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Black College Student Wins Fight to Display Confederate Flag in Dorm Room

Black College Student Wins Fight to Display Confederate Flag in Dorm Room | Byron Thomas | University of South Carolina Beaufort

Byron Thomas, a 19-year-old freshman at the University of South Carolina Beaufort, will be allowed to display a Confederate flag in his dorm room after his school first told hm to take it down. (Image source: Beaufort Gazette)

A black college student has won the fight to keep a Confederate flag in his dorm room after school officials initially told him to take it down.

The University of South Carolina Beaufort told 19-year-old Byron Thomas on Thursday he could keep the flag up, after the freshman was told two weeks ago to remove it because of student complaints.

University spokeswoman Candace Brasseur told the Beaufort Gazette Thomas was initially asked to remove the flag because it violates a student code of conduct discouraging bigotry, but the school’s legal counsel ultimately advised the university to allow him to display the flag.

When he was first told in November to take the flag down, Thomas posted a four-minute video on YouTube saying he views the Confederate flag as a sign of Southern pride, not of racism, and was not going to remove it. The video was re-posted on CNN’s iReport, where it has been viewed more than 70,000 times.

“It’s not racist for me,” Thomas, a Georgia native, said in the video. “All it is is a symbol that I see as a sign of respect, and people don’t want to see it that way.”

Before the school relented, Thomas said he felt his First Amendment rights were being violated, and said he considered legal action if he was not allowed to display the flag.

Black College Student Wins Fight to Display Confederate Flag in Dorm Room | Byron Thomas | University of South Carolina Beaufort

Byron Thomas uploaded a video about his decision not to remove the flag, which was viewed more than 70,000 times. (Image source: YouTube)

A class project made him come to the realization that the flag’s real meaning has been hijacked, he told the Associated Press in an interview. He said he wants people to carefully consider issues of race and not just have knee-jerk reactions to symbols.

“When I look at this flag, I don’t see racism. I see respect, Southern pride,” he told the AP. “This flag was seen as a communication symbol” during the Civil War.

Thomas said he also dislikes the term “African American” because it makes him feel like a half-citizen.

“I was not born in Africa, I was born in Augusta, Georgia,” he said in the video.

Thomas said he’s received a huge outpouring of support since the ordeal began.

“I’ve been getting a lot of support from people. My generation is interested in freedom of speech,” Thomas said.

He said he talked to his parents — who grew up amid the Civil Rights movement — once the uproar started and said they weren’t happy about his decision to display it, though that probably won’t keep him from putting it up again.

“I don’t want to make my parents mad,” he said. “I may wait until Monday to put it up.”

Comments (363)

  • Echelon
    Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:42am

    This young man is outstanding for first of all, recognizing that the confederate flag does not equal racism, and second, for standing up for his rights. I fully support his decision, and also respect the fact that he acknowledges the flag for what it stood for – southern pride, not slavery. Byron gets it, now if only the Ignorant Al Sharpton would get it also. Brother Al has mad millions over the years spewing his hate speech.

    Echelon  
    • smithclar3nc3
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 12:02pm

      To most people in the south it’s a REBEL FLAG, Not a confederate flag. It‘s a symbol of defiance in the face of Tyranny and it will be flown again if the Government doesn’t back off alot.

       
    • Stoic one
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 12:26pm

      HERE! HERE!

      cap

      Report Post » Stoic one  
    • VoteBushIn12
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 12:55pm

      “Brother Al has mad millions over the years spewing his hate speech.”

      Sounds like someone else I know of…

      “Glenn Beck has mad millions over the years spewing his hate speech.”

      VoteBushIn12  
    • GardenoftheGods
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:07pm

      Young men like this give me hope that MLK’s dream of character over skin color can come true. Keep up the great work Byron Thomas! Teach your friends well!

      Report Post » GardenoftheGods  
    • 4xeverything
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:46pm

      @votebushin12

      I was wondering if you have any proof of your statement? I’ll go ahead and answer that for you…NO!

      Why don’t you use your freedom of speech to put forth the truth instead of spewing lies? It can’t feel good at the end of the day to be so hateful.

      Report Post » 4xeverything  
    • demint.disciple
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:49pm

      Sorry to say but, had he been white not only would he lose the right to fly the flag he would’ve been expelled and arrested too..

      Report Post » demint.disciple  
    • Lesterp
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:51pm

      Vote, You must be talking about a different Glenn Beck. I have watched and listened to him for 8 years and never heard one hateful thing come from him. You just parrot what all libs do, mindless fools!

      Report Post » Lesterp  
    • Truthurts
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:01pm

      Thank God! As long as we see more and more young Americans like Byron Thomas, that can truly think for themselves, seeing through the B.S. taught in the public schools and spewed by the marx-media, then there is hope for this country. Hallelujah! This guy looks like someone I could vote for in about ten to twenty years.

      To VOTEBUSHIN12:

      Who the hell are you quoting?

      Report Post » Truthurts  
    • ESmith7
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:06pm

      This flag DOES represent racism…. The Confederate States of America’s Constitution read, “No bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law denying or impairing the right of property in ***** slaves shall be passed by Congress.”

      I know some of you think this flag represents States Rights. If it did, than the Confederate Constitution would’ve granted states rights to the slave holding states to become free states. However, it forbid the states right to do so. To remain in the Confederacy, the state must stay a slave holding state.

      Report Post »  
    • Marci
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:06pm

      Exactly Echelon–this young man is an example to all Americans. Our politicians and *hacktivists* have perpetuated the racial discord to keep Americans divided in order to achieve their causes. This young man understands what this country is about. Furthermore, something tells me if he displayed a Che flag or the sickle/hammer, no one would ask it to be removed–both which symbolize murder and tyranny.

      Report Post » Marci  
    • godlovinmom
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:15pm

      I also like the statement he made about not being an african american…my 12 year old daughter asked me the very same thing..why are they called african american, native american and so on…aren’t we all Americans now…I reply…most of us!…apparently this kid is gonna go places and not let the wight of the libral mindset keep him down…good for him!

      Report Post » godlovinmom  
    • Vechorik
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:39pm

      He is a patriot.

      The Mississippi flag has the “stars and bars” as part of the symbol. Leftist groups across America made it a point to wipe it from the face of the earth — saying it is racist. It’s not — but Alabama lost their flag entirely, as it was entirely “stars and bars” As for the Mississippi flag, we still have it. Why?

      A black man who was part of civil war re-enactment groups, knew his history well. He took a personal affront and went all over Mississippi lecturing about the history behind the flag and “you can’t change history.” and educated voters that the flag was NOT racist. Voters got to determine if there was a new flag and they voted to keep the flag that showed stars and bars. Black and white people voted to keep their state flag.

      Even today, activitist groups come into Mississippi, waging war against the “stars and bars” flags which are still flown in cemeteries of Confederate Soldiers. I say — you can’t change history.

      Report Post »  
    • UnreconstructedLibertarian
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:42pm

      My hat is off to this young man. I’ve been following his story for about 3 days now, and watching as more facts keep coming in – even more than is included in this report on TheBlaze.

      Mr. Thomas made his decision based upon a history assignment, and after reviewing primary sources – decided the conflict was about much more than slavery. That slavery existed on both sides with the same protections and that the core differences were based upon the proper role of government as intended by the Founders. In his opinion, the Founders vision was held by the Confederacy – not the Union.

      Pay close attention to the vehement detractors amongst this thread and consider how many times you agree with them on other isuses apart from the conflict in queston – you just might open yourself to a very important truth.

      To top it all off, this kid has found his black Confederate ancestor – and is going to join the SCV. I say “welcome”, now lets get back to the issues of historical relevence we all can agree on applying to our modern dillemma. The Confederates had much more right than they had wrong.

      Report Post » UnreconstructedLibertarian  
    • rock-n-roll-rebel
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:44pm

      Although I can appreciate and support the right to free speech and expression I do have to say that this young man has it wrong. Of course the southern slave owners didn’t want to admit that they were fighting a war over black people, they didn’t want to admit it because they wanted to slant history but that is what the war was about. The confederates were traitors of this country and the Declaration of Independence, they were fighting so they could keep their free labor and keep and entire race of people in bondage. Fly the flag if you want to but don’t buy Southern revisionist history.

      We hold these truths to be self-evident, that ALL men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.
      I will stand with the stars and stripes.

      Report Post » rock-n-roll-rebel  
    • Truthurts
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:12pm

      Hey RNR Rebel,

      Your opinion is a product of revisionist history. The Civil War was fought by Confederate non-slave owners. Do some research. You can start here:

      http://lincolnstudies.blogspot.com/2008/06/joseph-t-glatthaar-general-lees-army.html

      Report Post » Truthurts  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:19pm

      ESmith7

      Many blacks fought under that banner. They fought to obtain their freedom There were black confederate veterans. The need for manpower led to desperate measures. As it was being considered one of the outspoken slavery apologists came to the conclusion that they have to rethink
      their belief system.

      “After the war, the State of Tennessee granted Confederate Pensions to nearly 300 African Americans for their service to the Confederacy” -wiki

      Black Confederates – Thomas’ Legion: The 69th North Carolina

      Report Post »  
    • V-Forge
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:32pm

      Rebel. States have flags too. Many non government groups have flags as well. The meaning behind that old flag can die right here and never be dredged up again. Today it is a matter of southern pride. Attitudes of northerners are always looking down on the south as a place full of hayseeds and hicks. When you berate a group of people you can expect them to look to something to rally around. this flag now represents their pride in themselves as a group that need to work together against that stereotype. I was born in Texas and spent most of my life in very southern Alabama. I had to move to New Jersey to really see what real hate was like. There i knew everybody and here i dare not even ask my neighbors name cause i’d just get a scowl. This flag is still used by hate groups and i assume you think it’s okay for them to steal that symbol. I say we all recognize it for what this kid thinks and let the kkk feel like they are walking around with my little pony flags. Even they don’t hate blacks like they used to. Now all they want is a good rally to sell t-shirts at. The real hardcore fools will always be around because like the OWS fools they don’t want to see any truth but theirs. Adam carolla said it much better that i have. At this point, it’s just a flag. What it used to represent has been buried in the past and this kid is the last shovel of dirt on that old grave. Rise again with a brighter future and a better meaning. A thing we can be proud of. A symbol of the south.

      Report Post » V-Forge  
    • theaveng
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 4:34pm

      It’s a FREE country. You can run any damn flag you want to fly, even a Nazi flag.

      If you can NOT fly any flag, then you are not truly free. You’re a slave to the government.

      Report Post »  
    • UnreconstructedLibertarian
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 4:35pm

      Walkabout,

      An immoral reason? You won‘t find any slavery based language in the CSA Constitution that isn’t also upheld by the US Constitution and laws. That is what revisionist history has erased. Slavery was the same on both sides of the Mason-Dixon, 5 slave states remained in the Union and were protected in thier slavery, barring individual state action, until after the war ceased. Which of these actual differences do you consider immoral?

      1.) The CSA preamble defined the states as sovereign and beholden to Almighty God. No mention of slavery as Lucas Morel and Glenn Beck have stated.

      2.) It Constitutionally forbids subsidies of any kind without direct and complete repayment by those benefited

      3.) Clarified the Commerce Clause and extended the enforcement of no payment of public money to any private endeavor or “internal improvement”.

      4.) The Post Office was to be self-supporting

      5.) All Bills were to be single topic and that topic to be expressed in the title of the Bill

      6.) Federal officers operating solely within the boundaries of the states were answerable to the State legislatures thereof

      7.) All Federal budget items were to be final, with no “slush funds”

      8.) The Exective could not appoint dept heads without Congressional approval, explicitly disallowing “recess appointments”

      9.) The Congress could NOT draft or pass Constitutional amendments, only a convention of States could and then forward those back to the people for ratif

      Report Post » UnreconstructedLibertarian  
    • UnreconstructedLibertarian
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 5:12pm

      ESmith7
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:06pm
      This flag DOES represent racism…. The Confederate States of America’s Constitution read, “No bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law denying or impairing the right of property in ***** slaves shall be passed by Congress.”
      ___________________

      Article 1-9-4 of the CSA Constitution was not a limitation upon the States, only the Confederate Congress. If it were a limitation on the States, and your assertion were true, there would be no need for the other Constitutional provisions that require the States to recongnize the fugitive clause or transport of slaves by citizens of States where slavery existed through others “regardless of the laws thereof”. Meaning if a state or territory in the CSA were free,or free in the future, it could not deny the rights of a citizen of a state that maintained slavery.

      This was the entire “slavery” rub between the North and South, and the CSA Constitution attempted to rectifiy it within its own separate nation. Northern states were denying the US Constitution and laws of the same language if it politically benefitted them, while enforcing the same laws if the State in question was friendly to the Central Government’s agenda. Its the exact same problem we are seeing in the area of Immigration laws presently “selective enforcement” of a plainly written Federal law that should be uniformly applied.

      Report Post » UnreconstructedLibertarian  
    • jujubean
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 5:17pm

      oh ok so once again if it’s a black guy everyone listens but if it was a white guy he would be railroaded expelled torn to pieces by the lib media….tired of this BS…..how many stories I have seen where there are white people trying to display the flag and people go apeshit…..black guy does it and everyone stops….ooooo let’s all listen to the black kid …..now it means something…..knock of the BS

      Report Post »  
    • horsehockey
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 5:18pm

      I’ll drink to that!

      Report Post »  
    • Thatsitivehadenough
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 5:25pm

      This young man is a hero, and a great example of what is good and right about America. He has made history. Even if he doesn’t know it yet. Think Rosa Parks.

      Report Post » Thatsitivehadenough  
    • YoungBloodNews
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 5:29pm

      A guy I could enjoy a beer with and he’s probably smart as heck too – understanding that the war of northern aggression was not primarily or sole based on slavery.

      Report Post » YoungBloodNews  
    • Veritas Vincit Omnia
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 6:24pm

      Byron, your flag is not racist, those who would see it as such are the racists. By defending this flag you are affirming your southern roots, this makes you more American than most. God Bless You.

      Report Post » Veritas Vincit Omnia  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 6:46pm

      UnreconstructedLibertarian

      You might not find any slavery based language, but don’t tell me that slavery was not the basis for secession. After the the 1st thirteen state every subsequent state being admitted to the union was a contentious issue. Both side of the slavery issue did not want the other side to get to many votes in the Senate or House. Kansas did not bleed “less filling or tastes great”. It bled over the slavery issue. Also slavery was imposed by the upper class to protect their wealth. Georgia had voted against slavery. It was moneyed interests that go t a revote & got slavery to the law in Georgia.

      Report Post »  
    • jacques.daspy
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 6:59pm

      Most of the “facts” about the Civil War has been extremely distorted by the revisionist historians that it hardly makes any sense any more. Perhaps Byron Thomas had an ancestor that fought under the Stars and Bars a hundred and fifty years ago. Photos of black soldiers in grey uniforms drive people to apoplexy because it points out facts contrary to their “education.”

      Report Post »  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 7:02pm

      ROCK-N-ROLL-REBEL you really need to buy a history book…….

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
    • Anti_Spock
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 7:17pm

      Another man who isn’t black enough to be black. Won’t Spike Lee be pissed.

      Report Post » Anti_Spock  
    • Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 7:38pm

      I’m born and raised in Alabama and 95% percent of the people I’ve ever known who hung a rebel flag on their wall was openly racist. No matter what you would like to be true, it has been adopted by racists the same way Jesus was adopted by right wingers. Lynard Skynard wasn’t a band full of racists but they were likewise adopted by racists and are now identified with that kind of person. So, while a rebel flag isn’t technically about racism and it IS about southern heritage, most southern racists fly one.

      You may disagree but I’ve been seeing it with my own eyes my whole life.

      Report Post » Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American  
    • I support God's Israel!
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 7:38pm

      VoteBushIn12:
      Beck doesn’t use HATE SPEECH. Tell the truth. Glenn gives you PROOF of what OTHER PEOPLE SAY AND DO and does NOT say evil things when he says it, just if he agrees or disagrees. I really hate it when people make a blanket statement about someone, but doesn’t give PROOF of what they say, LIKE YOU, BUBBA. NAME ONE EPISODE WHERE GLENN IS SAYING HATEFUL THINGS ABOUT SOMEONE OR SOMETHING. I bet you can’t. He gets angry, but he does not use hate speech. But, I suppose you are just another one of those liberals who, after hearing the lie over and over, believe that it is true.

      And, if you vote for Bush in 2012, then that vote will go to Obama…..just sayin……..

      Report Post » I support God's Israel!  
    • Partygirl
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 8:10pm

      This young man is very smart. He thinks for himself and understands what the media and others have done. He is an American! Period! He understands that that flag stands for southern pride. My dad had his with him every where he went. I am glad to see there are people in this country who get it. Good for him!

      Report Post »  
    • KICKILLEGALSOUT
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 9:42pm

      I also know many black folks that fly the rebel flag. Everyone that is a true Southerner knows that the rebel flag is only about Southern Pride and culture and nothing else. But every time it never fails that some ignorant Yankee or West Coast Wacko comes through the South and thinks they know better when really they expose how their Liberal Leftist States have done a great job brainwashing them to think these things. It’s just like when Sheila Jackson Lee the Democratic Congresswoman in Texas was outraged that Texas was about to approve Sons of Confederate Veterans license plates that had a rebel flag. But guess where the Texas Congresswoman is really from? New York! She is a Yankee transplant. And people wonder why some many Southerners don’t like outsiders and transplants. It is because whenever they come to the South they bring along their pride and arrogance of where they just left and want to change our communities and culture into their image in which we Southerners resent and feel if your Liberal utopia is so great get the H*** out of here because you are not welcome.

      Report Post » KICKILLEGALSOUT  
    • Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:07pm

      What constitutes a true southerner? I was born in Alabama and I’ve lived here for my whole life. I identify the rebel flag with racists because the people I’ve seen in my life that displayed one were openly racist. I guess I‘m not a true southerner if I take the examples I’ve seen my whole life and use them to form my opinion on what the rebel flag represents in this day and age. The “media” didn’t tell me to think that. The people in my hometown and high school did so long before I paid attention to what the media tells me.

      Report Post » Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American  
    • Libertarian Metalhead
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:05pm

      @Bible Quoting, as a Cuban American like most being conservative and mostly voting Republican, I can honestly say the only times in my life I have encountered racism was from liberal elitists who hate the Cubans for voting Republicans.

      Report Post » Libertarian Metalhead  
    • Tx8thRebel
      Posted on December 3, 2011 at 12:02am

      I salute you Byron for being a critical thinker and finding your true history, and not simply digesting the revisionist garbage served up as history in our school systems. You are black and I am white, just as you are a South Carolinian and I am a Texan, but I call you my brother!

      For those interested search 37th Tx Cavalry one of the first integrated American army units (C.S.A.) with both Blacks and Hispanics (with non-white officers). Or the first commissioned woman officer in an American army (Captain Sally Tompkins C.S.A.). What you never learned of these? There is much more to find if you desire truth.

      Blessings and Strength to You Byron!
      Deo Vindice

      Report Post » Tx8thRebel  
    • Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American
      Posted on December 3, 2011 at 3:17am

      The rebel flag is a historical relic and it has no place in a UNITED states. It belongs in a museum. The south is done rising.

      Report Post » Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American  
    • Freedomlover40
      Posted on December 3, 2011 at 3:24am

      I applaude Byron for standing up for the Confederate flag as a symbol of southern pride. I especially stand up for Byron not wanting to be called African/American…..that’s just political correct ridiculousness. We don’t say, Australian American or Chinese American or Greek American or Russian American or English American, etc….if you are a legally here and a citizen, then you are an American, period.

      Report Post »  
    • WeDontNeedNoSteenkinBadges05
      Posted on December 3, 2011 at 4:56am

      “Black College Student Wins Fight to Display Confederate Flag in Dorm Room
      Campus — ‘ When I look at this flag, I don’t see racism. I see respect, Southern pride.’ ”

      He’s part of “The 10%” … of blacks who are NOT ingrained racists. BRAVO Byron Thomas! You are a credit to your … country.

      Report Post » WeDontNeedNoSteenkinBadges05  
    • Truthurts
      Posted on December 3, 2011 at 7:31am

      @BIBLE……

      You say you are from Alabama, yet you can’t spell “Lynyrd Skynyrd” correctly? I question your authenticity on that fact alone.

      That aside, did you ever consider that there are southerners that want to display the stars and bars, but don’t because they fear being branded racists, even though they are not? I dare say that group of southerners vastly outnumbers the racists you claim to know. Byron Thomas is to be commended for his bravery. Lead the charge, Byron!

      Report Post » Truthurts  
    • Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American
      Posted on December 3, 2011 at 12:01pm

      TRUTHHURTS

      I don’t doubt that there are those that wish to display it for other reasons but, as far as I can see, the one’s that do ARE racist rednecks. Yes, I’m from Bama. Roll Tide! But I can’t say I was ever a big Skynyrd fan. I had a tape of Pronounced that I jammed for a short time as a kid. But most of my knowledge of them comes second hand from the Drive-By Truckers SRO album. But, yea, I’m from deep inside the redneck south and racists DO fly that flag.

      Report Post » Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American  
    • Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American
      Posted on December 3, 2011 at 12:02pm

      The ones that DO display it, I mean.

      Report Post » Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American  
    • MadinIllinois
      Posted on December 3, 2011 at 12:07pm

      This young man is a fine example for all of us! I lived in Atlanta, Georgia for over 10 years and never encountered anyone who thought that the Rebel flag represented anything but southern pride and respect for those that died during the Civil War. It has nothing to do with slavery or hatred, and if you ever get the chance to visit Georgia, you will encounter some of the most wonder, generous people – of all colors – down there.

      Report Post »  
    • Jinglebob
      Posted on December 3, 2011 at 1:07pm

      All of my ancestors who fought in the Civil War except one fought for the South. A few even owned slaves. From the letters and writing of those who did not own slaves, they voiced to a man that the idea they would fight for a rich man who did was foolish znd untrue. That period was a different time and different life style and every time we try to judge it by todays standards we get into trouble. Judging the past by todays standards is what got us into the Political Correct mess that is destrpying our country.

      Report Post » Jinglebob  
    • Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American
      Posted on December 3, 2011 at 1:30pm

      Believe it or not, DingleBob

      Historians have gone back and read the letters and books and they understand the culture of the time.

      Report Post » Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American  
    • Anamah
      Posted on December 3, 2011 at 5:56pm

      I agree with Byron!!! I prefer to call a black person here, as elsewhere, the same way the rest of the people….simply as an American, or not so much as a black American. Why in the world people choose to add the adjective with the color or punctuating the race in the case of blacks Americans or not)? Byron is an American, and I don’t care what the racist Al Sharpton think about. He use to differentiate to co opt them and make them feel segregates what is absolute false. I think Sharpton is a very corrupted and dangerous man, he is a poisoner.

      Report Post »  
    • thewatcher93
      Posted on December 3, 2011 at 7:52pm

      most people I talk to in the south say the same thing this guy says in the vid if they don‘t they just shrug and I guess waing the flag means nothing to them other than it’s something to wave.

      Report Post »  
    • naed5048
      Posted on December 3, 2011 at 9:20pm

      I’m very very happy to hear his words. Especially about being call african american…. I’ve always believed if your not proud of being an American than you need to leave and be proud of a country you are proud of…..

      Report Post »  
    • pcj
      Posted on December 3, 2011 at 11:47pm

      I am glad that this young man had the guts to fight back and win. I wish we had several million more like him who will stand up and fight for what they believe in.

      Now we need to go back to watching the important stories and tuning out the minor stories or the non-news. Solyndra, Fast and Furious, the CH2M scandal just coming into the news, the $7 trillion secret loan by the Feds, the list goes on…. Obama, Holder and their cronies want to “bury” those stories by distracting us until we forget about them or they can come up with enough BS to make the stories “minor items.” ($7 trillion is a “minor item”?) The Dems have nothing to brag about and their only out is to smear and degrade the opposition to distract us away from their dirty laundry. They are going over Republican and Independent candidates with a microscope looking for smear stories to knock another candidate out of the running while posting fake numbers and statistics to make people believe that the economy is growing. Don’t believe it…the BS is getting deeper…

      Report Post »  
    • smithclar3nc3
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 1:47pm

      bqsfca wrote
      The rebel flag is a historical relic and it has no place in a UNITED states. It belongs in a museum. The south is done rising

      Hardly the south was the face of the America people in defiance of tyranny….And it will rise again if drastic changes in busuness as usual in D.C. doesn’t change it will rise in every state across this nation. The tree of liberty will be quinched with the blood of tyrant and patriot alike. We are without a doubt on a collision course with a pre-ordained,unavoidable destiny.

      Report Post »  
    • malik
      Posted on December 6, 2011 at 6:37pm

      it amazes me how white people can always find some dumb sambo to defend there cause

      Report Post »  
  • Michael61
    Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:37am

    Every redneck in Georgia has a confederate flag next to the placard “Herman Cain 2012” on his truck.

    For stupid liberals, Herman Cain is black, and Confederate flag is not about racism.

    Take that, politically correct nazis, and shove it.

    Report Post »  
    • mernijo
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 12:21pm

      I agree with you. He is leaving the past behind and moving forward! What a concept and good for him!

      Report Post » mernijo  
    • Apple Bite
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:42pm

      It’s like seeing myself on the other side of a mirror. I never liked that damn African-American designation. It’s not because I hate myself, as some in the “hood” would say. It’s for the simple fact, There’s no such thing as African American. I‘m black and I’m American. Who in the hell are they calling African?

      And the confederate flag is the most unique flag in this country’s history. Never has a flag received such negative feed back, based off the supposed symbolism of racists who were in fact, Liberal democrats. Before those idiots, I see it as a symbol of unity of the south, not of some mongering idiots. It’s a different world in the South, even by today’s standards. the only people pushing this racial B.S. are the Liberal backed race pimps like Sharpton, Cornell West, and Jackson.

      Apple Bite  
    • BSdetector
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:10pm

      I think Byron worded it very well too.

      “Thomas said he also dislikes the term ‘African American’ because it makes him feel like a half-citizen.

      ‘I was not born in Africa, I was born in Augusta, Georgia,’ he said in the video.”

      Call an islander African American and see what kind of response you get, I promise it won’t be a friendly one.

      Report Post » BSdetector  
    • sissykatz
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:34pm

      Apple Bite
      You are exactly right. I live outside Atlanta and was born and raised here
      I had never thought about the flag having anything to do with racism until
      the Race baiters you mentioned started and they made us change our flag.
      I loved the flag and did think of it as a source of pride. They have even stirred
      up a mess about this flag being flown at the Confederate Soldiers Cememtary.
      I didn’t know anyone that tied the flag to racism.

      Report Post »  
    • chips1
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:57pm

      Obama doesn’t think like that. But then again, he was born in Kenya. Stands to reason.

      Report Post »  
    • hud
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 5:15pm

      Hope the guy lives through his enlightenment, wouldn‘t be surprised to read that the mau mau’s had chopped him up.

      Report Post »  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 7:07pm

      APPLE BITE you said it all…… this PC crap needs to end. It is a tool to use guilt to make everyone think like a Lib

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
    • Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:33pm

      As opposed to the Bible or the Quran, which have been used as tools, means to an end for centuries.

      Report Post » Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American  
    • Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:49pm

      To guilt people into a way of thinking, that is.

      Report Post » Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American  
  • THX-1138
    Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:37am

    Brains FTW.

    Report Post » THX-1138  
    • Locked
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:49am

      Zombies everywhere agree! Mmmm… brains….

      Report Post »  
    • machochris
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 12:27pm

      I had to look up FTW…Love it!!! As long as we act stupid in a group, BIG GOVERNMENT AND BIG MEDIA treat us like were stupid!!!

      Report Post »  
  • AB5r
    Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:37am

    Look at the comments, isn’t it sad that we get all excited over ONE black man getting something like this right? For every ONE like him there are how many who mindlessly parrot the typical racist crap? Hundreds of thousands or even millions?

    And anyway, Clayton Bigsby has him beat: http://www.snotr.com/video/3726

    Report Post » AB5r  
    • Trance
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:59am

      I agree. It’s the soft bigotry of low expectations. But, to be fair, he will be shouted down and called the usual racist “Uncle Tom, Oreo” by most of the people who share his race. That makes him braver than most.

      Report Post » Trance  
    • VoicesofOppression
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 12:46pm

      lol!!!!!!! now that was funny

      Report Post »  
    • CaptMickeyd
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:13pm

      Yeah, but now any white guy at the same college is going to have something to point to when the system calls them racist for displaying the same flag, otherwise they’ll just look like hypocrites. I love it.

      Report Post » CaptMickeyd  
    • Truthurts
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:21pm

      AB5R,

      Nothing sad here. Read the comments of blacks that agree with Thomas. It’s a start. Fire begins with a spark. Rejoice! We are beginning to see the honest results of the Civil Rights Movement, unlike the hopelessly false results represented by Obama, the Dimmocrat Party and all the Sharptons and Jacksons that work to keep us all divided.

      Report Post » Truthurts  
  • TADTAD
    Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:36am

    If I owned my own business, I’d hire this young man. He’s a thinker, and a fighter. He “gets it.” I’ll bet he accomplishes much in this life.

    Report Post » TADTAD  
    • Trance
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:55am

      I’m with you there! If I owned my own business, he’d be my second hire. The first would be a smoking hot secretary.

      Report Post » Trance  
    • macpappy
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:59pm

      Maybe he will go on sale and you can buy him.

      Report Post » macpappy  
  • Frodo RinosBane
    Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:36am

    This gives me great hope for the youth of our nation. Way to go, Byron!

    Report Post » Frodo RinosBane  
    • hud
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 7:53pm

      room for hope here. The black mobs attacking whites pretty much had me off blacks, but I shouldn’t put all of the race with the ni**ers

      Report Post »  
    • Bucknutpete
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 9:27pm

      I totally agree with you! I too got excited to learn about this story. This young man is a good start, it too gives me hope that many more blacks see things for face value. Most whites are NOT racist and detest it too. The largest problem I see is that many blacks hold onto the racist hate and cannot view whites a capable of actually being neutral on the issue. This turns many whites sour to the issue and perpetuate the problem. Then someone pointed out that if a white student had done the same thing, he would have been crucified in the national media. Voila-he would have become the hated. This is a free country (for now) and anyone should be able to fly any flag-Rebel,French, Israel,Iran,Nazi, and yes even the U.S. flag! You may believe what you want. If you chose to be a communist, atheist, Christian, Muslim, racist, it is your business, your freedom. Just do Not cause harm or infringe on others’ rights. If my flag offends you, look away, it is MY right. If you display XXX flag, I may not like it( and look away) but will respect Your right to display it. Not an Irish-German-American just a Proud American

      Report Post »  
  • Jim in Houston
    Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:35am

    This is a real switcheroo.

    Report Post »  
  • capitalismrocks
    Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:32am

    I agree…

    I hate hear “African American” as well, I think it is a degrading term, your either black or American, however you want to call yourself…

    You don’t hear people walking around saying “I’m French America“ or ”I’m Catholic America“ or ”I’m Ghiana American”

    We need to stop allowing our government, our press and our politically correct police to mis-direct us anymore….

    We need to spread the word and resurrect the “Great American Melting Pot” We are all Americans (except Illegal Aliens) and you should be proud when someone asked – what is your nationality “I’m American”

    When someone calls you a African American, stop them and politely correct them by simply saying “No, I am an American, no labels…. labels are what weaken and separate us in this country, I stand as an American, next to and equal to all Americans”

    We need to break the compartmentalization and boxes that we’ve all been put in, tear them down and proudly announce and correct all around you – I am an American. A stay it with pride.

    Report Post » capitalismrocks  
    • for-what-its-worth
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 12:11pm

      Very well said.

      Report Post » for-what-its-worth  
    • gperky
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 12:31pm

      Excellent Comment and I fully agree! Thanks.

      Report Post » gperky  
    • GodFamilyFriends
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 12:53pm

      capitalismrocks and you rock also.

      Report Post »  
    • cassandra
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:37pm

      @ ROCKS you rock I have been saying the same thing for years I got kicked off a site once by saying if your an American your an American black or white they said I used foul lanquage, more PC crap I judge a man by his charactor not the color of his skin all patriot AMERICANS are the same to me

      Report Post »  
    • Objective_Reasonableness
      Posted on December 3, 2011 at 5:38pm

      Outstanding! You, my friend, have so well stated what so many of us feel. I am so proud of this young American. I pray that he maintains his spirit, pride and wisdom.

      Report Post » Objective_Reasonableness  
  • ddp77
    Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:32am

    Southern pride….gotta love it!!

    Report Post »  
  • capecodsully
    Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:31am

    He may have won his fight for free speech, but that doesn’t mean the liberals will not come after him. Watch your back buddy, liberals don’t like free speech or the people who fight for it.

    Report Post »  
    • Madmilo
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:24pm

      They like free speech when it comes to what they have to say.

      Report Post » Madmilo  
  • momrules
    Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:31am

    It is refreshing to see a young black American take a stand against the racist attitude regarding the Confederate Flag. The right of Southerners to proudly display this battle flag has been undermined by the black racists too long now.

    I was equally impressed with his desire to just be called an American, not an African American.

    Byron Thomas you are ALL American.

    Report Post »  
  • tzion
    Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:29am

    Too many of us are taught about how the civil war was only about slavery. In reality it was about much more than that.

    Report Post »  
    • i am satire 12
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:44am

      No it wasn’t.

      Report Post »  
    • Trance
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 12:02pm

      It was about the state’s right. But the only state right they were fighting for was slavery.

      Report Post » Trance  
    • Shiroi Raion
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 12:45pm

      The Civil War was all about slavery, but most of the Southerners had no idea what they were fighting for. Quote form A Patriot’s History of the United States: Conventions elected… 854 men, 157 of whom voted against secession. Put in the starkest terms,, “some 697 men, mostly wealthy, decided the destiny of 9 million people, mostly poor,” and one third enslaved. …many Southerners fought out of duty to their state… Given the conception of “citizenship” at the time… wherein rights originated from the state, not the federal government, most Southerners normally would have sided with their state government in a fracas against the national government.

      I’m saying that the war was about slavery. The flag, however, I do not view as symbolizing racism.

      I add that Progressive Liberals always write that “Southerners” were the racists of the Civil War, but it was just the Democrats. There were some Northern Democrats who wanted to keep slavery in place as well – though not nearly as many as in the south. In order to make Democratic party look better historically, they choose to always forget to mention that the pro-slave party was the Democrat party and not all Southerners.

      Report Post » Shiroi Raion  
    • flagbearer
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 12:50pm

      You can argue with the nay-sayers until doomsday. They don’t want to admit that Lincoln was a bigot, that people in the North owned slaves, that NY investors owned plantations, etc., etc. Slavery is what they WANT to believe the Civil War was about. You cannot remove it from the list of reasons, but secession came about for many reasons. Likewise, today we have many reasons for the big division between conservatives and liberals.

      Report Post »  
  • flagbearer
    Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:28am

    I AM THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG
    by Charles H. Hayes

    I am the Battle Flag of the Confederate States of America.
    I am a proud flag.
    I have led great armies to great victories.
    From tall masts, I have saluted—
    And been saluted by—
    The ablest generals in history.

    I am a potent symbol.
    I have the power to stir the blood of those
    who carried me in battle,
    Though that blood be continents away,
    and generations removed from those battles.

    I am an honorable flag.
    Do not use me for ignoble purposes.
    I am a symbol of pride, not arrogance.
    I represent love of homeland, not hatred toward anyone.
    But no matter who carries me or for what purposes,
    I cannot be dishonored.
    I secured my honor in a hundred battles,
    where good men dying passed me to good men still struggling;
    where we prevailed against almost impossible odds;
    where we were beaten by overwhelming numbers;
    where I was as bloody, torn, tired, and soiled
    as the men who carried me.

    I am a worthy flag.
    I have stood watch over the graves of patriots.
    I have comforted widows in their loneliness.
    As a blood-stained rag,
    I have been passed as a rich legacy to the heirs of those
    who had lost all for my sake.
    I am the Battle Flag of the Confederate States of America.

    DO NOT FORSAKE ME.

    Report Post »  
    • encinom
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 12:14pm

      Rip the flag down and burn it. Teh confederate flag is a stain on American history. The flag represents the nothing but the failure of the South and its leadership. It stand for institutional racism and bigotry.

       
    • flagbearer
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 12:33pm

      @Enicom
      You are as closed-minded and ignorant as the bigots you verbally attack.

      Report Post »  
    • encinom
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 12:46pm

      There is no honor is the flag or with the traitors that fought under that cursed banner. The flags stand for everything that is wrong with the south and needs to stamped out.

       
    • biohazard23
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:10pm

      @flagbearer, it’s pointless to argue with the Obamabot. It’s going to believe whatever Dear Leader, Ed Schultz, and Alec Baldwin tell it to believe. Leave the little troll to its own devices (those it didn’t lose in the big clean-up hazmat of Occupy LA, that is) and perhaps it will quietly go back to eating its crayons in a darkened corner somewhere.

      Report Post » biohazard23  
    • cemerius
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:15pm

      encinom

      I can only come to the conclusion that you are a canadian socialist!!! You post nothing but inflammatory comments and are a parasite!! Pack lots of suntan lotion when you pass from this earth!

      Report Post » cemerius  
    • Immortal600
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:22pm

      @ encinom:
      Traitors? Would you be referring to Secession? Perhaps you should google “Hartford Convention” my friend. Or, maybe you should look up the fact that NYC mayor actually wanted to secede in support of SC when THEY seceded. You assume that Secession was illegal. If you check, I think you will find that ALL discussion prior to 1860 FOR secession came form the NORTH.

      Also, you may also find that VA voted 5+ times AGAINST secession. It wasn’t until Lincoln called for volunteers to invade SC that VA said “secede”.

      Report Post »  
    • UnreconstructedLibertarian
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:30pm

      I’m afraid all of you closet leftists are in the wrong. The reason you’re wrong is discounting the fact that the Union protected every last aspect of slavery that was included in the CSA constitution until well AFTER the war was over. Revision is, and has been, trying to erase the north’s enforcement of every slavery related provision included in the CSA constitution. Slavery was the safest within the Union than without. Even the Emancipation Proclamation gave the “states in rebellion” 100 days to rejoin the Union and secure their right to property in humans, otherwise – it was void.

      If slavery was the paramount reason for secession, then why did the Corwin Amendment not “save the Union”? Even 3 years into the conflict, why did the Emancipation Proclamation not bring the southern states back if they could secure their rights to property in slaves by re-joining? You’d say “because they wanted to expand slavery!’, well even the alleged pro-slavery “Declarations” admit that right was given away in the 1797 agreement.

      I’ve stated over and over again on this website what the real differences were in the Constitutions, and they should light up an epiphany in the logical mind of any real conservative. Limited-unintrusive government, fiscal constraint, and responsible bills – about everything a real conservative wants today. Most of the detractors either are raving marxist liberals or uber-nationalist fascists feigning conservatism.

      Report Post » UnreconstructedLibertarian  
    • jjoy
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:05pm

      @encinom

      This flag was used for only a few months near the end of the war… After, for all practical purposes, the South had been defeated…

      Why not hate the battle flags used by the South during the period of time that Stonewall Jackson would have defeated the northern armies had it not been for interference from Jefferson Davis and his Secretary of War???

      Report Post » jjoy  
  • flagbearer
    Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:25am

    I watched an episode of the Waltons the other night about a family from Germany who fled Nazi Germany. The father was fearful of future persecutions, even in America, and forbid his wife and son to reveal their Jewish heritage. The son was turning thirteen and wanted his Barmitzvah. It was Grandpa who came to save the day by telling the father about his heritage and how he would never renounce it. The Confederate flag was always a symbol of pride and honor, not about slavery, regardless of how people today want to change that image. Even Union soldiers after the Civil War defended it and honored it. When will Americans realize that first the Confederate Battle Flag had to be done away with, and then they could go after the American flag? This is already happening. Please remember that the Civil War was not fought over slavery, per se, but about property rights, much as we are fighting the same cause today with UN Agenda 21. Unfortunately, slavery and property rights were intermingled back then. Most slave owners did NOT mistreat their slaves. They cared for them, and I have a journal that belonged to my great-great aunt that reveals that! Remember, too, that Abraham Lincoln was himself a racist, Ulysses S. Grant was a slave owner, and there were four slave states that remained in the Union and fought under the American flag. Yes, the Confederate Constitution speaks about slavery as Glenn as noted, but violation of property rights was at the root.

    Report Post »  
    • momrules
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:34am

      Great post!

      Report Post »  
    • @leftfighter
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:36am

      I disagree entirely.

      Read the Confederate Constitution. It was all about slavery. If a state

      Yes, *today* the States Rights argument is there and it is valid, but at the time, the Civil War was about about slavery, not States’ Rights.

      If the Civil War was about States’ Rights and not slavery, the Constitution of the CSA would have allowed states to remain in the Confederacy if they ever decided to grant emancipation. Alas, it was right there in ink and parchment that if a state emancpated its slaves, they were to be expelled.

      I was born and raised in the South and I used the argument he’s using until I learned better. Sounds like this kid was taught a revisionist version of history.

      Report Post » @leftfighter  
    • encinom
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:15pm

      “Please remember that the Civil War was not fought over slavery, per se, but about property rights”

      How do you breath with hte BS over your head. Yes, the Civil War was fought over property rights and States rights, namely the South’s desire to keep humans as property. The South is so damn proud of their history, yet at everyturn they attempt to white wash the truth. The truth is that South and Southern culture failed, the truth is General Sherman’s march ended to soon and more Southern cities should have come under his heel.

      Report Post »  
    • MarsBarsTru7
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:27pm

      The Civil War was about slavery. Spinning it any other way is completely dishonest. This flag is a symbol of the cause of the South. The cause of the South was to retain the institution of slavery.

      People should have the freedom to display whatever flag they wish. However, that everyone should have that liberty doesn’t make the use of that liberty intrinsically wise or morally conscientious. Displaying a “Stars and Bars” flag is reprehensible to me, and there are numerous legitimate reasons to find it offensive. For this student to display this flag for the reasons he cites, considering his ethnicity and the nation he currently resides in, is ludicrous and not something that should be encouraged.

      Report Post »  
    • UnreconstructedLibertarian
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:56pm

      @Leftfighter

      Please elaborate on the specific clauses of the CSA Constitution you are referring to. If you’re echoing what Glenn Beck has said – I’m afraid you are in for a disappointment.

      I look forward to this discussion – I keep a CSA Constitution handy at all times.

      Report Post » UnreconstructedLibertarian  
    • Truthurts
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:03pm

      Did any of you folks that are repulsed by the Confederate flag know that 90% of the Confederate soldiers were NOT slave owners? Why would hundreds of thousands of men lay their lives on the line for something with which they had no vested interest? Answer, because it was not “all about slavery”. In fact, less than 20% of the soldiers were pro slavery. See for yourself:

      http://lincolnstudies.blogspot.com/2008/06/joseph-t-glatthaar-general-lees-army.html

      To ENCINOM:

      Do yourself a favor and find someone to proofread your comments. While most of us assume you are ignorant by the content of your comments, your grammar and spelling removes all doubt. Otherwise, you are wasting your time. We laugh at you.

      Report Post » Truthurts  
    • encinom
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:41pm

      Truthurts
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:03pm
      Did any of you folks that are repulsed by the Confederate flag know that 90% of the Confederate soldiers were NOT slave owners? Why would hundreds of thousands of men lay their lives on the line for something with which they had no vested interest? Answer, because it was not “all about slavery”. In fact, less than 20% of the soldiers were pro slavery.
      _________________________
      Much like today’s Tea ****** is not wealthy, but the loyal lap dog of the 1%, the confederate soilder was nothing more than a pawn and an ingorant fool doing the bidding of the ruling class. War for the southern gentry, was nothing more than a game were they convinced the un and undereducated lower classes to fight to keep slaves in the South and lower salaries and working condictions for all. Much like today’s typical Tea ****** fights to keep the tax breaks for the 1%.

      Report Post »  
    • Truthurts
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 4:07pm

      ENCINOM,

      When you see a red squiggly line underneath a word, it means you misspelled it. You are an annoyance to those of us that are educated enough to know how to spell or at least know how to use spell-check. GET A CLUE!

      Likewise, you have no clue what The TEA Party stands for. You can’t write, spell or reason. Stay on your plantation and shut the hell up!

      Report Post » Truthurts  
    • KidCharlemagne
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 4:12pm

      @leftfighter
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:36am

      I disagree entirely.

      Read the Confederate Constitution. It was all about slavery.
      =======================================================

      Read Abraham Lincoln’s 1st Inaugural Address:

      “I understand a proposed amendment to the Constitution—which amendment, however, I have not seen—has passed Congress, to the effect that the Federal Government shall never interfere with the domestic institutions of the States, including that of persons held to service. To avoid misconstruction of what I have said, I depart from my purpose not to speak of particular amendments so far as to say that, holding such a provision to now be implied constitutional law, I have no objection to its being made express and irrevocable.”
      http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres31.html

      Honest Abe is referring to The Corwin Amendment:

      “The Corwin Amendment is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution passed by the 36th Congress, 2nd Session, on March 2, 1861, in the form of House (Joint) Resolution No. 80. It would forbid subsequent attempts to amend the Constitution to empower the Congress to “abolish or interfere” with the “domestic institutions” of the states, including “persons held to labor or service” (a reference to slavery).”
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corwin_Amendment

      Report Post »  
    • Truthurts
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 5:12pm

      Kid Charlie,

      And your point is ………?

      You quote Lincoln, but not the Confederate Constitution? Back up your statements with some substance.

      Report Post » Truthurts  
    • UnreconstructedLibertarian
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 6:13pm

      Truthurts
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 5:12pm
      Kid Charlie,

      And your point is ………?

      You quote Lincoln, but not the Confederate Constitution? Back up your statements with some substance.
      ————————————-

      Don‘t you know it really stings when Lincoln’s own words prove the famed “Article 1-9-4 of the CSA Constitution“ was already ”implied constitutional law” under the US Constitution?.

      It doesn’t really matter, they‘ll ditch Lincoln’s own actual, factual words to find solace in the words of a Marxist like Eric Foner or a big government centralist like McPherson.

      Report Post » UnreconstructedLibertarian  
    • KidCharlemagne
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 7:10pm

      Truthurts
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 5:12pm

      Kid Charlie,

      And your point is ………?

      You quote Lincoln, but not the Confederate Constitution? Back up your statements with some substance.
      =========================================================

      If you’d stop and reason with yourself, then you could probably figure it out:

      #1 On March 2, 1861, the Union states tried to make slavery “irrevocable” (in Lincoln’s own words) by introducing The Corwin Amendment (technically, The Corwin Amendment remains pending before the States to this day because it was passed without a time limit). The Confederate states had ALL left the Union by this date (so why are the remaining Union states trying to pass a constitutional amendment to make slavery permanent after the Confederate states had already left the Union??)

      #2 In light of #1 above, then its pretty obvious that neither the Union or the Confederacy had any disagreement whatsoever over the issue of slavery……so why don’t you explain to me why the two sides would be fighting over an issue that each side was in complete agreement with one another over???

      It’s completely illogical!

      Report Post »  
    • Truthurts
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 8:23pm

      Kid,

      Here’s a clue. You helped prove my point.

      What many of us have said already and you refuse to acknowledge, is that the Civil War was NOT “all about slavery” any more than the Confederate Constitution was “all about slavery” or the U.S. Constitution is all about freedom of speech. The Civil War was all about control, just like today. The Damnocrats want complete and total control over this country, you and me, and our money. Wake up!

      Report Post » Truthurts  
    • KidCharlemagne
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 9:35pm

      Truthurts
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 8:23pm
      The Damnocrats want complete and total control over this country, you and me, and our money. Wake up!
      ================================================================

      I couldn’t agree more, but the truth is that Lincoln and the Republicans were the first bunch to make an attempt at complete and total control over this country by instituting the very first Progressive Income Tax:

      “In 1862, in order to support the Civil War effort, Congress enacted the nation’s first income tax law. It was a forerunner of our modern income tax in that it was based on the principles of graduated, or progressive, taxation and of withholding income at the source. During the Civil War, a person earning from $600 to $10,000 per year paid tax at the rate of 3%. Those with incomes of more than $10,000 paid taxes at a higher rate. Additional sales and excise taxes were added, and an “inheritance” tax also made its debut. In 1866, internal revenue collections reached their highest point in the nation’s 90-year history—more than $310 million, an amount not reached again until 1911.

      The Act of 1862 established the office of Commissioner of Internal Revenue. The Commissioner was given the power to assess, levy, and collect taxes, and the right to enforce the tax laws through seizure of property and income and through prosecution. The powers and authority remain very much the same today.”
      http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0005921.html#axzz0

      Report Post »  
    • Truthurts
      Posted on December 3, 2011 at 8:33am

      KID,

      You and I probably agree on much more than we disagree. The bottom line for this thread is this: with the help of the KKK, the Rebel flag has been co-opted by the Damnocrats, NAACP, ACLU and others to be a symbol of racism, therefore, to be eradicated from our daily lives. The truth is that the flag is a symbol of heritage and pride in ancestors that stood up to oppression from the northern states. Progressives systematically dismantle the past to separate us from it. They have almost succeeded with this flag.

      To ENCINOM,
      “The Tea ****** party is nothing more than an astroturf organization created by the Koch Brothers and controlled by DC insiders through organizations like ……”

      Once again, you have proven that you are a terribly ignorant tool. You wouldn’t know AstroTurf if you were standing barefoot on it. The TEA Party formed in direct response to The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The TEA Party knew it was a $787,000,000,000 slush fund for the Damnocrat Party and that it would do more harm than good to the economy. Two and a half years later, those fears and doubts have born true, no thanks to the likes of you that support this insanity and are too warped to understand it. Picture me waving the Rebel flag in your face while I mock your marxist mentallity!

      Report Post » Truthurts  
    • Libertarian Metalhead
      Posted on December 3, 2011 at 8:42pm

      Somewhat unrelated but to make a point, I’m Cuban-American and the Cuban flag which existed since the late 19th century is still used in communist Cuba. Some ignorant people in South FL, mostly democrat/liberals who hate the mostly conservative/republican Cubans will tell a Cuban if they have a flag that it’s a “communist” flag. That flag the communists stole represents my ancestors that fought the Spanish for liberation and independance…the KKK does not represent the South, they‘re a fringe group and btw I’ve seen on TV KKK using American flags, too…should we ban the American flag now because a racist is using it? Maybe we should ban shoes because I assume Klansmen where them too. My grandfather was American, his grandfather fought for the South, Georgia Infantry, died in Chancellorsville(sp?) in 1864, no one in my family ever owned a slave nor fought for the rights of rich men to have slaves, and G-D damn any of you liberal elites with your ignorance and liberal arts indoctrination (yes, I’ll have fries with my combo thanks!) saying that my grandfather’s kin and those people here were stupid pawns…we fought for home, culture, tradition, heritage…General Sherman, by our standards was a war criminal and an avowed racist yet these idiot libs think he burned Atlanta to free the slaves while slave owning states MD, KY, MS, and others were still in the Union LOL, silly libbys, you guys insult the US education system yet you’re all glowing examples of how lousy it

      Report Post » Libertarian Metalhead  
    • JAY67
      Posted on December 6, 2011 at 12:37pm

      You say the slave owners cared for their slaves? Is this similar to how one cares for a pet?

      Report Post »  
  • drattastic
    Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:24am

    How refreshing.

    Report Post » drattastic  
  • pwatkins
    Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:23am

    If he is telling the truth about how he feels, then that is great, but I wonder if we would have seen the same outcome for a white student like Thegreatcarnac said in his post.

    Report Post »  
  • Vet with Vendetta
    Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:22am

    Good for you Byron!

    Report Post » Vet with Vendetta  
  • beninferno
    Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:14am

    Holy Crap someone got it right. Its so refreshing for this student to see the truth and not what every ignorant person wants you to believe when looking at that flag. And touched on the ‘African American” thing two. I love this kid.

    Report Post » beninferno  
  • TEIN
    Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:12am

    Bravo!!! This show there is still member of this young generation that understands and not blinded by the rewriting of history and pc terminology misinformation…

    Report Post »  
  • KickinBack
    Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:10am

    Good for him. Growing up in Missouri, I remember you could buy attire with the confed flag on it. Here in Michigan, you can be shot for it.

    Report Post » KickinBack  
    • RxConfederalism
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:27am

      ha they still do I live close to Branson, MO and if you drive down the strip some stores have confederate flag bikinis on mannequins. I also sport a confederate calvary flag in my man cave ;).

      Report Post »  
  • Jenny Lind
    Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:09am

    He is entitlede to his feelings and to his opinion. If freedom is going to survive, freedom of speech has to, first and foremost. Good luck to this young man, sounds like he is thinking out of the color box.

    Report Post »  
  • AmericanStrega
    Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:08am

    Good for you Mr. Thomas. You used the brain that God gave you and not the thoughts the liberals have tried to transplant.

    Report Post »  
  • Diomasach
    Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:08am

    I just hope a few more years in college don’t brainwash this young man.

    Report Post »  
    • Mtroom
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 12:17pm

      Exactly what I was thinking..But with this one I think we’ll be o.k….For him to say the things about the flag, means he went looking for the truth no matter what people had told him…That is the most impressive part..Not many youth’s would take the time to look it up. Good for him, and I pray his views won’t be used against him…Would be a shame to punish him for doing his homework.

      Report Post » Mtroom  
    • encinom
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:13pm

      Hopefully, 4 years of college would show him the truth about the shameful history of the South and its dishonorable flag.

      Report Post »  
    • Truthurts
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:51pm

      ENCINOM,

      You are SO ignorant. I am a proud Southerner, living in an area inhabited by a relatively high percentage of northern transplants. Many of them report that racism is far more prevalent today in the north than it is in the south. Why is that?

      While we are at it, did you know that, in early America, slaves received better health care than the average white person? Why? Because a sick or injured working age slave was not productive until healed. A plantation owner could afford the best medical attention available to accelerate recovery, while the average white person could not afford comparable care. Such is the price of freedom. Judging from your comments, you’d like for us all to live on the plantation, under the influence of the house slaves in DC, just so we can all be treated equally. Notice that the working age slaves got the attention. Those too young or too old did not receive equal treatment, just like Obamacare.

      Report Post » Truthurts  
  • Locked
    Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:05am

    Good for him! I don’t see it as racist either. Many people with racial bias will use it, but that’s an entirely separate matter from the symbol itself being racist.

    Report Post »  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:03am

    I am glad for the sake of the flag…however…it is just more reverse racism. Had he been white…that flag would have been taken away from him by force if necessary. That flag is just a batttle flag. There was more slavery and slaves under the American flag than under the southern cross. God bless the Confederacy. It shall return.

    Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:12am

      Youre right about reverse racism. A white kid would have been kicked out of school.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • staunch conservative
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:14am

      There is no such thing as “reverse” racism…. it’s either racism or not… think about it

      Report Post » staunch conservative  
    • drattastic
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:23am

      I see your point but I don’t think we should dwell the negative . The point here is This kid gets it ! A FREE THINKER we need more of them,especially young ones.

      Report Post » drattastic  
    • Lloyd Drako
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:27am

      He won’t be kicked out of school, but he should expect at least some of his fellow black students to shun him because the flag offends them.

      Report Post » Lloyd Drako  
    • TexasHunter
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:41am

      @ DRATTASTIC – You can’t turn a blind eye to the facts though. If this was a white kid putting this flag up it would have been a major out cry by the left media and who ever else. I bet he would have been expelled. I am glad for this young man that he was able to see pass what the biased think and know the truth. But behind it all their still lies the hidden rules for both parties and a white person would have been reprimanded for doing such.

      Report Post » TexasHunter  
    • cemerius
      Posted on December 2, 2011 at 12:27pm

      Your correct many white kids were preaching the SAME thing this courageous kid was saying! But, since the kid was black the ACLU was unable to say this was “racism” after all only white males can be racists! Imagine if they fairly treated the “bigotry bylaws” regardless of race and Eric Holder had to decide to prosecute or not to prosecute? The Romans used the swastika a couple centuries before adolf hitler bastardized it!! It was also used by the mayans too!! But NOW its a symbol of racisms and hatred??? Judge a person by their content NOT the color of their skin!!!!

      Report Post » cemerius  

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