Sigh.
Vice President Dick Cheney went hunting at a private club.
Here in Texas, almost all hunting is done on private leases, many run by hunting clubs. No big deal.
Thankfully, on this particular trip, nobody got shot in the face (or elsewhere). But thanks to the race-hustling of the Rev. Big Al Sharpton — a controversy is being whipped up in the Lefty-o-sphere because —OH MY GOD — a Confederate flag was found at the hunting club.
Not all Lefties are in a twit about the fake flag-outrage. From the guys at Wonkette (it is a bunch of dudes writing in place of Ann Marie now, isn’t it? I can’t keep up.) :
While Cheney was going around shooting pelicans or whatever, some rascal New York Daily News photographer went searching the club’s maintenance sheds for bits of racism and discovered a 3-by-5 foot Confederate flag. The Daily News notified Brooklyn’s own Greasy Bear Al Sharpton, and a fake scandal has ensued. Sharpton is of course OUTRAGED. Who could imagine that Dick Cheney, of all people, would patronize a club where the lawn mower dude keeps a little racist flag in his shed? The Reverend told the Daily News that in effect, he’s considering doing one of his by-the-numbers symbolo-responses
Al “Greasy Bear” Sharpton. Now that’s funny!
Can someone remind me again of what Rev. Greasy Bear actually does for a living? I mean — where and how does this guy pull a paycheck?
Yeah, this is dumb.
I get in arguments about this with those more radically left than I all the time: it’s not illegal to BE racist. That basically equates to passing laws about thinking. Just as you can’t murder someone with a gun, but you can own and operate one (in designated areas), you can’t beat someone up because you hate black people, but assault is a crime.
It’s amazing how many people can’t grasp this really simple fact.
That being said, I don’t think owning a confederate flag automatically designates you as a racist: lots of people display them as symbols of southern pride (which does NOT equate to white supremacy thank you very much), or just to wig out way-too-touchy PC idiots (like my old roommate).
Henh.
At least it’s not dog pooh!
As for the matter of the confederate flag itself, I assume it must have been the flag known as the “Battle Flag,” as the CSA used a number of different flags throughout it’s existence, as described in this link.
As a Son of a Confederate Veteran, the legacy passed down has been one of freedom, not hate or slavery. My ancestors were farmers and pulp wooders, and never owned slaves, and didn’t want to. When the Federal Government refused to observe state rights, blockaded southern ports, and held the money of the south in the banks of the north, it was too much. They fought for freedom and states rights, and even Abe Lincoln said he would tolerate slavery if he could keep the nation united. Because of the myths and legends surrounding that era, and only the worst aspects of the turmoil taught or espoused, it’s not difficult to understand why so many view the “Battle Flag” as a symbol of hate, and I might agree that it is, but we would most likely disagree on who the haters actually are. That slavery is and was a despicable practice, cannot be denied, but I don’t feel any guilt for the behavior of the people who actually practiced it…I wasn’t there. If I had been, I would have most likely behaved as my ancestors did. I believe in freedom…the natural yearning of man.
So you feel pride in the Confederate cause from 150 years ago, but no guilt. Must be nice to be able to pick and choose what parts of your ancestry you wish to embrace and what parts you get to just sluff off.
slavery was only one part of the civil war…it was mainly about states rights. and the right of a state to determine its own destiny and to limit the size of the federal governement…it was also about the north not wanting the south to become an ecomonic power. but people only ever want to bring up slavery..damn shame we are still talking about that. also damn shame we see states TODAY still being continuously strong armed by the fed to do it’s bidding or no highway funds..blah blah..seems like to me that part of it the south had right. we need more states rights and a very small federal government. but alas the world seems to be lurching to more and more of a nanny state..and the fed keeps growing and growing like cancer. and now has turned into a jobs program for bone heads that can’t get a job in the private sector. not even the current crop of republicans are doing anything about it..bush has spent more than any democrate ever dreamed of spending, look at how many federal programs have bloated under his rule…what a lame excuse for a conservative.
To commentator #3, I’m pleased to know that my refusal to feel guilt for something I was never involved in, displeases you.
As for me feeling pride in the Confederate cause, absolutely!
Since you obviously didn’t click on the SCV link, here’s a brief quote from Abe Lincoln.
Good luck with finding someone to feel guilty for things you want them to, or that some reason, you feel guilty about.
Maybe one day you can be just like me, and sleep soundly and peacefully, at night.