Saturday, December 31, 2005

Chunky Chicks and Battleflags, The SCV story



More news from the Sons of Confederate Veterans that reminds me that my decision to leave the group was correct. At the October meeting of the SCV General Executive Council, they voted to give $4000 to aid in a lawsuit filed in Kentucky on behalf of Jacqueline Duty.

Jacqueline Duty? I didn't recognize the name either, so Google came to the rescue. Duty is a Kentucky high school student who was barred from attending her prom in a dress fashioned after the best known Confederate battle flag. The school administration claimed that the dress would have been disruptive. I was familiar with the incident, I just didn't remember her name.

This is a perfect example of the mindless incidents in which the SCV has chosen to get involved. Why bother? The reasonable response to the Duty debacle, "A pox on both your houses!"

Let's look at this logically. Ms. Duty claims that her dress represents her heritage and that she has the right to wear it. Naturally, the SCV agrees with Ms. Duty. Let's give Ms. Duty a test on the Confederacy and the Civil War. To wear the dress, she needs to score 90% or better. Let's suppose, for just a moment, that Ms. Duty is actually informed about her heritage. If she actually reveres and seeks to honor this flag, why make a dress of it?? Will her boyfriend hanging all over the flag during the prom honor it? If the dress is removed for post prom activities, will she fold the flag/dress carefully or just let it drop to the floor? I could start comparisons to Monica Lewinsky's famous blue dress, but by now even the most slow witted among you have the idea.

Now let's talk about the school administrators. Fellows, here's your test about Confederate flags, the Civil War, and Reconstruction. Since you are "educators", you have to score 95% to continue. After you finish your test, try these questions. Hey guys, did you screen everyone's dress before the prom?? Or did you just check those dumb enough to tell the world that they were wearing battleflags? How do you define "disruptive"? I see girls going to school in jeans that are so low slung that they are walking ads for laser hair removal. Isn't that disruptive? Have you listened to the lyrics of all the music that was played at the prom? Forget the music at the prom, how about your marching band bumping and grinding across the field at halftime? Do you even want to talk about cheerleaders?? Wait, I digress, let's get back to the prom. How about prom dresses that are low cut exposing more than average cleavage? Bad news about your standard for "disruptive" fellows, but if it's a tossup between exposed breasts and the Confederate battleflag, guess what's winning. If you guessed flag, check out the Viagra ads.

As you can see, it's a no-win situation. I've chosen not to participate.

Monday, December 12, 2005

'Tis the Season


Today, proof positive that I live in the South. As my son and I left the restaurant this afternoon, we passed through an adjacent, decidedly upscale neighborhood. And what to my wondering eyes should appear but a Port-a-Jon decked out in holiday cheer. Yes, there it was in all it's glory, complete with garland and bow. There may have been a string of lights, but it was still daylight, so I am not sure about that.

Maybe tomorrow I will post a picture for those of you looking for last minute yard art inspiration for Christmas. In the meantime, you are limited only by your imagination.

Merry Christmas!!!

Friday, December 02, 2005

Hate, Not Heritage, The SCV Story

An E-mail came my way the other day that had been authored by a minister, living in Switzerland, who had been a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. In his report, he detailed some of the problems that the SCV has today and the direction in which they appear to be headed. After researching the situation and interviewing some members on a trip to the United States, he resigned his membership in the Sons.

He spoke to Anthony Hodges, Lt. Commander of the SCV until recently, about his experiences. Dr. Hodges spoke of the many threats that he had received when he challenged the leadership of the SCV. Apparently, Dr. Hodges had not communicated with myself or anyone else who had the audacity to challenge the SCV leadership. Many of us have all had similar experiences. You know, the usual things that you would expect from a group of folks like SCV members who claim to share an interest in history, such as obscene calls, anonymous e-mails, death threats, threats against your family, and threats by mail. It is interesting that the SCV continues to deny that their members would do such things, but people keep having similar experiences when they challenge the leadership of the SCV. I guess the idea that those SCV boys are "Southern Gentlemen" is pretty short on credibility.

My personal favorite experience in this department happened in July of 2002 after I was interviewed and appeared on the CBS Evening News. Two days later at work I got a call from a "Southern Gentleman" who told me "If I see you on TV again saying anything else about the SCV, I'm gonna come down there and kill you and whip your ass." I started by explaining to him that he had his order of violence confused. There was no need to "whip my ass" if he was going to "come down and kill me" first. He didn't share my humor in the situation, so I told him how to find the restaurant and closed by telling him, "I'm the fat, bald, son of a bitch with the gun in my pocket, come on down!" Either he changed his mind or he's lost in traffic out on I-40.

So a brief note to Dr. Hodges, I doubt that any of those cowards will act on their threats. But just to be sure, my friend Mr. Ruger is always by my side.