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(AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain, File)
In this Jan. 15, 2007 file photo, marchers make their way past the Confederate Soldiers Monument on Main Street during a rally to honor slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., at the Statehouse, in Columbia, S.C. The prominent placement of the flag that serves as a symbol of racism to some and Southern pride to others is again in the spotlight as the NAACP vows to pump up its ongoing economic boycott of the state.
The commander of the S.C. Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans has called the NAACP’s continued assault on the Confederate flag at the Soldiers Monument at the Statehouse “an insult to the nearly 25,000 Americans from South Carolina who died in service to this state.”
Randall B. Burbage of Charleston said in a statement Friday that more than a million of South Carolina’s residents are direct descendants of those brave men who, when called to duty by their state, made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of home and family.
“It is no wonder that so many Confederate flags are raised proudly all across our state each time the NAACP attacks that lone, single flag placed respectfully by the people of South Carolina at a memorial to those men who gave so much in service to their state,” Burbage said.
He added that the NAACP’s mean-spirited attacks on the Confederate soldiers’ battle flag “clearly shows how out of touch they are with mainstream opinions in South Carolina.”
“An overwhelming majority of citizens in our state approve of the flying of the battle flag at the Soldiers’ Monument,” he said. “The continued intolerance of our flag is an indicator of their unwillingness to respect our heritage while expecting us to respect theirs.”
He said the S.C. Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans “stands ready to defend our heritage against any and all attacks from any group.”
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July 19, 2008
12:07 p.m.Report inappropriate content
i am white and i think that flying the racist battle flag in columbia is apalling.
how can you argue that the battle flag is not racist???? everyttime you see the klu klux klan, nazi's or any hate group on the news they have the confederate battle flag. why not fly the confederate states of america flag????
i don't think that boycotts should take place because not all south carolinians feel that it is apropriate to fly the stars and bars.
my ancestors are from lithuania, russia and i know they did not own any slaves.
July 20, 2008
1:32 a.m.Report inappropriate content
dds8892, I want you to get facts before you post I know that the KKK carries the American Flag more than the Confederate Battle Flag,If you don't beleive then just do a search on the KKK I have seen plenty of their marches and in each one is the Flag of the United States Of America,so should we band the US flag just because a group flys it. Well I wanted to set the facts straight The battle flag never was a racist flag. It was a Battle Flag ,one that split the US in two. Now I say that all the NACCP is the racist group as they keep the pot brewing. I don't see anyone of them ever being placed into Slavery. That was in the 1860's and before.The Confederate Battle Flag is a reminder of a divided time when the fate of the nation was uncertain, now United we Stand ,Divided We Fall. I am in favor of flying the flag as a rememberance to all of the dead soldiers that fought a battle that really no one came out a winner. If we lose this Flag then we will not be reminded of the breaking up of families over Prosperity that the South had over the North. Slavery was not what the Civil War as about . IT was the issue of the South prospering over the North. I really have studied this war and understand why it was fought , not for Slaves but for the wealth the plantation owners had over the North.Because w had no offical Law in the South a group called the KKK became the law at that time now they are just a grup and yes a band of them was racist and done unspeakable things a lot of the KKK was a group that keep law and order in that time ,just like Texas had the Texas Rangers and out west had the federal Marshalls, well it the sSouth We had the KKK. THat was in a diffrent time than we live now ,so I say NACCP and all of it's kind you are the one's that need to cut the strings and let the War die. YOu can't change what happened in that time period.Signed A card Carrying Member of the KKK.
July 21, 2008
8:29 a.m.Report inappropriate content
What is so hard for people to understand about this war? It was NOT about slavery, but INDUSTRY. How many Of the people fighting against this flag have actually read the history books about this war? I'm just curious how many know the facts about this war.
I think some people just need certain things to complain about. Some choose discrmination(around every corner), for others it's junk in the neighbor's yard, or the line at the grocery store.
I'm just sick of being slammed for this. I'm proud of our Confederate Battle Flag and will always honor our fallen soldiers. These are our ancestors who fought hard for what they firmly believed in. They deserved to be honored.
These people feel they should fight for what they believe in. Well, I feel we deserve the right to PRESERVE it!
July 21, 2008
11:31 a.m.Report inappropriate content
The NAACP has once again proven that it is an organization dedicated to stirring up controversy and getting publicity. Instead of focusing on issues that really effect African Americans(crime, dropout rates, drugs, etc.) that publicity seeking group is going after an issue that the majority of citizens reached a compromise on several years ago. Leave the flag alone, NAACP, and do something to really help people.
July 21, 2008
1:55 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Well said dixiedon...if it wasn't the Confederate flag I'm sure they would find something else to rant about. it's like you said, they need to concentrate on the drug problems, school drop out rate, etc. that effect their people. I'm sure that help would be welcomed instead of wasting a lot of loose motion trying to cause conflict. This thing about the flag on the dome of the capitol bldg. was supposedly resolved a few years back. An agreement was reached....we caved in to the wants and wishes of the NAACP. But this goes to show you can't meet these people on common ground and agree on anything.
July 21, 2008
3:03 p.m.(This comment was removed by the site staff.)