The 150th commemoration — anniversary seems too happy a word — of the American Civil War looks to have brought on a new push by the Sons of Confederate Veterans [audio alert] to expand the number of states in which Confederate flag-themed license plates are available.
Supporters, sympathizers, adherents, whatever the proper term might be — and please note the purposefully sidestepped joke(s) that would have blown up the comments section — already can affix the Stars and Bars to their back bumpers in Alabama, Georgia, Maryland — really? — Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Now they want to see those flags flying along highways in Florida, Kentucky, and right here in Texas.
Is it an issue of free speech or freed slaves? You make the call.
USA Today recently published an article on the topic and quoted Jay Barringer, the commander of the SCV Maryland Division, as saying, "The plates promote a positive image of the Confederate States of America. The Confederate soldier, he takes a beating nowadays [well, actually he’s dead nowadays]. We're trying to divest ourselves of the negative associations." Italicized words are mine.
That raises the question of why does the SCV need a commander?
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We sure this war is over?
Bruce Felps owns and operates East Dallas Times, an online community news outlet serving the White Rock Lake area. He’s thinking it’s more like great-, great-, great-, great-grandsons. Oh, it’s a figurative thing?
