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Monday, 04 February 2008
New 'Take Down The Flag' blog
Michael Rodgers, a regular correspondent here and probably my most ardent regular blog ally on the cause of getting the Confederate flag off the State House lawn, has started a new blog dedicated to the cause, as he informed me over the weekend:
Dear Brad,
Hi, how are you?
What's new on the Confederate flag? It's still flying from the Statehouse grounds. I've started protesting at the Statehouse when I can, and I now have a blog about the issue (Would you please add me to your blogroll?):Take Down The Flag
My state Representative Bill Cotty said that we have a "leadership in the House and Senate that will prevent the issue from seeing the light of day before we adjourn in June." My state Senator Joel Lourie agreed with your sense from the business community that they have no "appetite" for doing anything on this issue. I find that strange since Jim Micali of Michelin is the Chairman of the SC Chamber of Commerce. Surely he would want something done, but he's retiring soon, so who knows?
Take care and keep in touch. Thank you.Regards,
Michael Rodgers
Nothing new, I had to tell him. As y'all may have noticed, I've been working pretty much around the clock on presidential politics, and am just about to start paying attention again to S.C. issues (I had other folks doing that up to now), now that we've chased all those candidates out of the state.
Now I'm having to meet with all those folks I've been putting off for the past couple of months, on a wide variety of issues. The meeting with Vincent Sheheen was one of those long-delayed ones. I also have outstanding meeting requests from local hospitals, the state Department of Juvenile Justice, and ... well, all sorts of issues.
The flag will certainly return in this space. Until it does, thank you, Michael, for keeping the conversation going.
P.S. Just now, going through e-mail from a different account (my published one), I see this form e-mail that Michael sent out to all potentially interested parties. As further elaboration on what he's trying to do, I include the text of that as well:
Dear Brad Warthen,
Hello, how are you? I’m writing to you because I see that you’ve posted on your blog in support of taking down the flag. I’ve written emails to people who are interested in joining your South Carolina Association for the Advancement of All People, or whatever it ends up being called.
I’ve started a blog to encourage action to take down the flag. I hope that we can get a group to organize and take action. I’m inviting you to participate. Please, let’s work together to take down the flag. http://takedowntheflag.wordpress.com/
I’m also writing to remind you of the bill (H-3588) to take down the flag. The bill is sponsored by Representatives Alexander, Hart, Rutherford, and Sellers, and it is currently stuck in the Judiciary Committee of the House.
Please write your State Representative and State Senator to ask them to get the bill to the floors and on to Governor Sanford for his signature. You can read the bill and find out who your legislators are here (choose “quick search” for bill 3588 and choose “find your legislator”): http://www.scstatehouse.net/
Please spread the word about H-3588. I look forward to hearing from you and working with you. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but we are right and we will prevail.
Thank you.
With Kindest Regards,
Michael Rodgers
Posted by Brad Warthen at 12:40 PM in Blogosphere, Confederate Flag, Legislature, Mail call, Midlands, South Carolina, Southern discomfort
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Comments
Maybe, if we can get enough people who do believe that the flag should come down (or at least be repositioned in a much less prominent place with a plaque that explains the apparent schizophrenia its presence induces in this state), we could GET IT DOWN. But we're going to have a hard time getting anything past a certain senator (I won't mention McConnell's name)unless we can come up with a lot of backing.
Posted by: Karen McLeod | Feb 4, 2008 12:57:38 PM
Oh no, I hope we're not going to re-hash this debate, yet again.
Posted by: bud | Feb 4, 2008 1:38:35 PM
Here we go with the liberal, er, "progressive" (oxymoron) version of compromise.
This debate was decided a few years ago.
The, NAACP decided it wasn't enough. (It apprently was at some point.)
Now, a minority of people want "it" dealt with again. Bascially, they want "it" gone.. period.
That's the only "compromise" they want.
What are the two sides of the compromise? I only see one demand, not two.
Posted by: JJ | Feb 4, 2008 1:56:49 PM
Stick to the deal that was made. Lots of "libs" and progressives agreed to the present location. It really bothers me that my great grandfathers legacy of fighting for his land and home (not slaves, did have any) cannot be recognized. Leave the flag alone!
They deserve to be remembered!!!
Posted by: Tyler Hoover | Feb 4, 2008 2:10:38 PM
When ten percent of South Carolinians are still denied their civil rights,the flag is a trivial "issue".
Posted by: bill | Feb 4, 2008 2:40:35 PM
Hey Libs, My aren't we feeling our oats. I don't really care what you do with the flag, although Huckabee's suggestion was as good as any. Here is the question? Will taking down that flag get you your beloved socialized medicine? Will taking down the flag bring the troops home? Will taking down the flag get you the tax increases you are salivating over? Please explain exactly how your live will improve by taking down the flag.
This another reason agenda driven maniacs cannot be trusted with the levers of power. Your guys made a deal and now you want to go back on it. This a perfect example of liberal progressive hypocrisy. You are easy to get along with as long as everything goes your way. I guess we should paint the "white house" purple so that the name doesn't offend anyone.
Posted by: Richard L. Wolfe | Feb 4, 2008 3:13:36 PM
Yes, the 10% of private sector entrepreneurs who actually pay taxes are having their rights denied.
The media keeps the flag issue in their hip pocket as a ready diversion from real issues, such as:
* the State Retirement System being broke.
* lawyer legislators making millions of dollars practicing before the regulatory boards which they appointed.
* 100,000 high-tech workers leaving the state because of double taxation and other unfaire= treatment,
Posted by: Lee Muller | Feb 4, 2008 3:32:58 PM
It would do none of those Richard. But it sure would make the State of South Carolina appear like it was progressing out of the 1860's. For many, the perception of SC is one of ignorant, racist red necks. Perception is reality.
Posted by: TC | Feb 4, 2008 3:33:21 PM
You can't compromise with socialists, progressives, liberals and other left-wingers, because they do not negotiate in good faith. They have not intention of keeping their word.
Posted by: Lee Muller | Feb 4, 2008 3:47:54 PM
TC, Progressing sure is a funny word. Some would say sending our middle class manufacturing jobs over seas is progress. Some would say that flooding our nation with low wage unskilled workers, (legal or otherwise) is progress. Some would say a barbaric procedure like abortion is progress. Some would say that taxing working people more so that the money can go to those that don't is progress. Some would say that having babies that you cannot afford being taken care of by the taxpayers is progress. The list goes on and on and on and on until you wake up one day in a third world country and say well at least we made progress.
Posted by: Richard L. Wolfe | Feb 4, 2008 3:48:48 PM
Freeing slaves is progress. Women's suffrage is progress. Educating all of our citizens regardless of income is progress. Actually living by the words "all men are created equal" is progress. Creating middle income manufacturing jobs is progress. Providing affordable healthcare to all is progress.
Posted by: TC | Feb 4, 2008 4:31:54 PM
Hey, watch this, y'all ... within about 48 hours you'll see a bunch of comments from neo-confederates from across the country, names you haven't seen before, on this post.
It's a phenomenon we've long noted when we have flag-related stuff in the paper. We'll hear from actual readers for a day or so, then the message gets out on the neo-confed grapevine (and I'm thinking they still use horse-mounted couriers, this takes so long), and then you hear from a bunch of folks who basically don't read the paper. Same with the blog.
You can recognize these comments by signs other than the names, of course. You will find they are repetitive, spout certain talking points, and will likely strike you as wildly out of context. They will know nothing of you or me, and they'll make a lot of wild assumptions about us, but there will be a monotonous similarity in the things they will say.
Michael will soon see this on his own blog, if he hasn't already.
Posted by: Brad Warthen | Feb 4, 2008 4:36:07 PM
Brad- Not necessarily so. Having moved from SC, I am an Irmo and Clemson grad, my comments were strictly an observation. Not sure if you don't like out of town readers or not. Not one item about progress I made is repetitive spout. Anyway, perception is others reality. The perception of the state of SC throughout the remainder of the US is not good. It usually comes back to this issue. Part of it is the state led the charge out of the union. In the rest of the country, the stars and bars is prominent at racist biker bars and proudly displayed by the intolerant. It is not displayed on the capitol grounds. And I do agree that moving it to the grounds and off the dome was a big improvement. Obviously its a choice left to the voters of SC. I most certainly didn't mean to offend as an outsider.
Posted by: TC | Feb 4, 2008 5:03:00 PM
Wasn't talking about you, TC. I was talking about the Comments To Come. I was prophesying.
Posted by: Brad Warthen | Feb 4, 2008 5:10:43 PM
Got a better idea for a new blog...something like getalife.com.
Posted by: Steve | Feb 5, 2008 6:40:45 AM
"fool me once,shame on you.fool me twice,shame on me."
nobody believes you or the racist hatemongering naacp.whiners to the core!
tourism has not been effected at all by their thuggish attempts at blackmail.good for SC,and good for Huckabee to not sell out and still advocate STATES RIGHTS!
Posted by: richard thurston | Feb 5, 2008 7:49:53 AM
Screw you, Richard Thurston. Come to Myrtle Beach on Memorial Day weekend and get a dose of reality.
Then crawl back in your cave where you belong.
Posted by: Gordon Hirsch | Feb 5, 2008 8:40:33 AM
I used to think that the race-pimps like Jesse Jackson and Lonnie Randolph were the primary characters who dedicated themselves to keeping the nearly dead issue of the flag on life support: They desperately need to keep shallow thinking people stirred up and whipped into a frenzy about the flag. It fills their coffers with money and perpetuates their otherwise increasingly irrelevant roles in todays' society. Race baiting is all people like Jesse Jackson have, and the flag is a great vehicle for it.
I have concluded that there are other zealots and agitators who refuse to let this thing die however, and I think their motives are just as suspect.
First, there are guilt-ridden white liberals who seem absolutely determined to see to it that all present-day whites somehow "pay" for the sins that were committed one hundred fifty years ago. These misguided shallow thinkers have too much time on their hands, and just can't stand the thought that people of all races might be learning to put the past behind them and and move on in fellowship. Their goal is to expunge any and every symbol of the bad old days from present day life...to rewrite history and make everyone equally unhappy.
Then there are liberal newspaper editors who also benefit from agitation and civil unrest. As print media continue their long and inexorable slide into total irrelevance, these characters grasp at any issue that may boost sales and circulation, even if only for a moment. And even if it does damage to people who would otherwise be healing and moving on and making themselves and their world better.
Both of these groups are to be pitied. And defeated. David
Posted by: dave faust | Feb 5, 2008 9:02:51 AM
You don't look very happy in your picture, Mr. Wart Hen, but how can you? You're taking the most storied state of all and trying to do to it what the Bolsheviks did to Russia's ageless Christian civilization. Why don't you try to build a ladder to the moon? It might be more practical. Or maybe you're really trying to prod the people into reclaiming their Southern heritage in toto and running you off to New York or Chicago? For every foot you lower the flag at the state house 1,000 more go up very visibly around SC as a permanently disgusted public rediscovers its roots. It used to be "my country right or wrong" with yahoos, now it's "my ideology right or wrong" with gliberals. South Carolina's Confederate history is -- rebel flag and all -- cherished by freedom lovers everywhere, but your paper seems to exist (hopefully for not much longer) to destroy it. With obscene hubris "The State" tramples and reviles everything closest to the heart of THE STATE, i.e. the people your rag theoretically wants to attract most as readers. It's clear you're a profoundly unhappy person, and plain as day you and your ilk will never be satisfied with any amount of concessions. It's not the Bolshevik way! If you had the guts to stand out on a street corner with a C-flag, you'd finally see how many nonwhites love the emblem..... but you REALLY DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT anyway, DO you?
Posted by: Nelson Waller | Feb 5, 2008 9:39:47 AM
Brad, were my comments a fulfillment of your prophesy?. David
Posted by: dave faust | Feb 5, 2008 9:52:30 AM
Count me as one person that will not and has not. I also have stopped sending money to Clemson. Obviously some of you do not care and that is your right as well. I never said I wasn't states rights. It's a shame there is so much hatred and animosity over this symbol. Toleration remains one sided. It is also very ironic to me that we expect the family of slaves to get over it but those on the other side can't seem to either. Makes me very glad I left and not real eager to return for a visit (and I'm sure many of you will be saying good riddance).
Posted by: tc | Feb 5, 2008 10:06:57 AM
Attacking the glorious Confederate Battle Flag is equal to attacking Liberty, Justice, Freedom and Self Determination. It is the flag of freedom in the face of tyranny for people of all races. Which is appropriate as free men of all races fought under this banner to repel the invading yankee hordes.
Posted by: Tom | Feb 5, 2008 10:08:20 AM
Until 1968, Clemson had the largest Confederate Battle Flag in the world, which they ran out onto the field ahead of the football team.
It was replaced with the orange flag and white Tiger Paw logo by its originator, Coach Hootie Ingram.
----- medical progress -----------------
Providing quality medical care is progress as long as it is accomplished by voluntary means in the free market. Providing anything to one person by forcibly taking it from another person is regression to a primitive political state.
The proof of that is the lousy medical care and total absence of new innovations in medical diagnoses and treatments under communism.
Posted by: Lee Muller | Feb 5, 2008 11:10:08 AM
Fifty years hence, these same progressives(fascists) will be telling us that World War Two was fought by a segregated military to defend Jim Crow laws and demanding removal of any WW2 mounuments.
Confederates fought to defend their homes, as their ancestors did in the American Revolution. The "patroits of 1776" had slaves, I hear no one protesting 4th of July celebrations.
Once they move the flag (again), they will want all the monuments gone. Progressives are basically arrogant, fascist, liars and will never stop as long as they can raise funds by rewriting history to their liking.
Posted by: Ruben Blanchard | Feb 5, 2008 11:13:46 AM
I tried to post a comment on Michael's flag blog yesterday. After 24 hours, it hasn't got past the moderator, but some comment completely unrelated to the flag did.
Either Michael's not practicing due diligence or something's screwed up. My comment wasn't out of line or libelous.
Posted by: weldon VII | Feb 5, 2008 12:15:54 PM
