Shaun Kenney | Politics and Religion in Virginia's Public Square

The Virginia Progressive: Damn Proud to be a Virginian
- comment J.R.Hoeft
  
  body
  
  Wow! Nice post, Shaun.
- comment Riley
  
  body
  
  At the rate we're going, the U.S. flag and America as one nation will be quaint relics in the not too distant future.
- comment D.J. McGuire
  
  body
  
  Shaun,
  
  That was the most insightful comment on the Confederacy I have ever seen. Nice work.
- comment Vivian J. Paige
  
  body
  
  Great post, Shaun.
- comment Megan
  
  body
  
  Thought I would make a post just so you could see my mug inset into a rebel flag. If you've never done so, click to enlarge on my profile.
- comment Dan Geroe
  
  body
  
  The part of James' argument that you posted is the only part that I agreed with. No, I don't own a confederate flag, but I can understand why some (like TC) do. I'm proud of my Southern Heritage, and while I do feel sorry that our Southern Leaders of the time didn't have the moral courage to act, I don't think we should forget their other qualities. Jefferson and Washington both owned slaves, and did nothing to change that. Should we forget all that these men have done for our country simply for that fact? I will continue to hold Robert E. Lee in a form of reverence, as I have for quite some time now.
- comment Dan Geroe
  
  body
  
  By the way, Waldo, yes. You are correct in stating that many Confederates fought in the war over slavery. However, it has been estimated by experts that only 5% or so of those who fought in the Civil War owned slaves. So while it was a factor to many, it clearly couldn't have been the most important.
- comment James A. Bacon
  
  body
  
  I can understand those who embrace the Confederate flag for reasons of cultural pride. One of the few demographic groups in the United States it's PC to stereotype negatively is white Southerners. I view the defense of the flag as an in-your-face pushback -- a figurative middle-fingered salute to liberal elites. The more they agitate to get rid of the flag, the more tenaciously people defend it.
  
  But I would argue that, as Virginians, we have a much better flag to display -- the Virginian flag. Motto: Sic Semper Tyrannis... Thus Always to Tyrants. That does a much better job of expressing my value system.
- comment Dvt guy
  
  body
  
  The virginia flag is awesome, for many obvious reasons.
- comment Politicl.Animal
  
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  VC, would you agree that Virginia's flag is well-endowed with awesomeness?


Tuesday, May 02, 2006 The Virginia Progressive: Damn Proud to be a Virginian Why do I like James Martin over at Virginia Progressive? Because of comments like this, in response to Vince Thoms defense of the flying the Confederate battle flag: Vince at Too Conservative says of the Confederate Flag, "People died defending the flag." People died defending the swastika... Should they fly that proudly over Germany? Heh. Yes, I know the history of the Confederate flag. That history will always be a dual one. It was a defense of the indefensible that trampled states rights in its wake. I remember an occasion where someone asked me to wear a Confederate flag lapel sticker. I instantly refused, and the gentleman was shocked. Forced to explain, I told him that no true Southerner would wear the emblem of the Confederacy. Virginia is my home -- Mother of Presidents and the Old Dominion herself. If one truly believed in "states rights", then wear your state seal. I fly the Virginia flag from my home proudly. Its past lives into the present. The Confederate battle flag is a reminder of noble ideas (states rights) being used for ignoble ends (the preservation of slavery). That our forefathers did not have the moral courage to end slavery in the South should be a stark reminder to those who compromise on the moral questions of today. I wonder what symbols and ideas we will consider relics tomorrow? posted by Shaun Kenney \| 5/02/2006 08:00:00 AM \| 10 comments 10 Comments: At 9:29 AM, J.R.Hoeft said... Wow! Nice post, Shaun. At 10:04 AM, Riley said... At the rate we're going, the U.S. flag and America as one nation will be quaint relics in the not too distant future. At 11:19 AM, D.J. McGuire said... Shaun, That was the most insightful comment on the Confederacy I have ever seen. Nice work. At 11:20 AM, Vivian J. Paige said... Great post, Shaun. At 12:03 PM, Megan said... Thought I would make a post just so you could see my mug inset into a rebel flag. If you've never done so, click to enlarge on my profile. At 12:07 PM, Dan Geroe said... The part of James' argument that you posted is the only part that I agreed with. No, I don't own a confederate flag, but I can understand why some (like TC) do. I'm proud of my Southern Heritage, and while I do feel sorry that our Southern Leaders of the time didn't have the moral courage to act, I don't think we should forget their other qualities. Jefferson and Washington both owned slaves, and did nothing to change that. Should we forget all that these men have done for our country simply for that fact? I will continue to hold Robert E. Lee in a form of reverence, as I have for quite some time now. At 12:10 PM, Dan Geroe said... By the way, Waldo, yes. You are correct in stating that many Confederates fought in the war over slavery. However, it has been estimated by experts that only 5% or so of those who fought in the Civil War owned slaves. So while it was a factor to many, it clearly couldn't have been the most important. At 12:59 PM, James A. Bacon said... I can understand those who embrace the Confederate flag for reasons of cultural pride. One of the few demographic groups in the United States it's PC to stereotype negatively is white Southerners. I view the defense of the flag as an in-your-face pushback -- a figurative middle-fingered salute to liberal elites. The more they agitate to get rid of the flag, the more tenaciously people defend it. But I would argue that, as Virginians, we have a much better flag to display -- the Virginian flag. Motto: Sic Semper Tyrannis... Thus Always to Tyrants. That does a much better job of expressing my value system. At 1:21 PM, Dvt guy said... The virginia flag is awesome, for many obvious reasons. At 6:02 PM, Politicl.Animal said... VC, would you agree that Virginia's flag is well-endowed with awesomeness? Post a Comment Home
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