I need some help with ideas....

[jjenisis]

[url]Men say Rebel flag flies for freedom http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3952176c1bc0.htm[/url]
TIM ISBELL
THE SUN HERALD


Sun Herald photo / Tim Isbell

Harry Hervey, wearing a Confederate kepi hat, and his brother, Anthony, dressed in Confederate gray, wave the Confederate battle flag at the Eight Flags display in Gulfport. The Herveys were marching with the flags in support of the Black Confederate Soldier Foundation. They want to bring attention to the fact that blacks fought for the Confederacy too.
For an hour, the Confederate battle flag flew over the former site of the Eight Flags Display on U.S. 90.

Dressed in Confederate gray, a black man named Anthony Hervey marched with the banner clutched in his hands. His brother, Harry, accompanied him, wearing jeans and a Robert E. Lee T-shirt.

Hervey's devotion to the flag began when he discovered that a great-great-uncle, James Hervey, was a black American who fought for the Confederacy during the American Civil War. James Hervey served in the Army of Mississippi and was killed at the battle of Shiloh.

Further research helped Hervey discover records of at least 100,000 black Confederates who fought in the war.

"I am marching for freedom," Hervey said. "The battle flag stands for freedom and states' rights. The U.S. flag is the flag of slavery. It flew over 100 years of slavery, and Native Americans were annihilated under that flag."
........

Another point about the Union flag: American slavery was originated, promoted, enforced, and traded under the Union flag. That being the case, why is only the Confederate Battle flag design condemned for slavery (most do not realize the South never sent a single ship from it's docks in the slave trade...all slave trading by American ships, came from northern ports). Also considering that slavery was still taking place in the North DURING the war of northern aggression (Grant owed slaves during the war...Lee did not!), then why is the Union flag not attacked even more?

Was it not the Union flag that flew over each and every violation and treaty made between our government and the Indians? Was it not the US flag that flew over each and every household in both the North and South during slavery before the war...before there was even a Confederate Battle flag? Was it not this same US flag that flew over the house of the many Negro who themselves owned slaves, both black and Indian, in both North and South? If you want a flag that represents slavery to a larger degree...covering a larger period of American history...go after the Star and Stripes.

If one wishes to attack the Confederate Battle flag, based on the idea that it represented the South States, which fought a bloody war to preserve the institution of slavery...then they are wallowing in ignorance over the very meaning and overall concern of the war. Until they learn the truth behind the Confederate Flag and the War itself, they will continue to harbor hate and anger toward the South...making them to be the cause of most of the divisiveness and hate crimes.
.......

The War Was Not Fought Over Slavery

The third lie is that the War for Southern Independence (or as the U.S. Congress officially declared it to be -- The War Between the States; it was not a "civil war") was fought over slavery, with the North fighting to free Southern slaves and the South fighting to keep her slaves. This is, of course, not true.
First of all, all thirteen original states which seceded from England in 1776 and which formed the United States of America, from Maine (a part of Massachusetts at that time) to Georgia, owned slaves. Was the First American Revolution fought over slaver . If not, then neither was the Second American Revolution fought over slavery when the Southern states withdrew from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. Is the Fourth of July a racist holiday because all thirteen original colonies had slaves? If not, then neither are our Confederate holidays. Is the U.S. flag a racist flag because all thirteen original states had slaves? If not, then neither is the Confederate battle flag a racist flag -- or do these intolerant individuals and the news media advocate taking down the U.S. flag as well? If they do, then they will need to take down nearly every national flag in the world, starting with the flag of Nigeria in Africa. What blatant bigotry to call the Confederate flag racist!
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The War for Southern Independence was fought over the right of the local people to govern themselves versus a centralist government by the few, the rich, and the powerful. The South wanted less government, less taxes, independence, and decisions made at the local level where the people have control. The North wanted more taxes, more government, and centralism, with a compulsory union at bayonet point and decisions made in Washington D.C. rather than by the local people. The South stood on the principles of the Southerner Thomas Jefferson, who in the Declaration of Independence, stated, "Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that, whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new government." In other words, the people should control the government, not the government controlling the people. The North stood on the principles of the Northerner Alexander Hamilton, who believed that government should be ruled by an intellectual aristocracy, maintained by the enlightened self-interest of the wealthy rather than the common people, governing themselves. Northern Abolitionists such as William Lloyd Garrison, burned the U.S. Constitution in the streets, calling it "a pact with the devil." Lincoln likewise brutally violated nearly every article and amendment to the U.S. Constitution, throwing over 35,000 Northern Citizens in prison as political prisoners, including state legislators, without cause or trial, as well as, violently closing a dozen opposition newspapers and suppressing freedom of speech.


http://www.pointsouth.com/csanet/confederate_flag.htm

I find it funny how the US flag is proudly flown by the KKK but it isnt considered the flag of hate.

[jjenisis]

The Confederate battle flag represents all Confederates, regardless of race or religion, and is the symbol of less government, less taxes, and the right of a people to govern themselves. It is flown in memory and honor of our Confederate ancestors and veterans who willingly shed their blood for Southern independence.

[Hardcoregirl]

I wasn't arguing against you personally or anything...just expressing my opinion. And yep, there are black people who wave the flag and there were black people who thought they should just accept their station in life (Booker T. Washington), etc, etc, there are always exceptions. I don't wave the american flag either, btw.

Its about the same to me as saying "ok well, black people call each other nigger so its ok if we use the word."

Next you'll be telling me that they enjoyed being slaves because they were always singing and I'm sure someone somewhere wrote something on the internet to back that up, so it must be a fact.

I wasn't trying to start a battle here...just expressing my educated opinion.

And most everyone knows it wasn't a war simply about slavery.

And my great great grandfather Jackson Wilson fought for the confederates so its not that I don't appreciate the sentiment, but whatthefuckever.

[jjenisis]

The point of the post was to get ideas of small gifts that represent the cheesey side of america not to start an opinion war.

[Hardcoregirl]

The point of the post was to get ideas of small gifts that represent the cheesey side of america not to start an opinion war.

I know, and that wasn't my intention, but I am free to express my opinion in america somewhat, so I though I'd express my views on the confederate flag. I wasn't wanting to argue, just defend my views, and then of course, everyone has to add their's and so on and so on and it gets out of hand.

So, I'll drop it, I'm done. Sounds like a very nice gift basket otherwise.

[creapyrob]

NASCAR is one of the most popular sports in America now. There are just about as many tracks not in the South as there are in the South, and some of the oldest tracks where NASCAR has held events since the beginning are falling out of favor due to their lack of seating.

Bud in cans would be ok, maybe even Bud Lite. Lite beer is very American. Cheap canned beer is almost a must, I'd say old brand is better BUT Steel Reserve 2.0 is pretty good and only fifty cents a can.

Tennessee Whiskey would be a good add (Jack Daniels, George Dickle) cause that is one of America's true homegrown brews.

If you're going for the "Rebel Flag" to be a punk nothing says that like an "American by Birth, Southern by the Grace of God" belt buckles. That outta be punk enough for him even though he's not from the South.

Cowboy boots are not just a Southern thing. If you ride a horse for a living you're pretty much gonna wear pointed toe slip on shoes be they Cowboy boots, ropers, or anything similar.

[jjenisis]

[quote="creapyrob"] .

Bud in cans would be ok, maybe even Bud Lite. Lite beer is very American. Cheap canned beer is almost a must, I'd say old brand is better BUT Steel Reserve 2.0 is pretty good and only fifty cents a can.


.[/quote

OMG they make 50 cent beer??? ]

[Aerick Ravenheart]

Get a copy of TEAM AMERICA: World Police on DVD. This is practical, about $20, and something very funny from the creators of South Park. That's just my idea, but I think it's a good one.

[creapyrob]

OMG they make 50 cent beer??? ]

Steel Reserve is, I think Natty is, Schliz isn't but its close as is Keystone.. There is quite a bit of really cheap beer, but you get what you pay for.

[jjenisis]

Get a copy of TEAM AMERICA: World Police on DVD. This is practical, about $20, and something very funny from the creators of South Park. That's just my idea, but I think it's a good one.

you are the second one to suggest this ...this must be a good one....

you reckon a texas holdum set of cards and chips would be american?

[GJaaGular]

How about an American Flag...

[TheInfiniteMonkey]

Apple pie