cwink wrote:As a native Texan, I am familiar with "State Pride" I still see the Lone Star Flag and thinkof Texas as one of the great states of this nation. Having lived here in MS for almost 20 years now, I still don't look to the MS State Flag the same way.. While I am proud to be from the South, each time I see the flag, it is a small reminder of a time when the the belief that slavery was ok.. There are very few Americans or Mississippians that believe this now and to have that small reminder flying over a state institution does not make sense to me.. You want to fly it in your yard, or your house fine.. Feel free.. But I don't think it needs to fly over Govt buildings.
If it came up for a vote to change the flag, I would vote tovchange it.. As the father of a biracial adopted child, I would not want to look him in the eye and tell him that I voted to keep it.. While changing the flag will not stop those who want to cry "victim" It will send a signal that MS as a State is at least trying to move forward and better race relations..
When I moved to MS in 1996 I was a little shocked by the difference in race relations between TX and MS. My wife and had this discussion last night about if true racism still exist to a large degree. I told her that I think about 20% of the population is racist.. Meaning they hate someone just because the color of their skin. But there is another form of racism that I think is more prevalent and that is "stereotypical racism". I see it here on this board at times.. People referring to Black people as "non-swimmers", "democrats" etc. Everytime I see it I just sort of roll my eyes and shake my head.. I know it is meant more to be a description of a culture and class and not necessarily as hatred towards someone because of the color of their skin because I know some folks that use it that do have black friends, but I don't see how it helps in anyway.
Many are afraid to voice an opinion either way due to they are scared to lose jobs or have businesses affected. Walmart pulls all confederate merchandise etc. If you make it known as you have that you support the removal of the flag then be prepared for backlash of the new gun club you are assosiated with. There are many gun rights folks that see this as another step to take away rights from people and fear guns are the next step so would you welcome 1000 folks starting a FB page wanting people to boycott the new range based on your public view?? It's your view and you are entitled to it but as most businesses see it only takes a few demonstrating to take its toll on a business and the protesters usually win and get appeasement. Slowly but surely all Americans rights are being taken away. Won't be long and the constitution will be null and void. As someone stated this isn't just about a flag. If that kid hadn't killed anyone it wouldn't be discussed.
Just look at what was on Fox News and how all over there are confederate memorials being vandalized and now they are wanting them removed. Will these be hate crimes??? Or just another example of an outlet to vent frustration?? Starts with one item then another then another then another till there isn't anything left.
I Beleive your 20 percent figure is way off on both sides of the fence on the issue. The vote passed by 2-1 last vote. Those same people will vote again. People on both sides just get more angry thus the situations get worse for everyone. Now with vandalization of condfederate memorials etc it will not help anyone's cause to remove the flag. On the flip side the places that sell the confederate flag are making a killing right now for sure!!!!! Just like the gun dealers did when Obama tried to ban the AR.
If the flag isn't voted on and is removed then street names, lakes, towns etc with any ties to the south will be next in the snowball affect. It's already being pushed in other states. What will we rename Ross Barnett so folks will continue to fish there without offense?. Surely Ross Barnett should be seen as more offensive than a flag...right??? Why has this never been brought up?? His life story is way more offensive i would assume.
BTW AL SHARPTON is already in Brooklyn to protest the name change of a street named after a confederate general so get ready!!!! Change is a coming and I'm sure crime will stop now.
Can't y'all see what is happening? It's so frustrating to me that so many are believing the hype. Next in no particular order will be: the American flag-it was flown by many millions more people who have committed bad deeds than the Rebel flag, guns-used by evil people to commit countless bad deeds, and finally Christianity-used by millions to justify terrible deeds. If you believe any single one of these politicians who are magically all of the sudden thinking that now is the perfect time to remove this flag are doing it for anything other than political reasons, you are naïve at best. It seems to me that a large majority of our population is now having their opinions influenced by the media and all of their agendas. Makes me sick. We have become a society of people who want our opinions dictated to us just like we want our lifestyle provided to us by our guvment.
