The Rebel Flag

(Link: http://worldflags101.com/other-flags/confederate-flag.aspx Interesting facts about the Confederate flag in this flag guide illustrating everything there is to know about the flags of the world including what a flag is, which flags are the most popular, as well as the significance of all the different flags of the world.)

Dixie (instrumental) Click small flags to hear Jerry Lee Lewis Daughters of Dixie

There has been a lot of controversy in the States recently over the Confederate or Rebel flag, with attempts to remove the emblem from the State flag of Mississippi and to stop the flag flying on official buildings thruout the South. In Europe and elsewhere the flag of the Confederacy is mainly associated with the musical heritage of the Southern States. It is to be seen at Rock’n’Roll, Rockabilly and Country music venues thruout the world. This is because it is the only symbol which identifies that heritage-rich geographical area of the United States which gave birth to jazz, the blues, rhythm and blues, soul, rock’n’roll, rockabilly and country music in its various forms.

No other area of the world has such a rich musical heritage, certainly not any other part of the United States. Even Chicago blues was performed by black musicians who had moved north from the Delta. Therefore to adopt the Stars and Stripes as the symbol of the Southern musical heritage would not be at all appropriate; you might as well use the blue and gold EU flag to represent the British cultural heritage.

Which brings us neatly to the Union Flag or Union Jack. Everything derogatory which is said about the Confederate flag also applies to the Union Jack. Both flags have a racist past and both are used today as symbols of racism by extreme rightwing political groups. The Union Flag flew over the worst excesses of racist colonialism, and has been adopted by the National Front, British National Party and other racist groups – does that mean the Union Jack should be consigned to the dustbin of history?

The American Civil War was a long time ago, even further back in history than the British Empire, which was only dismantled in the middle of the last century. The War Between The States was essentially about the right of States to secede from the Union rather than about the abolition of slavery. If the EU eventually becomes a sort of United States of Europe, we will still retain our national or state flags like the Union Jack to represent our cultural heritage. Similarly in the USA the people of the Southern States need a symbol to identify their heritage.

Many black people voted in the recent referendum to KEEP the Confederate symbol in the State flag of Mississippi, and this should be a lesson to over-zealous liberals. The Confederate flag should be seen as a symbol of both the black and white heritage of the Southern States. The repression of the blacks is part of this heritage, but so is the blues and other Southern black music which speaks of this suffering. Similarly country music speaks of the suffering of poor whites in this deprived area of the USA. Much of the South was devastated by Yankee Union troops in the Civil War, and the whole area was until recent times very poor and backward. Today cities like Dallas and Atlanta have really forged ahead and put the South on the map, but does that mean Southerners should deny their history, their heritage and hide their identity behind the anonymity of the Stars and Stripes?

If the Confederate flag’s racist history means it should never be flown again, then the same is true of the Union Jack. But the meanings of symbols change, and today many black people with ethnic links to the former colonies identify with the Union Flag and are proud to be British, the same as many Southerners, black and white, identify with the Confederate flag. These symbols should be seen in a positive light as representing overcoming slavery, colonialism and racism and moving towards a multi-ethnic community. Nowhere is this epitomized more than in the Southern States where white and black music was first fused together to create Rock’n’Roll, the Southern musical form which more than anything else helped to break down the barriers of segregation. Southerners can rightly be proud of using their music to break down racist barriers, and to many people thruout the world the Confederate flag is indeed a Rebel flag. It represents the rebellious Rock’n’Roll music which the Ku Klux Klan and other rightwing segregationists tried so hard to ban and destroy because it threatened segregation.

To me the Rebel flag represents Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino and all the other Southern artists, black and white, who first smashed down the barriers between blacks and whites in the 1950s. Let’s be proud to wave the Rebel flag as representative of the multi-ethnic heritage of the Southern States, whose people, black and white, have seen so much suffering and progress over the last 100 years or so.

If slavery was the low point of the Southern heritage, the fusion of blues and country pioneered by Jimmy Rodgers, Hank Williams and others was undoubtedly the high point. To me and many others the Confederate flag is a positive symbol of the multicultural legacy the Southern States have given the world.

I like ur story about the rebel flags ......... it is all the truth...... but most people can't understand that! e-mail me back

Thanks for your email - I'll add it to the end of the article as a comment, using only your initials (let me know if you want me to put your full name). While I'm not a nationalist by any means, it would be a great pity if flags which identify different countries, regions and cultures were completely replaced by bland flags such as the Stars and Stripes, the EU flag and the UN flag. These federal/international flags are great for representing the unity between states/countries, but local cultures must also be preserved. Why should the Southern States, which have contributed so much to music, be denied any flag identifying the culture of good old Dixie (which I've visited many times)? Tony

tony,
i like your story. i never thought of it that way. today my son and 5 other boys were asked not to wear the rebel flag shirts or draw them or talk about it at all or they would get suspended for 10 days. these boys are 12yrs old. they just like the rebel flag and the eagle. they are so proud to be southern boys. my son is not racist. he has more loyal black friends than white. i guess if they can take God out of everything they can take the south out of southern. what can we do. it is not fair. i dont want to be racist or look like i am but i am very upset because that flag means as much to us as martin luther means to the black community.

I love the story. It's all the truth. People should realize that it's not racist. but the people just won't listen. So let's keep it flying!

October 22, 2003 1:04 AM Subject: question of the rebel flag
dear tony my name is j.... n.....and my school has decided to not let us were rebel shirts or anything like that any more. and i was wondering if there is anything i could possibaly do to change there mind. cause i believe what you have wrote up there. and i dont know what i should do. so please tell me. also why dont the blacks at my school like it.

I have heard stories like this before. I had an email from a mother whose sons were not allowed to wear anything with the Confederate flag on it to school, yet some of their best friends were black. I'm afraid it's called 'political correctness', and in the case of the Rebel Flag what it means is that because it is not the flag of a legitimate country people think it's OK to ban it because of its racist connexions. Of course the British Union Flag and the St George flag of England have similar racist connexions, but because they are also flags of recognized nations they are acceptable. If the Confederate States of America still existed and had long since banned slavery and segregation, its flag would be accepted even if racists like the KKK still used it. But because the Yankees won the Civil War (or the 'War of Northern Aggression' as I once heard it called in Tennessee) they think they can ban all symbols of the Confederacy in the name of political correctness. All I can say is that outside the USA the Rebel Flag has been adopted as the symbol of the musical heritage of the South. I don't know what can be done to make the symbol more acceptable in USA. I once saw a button with the Rebel Flag and a black and white hand clasped together, but it was still considered 'unacceptable'. In UK black guys into Southern rock'n'roll wear the Rebel Flag. Perhaps if this ever happens in your country it will become acceptable. I can only suggest you don't wear the Rebel Flag shirt to school, and when you do wear it you also wear some anti-racist symbol as well. Tony Papard

Thank you for letting everyone know the real meaning of the confederate flag. People of these times so much believe it to be a symbol of racism when it just shows that we are our own people and have our own heritage. Many people need to understand that we have just as much right to have our own flag as anyone else. A.M.

The Guardian newspaper, Notes & Queries question: 'In the United States, several cars sport the Confederate flag as a bumper sticker. Does this mean the driver is a racist bigot?' Two replies were published on September 24th, 2003:

'"American by birth, southern by the grace of God, and a rebel by choice." Not only a T-shirt logo but a state of mind that has been around since the American civil war. When asked where they're from, an American southerner will tell you their state (Virginia in my case), and not the United States. There has always been antagonism between the north and south since well before the "Great Colonial Uprising of 1776". This animosity is quite similar to what you get here on either side of the Watford Gap. The civil war was fought over states' rights rather than slavery (as most people believe), and most of the Confederate troops came from families that did not own slaves. Scottish Nationalists would probably understand this as they want close ties with the rest of the UK but don't want to be controlled by London any more than a good southerner wants to be told what to do by Washington. We southerners have always been rebels. Just look at who wrote the Declaration of Independence and who led the troops in 1776 (T. Jefferson and G. Washington, both from Virginia). As far as being bigots, I worked on the political campaign of Doug Wilder, the first black state governor in the US, and I have always worn the Confederate flag on my jacket. By the way, George Bush is not a true southerner, but the descendant of a northern carpetbagger who is trying to do to Iraq the same thing that those scallywags did to the south after the civil war. - Craig Reynolds, Derby. UK.'

'In England, many vehicles sport Cross of George flags. Does this mean the driver is a skin-headed tatooed neo-Nazi football hooligan with a manual job, prone to mindles drunken violence? - Paulo Grattone, San Francisco, US.'

(My own contribution to this Guardian debate, a very brief summary of some of the points in my article The Rebel Flag, was not published by the newspaper. Another insight into how Southerners view the 'American Civil War' can be gleaned from the description of this war on the public address system of a Mississippi paddle steamer in Memphis, Tennessee. The war many Southerners refer to diplomatically as 'The War Between The States' was bluntly called 'The War of Northern Aggression' on this boat on the Mississippi River State Line between the Southern states of Arkansas and Tennessee.)

The thing that I can't understand in the town that I live in is that the Elementary School and the High School can wear the rebel flag. But it is the Middle School kids that cannot wear it. That to me doesn't make any sense. The school doesn't even have a good reason for the kids not being able to wear it. I would like for my kids to be able to wear their heritage just like the black kids get to wear thiers. If they are allowed to wear Malcolb X, then mine should be able to wear the rebel flag. It's a fight I have been not able to win though. But I'm not going to stop trying. The school just announced yesterday that they were going to have a black history club. So I am going to try to start up a history of the confederacy club. wish me luck. thanks for all your grreat words. J in the south.

Hey! I looked up this site hoping to find something to convince my friend that because I like the confederate flag, doesn't mean i'm racist. but instead I found much more. I believe in our flag for so many reasons and I wish she could see that. this site has helped. and whether or not she wants to admit it, the flag is just as much her heritage as it is mine. IF THE CONFEDERATE FLAG OFFENDS YOU, YOU NEED A HISTORY LESSON. thanx again for your help!

IT MAKES ME SO MAD THAT WE CANT WEAR THEM TO SCHOOL 2!

KH/TH

I disagree with your story. The reason that I believe people over in European countries see the rebel flag as a symbol of our musical heritage is due to all of the southern country and rock musicians that have advertised it and NOT because of what it stands for. They are too far removed to really understand what it is all about. They would have to live in the South to feel the animosity about it.If we Southerners need a flag to identify with who we are, let's create a new flag that shows where we've been and where we're going, and that we're proud of our heritage, bur that is not extremely offensive to people. Taking the rebel flag out of schools and/or the public is in no way the same thing as taking God out of the pledge of allegiance. God stands for what is good and true and right for ALL people, where the rebel flag profoundly offends some. I teach at a school where a huge riot broke out which started with a white student wearing a rebel flag, and proclaiming to a black student what he understood was it's meaning, and trust me it was not of Southern heritage. So whatever you say the confederate flag does or does not stand for, the fact remains that whatever it stands for in pop culture, is how the majority of people are going to percieve it. Don't get me wrong, I am NOT into getting rid of just anything, because it offends a small group of people, but come on now. Can't we come up with something better to express our Southern pride rather than something that is deeply hurtful to people and causes disrest and RIOTS in schools? P.S. Most 12 year old who where rebel flags, do so not having ANY idea as to its meaning...If a child came to school wearing a swastika, even if he did not know what it stood for, and merely thought it was a "cool" symbol would we care? ...I think SOME people would be offended. If you want to wave the rebel flag, plaster it in YOUR home, etc....I don't care, but there is no place for ANYTHING in our schools that causes unrest and feelings of hatred, or confrontation.

Many thanks for your email, which I will post on the site after the article. Perhaps schools in the Deep South are not appropriate places to display the Rebel Flag, but symbols can change their meaning, that is what I was trying to say. The swastika was an Eastern symbol of good luck till the Nazis adopted it, reversed it and used it on their flag. If anybody can design a new flag which represents the Southern heritage without the racist overtones that might work, but it would be very difficult to get people to accept it. I can't imagine British people accepting a new flag to replace the Union Jack, and in my father's country, Cyprus, the neutral Cypriot flag has never really been accepted - Greek and Turkish flags still fly in the two sectors of the island. Much better, I think, to 'reclaim' symbols/flags. The Nazi swastika flag was slightly different - it was the flag of the National Socialist Party of Germany, which then became the flag of the Third Reich. It never had any historical/geographical association with Germany, anymore than the Soviet hammer and sickle flag had any historical/geographical associatian with the Russian empire. These flags are purely political. The Confederate Flag is not a political flag in this sense - it does not belong to one political party, but represents the thirteen Southern States which tried to break away from the Union, and which still have a separate cultural heritage from the rest of the USA. Perhaps you should start a competition to design a new flag for the South which would be acceptable to everybody as a symbol of Southern history/heritage. Meanwhile, the Confederate Flag continues to represent rockabilly, rock'n'roll, Country music and other aspects of Southern heritage thruout the world.

It is offensive because the KKK uses it openly and far right wing Nazi skinhead groups fly it along side of Swastikas and they use it to purposely offend. Sadly many use the US flag like the Union Jack in the UK during times of war saying it is to support our troops, but I believe it shows the level of extreme nationlism boiling to the surface ( sadly it brings out "love it or leave it" redneck types which most American are not). Here in the US if I flew it I know my friends especially Black and others would not associate with me any more. I personally consider it an American equivalent of a Nazi Flag. A new symbol of the south needs to be designed.

We have exactly the same trouble with the Union Jack, it is used by extreme rightwing and racist groups. However I think it would be possible to design a new version of the flag. After all, the Confederate Flag was not always as it is currently depicted - I've seen earlier versions which looked quite different. How about the same color scheme but with the stars in a circle in the center, or reversing the colors so dark blue is the background and the St Andrew's Cross is red. There must be endless variations, possibly incorporating some non-racist symbol such as clasped black and white hands (I once saw a button depicting the Confederate Flag with black and white hands clasped in the foreground). However outside USA in the music world the racist associations with the Rebel Flag are not so obvious, and I have seen black music fans wearing it. I will post your comments on the site after my article.

Tony, today (05-04-04) I was suspended from my school because I choose not to take my flag down off of my truck. I put a mounting bracket on the back of my truck box, and I put a rebel flag on a post and flew it proud. I was told to take the flag down yesterday which I did. I then today took in a copy of you web site and went to school. I was told to take down the flag or I was going to be kicked out. I said that I was not going to take down the flag and I did not. I was suspended on no grounds of any rule.I am writing to you to let you and who ever else sees this to tell them not to give in and not to let some one take away you rights as an America. also I am not a crazy person and I don't want to be known as some one who is racist in any way. I am just a person that has alot of respect for my history, my civil rights, and most important my ancestors. thank you for your time, SD

Political correctness, as it is called, has gone mad in the USA I'm afraid. Banning geographical/historical flags is just one aspect of this. Insisting blind/short sighted people are called 'visually challenged', short people 'vertically challenged', etc., etc. are other aspects of this nonsense. The Nazi swastika flag can be banned because it is a purely political flag with no geographical or historical connexions to Germany - it was simply designed for the National Socialist Party. I suppose the Soviet hammer and sickle flag can be put in the same category, though it was never racist in the same way as the Nazi one. I don't much like the Israeli flag because of its racist overtones, or the Union Jack (British) flag for the same reason, but I wouldn't ban them. They are the flags of real geographical and historical entities, not just the flag of one political party. The Confederate Flag is the same and it should not be banned. However, as I wrote in a reply to another letter on my site, it could be redesigned. It has already had different designs in the past. Perhaps someone should rearrange the colors and symbols on the Confederate Flag and make an updated version to represent Dixie's cultural heritage which is acceptable to all? Meanwhile, I can only suggest displaying the Confederate Flag alongside some anti-racist symbol in the US to make clear the person displaying it is not a racist.

Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2004 5:21 AM Subject: HEY
THIS IS MK AND I GO TO KATHLEEN MIDDLE SCHOOL IN LAKELAND,FL AND TODAY I WAS TALKING WITH SOME OF MY BLaCK FRIENDS AND THE WHITE DEAN WROTE ME UP BEC I GOT A TATTOO OF A REBEL FLAG ON MY ARM I REFUSE TO COVER IT UP AND MY BLACK FRIENDS SAID THAT THAT WAS WRONG WHAT SHOULD I DO?

I work with a black woman and I now have to be careful not to wear the Rebel Flag around her. I don't know if an English-born black person would connect the Rebel Flag with black slavery in the CSA, or even if they'd know what the Rebel Flag was, but I can't afford to take any chances. I think this is a shame, as the Rebel Flag means different things to different people, the same as the flag of Great Britain. To racists both are racists symbols, and unfortunately some black people see these flags in those terms too. I see the Rebel Flag as the symbol of rock'n'roll and the Southern musical heritage. It is not the same as a Nazi swastika, which is purely racist and political. If I had a rebel flag tattoo I'd cover it up at work or anywhere where black people might take offense. Perhaps you should do the same. It is a pity, but 'political correctness' means we no longer have freedom of speech or freedom to display certain flags/symbols in case people misinterpret them. The only other thing I can suggest is you have an anti-racist tattoo or button on display as well.

our school recently banned the wearing of the confederate flag or anything that symbolizes it but they still let people wear FUBU clothes and the meaning is "for us by us" which seems fairly racial to me i am not racist but i honer the heritage of southern pride and music i just think that our school systems need to realize whats going on with everyone else and take care of bigger problems such as drugs i liked you essay on what the rebel flag meant sincerely yours joseph p.

Hey, what's goin on yall ya rednecks, i proud to say that i wear the Confederate flag just as much as you southerners. I know that i'am not from the South but, i will still fly it high! In our school the confederate flag is racist to many people and many people are mad because all of my buddies wear them. I think that these people more less need a history lesson or two. I have done a lot of research on the flag, and yes i have found that there were some times that it looked racist, but what the hell they need to get over it. I thought that you story was a great story, and i love finding story about the confederate flag. Well that all i have to say, but fly it high and maybe one day we will be able to support our flag as much as we fucking want!

hey y'all...for the people who fly the stars and bars..should keep
flying...i was expelled from school for flying the colors on my truck....i
feel its not wrong to fly the colors..it's how i was rasied..and i shouldn't
have to remove the battle flag from my truck..they told me if i remove the
flag from my truck..and cover up the tattoo of the flag on my arm..i can
remain at school..what should i do tony?? i dont believe in taking the
colors down or covering them up!!!!born southern raised southern

keep flying them colors..woody from s.c.!!!!

Here in Europe it is rather different. Many people don't even recognize the
Rebel Flag, and most of those that do and display it are indicating their
love of rock'n'roll, Rockabilly, Country Music, etc. I've not heard of
anybody being expelled from school for wearing/displaying the flag, however
it seems to be a widespread practice in the United States.

Much as I believe this is 'political correctness' gone over the top, there
are places where I myself wouldn't display the flag. On my many trips to the
USA I was very nervous of wearing it, and I wouldn't wear it at work in
front of the black woman I work with in case she took offense.

I think this is very sad, but people make instant judgments and consider
anyone displaying the flag is a racist. This is not the case, as I tried to
argue in my article.

The only solution I can see is either NOT to display the flag in sensitive
situations, or to always display it alongside some non-racist symbol.

I agree with you that as a Southerner you should be able to display your
flag anywhere. If the South had won the war between the States, the
Confederate flag would now be a universally recognized flag flying in the
UN, its historical connexions with black slavery and racism long forgotten.
The British flag is largely seen today as the symbol of a multicultural UK,
not the racist flag of a Colonial Empire which it once was.

The sole reason people are against the CSA flag is because the Yankees won
the war between the States, and the abolition of slavery, desegregation,
etc. took place officially under the Stars and Stripes rather than under the
Stars and Bars. But in reality the latter is the geographical flag of Dixie
and therefore is not a political flag like the old Soviet hammer and sickle
flag or the Nazi swastika flag.

I am not an expert on the school system in the USA, but it would seem wise
not to display the flag at school if it means you are expelled.

In the long term it may be necessary to slightly re-design the flag to make
it universally acceptable. It has, after all, had many different designs in
the past.

*****
There is much talk about displaying the flag with a non-racist symbol. What are some suggestions for this non-racist symbol?

I am not an expert on non-racist symbols in the USA, or even UK. Here it used to be a button in black and white with the initials AA for anti-apartheid in the days of apartheid South Africa. I've also seen a button with clasped black and white hands against the background of the Confederate Flag. This is possibly the basis for a redesigned flag. I should imagine wearing the Rebel Flag alongside a Martin Luther King button might at least confuse people and make them think again about the real meaning of the Dixie flag. As for re-designing the flag itself, I think that should be left to the people of Dixie themselves, black and white and all other races together coming up with an acceptable compromise. It could contain the elements of the existing Dixie flag - colors, stars within bars - and incorporate something to represent non-white races and integration. In UK non-racists are 'reclaiming' the Union Flag of UK and the St George flag of England from the racists. It seems, however, a lot of people in USA are not prepared to recalim the Dixie flag as it stands. It needs to be accepted by all races, so perhaps some slight redesigning is necessary. South Africa redesigned its flag post-apartheid, but nobody has bothered to update the Dixie flag since the war between the States, or since de-segregation. The Stars and Stripes do NOT in any way represent Dixie or its unique culture, anymore than the EU flag represents Britain and our culture. A Dixie flag is needed for all its people, black, white, Hispanic, Native American, etc..

hi tony
YES I AGREE WITH YOU IN YOUR POINTS WITH THE REBEL FLAG, BUT THERE ARE SOME POINTS I DO NOT AGREE WITH AT ALL. I AM A PROUD REDNECK IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD. AND MY FLAG WHICH IS THE REBEL FLAG MEANS SO MUCH MORE TO ME THAN A BUNCH OF KIDS WEARING IT AROUND TO OFFEND PEOPLE. I AM NOT A RACIST BY ANY MEANS. I AM BLACK. I WEAR THIS FLAG BECAUSE I AM FROM WAYCROSS, GEORGIA THAT IS . MY FAMILY WORKS A FARM EVERY DAY SEVEN DAYS A WEEK 365 DAYS A YEAR WITH NO TIME FOR NONSENSE. I HAVE NEVER FOUND THIS FLAG TO BE SOMETHING I SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF. THE WAY MY GREAT, GREAT PAPPA SAID IT'S JUST AS MUCH A PART OF US AS IT IS TO THEM. SO IF ANY ONE WANTS TO DEBATE ON THIS SYMBOL WHICH CALLING IT A SYMBOL MAKES ME MAD. I WILL ANYTIME. I AM HERE TO STAY AND THE REBEL FLAG SAYS SO. SO EVERYONE STOP AND THINK WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU AND WHY? FLY IT HIGH AND PROUDLY EVERYONE. AND FOR UNION JACK DONT BUT MY FLAG IN THE SAME . ITS NOT THE SAME - TT

Well I don't quite understand what you don't agree with, or what your point is about the Union Jack. But you seem to be agreeing with everything I said in the article, i.e. that the Rebel Flag represents all people of the South and their culture, whatever their race. As your great grandfather or whoever said 'it is just as much part of us as it is of them'. I don't agree with people wearing this flag, the Union Jack or any other flag just to offend people of another race. If a lot of black people agree with you it is time they spoke out and claimed the flag as part of their heritage. Flags only become racist if people abandon them to the racists. The Union Jack represents all races in Britain, the St George flag represents all races in England, the Rebel flag should represent all races Dixie. If it doesn't, modify it so it does. Stick a logo of Martin Luther King on it, a native American symbol and a Hispanic symbol as well if you like, but I see nothing wrong with it as it is. Tony.

Hi my name is K. J., and I am doing a speech over the Rebel Flag. I was wondering if you could give me any links or book names to help me. I am proud of Southeren Herritage, and wearing The Rebel Flag with PRIDE. I am not a racist and never will be. I want my class to understand what the Rebel Flag means and just because so many hate groups use it doesn't mean it's a racist symbol. I think the KKK and Nazis disgrace the flag and everything it means. I am doing this for a college class and yes there are Black people in my class, I am lucky that my teacher is giving me the chance to explain such a misleading topic.

Sorry, I've been away on holiday and only just read your email. I'm afraid I don't have any links/book titles about the Rebel Flag, I just wrote what I felt from a European roots music fan perspective. But you are welcome to use anything from my article or the comments at the end in your speech.

Let's have some common sense in all these matters. Stop banning geographical flags because of some point in their distant history, and stop being over-protective to ethnic minorities.

*****

You may not know me but my name is Glenda and i am a rebel and proud of it. A lot of people don't like me because my bed sheets are rebel flags. what do you think about that. Write back.

Glenda

****

An Associated Press article described how Jacqueline Duty of Greenup County, Kentucky was barred from wearing a red dress with diagonal blue and white stripes and white stars to her High School prom. Jacqueline is to sue the school district. Someone sent me this article and photo of Jacqueline in her dress, but it is copyrighted by AP.

Here is my reply to the person who sent me the article.

I think it's ridiculous! It's not even a recognizable Confederate Flag, just a red dress with blue and white stripes and some white stars. I'd like to publish it after the article, but the article and photo are copyright of AP. I hope Jacqueline wins her court case. Are they going to ban anything with a blue stripe and white stars?

If it was anywhere but Dixie they wouldn't dare try and ban a geographical flag. In UK you see Scottish and Welsh flags, in Spain you see Catalan flags, why should USA ban the Dixie flag?

*****

I thank u for the article u wrote . I just wish everybody felt the same way . It makes me sick that they won't fly the flag in most public places . I live in Florida and they took the flag off the state house. I have a favorite saying that is "heritage not hate". I love the picture u use on the site. I wish u would e mail me

back

stephen

"redneckbullrider"

Many thanks for you comments on my Rebel Flag article. Outside USA, as I wrote in the piece, the flag is indeed associated with the great musical heritage of the Southern States. It is a pity many Americans can't see it in the same way, just its racist history. Nearly ALL flags of European nations, and of countries which were colonized by European settlers like USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Israel, have a racist history, but none of them are banned.

Tony

*****

Subject: UNION FLAG PRIDE

I PROUDLY display the 34-star UNION FLAG on my automobile. I am PROUD to showcase the WINNING FLAG, the flag that represents FREEDOM and the end of slavery. I prefer NOT to show the LOSING flag. Gosh I love TRADITION. - K.T.

We are not so chauvinistic in the UK. Scottish and Welsh flags are still flown proudly, even though they lost their fight for independence from the Union.

You have every right to display the 50 star Union flag of the present day United States, or earlier versions, just as Southerners have every right to display and feel proud of their Confederate flag. No other flag represents their unique Southern heritage, and this is recognized thruout the world by lovers of the musical heritage of the Deep South.

The cultural heritage of the Yankee States is quite different, just as English and Scottish cultural heritage is different. The Stars and Stripes do not represent the cultural heritage of the once impoverished South, which produced so much rich music, both black and white, out of this suffering.

Slavery was a long time ago. Are you seriously suggesting if the South had won independence from the Union, that the Confederate States of America would still be a slave-owning country in 2005? Are you seriously suggesting it would still have segregation? Even South Africa has gotten rid of apartheid.

The Union flags of both Britain and the United States once represented slave-owners and worse, in Britain's case colonialists who exploited and were responsible for mass killings and torture of ethnic people in their own countries.

Afro-Americans, native Americans, Hispanics, etc., born or living in the Deep South should claim the Stars and Bars for their own along with whites. If they won't/can't do that then sadly a new flag needs to be designed, as happened in South Africa.. Hopefully any new flag would contain recognizable elements of the old Dixie flag. After all it is only red, white and blue with a St Andrew's Cross and white stars on a blue background.- not that different from the USA, Scottish or UK flags really. There are no racist symbols in the Dixie flag. You can say it is a racist symbol in itself, but the same could be said of virtually every European flag and every flag of countries settled by Europeans, because of their racist history. Get over it, accept the Dixie flag and move on into the 21st century. Tony

*****

Dear Tony, I agree with your article. I went through the same thing your son and his friends are when I was in school too, and it was also hard to keep my tattoo covered up as well in school too. I'm the type of person that judges people by the way they act not by the color of them. I have many black friends and also have many of them that's enemies too cause I collect rebel flags and have a tattoo of one. Most blacks around here don't care if you're racist or not, if you like rebel flags then they think you're racist. Only thing I disagree with is mixed races; I was brought up to stay with your own race. I hope to get a reply from you. Thank you for you time .

After the article on the Rebel Flag are many comments from various people. It must be one of these you refer to as I'm not married, don't have a son and don't live in the United States, I'm in London, England. I am quite surprised at how hostile people are to the Rebel Flag in the USA. Here we display Scottish and Welsh flags without anyone objecting. I know the Rebel Flag is connected with slavery in a lot of people's minds, but that is only because it was against that background the 'War of Northern Aggression', as I heard it called on a Memphis riverboat, took place and the flag seems to be frozen in the history of those times in many people's minds. I feel you should be allowed to marry, or not to marry, who you like - it is a personal choice. Thanks for your comments.

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I work for a major company called Scholastic Books. It's in Maumelle, Arkansas. It is a warehouse for Scholastic books. A man got fired the other day for having a rebel flag painted on his hood of his truck. They told him to paint it out or they would fire him. This man and another worker at the plant couldn't or didn't have the money to paint it out and that truck was his only way to work. So they fired him for no reason at all. This was a good worker - he was there everyday and worked hard. He was not a trouble maker or a racist at all. There a lot of people think that is wrong. Could he do anything about this. Can a company do that? Dennis H

I live in London, England so am not familiar with US laws. All I can say is if someone was fired here for having a Scottish or Welsh flag on their truck, they could probably sue the company for being racist. On the other hand perhaps they could be fired for having a Nazi swastika flag on their truck. But as I have explained in my article and replies to others, the Dixie flag is a geographical flag like that of Scotland or Wales. This is fundamentally different from a purely political flag like the flag of the Third Reich or the flag of the Soviet Union, which were the flags associated with the National Socialist Party (Nazi Party) of Germany and the Communist Party of the Soviet Union respectively.

I think it is totally wrong to fire people or expel them from school for wearing a flag which represents a geographical area and its culture. But as I say, I'm no expert on U.S. law. I can't see anything inheritantly racist about the Rebel Flag. OK, it was once associated with slavery, but so were many other flags including that of the USA (Stars and Stripes) and the British Union Jack, which had whole nations enslaved under the racist British Empire. Once you start banning geographical flags, where do you stop? Tony

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I like your site a lot. It tells the truth. I've some hing to tell u which I think is crap.... well I go to Eagleton Middle school and there is a high school called the Heritage Mountaineers and then there is Maryville Rebels. Well when Heritage plays Maryville in a football game Maryville always cuts up with rebel flag and runs over the football field with it, and so last year a black guy had his son going to Maryville and he went to a football game and when he saw what Maryville was doing with the flag he got mad and pressed charges against the school board so now none of the city of Maryville or Alcoa or Blount county or Rockford are allowed to wear shirts, belts, shoelaces, bracelets, necklaces, jackets, hat or anything with the rebel flag on it. I think it is bull. Jessie.

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Hi, I'm Kindra. I'm 17 years old 'n' I'm a junior in high school!!!!! A lot of people take the rebel flag the wrong way especially schools. Schools are now banning kids from wearing their rebel flag. That's like taking away our freedom of speech. America gave us the freedom to wear our colors proudly, and they are ripping it right out from under us! Next they are going to not let us wear our red white and blue. They've already taken God out of all of our schools and now they are taking away the rebel flag, it's getting quite ridiculous. Luckly my school hasn't been hit with it yet! But we only have one black kid! We are one of the most non racist schools in Indiana and many of our kids fly our flags high and proud! Hell next thing I'm gonna get pulled over for having my rebel flag in my car. I love my flag and it represents me in many ways! So people at our school went to the Dixie outfitter's site. They have shirts on there for 5 bucks 'n' many of kids from our school have bought them. They have many slogan's but do not have one rebel flag on them! They are just trying to prove a point. Some say if this flag offends you then you need a history lesson! Check it out. I bought 5 of them! And I'm trying to prove my point to other schools that are banning the rebel flag. It's our right to wear what we want not conform to their idea. We should be able to show our heritage in the way we want to! I don't know if I have made a point. To fly or wear the rebel flag you don't have to be racist, but the point is some of us white American folk like to show what we stand for!!! I think this site here that you have is great. I'm happy u make this, it puts a smile on my face too see people representing what they love!!! I will be back sooner or later with more to say. I'm gonna save this site on my favorites. Keep it up!

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Tony and to whom ever else this may concern,

I feel as if I am confronted with the issue of the confederate flag almost every day. I am 1/2 American - born and raised in Florida, and 1/2 Venezuelan. My boyfriend is a redneck. He wears rebel flag t-shirts practically everyday. We've been going out for 6 months now. No one understands why we're going out at all, because everyone knows how I feel about the subject of the Confederacy and the rebel flag, but you could say that we agree to disagree and we are enjoying our time together. His redneck friends understand my sensitivity with the subject and they are all careful about what they say in front of me, which is very polite. He is also friends with people of color, many of whom wear rebel flag t-shirts themselves. Before I started dating him, I always looked down upon rednecks with their lifted trucks full of mud and their rebel flag t-shirts deeming them as racist and disgusting for trying to offend others. Yet I found out that my boyfriend, along with many of his friends, simply wear the shirts and get the tattoos and fly the flags to show off their "Southern heritage". I have no problem with that aspect. The problem I have with flying the flag is not what THEY who are flying it think about it, but how it is perceived by OTHERS. My boyfriend along with his friends claim the flag that they fly is the battle flag and has nothing to do with racism, yet many people find the flag racist and offensive. I know it used to offend me but now I am somewhat immune to it although I would never fly the flag myself. I also am aware that the flag offends many people of color, so why would anybody want to hurt those you don't even know ? . I still cringe when I walk past a group of people that give me disgusted looks because I am in the presence of somebody wearing a rebel flag t-shirt. A new flag, a new symbol, for southern heritage needs to be found, there is just the problem of getting others to accpet it. An obstacle which will probably never be overcome.

thank you for your time.

~ J.

Many thanks for your most interesting contribution to this debate, which I will add to the discussion, just using your initial if I may.

I note with interest that you say that many of your boyfriend's non-white pals wear shirts, etc. with the Rebel Flag on them. That must prove something!

There is nothing new I can say on this subject, I've said it all before. However, I'll repeat myself. Here in UK if the British National Party parade with the Union Flag, it is a racist symbol. If non-racists display the Union Flag it is not a racist symbol. It is as simple as that. In USA, if the KKK or similar groups display the Confederate Flag it is a racist symbol, if non-racists display it it is not. If Afro-Americans display the Confederate Flag, then they have reclaimed it and it is an anti-racist symbol.

The Nazis made gays wear pink triangles in the camps, and it was a symbol of oppression. Gays reclaimed the pink triangle and it now a symbol of gay liberation. Southern blacks need to reclaim the Dixie flag as a symbol of their heritage.

Those who object to the flag should realize that nearly all flags can be used as racist symbols, but that doesn't mean everyone who displays the flag is a racist. If Le Pen in France displays the French tricolor, that becomes instantly a racist symbol too. I regard the Confederate Flag as the only available symbol of Southern Heritage, black and white. It is only racist if racists are displaying it. Tony

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Let me start by saying, you have put together a very nice site. Now that we have that out of the way we can jump over to the topic at hand. As I type this, I have a 3x5 Confederate flag hanging behind me on my wall here in my computer room (also an American flag in my bedroom). I have a clock sitting on top of my tower right next to me that has an eagle in flight over 2 confederate flags. I have a flag painted on my truck and my car and I have a flag license plate on both as well. I am from Virginia, my mother is from South Carolina and my father from North Carolina, now, when I look at or see a Confederate flag, I'll tell ya, the first thing that comes to mind, well, the first is funny, I always think of Larry the Cable Guy, GIT-R-DONE! (sorry, had to get it in there) and followed a close second is the war, I personally don't even think about slavery and racism. I have tried and tried again to explain to people what it means, but they don't seem to understand. Everybody that knows me knows that I am a country boy/redneck/Southerner whichever you would like to use and I am VERY proud of that, just like the blacks are proud of Malcom X and Mr. Jr. So, I really don't understand why kids can wear that stuff at school but white kids can't fly the Confederate flag at school, altho, when I was in high school I did wear my Confederate flag shirt once a week, not very many people liked it, but they all eventually got the point that I wasn't listening to what they had to say, for the simple fact, they had no idea what they were talking about, I know what it meant so they were just flapping their lips. Whew...now I feel better, thank you for the chance to speak on this matter and y'all have a good one. Earl from Virginia Beach.

Thanks for your email, and comments about the site. I assume you are just talking about the Rebel Flag page, though there are a lot more things on The Unorthodox Site if you hit on the HOME link at the very end. However all my articles are controversial, and you may not agree with many of them.

As to the Confederate Flag, this article has gotten more comments than any others. Seems to be a real issue in the Southern States. Nobody bats an eyelid if you wear it in UK or Europe. Monday I was going to a show featuring legendary Sun Record stars from Memphis - Sonny Burgess, Billy Lee Riley, Jack Clement and Ike Turner and I wore a Sun jacket and t-shirt, a Confederate Flag/James Dean belt buckle and a great Rebel Flag button I bought in Natchez, Ms on a visit to the States once. Even the black woman I worked with didn't pass any comment, doubt if she even noticed. I love the button - it has a Rebel Flag on it and the words: 'Beautify the South - Put a Yankee on a bus'. All the best from London, England, Tony

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Subject: I would like to thank you

I am a 19 yr old girl from Texas/Mississippi. Since I was a tiny little thing my Daddy flew the Rebel Flag in our yard with pride. I asked my father one day "Daddy why do you fly a flag with such hate behind it?" I could see the anger in his eyes as he looked down at me and said " Peanut you don't understand the true meaning of this flag." At that time a friend (black) of my fathers approached. They both explained to me that the flag stood for much more than the crap most people believed. Now I totally understand and finding someone else that is strong enough to understand that nothing in the world is more important than overcoming and believing in something that stands for accomplishments of our south. Right on man keep your ground because if we give in then our flag will fade! Carrie Murphy feel free to put my full name!!!

Many thanks, Carrie, and I will post your message with your full name. I'm always pleased to hear about black Southerners defending the Rebel Flag, like your father's friend. It's the best way to get it accepted, when Southern Afro-Americans claim it as part of their heritage too.

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Think it is really stupid that we can't wear rebel shirts or anyhting rebel, but guess what? I'm gonna wear my necklace and bracelet. I have a shirt that says 'Born Rebel, bred Rebel and when I die I'll be a dead Rebel'. Megan

That very respected British institution, the BBC, which has to be very impartial and can't afford to be racist, used the Rebel Flag on its title sequences when introducing some of the Queens of Country Music in a program last weekend. As I say, outside of USA the Rebel Flag just stands for rock'n'roll, rockabilly, Country Music and other aspects of Southern heritage. The BBC wouldn't have been allowed to use the Rebel Flag were it considered racist in UK.

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I have to say, it is sad to know that so many people are so blind to the truth! I live in the panhandle of Florida, and my family flies our confederate flag with pride. Now my landlord says either the flag goes, or we go! What kind of prejudice is that? Ignorant and blind if you ask me! I believe in what the flag represents, and feel that I have a right to hang it where I want. What is your feed back? It's not against the law here in Florida to fly the flag, so why should I remove it? C R

I'm British, from London, England. But I get the impression Florida, despite being in the South and having Jeb Bush as Governor, is very much like a Yankee State. All those New York matrons and tourists down in Miami, Yankee/foreign tourists in Orlando and Disneyworld, Cuban refugees, etc. I still don't see why your landlord should demand you remove the flag, unless it is causing race riots which might damage his property. Would he object if you flew the Stars and Stripes next to it, or the Florida State flag?

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I love your story, and I also love the rebel flag, I may be mixed but it still doesn't give people the right to make fun of it or me. I have two shirts that have rebel flags on them and I wear them all the time.

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I totally agree with you.. I am a BORN and BRED Southern gal who loves to show my heritage whenever I get the chance. Someone who tells me I can't wear the clothes I purchase isn't going to like what I have to say. When they purchase my clothes then they can tell me what I can or can't not wear. If my children want to wear a rebel shirt I will allow it. It is a part of their heritage. Most people see it as HATE but why can't they face the fact that slavery is over and we don't owe them anything? Our ancestors may have had slaves but that was a VERY LONG time ago. If they see hate then they are the ones who are racist. I believe if they have a right to wear their Malcolm X shirts and FUBU and such then we have to the right to wear our Rebel flag shirt. Don't be ashamed of where you came from or who you are!! Be proud that you are from the South.. Wear or fly your flag with pride!!!

Much Love, D. Hurt, Originally from Charleston SC!!!

You know what, I think black people can go on and on about black history month, but we can't wear a simple rebel flag that stands for our heritage.
It's not that we hate black people, we are just trying to support our heritage. See, I will tell anybody straight to their face that the High
School I use to go did not ban rebel flags at all, which makes me grateful. Even though I am out of school I still wear my rebel flag shirts all the
time. I like my heritage and always will, and I will stand up for it when somebody is putting it down. You may call me a racist, but that's just the
way I am. My parents raised me to not be ashamed of my heritage and what I believe in. That's just me, I am southern born and raised. Also, even where I live all the black people wear Malcom X t-shirts to school, and everything so why can't we wear our heritage that is the only question I have got to ask you. The bottom line the way I feel about it is if somebody has got a problem with heritage of this country that is their problem, and not ours. So, don't incriminate us for what we believe in. This is just the way I will be. There is a little saying that goes in my town "YOU WEAR YOUR X AND I'LL WEAR MINE!!" It's heritage not hate. Before you go and start putting THE CONFEDERATE FLAG down you need to take a look inside yourself for a min, because deep down you don't hate it. Therefore, what my letter concludes up to is that people including me are not going to stop wearing rebel flags, and flying them. I just got to tell you one last thing, it wasn't only white people that died for the rebel flag, but also blacks. I know a website right now where a black carried the rebel flag for 300 miles or longer, and he was proud of his heritage even though most blacks think it's about slavery, but really it's not it's just about part of the country that wanted to be it's own person. If you can't understand that then YOU DO NEED A HISTORY LESSON!! It really makes me mad that most people have such a simple mind about the confederacy. Sincerely, REBELS ANGEL!!

Thanks for your email. In case you are in any doubt, I will defend the display of the Confederate or any other geographical flag, and did so in my original article. Once you start banning flags which represent nations/geographical areas, there is really no end to it.

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Subject: hey

I know that you have got a lot of e-mails about the schools not allowed to wear the rebel flags to school. I think personally that that is a bunch of bull because we live here in the South and that is our tradition and that is what we are used to and I think that it is really bad for even the people who was born in the South and raised in the South are trying to take this away from us. If they have such a problem with the flag they could go back to the North 'cause we don't need them anyways! You know what I'm saying! All I'm am saying is that it is a part of history and we are learning about it in school so I don't understand why we can't wear them. Are they going to rip out all the pages in the history books because it talks about it all the time! It's history and they need to live with it and get over it! That's what I think about this ordeal so what do you think about it! Thank You!

Keli Edmonds

Smith County High School. (Tennessee)

It seems Yankees don't like the flag, neither do some African Americans, because of its history. ALL flags have a history, and none of it is nice. Slavery and colonialism was once endemic in most of the European countries/empires and in countries they settled, so are we to ban ALL flags? Why pick on the Confederate Flag just because they lost the War between the States? It is a perfectly legitimate geographical flag representing the people (black and white), culture, heritage and yes, history, of Dixie.

There is NO other flag which represents this culture-rich region of the United States. You can no more ban the Rebel Flag and replace it with Old Glory than you can ban the British Union Flag and replace it with the EU flag. It is all politically correct nonsense. So the Rebel Flag, like Old Glory, the Union Jack and many other flags, have a racist history. Get over it! It now represents the integrated Southern States, and especially the rich heritage in music, etc. they have given the world.

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Please check out my website and books: www.stanleylott.com and www.clik.to/sklott Yes you may use the picture (below) of me holding the flag. the U.S. Flag is the real slave flag. It flew over top of slave ships and flew over a independent slave nation for almost Ninety years. The Confederate Battle Flag is only a flag that the Confederate Soldiers took into battle with them. It does not in any way represent slavery or oppression.The Confederate Battle Flag has been lied on and defamed by lying individuals. Thank you very much.

Stanley K. Lott

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DEAR TONY,

HI I AM FROM SOUTH CAROLINA AND I WEAR THE REBEL FLAG. I WASN'T RAISED AROUND IT BUT MY ENTIRE FAMILY ARE A BUNCH OF REDNECKS AND COUNTRY FOLK. WE WEAR THE REBEL FLAG IN REMEMBRANCE OF WHEN THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH FOUGHT. WE COULD NEVER WEAR THEM IN SCHOOL BUT THEY LET BLACK PEOPLE WEAR MALCOLM X SHIRTS AND THEY WOULDN'T SAY ANYTHING. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE REBEL FLAG THEY THINK IT IS RACIST. BUT IT ISN'T. I THINK WE NEED TO PUT THE FLAG BACK UP AND GIVE EVERYONE A HISTORY LESSON.

THESE COLORS DON'T RUN NEVER HAVE NEVER WILL!!!!!!!!!!!

THANKS

GABINA

SOUTH CAROLINA

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Cheers Tony,

Your blog on the Confederate Battle Flag is very interesting. I have a somewhat oblique perspective on the whole thing, as a 30-something Southerner from Florida, the "Lost State of the Confederacy," now residing here in England. Your point on the Welsh and Scots flags is right on the mark. In fact I think we Southerners' embracing of certain defiant and warlike symbols of the CSA is very much rooted in the psychology of any defeated people - in the same situation any people will become defiant, as history shows repeatedly. Those who are defeated, demoralized, and crushed need more than ever symbols of strength and unity to cling to, lest their culture simply collapse. Thus the Red Dragon of Wales and the Welsh language are coming back strong, and I feel the same familiar simmering hostility for the English among the Welsh that I felt growing up towards the North. Ditto for the Scots, if not even moreso. And the Battle Flag would be the same sort of defiant "up yours Yankees" symbol were it not for slavery and a large modern-day slave-descended population that are, in all honesty, almost innocent bystanders of a venom intended for people "up North." In my youth, when I proudly displayed that flag, it never crossed my mind that blacks could see it as an affront to them - call it the ignorance of youth, but I was aiming it at Northerners in all their arrogant glory. And being in "Occupied Florida" God knows there was no shortage of targets. And anyone who thinks we should have "gotten over it" in a mere 140 years is ignorant of history and humanity. When was Welsh independence finally extinguished? And Scottish? Have they "gotten over it"? The Republican Northern Irish may never "get over it." "Get over it" is something the victors say, who have nothing to get over. And having lived in both places, I can also attest that the Koreans and Germans are a long way from getting over it. But we Southerners should just snap our fingers and move on, meekly at the side of the North. Like hell we will. And for the record, I feel far more kinship towards a black Southerner than towards any of those "damned Yankees."

On a side note, I'd direct your attention to the link below, which explains all the national flags of the South or the Confederacy. I suggest we in the U.S. all go back to the beginning and re-adopt the Bonnie Blue Flag or the Stars and Bars (the "First National") since most Americans are so hopelessly ignorant of history they'll never have the slightest idea what these two are. By the way, the Confederate Battle Flag was perfectly square, as opposed the CS Naval Jack which is the one you usually see shown as the "Battle Flag." The actual square Battle Flag was nicknamed the "Southern Cross" - the "Stars and Bars" was the First National Flag.

http://worldatlas.com/webimage/flags/usa/confed.htm

All the Best,

GB in East Anglia

Dum Spiramus Tuebimur

(So long as we breathe, we shall defend)

Hi Gary, thanks for your interesting post and especially the link to the various designs of the flags of the Confederacy. I think one of these would be excellent to replace the more familiar Confederate Flag, but no doubt someone would object sooner or later. Anyway I'll post your contribution, with the link, on the Website in the Comments section after the original article.

Tony

I'm from the South and wear the Confederate Flag on my jacket in the winter time, and at least once to four times a week (depending on where I am) I have to explain to people what it means and why I wear it. I think that I'll just start referring people to this web site so that they can educate themselves on the Flag I wear so %^$%^$%^$ proudly !!!

B C

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From 'Breathless' Dan O'Coffey, writing from Ireland:

Can I add to music styles to come out of the South the following: Bluegrass, Western Swing, Cajun, Zydeco, Tex-Mex, Cajunta, Swamp Rock (some call it Swamp 'Pop') and much of the 'boogie woogie'. The British Union Jack is also known as 'the butcher's apron' in Ireland. Tony, the way you say you have to be careful you don't wear the flag around your work colleague. Like man, nobody ever needs to apologize for wearing the flag! Your first compromise is one too much, if you went to the cost and trouble of having the flat tattooed, surely it is to show it! Also, to cover it up only shows a consciously and known guilt - e.g. that it is, in fact, racial! Now that is surely both a betrayal and treachery of this noble emblem's ideals! By adding insult to injury, yes, that is by the suggestion to also wear an anti-racist emblem... I thought the Confederate Flag was/is supposed to be just that?? Deliberate guilt is playing into both the hands of the now K.K.K. cloaked cruel cowardly murderers!! Also any thinking person who is black or anti-racist will not be convinced by website admittance like this! (By having to also wear another anti-racist type tattoo or button means then that the flag is deemed to be at least partially racist - a further 'bad' admission that is unnecessarily said. This is akin to asking those who wear Malcolm X shirts to also wear something pro-white!)

I flew the Confederate Flag outside my house in North Ireland during the '70s in that war time. It was disliked by both sides in the struggle here. But the Confederate Flag is flown in County Cork in Munster in the South of Ireland at Celtic Games finals played there each year now for decades and is seen on TV coverage. Cork City is known as Rebel Cork and the fans support their teams and county by flying various flags with 'red' on it - all except the 'butcher's apron' or British Union Jack as they burned Cork City during the rising. They like pretty flags and the Confederate Flag has much eye catching colour design and beauty. Personally I love the people of the Southland from my years spent living there and looking for obscure records in all 13 states. Their Southern hospitality, from both black and white people, has no match on Earth! Their flag is known throughout the world and it is all they have of an identity. That flag is historical, people visit Old Dixie just to be a part of that and many seek out postcards, tiny flags, etc. which have the Confederate emblem on. To take this away or to tamper with it in any way would surely lead to major unrest for perhaps all time. This flag has been bloodied and battered in the greatest and last of the shoulder to shoulder wars where brother fought brother and father fought son and neither side won and neither did they run. This is a loser's flag that finally won!

Here is another reason to be pleased to look upon the flag - had the greatest General Robert E. Lee not called an unconditional surrender while his army in Texas were still winning skirmishes, there would never have been the peace that exists today, instead terrorism! Both the 'Blue' and the 'Grey' sang 'Dixie'. It's often said when Lee surrendered to Gen. Grant. The Flag is a flag of valor. Its heritage is bravery and heroic. It's the black flag of Quantrill's Raiders that has much in common. The ultimate cowards - many men on horses who call on a poor black person in their cabins and murder - fully knowing that they cannot go to no law.

The American forces today depend heavily on recruits from the Southern States and enlist soldiers from the Carolinas/Tennessee/Texas, etc., etc., etc. in all these wars which have produced too many dead heroes! The Southland is still being pillaged and raped. The people who live South of the Mason-Dixon Line actually live in a colony and as such must be allowed their own traditional flag. The South lost the war, but since then the people of the South have given to the world out of all that repression an international art form of music which will last forever! Such things transcend time and people.

Furthermore, when young school-aged people and others are forcibly told not to wear something they will; it may be their civil rights! 'Dixie On My Mind' is on my brain shaped flag t-shirt, from old New Orleans Loo-zee-ana!

Vocal groups are often Southern or else have Gospel/Pentecostal backgrounds, e.g. Tony Middleton, lead singer of The Willows is from the Carolinas.

Tony, stick with it - don't cha dare quit it, your bound to git it. Yes sir, or you'll cause confusion and a split with two types of flag designs and the established tradition, history and valor of the original flag will keep coming back and back, no matter which, who or what!

'If' the South had won the war is fantasizing, but a fact is Elvis Presley sang 'Dixie' on T.V. - 'look away, look away...'

Daniel O'Coffey salutes Tony Papard! 'Rock'n'Roll'.

Thanks for your contribution, Dan. One of the few from non-Southerners outside the US. Dan's not on the internet, but I sent him a printout of this webpage and the above was his reply. 'Breathless' Dan Coffey is one of the original Teddy-boys, born in Ireland, and who then moved to South Wales (both countries have been colonized by the English). He has traveled extensively around the Deep South of the USA, and introduced Rock-a-Billy to the world, bringing over many rare records by artists never heard of outside of The South. Dan has probably done more than anyone else to spread the 1950s musical culture of the South to Europe and the entire world. Our mutual friend, Screamin' Dee Snoble, who lived on the borders of the South in Cincinnati, Ohio for years, introduced me to the Rebel Flag way back in the 1960s. I started wearing it to identify with the musical heritage of the South, and now it is seen everywhere on the rock'n'roll, Rock-a-Billy and Country Music scenes in Europe and around the world. Southerners are so happy when they see others wearing the flag, and in so doing recognizing the unique heritage of the Southland. I have seen many artists from the Southern States beam with pride when they see European audiences displaying the Rebel Flag - taking photos of it, or inviting the person up on stage to display it. Not one has ever complained, not even black artists like Little Richard, who hails from Macon, Georgia. If a Welsh singer was coming to your town, it would be the right thing to display the red, white and green Welsh flag with the Welsh dragon symbol in its center, and if a Southern singer comes you should display the flag of Dixie. If the artist is black, so much the better - it is the best way to get the flag accepted by ALL races in the South as their national flag.

It is NOT necessarily considered a racist symbol outside of the USA - for instance even BBC TV displayed the Confederate Flag when introducing the Kings and Queens of Country Music. Why? Because it is the ONLY, repeat, the ONLY symbol which