A Kentucky Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) camp is going to erect a Confederate flag along a major Interstate, making a statement about the heritage, culture and identity of the area. This, of course, is one way that Southerners can effectively ‘claim’ territory. Naturally, each culture and ethnic group on earth needs its own territory to survive in the long-run, and therefore this move by the Kentucky SCV is certainly applauded by Southern nationalists, even if the SCV only views the flag as ‘historic.’ Fox News has the story:
A Confederate history organization has put up a flagpole in western Kentucky near Interstate 24 and plans to fly a large battle flag.
The pole is on private land in Reidland at exit 16.
The Paducah Sun reported Kentucky division commander John Suttles of the Sons of Confederate Veterans said the land for a memorial park was donated by a man who had Confederate ancestors.
Suttles said the park will contain, besides the flagpole, benches and a circle of bricks to represent fallen Confederate soldiers.
“We are doing this to honor ancestors,” Suttles said. “It’s the 150th anniversary of the war for Southern independence. People may have mixed feelings about this, but it is historic.”
Notice the resistance from a local scalawag judge though, although he admits he doesn’t have the legal power to stop the SCV.
McCracken County Judge-Executive Van Newberry said that doesn’t mean people seeing it won’t form opinions about Paducah.
“There are people that view that flag with disdain,” Newberry said. “It’s going to be seen by travelers, and we don’t need that. That’s unfortunate.”
But he said as long as the group follows county code as they are putting it up, it is protected by the First Amendment.
The more the merrier. Posted.
As a native son of Kentucky, my joy is overwhelming. Additionally, I opine that Mr. Newberry may be more comfortable on the other side of the Ohio.
Deo Vindice
This one’s for Mr. Newberry:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBsJG9G6Fpo
Smoke that, scalawag.