The Great Battle over Stars and Bars | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Yesterday's news was full of the "Great Flag Controversy." I was born in Pickens County, SC, while my father was Pastor of the Liberty First Baptist Church. I was the firstborn son of a man who always saw through surface issues to the core of life.

    The SC Governor is now being touted as a possible VP Republican Candidate. Even NASCAR has come out strong to remove the flag. By golly---that sure settles it!!! Most of the hate-filled Conservatives are looking twice at their candidates making outrageous statements initially to KEEP THE FLAG and leave good southern Americans alone.

    All of the politicos are keeping a finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing. Politicians, Preachers, and Prostitutes all begin with a "P". Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference!

    I have never been a racist.

    My parents started my life with a slap across the face when I came back from my SC Democrat Farmer Granddaddy's house using his "N" word with naïve pride. He was more than typical of southerners with free use of the word during the 40-50's. It was so common it really meant nothing to him. The REALITY was when his NI***R got drunk on Saturday night and shot down his wife behind their shack house, Granddaddy Williams was the first man at the jail on Monday with a pack of cigarettes and his lawyer to help his friend.

    My momma said if it were not for the black tenants' children she would have had no playmates on Granddaddy's farm as she grew up! A typical funeral in the South always has the black people working with the family siting IN THE FAMILY SECTION! In reality, racism in the middle class south was more thoughtless than real! Today black comics can use the "N" word in abundance. God help the white man who utters it on stage or in front of a camera.

    Here ARE some facts to get to the bottom of the issue. In Beaufort County, one of my best men (and also friends) is a great black man who served in the military and tells the best jokes to lighten my load as we drive to take down a tree and face death or injury TOGETHER:

    History books, the media, the school systems, etc abound in falsehoods and inaccuracies of Confederate and Southern history. This fact sheet will help to clarify and dispel some of these rampant inaccuracies.

    MYTH - The War of 1861 - 1865 was fought over slavery.

    FACT - Terribly untrue. The North fought the war over money. Plain and simple. When the South started Secession, Lincoln was asked, "Why not let the South go in peace?" To which he replied, "I can't let them go. Who would pay for the government?" Sensing total financial ruin for the North, Lincoln waged war on the South. The South fought the War to repel Northern aggression and invasion.

    MYTH - Only Southerners owned slaves.

    FACT - Entirely untrue. Many Northern civilians owned slaves. Prior to, during and even after the War Of Northern Aggression.

    Surprisingly, to many history impaired individuals, most Union Generals and staff had slaves to serve them! William T. Sherman had many slaves that served him until well after the war was over and did not free them until late in 1865.

    U.S. Grant also had several slaves, who were only freed after the 13th amendment in December of 1865. When asked why he didn't free his slaves earlier, Grant stated "Good help is so hard to come by these days."

    Contrarily, Confederate General Robert E. Lee freed his slaves (which he never purchased - they were inherited) in 1862!!! Lee freed his slaves several years before the war was over, and considerably earlier than his Northern counterparts. And during the fierce early days of the war when the South was obliterating the Yankee armies!

    Lastly, and most importantly, why did NORTHERN States outlaw slavery only AFTER the war was over? The so-called "Emancipation Proclamation" of Lincoln only gave freedom to slaves in the SOUTH! NOT in the North! This pecksniffery even went so far as to find the state of Delaware rejecting the 13th Amendment in December of 1865 and did not ratify it (13th Amendment / free the slaves) until 1901!

    MYTH - The Confederate Battle Flag was flown on slave ships.

    FACT - NONE of the flags of the Confederacy or Southern Nation ever flew over a slave ship. Nor did the South own or operate any slaves ships. The English, the Dutch and the Portugese brought slaves to this country, not the Southern Nation.

    BUT, even more monumental, it is also very important to know and understand that Federal, Yankee, Union ships brought slaves to America! These ships were from the New England states, and their hypocrisy is atrocious.

    These Federals were ones that ended up crying the loudest about slavery. But without their ships, many of the slaves would have never arrived here. They made countless fortunes on the delivery of slaves as well as the products madefrom raw materials such as cotton and tobacco in the South.

    This is the problem with Yankee history History is overwhelmingly portrayed incorrectly by most of the Federal & Yankee books and media.

    MYTH - The Confederate Battle Flag represented the Southern Nation.

    FACT - Not true. While the Southern Battle flag was carried into battle, the Southern Nation had 3 different National flags during the course of the war.

    The First National flag was changed due to a resemblance of the US flag.

    The Second National flag was subsequently modified due to the similarity to a flag of truce.

    The Third National flag was the adopted flag of the Confederacy.

    The Confederate Battle Flag was never a National Flag of the Confederacy. It was carried into battle by several armies such as the Army Of Northen Virginia and the Army of Tennessee. Was also used as a Naval Jack by the Confederate Navy.

    MYTH - The Confederate Battle Flag is known as the "Stars & Bars".

    FACT - A common misconception. The First National Confederate Flag is correctly known as the "Stars & Bars". The Confederate Battle Flag is known as the "Southern Cross".

    MYTH - The Confederate Battle Flag represents racism today.

    FACT - The Confederate Battle Flag today finds itself in the center of much controversy and hoopla going on in several states. The cry to take this flag down is unjustified. It is very important to keep in mind that the Confederate Battle Flag was simply just that. A battle flag. It was never even a National flag, so how could it have flown over a slave nation or represented slavery or racism? This myth is continued by lack of education and ignorance. Those that villify the Confederate Battle Flag are very confused about history and have jumped upon a bandwagon with loose wheels.

    MYTH - The United States Flag represented freedom.

    FACT - No chance. The US flag flew over a slave nation for over 85 years! The North tolerated slavery and acknowledged it as a Division Of Labor. The North made a vast fortune on slavery and it's commodities. It wasn't until the South decided to leave the Union that the North objected. The North knew it could not survive without the Southern money. That is the true definition of hypocrisy.

    MYTH - Abraham Lincoln was the Great Emancipator.

    FACT - While Lincoln has went down in history as the Great Emancipator, many would not care to hear his real thoughts on people of color. Martyred President Abraham Lincoln was fervently making plans to send all freed slaves to the jungles of Central America once the war was over. Knowing that African society would never allow the slaves to return back to Africa, Lincoln also did not want the slaves in the US. He thought the jungles of Central America would be the best solution and conducive to the freed slaves best interest. The only thing that kept this from happening, was his assassination.

    MYTH - The South revered slavery.

    FACT - A very interesting fact on slavery is that at the time the War of 1861 -1865 officially commenced, the Southern States were actually in the process of freeing all slaves in the South. Russia had freed it's servants in 1859, and the South took great note of this. Had military intervention not been forced upon the South, a very different America would have been realized then as well as now.

    MYTH - The Confederate Army was comprised of rich slave owners.

    FACT - Very far from true. The vast majority of soldiers in the Confederate Army were simple men of meager income. Most of which were hard working farmers and common men. Then, as now, very few rich men ever fight a war.

    MYTH - Only the North had men of color in their ranks.

    FACT - Quite simply a major falsehood of history. Many blacks, both free and of their own will, joined the Confederate Army to fight for their beloved Southern home. Additionally, men of other ethnic extraction fought as well. Oriental, Mexican & Spanish men as well as Native American Indians fought with pride for the South.

    Today, many men of color are members in the heritage group SCV - Sons Of Confederate Veterans. These men of color and pride rejoice in their heritage. The continued attacks on the Southern Nation, The Confederacy, and her symbols are a terrible outrage to these fine people. These attacks should be denounced with as much fervor as those who denounce the South.

    MYTH- The Confederate Flags are an authorized symbol of Aryan, KKK and hate groups.

    FACT - Quite the contrary. These dispicable organizations such as the KKK and Aryans have taken a hallowed piece of history, and have plagued good Southern folks and the memories of fine Confederate Soldiers that fought under the flag with their perverse agenda. IN NO WAY does the Confederate Flag represent hate or violence. Heritage groups such as the SCV battle daily the damage done to a proud nation by these hate groups. The SCV denounces all hate groups, and pridefully boast HERITAGE - NOT HATE.

    MYTH - The SCV - Sons Of Confederate Veterans are a racist, hate group.

    FACT - This is a blatant attack on one of the finest heritage groups ever. The SCV - Sons Of Confederate Veterans are a historical, patriotic and non-political organization comprised of descendents of Confederate Soldiers and sailors dedicated to insuring that a true history of the 1861 -1865 period is preserved and presented to the public. The SCV continues to educate the public of the memory and reputation of the Confederate soldier as well as the motives for his suffering and sacrifice.

    The SCV - Sons Of Confederate Veterans are in NO WAY affiliated with, nor does it recognize or condone the terrible legacy of hate groups such as the KKK.

    My great grandmother, "Aunt Melissa" Williams, could remember her father returning from the Civil War to Easley, SC, and Cedar Rock Community. I am a real Son of a Confederate Veteran.

    You may be getting your panties in a wad over racial hate---and you should. My parents trained me better to respect all mankind created by God. They enforced that love of others with their lives lived in front of me without prejudice.

    To really overcome hate and pride, you need a good dose of Jesus, a dark-skinned Jew who walked the roads of Israel sharing his message of "love your neighbor as yourself." Re-read his story of the Good Samaritan before you make up your mind to hate anyone who is DIFFERENT.

    That is more than DANGEROUS!

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