lots of good points in this thread, and some stupid ones too... but what can you do?
my take on the confederate flag (written during georgia's discussion over whether to remove the symbol from the flag):
Quote:
starsandbars
yea,
I don’t mind that symbol
that image
bein’ on the state flag
‘cause it reminds me
of a time of
sit-ins and marches,
protest and boycotts,
eloquent leaders
with fire-red hair
and horn-rimmed glasses
or a preaching preacher’s son
stressing nonviolence.
that
blue, red, and white
symbol of your heritage
invokes memories
of sharecroppers in Hope,
standin’ on buses,
colored-only fountains,
restaurant back entrances,
fire hydrant on a
summer day
not for us to run through though.
yea,
your flag
stirs up thoughts of Reconstruction,
grandfather clauses,
Jim Crow laws,
white cloaked white men in the dark of night.
keep it on the state flag
let’s reminisce on
outright oppression
freedom papers and documents,
sugar cane and tobacco fields,
plantation estates,
up with the rising sun
and the going down of the same,
whips, brands, mutilations,
rape of my queens.
yea,
remind us all of being three-fifths human,
middle passage cruises,
bartering and kidnapping
of people to do your work,
build your country,
the country you’re so proud of.
yea,
it’s your heritage
and mine too
I don’t ever wanna forget.
So keep it up
let it fly
over the State Capitol
for eternity
so every time
I ride Eighty-five
I’ll be reminded of
where the fuck I’m from.
|
is the confederate flag truly a symbol of heritage? i wouldn't think so. but people say that it is. but just because you say it so, doesn't make it so. to keep it in perspective, the former governor of georgia, roy barnes, made a concerted effort to remove the confederate flag from the georgia state flag. once it was done, he was called by many in the state a traitor. in cartersville, georgia (about 70 miles north of atlanta) people held up signs that read "barnes = al qaeda" and "barnes is bin laden" in response. that seems/seemed a particulary ignorant and foolish way to want to keep one's heritage around!
many people felt that he lost the election (which current governor sonny perdue won) simply because of the flag issue. of course, these same people are now upset at perdue, because the flag debate didn't go their way. i'm not sure if choosing leadership based on opinion the confederate flag shows how dedicated these southerners are towards their heritage, or just how ignorant they are... but i'm leaning towards the latter, lol.
edit:
as far as this case goes...
the dress looked horribly tacky regardless of the symbol on it.
i'm not sure how 50k helps her (as i doubt she had to seek medical attention for being disallowed to attend the prom; and it didn't stop her from attending college).
unfortunately, i think she'll likely win.