Monday, October 23, 2006
The Georgia State Flag Gambit
Most people don't know that the Confederate States of America had three official flags: The Stars and Bars (with varying numbers of stars)--the one on the left has 13 which means it included Missouri and Tennessee; 
the Stainless Banner which was, of course, the battle flag (also with 13 stars) in the corner of a white flag;
and, the third version which was the second version with a big red stripe at the trailing edge (so it didn't look so much like a surrender flag which, given when it was adopted, April, 1865, they should have striven to make it look more like). The Confederate battle flag, alas, has become at the hands of Democrat members of the Klu Klux Klan (which is almost all of the Klan through the century plus of its existence), a racist symbol. That's not good.We sons of Virginia and the Confederacy, who wish to show that we are proud of the fighting prowess and semi-libertarian sympathies (but not the slave part) of the Confederacy are estopped from using the Confederate battle flag for fear of being associated with the Democrat racists. What to do? My father and I have decided to show the Stars and Bars and fly it only on the day Virginia seceded from the Union, April 17.
No one will know what the Stars and Bars is, and no one will complain and we will have honored our forefathers: Harvey D. Fraley (October 29, 1839 --July 11, 1933), who joined the 51st Virginia Infantry on July 16, 1861, fought in the Kanawha Valley Campaign in 1861 and 1862, at Fort Donelson in Tennessee in February, 1862, with 'Old Pete' Longstreet in East Tennessee in the winter of 1863-64, at New Market, VA in mid May, 1864, at Cold Harbor, VA in May and June 1864, marched with Jubal Early towards Washington DC in Summer, 1864, fought at Winchester, VA in September, 1864, was captured March 2, 1865 at Waynesboro, VA by forces under Phil Sheridan and spent the next few months as a POW at Point Lookout, MD until he gave his Qath of Allegiance to the United States on June 20, 1865 and got to go home; and, Martin P. Fraley, who enlisted June 3, 1861 in the 50th Virginia Infantry and fought in the Kanawha Valley and at Fort Donelson and also at Chancellorsville, VA in May, 1863 and was killed on the second day of Gettysburg (July 3, 1863) when, under General Edward Johnson's Division of the Second Corp, he attacked Culp's hill (the north flank of the Union line).
Georgia it turns out has employed the same strategy in its state flag controversy. Georgia used to incorporate the battle flag into the state flag; look left. Now, after an interim flag for a few years, it uses the Stars and Bars with the center of the state seal in the circle of stars; see below. It's a sound compromise. Heard any complaints about the racist Georgia flag lately?
# posted by Roger Fraley @ 7:19 PM 
Comments:
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Mr Fraley
Your history is close. A 'Leaner' in Horseshoes or a mild concussion in a Hand grenade toss.
The Confederate Battle Flag (CBF) was 'hijacked' by Strom Thurmond and the Dixiecrats in 1948 in their failed bid for the White House. Then some members of the 2nd version of the KKK and other citizens began using it to protest Federal Intervention and Civil Rights in the late '50's. NOT the majority of the time of their existance as you state. Close though!
The 3rd National Confederate Flag was adopted in March '65, and is the current Confederate National Flag, as the CSA Govt NEVER surrendered - only the armies did, and even then the Confederate Indian Tribes signed a cease fire agreement, not a surrender.
I, like you, am a Virginia son. Born in Newport News, raised in Hampton, and married in Williamsburg. I am also in the SCV and a Southern Heritage activist currently living in Georgia.
I am well studied in the 1956 flag, the history and it's demise.
I fly the 1956 Georgia state flag and a Confederate Naval Jack daily. On January 19th, I fly the General R E Lee's HQ flag. During April I fly at least 25 different Confederate Battle and National flags. On Confederate Memorial Day I fly 3 CBFs.
I understand that 99% of humans fail to recognize the 1st National as a Confederate Flag, and I also fly it on occaisions, but I do not fly it by itself alone to avoid offending someone who drives by.
That is NOT the reason why Georgia switched to the Stars and Bars look alike flag.
I could fill pages full of the history of why Georgia now has the faux 1st National, but here is a thumbnail sketch.
2001, Gov Barnes forces change of 56 flag in less than 1 week without public comment.
2002, Gov Candidate Perdue promises, if elected, he will allow a Flag Vote referendum that will include the 56 as an option.
At this time, the only 2 flags in question were the 56 flag and the 01 flag.
Nov 2002, Perdue is elected 1st Repub Gov in Ga in 132 years. Media states it was the anger over the flag loss.
January 2003, legislators begin talking about a new flag, based on artwork on a Confederate Veteran Magazine.
March 2003, a whole new state flag is unveiled. '01 flag is removed by Executive order. Flag referendum is proposed for '04 - but will now include 3 options...
2004, legislature drops the 56 flag as an option to get democrat support of a 15 cent tax increase on tobacco.
The 04 flag referendum is now simply a beauty contest between the flags of 1 former democrat Gov and the current Repub Gov. Less than 18% of all registered Georgia Voters turn out and pick the Perdue flag.
The new flag was created solely for the purpose of disenfranchising the majority of the citizens who had booted Barnes and elected Perdue.
Currently a hot contest is running between Perdue and democrat Gov candidate Taylor. The reason is because everyone who voted Perdue on the flag vote was stabbed in the back and are not voting Perdue this time.
IF Perdue loses and Taylor wins - the reason will be over the 1956 Flag.
Post a Comment
Your history is close. A 'Leaner' in Horseshoes or a mild concussion in a Hand grenade toss.
The Confederate Battle Flag (CBF) was 'hijacked' by Strom Thurmond and the Dixiecrats in 1948 in their failed bid for the White House. Then some members of the 2nd version of the KKK and other citizens began using it to protest Federal Intervention and Civil Rights in the late '50's. NOT the majority of the time of their existance as you state. Close though!
The 3rd National Confederate Flag was adopted in March '65, and is the current Confederate National Flag, as the CSA Govt NEVER surrendered - only the armies did, and even then the Confederate Indian Tribes signed a cease fire agreement, not a surrender.
I, like you, am a Virginia son. Born in Newport News, raised in Hampton, and married in Williamsburg. I am also in the SCV and a Southern Heritage activist currently living in Georgia.
I am well studied in the 1956 flag, the history and it's demise.
I fly the 1956 Georgia state flag and a Confederate Naval Jack daily. On January 19th, I fly the General R E Lee's HQ flag. During April I fly at least 25 different Confederate Battle and National flags. On Confederate Memorial Day I fly 3 CBFs.
I understand that 99% of humans fail to recognize the 1st National as a Confederate Flag, and I also fly it on occaisions, but I do not fly it by itself alone to avoid offending someone who drives by.
That is NOT the reason why Georgia switched to the Stars and Bars look alike flag.
I could fill pages full of the history of why Georgia now has the faux 1st National, but here is a thumbnail sketch.
2001, Gov Barnes forces change of 56 flag in less than 1 week without public comment.
2002, Gov Candidate Perdue promises, if elected, he will allow a Flag Vote referendum that will include the 56 as an option.
At this time, the only 2 flags in question were the 56 flag and the 01 flag.
Nov 2002, Perdue is elected 1st Repub Gov in Ga in 132 years. Media states it was the anger over the flag loss.
January 2003, legislators begin talking about a new flag, based on artwork on a Confederate Veteran Magazine.
March 2003, a whole new state flag is unveiled. '01 flag is removed by Executive order. Flag referendum is proposed for '04 - but will now include 3 options...
2004, legislature drops the 56 flag as an option to get democrat support of a 15 cent tax increase on tobacco.
The 04 flag referendum is now simply a beauty contest between the flags of 1 former democrat Gov and the current Repub Gov. Less than 18% of all registered Georgia Voters turn out and pick the Perdue flag.
The new flag was created solely for the purpose of disenfranchising the majority of the citizens who had booted Barnes and elected Perdue.
Currently a hot contest is running between Perdue and democrat Gov candidate Taylor. The reason is because everyone who voted Perdue on the flag vote was stabbed in the back and are not voting Perdue this time.
IF Perdue loses and Taylor wins - the reason will be over the 1956 Flag.
# posted by 
: 1:41 PM
: 1:41 PM << Home
