It is an election year next year. I’ve been saying time to clean house for a long time. There has been some positive changes on the national level. Time to focus on the state now.
Good luck!
LakeWashington,
That just further reinforces my point that in comparison to most civil wars in history, the losing side in the US Civil War, Southern Whites who threw in their lot with the Confederacy got off extremely lightly in comparison.
The mere fact they were still powerful and had the influence and numbers to resist reconstruction and later, impose Jim Crow laws and have one of their own resegregate Federal civil service after being elected to the White House shows they weren’t treated anywhere near as harshly as would have happened in other civil wars.
Heck, in most other civil wars, even thinking of flying a flag/emblem of the losing side wouldn’t be contemplated because the negative consequences would be severe and immediate whether it’s a long(sometimes multi-generational) persecution/imprisonment or even risking execution*. In fact, the US is one of the very minute number of societies I know of where flying the flag of the losing side is not only allowed, but even protected by national and state laws. In most other societies, this would be viewed as extremely absurd at best as folks behaving in such a manner would be viewed as treasonous ingrates who need to be harshly punished for not showing loyalty to the winning/ruling government.
- During Chinese Civil War and well into the '90s, flying the Chinese Communist flag in the ROC(Taiwan) or conversely, the Nationalist Chinese flag in Mainland China would mean a long harsh jail term/reeducation with plentiful beatings at the very best. If one wasn't lucky, one could face possible execution along with one's relatives for exhibiting disloyalty to the respective ruling governments.
Emily, folks in SC and Georgia for that matter, know how their representatives feel, since the year 2001 when the politicians took action TO KEEP the flag. The test today is whether or not the pols realize that this tide has now become a tidal wave, thanks in large part to those 9 good souls and their families whom forgave the racist dingbat Dylann Roof. In this vein Senator Lindsey Graham’s interview yesterday was quite astounding, as he was steadfast against removing the Stars and Bars a little over I week ago.
“5 Days That Left a Confederate Flag Wavering, and Likely to Fall”
Just for clarification: the “Stars and Bars” refers to the first official flag of the Confederate States of America. It is not the same as the Confederate Battle Flag.
“Emily, folks in SC and Georgia for that matter, know how their representatives feel, since the year 2001 when the politicians took action TO KEEP the flag.”
Of course they know how the feel and, imo, the people obviously approved of the stance they took. Now we will see how they vote on the issue this time and what, if any, consequences there will be for those who vote for keeping the flag raised. Frankly, I have my doubts removing the flag will pass and I have my doubts that the people will kick those who vote no to the curb in the next election. I do hope I am wrong.
I think if SC votes not to remove the flag, a campaign to push corporations to move their businesses out of the state will be next. Boeing and BMW would probably be high on the list of companies pressured.
I am not 100% convinced either, Emily. The politics there have been rather polarized for years. For example, there’s only one Democrat in the Congressional delegation and it’s James Clyburn, an African-American. Former and one-term Republican Governor David Beasley was defeated in his bid for re-election, in large part because the pro-Confederates were angry at his plan to remove the Confederate battle flag…and the guy was a fairly conservative faith-based politician.
NoVADad, I never received a reply to the “protest letter” I sent to Boeing last week. Hats off to Michelin for their explicit public statement opposing the Confederate flag.
Boeing specifically moved the 787 production line to SC to get around the unions in Washington state. I think much more pressure would be required to make them reconsider.
From the article I linked to in #724:
Obviously, it’s still not assured, but it seems like Gov. Haley really saw the proverbial handwriting on the wall. I’m not a Republican, but I think she deserves kudos for recognizing what will probably be the best opportunity to do away with that flag during her term in office.
I keep being told the the people of South Carolina aren’t how some of us are portraying them, so I do hope they prove me wrong. We shall see soon enough.
Boeing reportedly has invested over $750 million in its North Charleston Dreamliner facility. Even if it wants to move, I doubt it would be economically feasible to do so. More importantly, African Americans make up nearly 46% of North Charleston’s population, and a significant number are employed by Boeing. If Boeing relocates, it would undoubtedly hurt the area economy as a whole and send a message, but the most direct negative effects would be felt by the residents of North Charleston. I think Boeing should exert its influence regarding removal of the flag, but stop short of relocating if the desired outcome is not achieved.
Boeing won’t relocate and I’d be surprised if they apply pressure. The good people at the top have left the building and it’s run by soulless penny pinchers now. They WANT the race to the bottom. getting down off soap box
Overtheedge and Saintfan, I agree with both of you.
I doubt that Boeing will pull up the stakes it has sunk into the Dreamliner project in South Carolina. But I wrote my letter knowing that the rank-and-file’s contentious relationship Boeing management wouldn’t get any better in the absence of some kind of responsible statement from the company about the Confederate flag matter. One advantage for we anti-flag folks is that Boeing really doesn’t need another headache, not with all the quality control problems at the North Charleston plant. And by the way, the Governor of Washington State knows that Boeing needs to keep labor peace at its Washington facilities, as the State has invested the largest public subsidy on record in Boeing (last year). Boeing employees in Washington might find the flag issue in SC a convenient thumb to stick in Boeing’s eye. And there is no love lost between Boeing Seattle and Boeing SC because of the non-union status at the North Charleston facility. The IAM union is again trying to organize the Charleston plant, a result Boeing desperately wants to avoid.
Good point LakeWashington. I can see where keeping the rank and file happy on the flag issue would serve Boeing’s interests with regard to the union situation.
Maybe this will light a fire under some of the “proud southern heritage folks” . . . if you aren’t with them you need to be against them. There is no middle ground with the KKK.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/30/kkk-south-carolina-confederate_n_7695738.html
Will they be wearing their robes and hoods? Yes? Excellent!
If the self proclaimed “largest klan chapter in America” rallys on the grounds of the South Carolina state house to publically protest the removal of the CBF, thereby negating in spectacular fashion every specious claim that the flag does not represent racism and oppression, SC lawmakers will have no other choice than to do exactly that.
I’ll bet this same group also fully subscribes to Herrnstein and Murray’s idea that they represent the race endowed with superior intelligence.
OMG, why can’t I stop laughing? :))
Yes, those optics will be interesting indeed.