It’s been another tough week for Confederate flag advocates. Virginia unveiled the new specialty plate for the Sons of Confederate Veterans that does not include the battle flag. Why even bother. Alexandria, Virginia will no longer fly the Confederate flag on Robert E. Lee’s birthday and Confederate Memorial Day. And in Pittsylvania County (again in Virginia) a judge has ordered that a display of Confederate flags and memorabilia must be removed from its county circuit courtroom.
Way out in California, the state senate voted to ban the naming of schools and public buildings after Confederate leaders. A police officer, who was photographed wearing Confederate flag shorts, lost his appeal to be reinstated.
And if that wasn’t enough, country singer Steve Earle has released a new single, “Mississippi, It’s time” in which he calls on the state to remove the image of the Confederate battle flag from its state flag.
Oh, and all of the proceeds will go to the Southern Poverty Law Center.
There is some good news to report. Confederate flags will be on sale at an upcoming fair in northeast Ohio.
Personally, I like the song, for the most part, and everything it stands for. That said, part of me wishes it had been done by a native Mississippian and that it wasn’t associated with the SPLC. I don’t have a problem with either of those things but they make it easy for the current flag supporters to write it off as outsider political propaganda, only adding fuel to the fire. Change is going to have to come from within on this issue and as much as I hate to say it, there’s still too much apathy and disorganization between those who want to change it for it to change anytime soon. Now, I need to go download that song.
Good song, with even better lyrics!
London John, For the record there are 10 military bases named after Confederate military leaders. They are…
Fort Lee
Fort Hood
Fort Benning
Fort Gordon
Fort Bragg
Fort Polk
Fort Pickett
Fort A.P. Hill
Fort Rucker
Camp Beuregard (a National Guard facility)
The army has already noted they will not change the base names. Here is the official response:
Naming of these bases “occurred in the spirit of reconciliation, not division” said Army Brig. Gen. Malcolm B. Frost, chief of public affairs, He also said that “Every Army installation is named for a soldier who holds a place in our military history. Accordingly, these historic names represent individuals, not causes or ideologies.”
I tend to agree with the official view.
Thanks
I like the music video, especially the final shot with the Stars & Stripes. Although it’s up to Mississippians to decide this matter, I wish all the best to those aiming to change their state flag. Yes, it IS time (past time, actually).
As for the North Charleston officer, from what I read in the article linked the reaction seemed to be a bit of an overreaction IMO.
I found that song kind of moving. BTW, does Fort Bragg still exist?
There are two Ft Braggs..both named after the general. One in California, the other the famous installation at Fayetteville N.C.
Having spent a week there in August, I know that the Fort Bragg in California is a laid-back coastal town north of San Francisco that has no military presence.
I believe it was named for him after the Mexican-American War, when he was a U. S. hero.
according to the always infallible Wikipedia:
“In the summer of 1857, 1st Lt. Horatio G. Gibson, then serving at the Presidio of San Francisco, established a military post on the Reservation, approximately a mile and a half north of the Noyo River, and named it for his former commanding officer Capt. Braxton Bragg.”