[Vision2020] Flag Display Was Disturbing

Tue Nov 22 23:45:45 PST 2005

    I do not like the Confederate flag. I do not like it because  it was adopted by hate groups like the Klu Klux Klan. Bigots have taken that  flag, embraced it, and called it their own, and in doing so soiled it and damaged it beyond repair.

  To millions of Americans, when they see that flag, they think the supporters of  it, and the bearers of it are necessarily bigots, racists, and KKK supporters.  This is not the case most the time. Most the time, they are people that are  proud of their southern culture and heritage.

  People from the southern United    States have many things to be proud, mostly  of course their food, music, and hospitality. However, slavery, Jim Crow laws,  and the KKK are not among those things to be boastful. For individuals to think  that Southern Culture is only about suppression of others are bigoted  themselves, for they are wrong. Let us also not forget that the US flag has  also sponsored slavery, slaughter of Native Indians,  suppression of  women, gays and lesbians, Asians, and Latin Americans, not to mention all of  our wars and military aggression against other nations and peoples for the last  two hundred years. The Christian cross has also been the symbol used for the  slaughter of millions of innocents over thousands of years. Yet, we do not call  foul when someone displays a cross or American flag. And in embracing them we  do not say that we support the bad things of American and Christian history, we  are saying we only support the good things about t!
 hem. 

  Like all symbols, the Confederate flag means different things to different  people. I personally think that when you tell someone that opposes  discrimination that hangs the Confederate flag to take it down, you are telling  them that their culture and heritage means nothing and they should be ashamed  of who they are. But on the other hand, when someone puts it up, it implies to  many people that the person supports bigotry and racism and that is offensive  to others, particularly Black Americans. To say one is wrong for feeling the  way they do about a flag or symbol will get people nowhere quickly. Everyone  has the right to feel how they want to.

  My thinking is that both sides need to try and see the other side of the issue.  It might also be wise for those that wish to show their Southern Pride without  offending others should find a flag or symbol that represents southern history  that has not been adopted and corrupted by hate groups. I think it does them a  great injustice to associate themselves in anyway with a hate group, be it a  flag, symbol or motto.

  Take Care,

  Donovan J Arnold

Ellen Roskovich <gussie443 at hotmail.com> wrote:    Did someone say it was illegal?  
  Some people find the confederate flag offensive  and in bad taste.  It is viewed as a symbol that represents ideas  that have about as much place in Moscow as does a swastika.
  Ellen Roskovich

---------------------------------

From:  "Pat Kraut" <pkraut at moscow.com>
To:  "vision2020" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Subject:  Re: [Vision2020] Flag Display Was Disturbing
Date:  Tue, 22 Nov 2005 20:36:36 -0800
>I did not realize it was illegal to display the confederate flag.
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Tom Hansen" <thansen at moscow.com>
>To: "'Tom Hansen'" <thansen at moscow.com>; "'Moscow Vision 2020'"
><vision2020 at moscow.com>
>Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2005 4:00 PM
>Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Flag Display Was Disturbing
>
>
>And another thing, Visionaires -
>
>It should also be noted that the Confederate flag has not only been on
>display at such events as detailed by members of the Irish music   band
>Potatohead, it has also been proudly displayed during a lecture presented by
>Paul Kimmel at a Moscow Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Annual
>Retreat conducted on August 5, 2004.
>
>http://www.tomandrodna.com/notonthepalouse/Kimmell/Index.htm
>
>Take care,
>
>Tom Hansen
>
>  "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving
>safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in
>sideways, chocolate in one hand, a drink in the other, body thoroughly used
>up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO. What a ride!'"
>
>-----Original Message-----
>
>From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
>On Behalf Of Tom Hansen
>Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2005 3:53 PM
>To: Moscow   Vision 2020
>Subject: [Vision2020] Flag Display Was Disturbing
>
> >From today's (November 22, 2005) Moscow-Pullman Daily News with a special
>thanks to Paul Smith (Palouse), Lisa O'Leary (Moscow), and John Watkinson
>(Moscow).
>
>--------------------------------------------------
>
>Flag display was disturbing
>
>We are members of a local traditional Irish music band, Potatohead. Though
>it was never entirely clear whether we were hired by Christ Church or New
>Saint Andrews College, we performed for dances held by some combination of
>these organizations for several years in the late 1990s.
>Twice we were hired to provide music for Fourth of July picnic/dances held
>in public parks, and these events included people from Christ Church, New
>Saint Andrews College, and Logos   School.
>
>In every respect, these events were precisely the sort of "social event"
>discussed by the recent letters to the editor by Nick Gier (Opinion, Oct.
>20) and Superintendent Tom Garfield of Logos School (Opinion, Nov. 9). In
>light of this debate, we felt that we must make public our experience at the
>Fourth of July picnic held in 2000 at Ghormley Park in Moscow.
>
>When we arrived at the park, the stage on which we were to play had a huge
>Confederate battle flag as its backdrop. We insisted that the Confederate
>flag be removed and received passionate arguments why this flag belonged in
>this event, from both adults and students. It was not until we gave them the
>ultimatum they could have either their Confederate flag or live music, but
>not both, that they agreed to remove the Confederate flag   from the stage.
>
>We resolved never to play for these organizations again, nor have they asked
>us. Contrary to Garfield's assertion in his letter that the Confederate flag
>is not displayed in any social occasions by these organizations, this is at
>least one occasion when this disturbing symbol was prominently displayed and
>defended.
>
>Paul Smith, Palouse
>
>Lisa O'Leary, Moscow
>
>John Watkinson, Moscow.
>
>Two other people also signed this letter.
>
>-------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Thanks again, Paul, Lisa, and John.
>
>Footnote:  The Confederate flag is obsolete and so is the philosophy it
>represents.  Let's take it down and leave it on Doug Wilson's keyboard where
>it belongs,   ok?
>
>Take care, Moscow.
>
>Tom Hansen
>Moscow, Idaho
>
>"If not us, who?
>If not now, when?"
>
>- Unknown
>
>
>
>_____________________________________________________
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>           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>/////////////////////////////////////////////////////
>
>
>
>_____________________________________________________
>  List services made available by First Step Internet,
>  serving the communities of the Palouse since   1994.
>                http://www.fsr.net
>           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
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>
>_____________________________________________________
>  List services made available by First Step Internet,
>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>                http://www.fsr.net
>           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

_____________________________________________________
 List services made available by First Step Internet, 
 serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.   
               http://www.fsr.net                       
          mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
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