate Flag is used everyday in the South (and other parts of the country), outside of the hate group context, for legitimate and illegitimate purposes.

As far as I'm concerned, there is no debate about the existence of black Confederate soldiers.

The fact remains that there are blacks who fly the Confederate Flag for whatever reasons they do so. :)

For those who do not know what this sub-conversation is about:
In the past few years several researcher have found that Blacks did serve in Gray uniforms during the War between the States.
I have seen Blacks proudly wearing Gray at several re-enactments.
As for numbers, that is still being fought over;) and is not all too clear.
But then again the number of women who fought, in disguises, is still uncertain as well last I read.
MVHPOV, which is probably a minority, is that the Battle Flag is an American Flag.
I also believe the flag has been mis-used and dis-honored by the few.

Thanks for holding their hands, jon. They were nervously awaiting your arrival.

I guess I missed a post or two while I was posting.:o
Glad to see that we are all in agreement here.:)

LOL ;)

For further information -
 

www.blackconfederates.com

www.37thtexas.org/html/BlkHist.html

http://www.forrestsescort.org/blacks.