Confederate Flag

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/03/10/or ... latestnews" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Its a flag.

Its no more offensive than when illegals at a boxing match in Los Angeles run around with the Mexican Flag in our country.



Seriously, why do they keep bashing the Confederate Flag? Is it because the South gave blacks jobs and their unemployment was less than 1%?

Is that why they are pissed off all the time?

[Appaholic]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/03/10/or ... latestnews

Its a flag.

Its no more offensive than when illegals at a boxing match in Los Angeles run around with the Mexican Flag in our country.



Seriously, why do they keep bashing the Confederate Flag? Is it because the South gave blacks jobs and their unemployment was less than 1%?

Is that why they are pissed off all the time?

No....the South has always given them work...now they just don't get the free room & board...

[ASUG8]

"What is "Political Correctness?""

I'll take "Why the US is screwed up" for $800 Alex.

[Skjellyfetti]

Is it because the South gave blacks jobs and their unemployment was less than 1%?

I guess we have a different definition of "job."

[TwinTownBisonFan]

This may shock some board conks...

this guy should have his job back.

1. he has the flag on HIS truck, not on the school bus
2. he's not a teacher, he's a fucking bus driver
3. while i find that flag and all who fly it repugnant - they, as individuals have every right to posses it and fly it without restriction by their government

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

This may shock some board conks...

this guy should have his job back.

1. he has the flag on HIS truck, not on the school bus
2. he's not a teacher, he's a fucking bus driver
3. while i find that flag and all who fly it repugnant - they, as individuals have every right to posses it and fly it without restriction by their government

Agree with all of that. It's a part of Southern Heritage that can either be embraced or just not acknowledged by everyone else. People with very little ability to think on their own may want to say that the flag reps slavery. It's a part of the history but if that's the logic then the US flag has to carry that same stigma since the slaves came on ships flying that flag.

That is a flat out discrimination against the fella for what he may or may not believe.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

This may shock some board conks...

this guy should have his job back.

1. he has the flag on HIS truck, not on the school bus
2. he's not a teacher, he's a fucking bus driver
3. while i find that flag and all who fly it repugnant - they, as individuals have every right to posses it and fly it without restriction by their government

Agree with all of that. It's a part of Southern Heritage that can either be embraced or just not acknowledged by everyone else. People with very little ability to think on their own may want to say that the flag reps slavery. It's a part of the history but if that's the logic then the US flag has to carry that same stigma since the slaves came on ships flying that flag.

That is a flat out discrimination against the fella for what he may or may not believe.

Thing is, if you follow the history of the battle flag - it became a symbol of the apartheid/segregationist south in the 60's... that flag BECAME a symbol of hate and intolerance to a great many people, and I don't fault them for that view.

I absolutely think it has NO business being flown over government buildings anywhere - but what private citizens do with it... that's respected as free political speech.

[Appaholic]

Agree with all of that. It's a part of Southern Heritage that can either be embraced or just not acknowledged by everyone else. People with very little ability to think on their own may want to say that the flag reps slavery. It's a part of the history but if that's the logic then the US flag has to carry that same stigma since the slaves came on ships flying that flag.

That is a flat out discrimination against the fella for what he may or may not believe.

Thing is, if you follow the history of the battle flag - it became a symbol of the apartheid/segregationist south in the 60's... that flag BECAME a symbol of hate and intolerance to a great many people, and I don't fault them for that view.

I absolutely think it has NO business being flown over government buildings anywhere - but what private citizens do with it... that's respected as free political speech.

Agree on all points.

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

This may shock some board conks...

this guy should have his job back.

1. he has the flag on HIS truck, not on the school bus
2. he's not a teacher, he's a fucking bus driver
3. while i find that flag and all who fly it repugnant - they, as individuals have every right to posses it and fly it without restriction by their government

I cant speak for everyone, but this just shocked the fu*k out of me.

You are the 3rd lib I have ever heard have this kind of rational thought process.

[BDKJMU]

This may shock some board conks...

this guy should have his job back.

1. he has the flag on HIS truck, not on the school bus
2. he's not a teacher, he's a **** bus driver
3. while i find that flag and all who fly it repugnant - they, as individuals have every right to posses it and fly it without restriction by their government

Agree with all of that. It's a part of Southern Heritage that can either be embraced or just not acknowledged by everyone else. People with very little ability to think on their own may want to say that the flag reps slavery. It's a part of the history but if that's the logic then the US flag has to carry that same stigma since the slaves came on ships flying that flag.

That is a flat out discrimination against the fella for what he may or may not believe.

For the most part not true. The vast majority of slaves involved in the Atlantic slave trade were Africans who were catoured by other Africans & then sold by African slave dealers to European traders, who transported them to the colonies in North and South America.

Agree with the rest of your post. Carry on..

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Agree with all of that. It's a part of Southern Heritage that can either be embraced or just not acknowledged by everyone else. People with very little ability to think on their own may want to say that the flag reps slavery. It's a part of the history but if that's the logic then the US flag has to carry that same stigma since the slaves came on ships flying that flag.

That is a flat out discrimination against the fella for what he may or may not believe.

For the most part not true. The vast majority of slaves involved in the Atlantic slave trade were Africans who were catoured by other Africans & then sold by African slave dealers to European traders, who transported them to the colonies in North and South America.

Agree with the rest of your post. Carry on..

BDK...that wasn't meant to be taken as literally that all slaves were brought here on US flagged ships. Just that it was mostly done under the US flag no matter the mode of transport.

Ya fuckin' ball buster.

[BDKJMU]

For the most part not true. The vast majority of slaves involved in the Atlantic slave trade were Africans who were catoured by other Africans & then sold by African slave dealers to European traders, who transported them to the colonies in North and South America.

Agree with the rest of your post. Carry on..

BDK...that wasn't meant to be taken as literally that all slaves were brought here on US flagged ships. Just that it was mostly done under the US flag no matter the mode of transport.

Ya ****' ball buster.

Ok. I was just trying to point out that Africans and Europeans also took part in the slave trade and deserve just as much blame as white North Americans.

[Skjellyfetti]

Most weren't brought here with the sanction of the United States. Most were brought here while we were still a colony or smuggled in later. The importation of slaves was outlawed less than 20 years after we became a country.

And, there's no way to know claims like BDK's that the "vast majority" of slaves involved in the African slave trade were captured by other Africans. Stating that as fact is bullshit.

[blueballs]

This may shock some board conks...

this guy should have his job back.

1. he has the flag on HIS truck, not on the school bus
2. he's not a teacher, he's a fucking bus driver
3. while i find that flag and all who fly it repugnant - they, as individuals have every right to posses it and fly it without restriction by their government

Correct on all points... also, I have no problem with those who wear confederate flag clothing or put those stickers or tags on their vehicles. It makes it real easy to identify their idiocy right up front, therefore, no guessing.

[GannonFan]

This may shock some board conks...

this guy should have his job back.

1. he has the flag on HIS truck, not on the school bus
2. he's not a teacher, he's a **** bus driver
3. while i find that flag and all who fly it repugnant - they, as individuals have every right to posses it and fly it without restriction by their government

Just don't bring it to the school then - it isn't the first time that people that work for a school and around children are not permitted to do something that outside of being a school employee, on school grounds, would be fine. Just because speech is free doesn't mean there aren't circumstances where there are consequences.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

This may shock some board conks...

this guy should have his job back.

1. he has the flag on HIS truck, not on the school bus
2. he's not a teacher, he's a **** bus driver
3. while i find that flag and all who fly it repugnant - they, as individuals have every right to posses it and fly it without restriction by their government

Just don't bring it to the school then - it isn't the first time that people that work for a school and around children are not permitted to do something that outside of being a school employee, on school grounds, would be fine. Just because speech is free doesn't mean there aren't circumstances where there are consequences.

His vehicle would have been at the bus "terminal" where he went to work. I didn't read it in the story but around here the buses are not on any or really kept near any schools. There is a tire shop, bar, auto parts storre etc.. right near where the bus drivers go to work. It may be different at the place in Oregon I guess but I missed that.

[ASUG8]

This may shock some board conks...

this guy should have his job back.

1. he has the flag on HIS truck, not on the school bus
2. he's not a teacher, he's a **** bus driver
3. while i find that flag and all who fly it repugnant - they, as individuals have every right to posses it and fly it without restriction by their government

Just don't bring it to the school then - it isn't the first time that people that work for a school and around children are not permitted to do something that outside of being a school employee, on school grounds, would be fine. Just because speech is free doesn't mean there aren't circumstances where there are consequences.

Do you want to start banning the political bumper stickers that are on cars at schools too? Some folks want everybody to know every pet cause/political affiliation they have by placing some momento on their vehicles in plain sight. I'm not sure how you draw a line on a confederate flag vs. a pro/against abortion sticker.

[GannonFan]

Just don't bring it to the school then - it isn't the first time that people that work for a school and around children are not permitted to do something that outside of being a school employee, on school grounds, would be fine. Just because speech is free doesn't mean there aren't circumstances where there are consequences.

His vehicle would have been at the bus "terminal" where he went to work. I didn't read it in the story but around here the buses are not on any or really kept near any schools. There is a tire shop, bar, auto parts storre etc.. right near where the bus drivers go to work. It may be different at the place in Oregon I guess but I missed that.

The article said the school district owned the bus yard where he parked. If it was an independent bus service that contracted work for the school district, I could see a difference. But if you have a school district owned entity then school rules are going to apply.

[GannonFan]

Just don't bring it to the school then - it isn't the first time that people that work for a school and around children are not permitted to do something that outside of being a school employee, on school grounds, would be fine. Just because speech is free doesn't mean there aren't circumstances where there are consequences.

Do you want to start banning the political bumper stickers that are on cars at schools too? Some folks want everybody to know every pet cause/political affiliation they have by placing some momento on their vehicles in plain sight. I'm not sure how you draw a line on a confederate flag vs. a pro/against abortion sticker.

People have been drawing the line on the confederate flag for years now. This isn't something that just came up recently.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

His vehicle would have been at the bus "terminal" where he went to work. I didn't read it in the story but around here the buses are not on any or really kept near any schools. There is a tire shop, bar, auto parts storre etc.. right near where the bus drivers go to work. It may be different at the place in Oregon I guess but I missed that.

The article said the school district owned the bus yard where he parked. If it was an independent bus service that contracted work for the school district, I could see a difference. But if you have a school district owned entity then school rules are going to apply.

Sure if it's near a school I can see that. He should just be able to park off property and solve the problem then. There must be a city street leading up to this property that he needed to make use of.

[Ibanez]

This may shock some board conks...

this guy should have his job back.

1. he has the flag on HIS truck, not on the school bus
2. he's not a teacher, he's a fucking bus driver
3. while i find that flag and all who fly it repugnant - they, as individuals have every right to posses it and fly it without restriction by their government

Agree with all of that. It's a part of Southern Heritage that can either be embraced or just not acknowledged by everyone else. People with very little ability to think on their own may want to say that the flag reps slavery. It's a part of the history but if that's the logic then the US flag has to carry that same stigma since the slaves came on ships flying that flag.

That is a flat out discrimination against the fella for what he may or may not believe.

You are spot on! What is even worst, are the people that fly the flag, screaming, "The South will Rise again!" and no nothing about what the people that lived and died under that flag, had gone through. Moreover, if they were any student of something other than the Blue COmedy Tour, they would not want to live in the CSA. Politically, it was doomed to fail(much like how the Articles of Confederation weren't good.)

[BDKJMU]

Most weren't brought here with the sanction of the United States. Most were brought here while we were still a colony or smuggled in later. The importation of slaves was outlawed less than 20 years after we became a country.

And, there's no way to know claims like BDK's that the "vast majority" of slaves involved in the African slave trade were captured by other Africans. Stating that as fact is bullshit.

It is fact , although you can deny all you want.

How Did the Europeans Obtain the Slaves?
Between 1450 and the end of the nineteenth century, slaves were obtained from along the west coast of Africa with the full and active co-operation of African kings and merchants. (There were occasional military campaigns organized by Europeans to capture slaves, especially by the Portuguese in what is now Angola, but this accounts for only a small percentage of the total.)
http://africanhistory.about.com/od/slav ... tic001.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"...European traders captured some Africans in raids along the coast, but bought most of them from local African or African-European dealers. These dealers had a sophisticated network of trading alliances collecting groups of people together for sale.

Most of the Africans who were enslaved were captured in battles or were kidnapped, though some were sold into slavery for debt or as punishment...."
http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ism/ ... _sale.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"...African slaves were acquired (kidnapped) by members of rival kingdoms within Africa and sold to European traders...."
http://www.kindredtrails.com/African-Am ... ove-1.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"Most of the Negroes shipped off from the coast of Africa are kidnapped."

".....A slave's journey to a life of servitude often began in the interior of Africa with his or her capture as a prize of war, as tribute given by a weak tribal state to a more powerful one, or by outright kidnapping by local traders. European slave traders rarely ventured beyond Africa's coastal regions. The African interior was riddled with disease, the natives were often hostile and the land uncharted. The Europeans preferred to stay in the coastal region and have the natives bring the slaves to them.

Dr. Alexander Falconbridge served as the surgeon aboard a number of slave ships that plied their trade between the West African coast and the Caribbean in the late 1700s. He described his experiences in a popular book published in 1788. He became active in the Anti-Slavery Society and was appointed Governor of a colony established for freed slaves on the coast of modern-day Sierra Leone. His service was brief as he died in 1788 shortly after his appointment. We join his story as he describes the process through which the native African looses his freedom:

"There is great reason to believe, that most of the Negroes shipped off from the coast of Africa, are kidnapped. But the extreme care taken by the black traders to prevent the Europeans from gaining any intelligence of their modes of proceeding; the great distance inland from whence the Negroes are brought; and our ignorance of their language (with which, very frequently, the black traders themselves are equally unacquainted), prevent our obtaining such information on this head as we could wish....."
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/slavetrade.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You might not like it KY, but it is a FACT the "vast majority" of slaves involved in the African slave trade were captured by other Africans.

[Ibanez]

Most weren't brought here with the sanction of the United States. Most were brought here while we were still a colony or smuggled in later. The importation of slaves was outlawed less than 20 years after we became a country.

And, there's no way to know claims like BDK's that the "vast majority" of slaves involved in the African slave trade were captured by other Africans. Stating that as fact is bullshit.

You're right, "vast majority" is highly exaggerrated.
I'm not familiar with the number, and it's probably highly debatable, but AFricans were catching and selling other Africans to the Dutch and English. It's insane. What's even crazier is that the largest slaveowner in South Carolina was a black man.

I remember when I was doing commercial real estate, we did the history of a black church. What we found was that from 1823-1865, the church paid taxes on 10 slaves.

[SuperHornet]

Near the end of WWII, Marine GEN Holland M. "Howlin' Mad" Smith was replaced by an Army guy. This Army guy was jealous of all the accolades the Marines were getting in the Pacific Theater. So when he divvied up the objectives for one of the last island campaigns, he intentionally hoarded the plum ones for the Army and gave a tiny corner to the Marines.

After two or three weeks, the Marines were done with their entire slate, but the Army hadn't done a thing and were bogged down, so the Marines were told to come down and mop it up, but to avoid one certain castle that was still to be an Army target. The word about avoiding that castle didn't get to the Marines, who took it fairly quickly. It was an abandoned Japanese HQ. But the Army had no idea the Marines were there (or that the Japanese were gone, for that matter), so they called in an air strike. When the Marines heard the planes coming, they had no way to contact them because the radios were dead. So they're scrambling to find something to let them know the place was in American hands. Wouldn't you know, no US flags in the entire unit. But wait! Someone had the Stars and Bars in their backpack, so they raised that just in time to save their rears.

So, WWII Marines' butts were saved by the CSA. The South DID rise again!

(True story I heard from docents at a WWII museum on Okinawa.)

[ASUG8]

Do you want to start banning the political bumper stickers that are on cars at schools too? Some folks want everybody to know every pet cause/political affiliation they have by placing some momento on their vehicles in plain sight. I'm not sure how you draw a line on a confederate flag vs. a pro/against abortion sticker.

People have been drawing the line on the confederate flag for years now. This isn't something that just came up recently.

I don't disagree that it is inappropriate around children, but if he asserts First amendment rights what's to keep him from drawing the parallel I illustrated? Ban his flag but allow someone to rail on about religious/abortion/gay issues with a bumper sticker?