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re: Alabama Governor Bentley has Confederate flags removed from Capitol grounds
Posted on 6/26/15 at 9:30 pm to PikeBishop
Posted on 6/26/15 at 9:30 pm to PikeBishop
quote:
I visited Montgomery in the early 1990s. But have not been back since. I took a tour of the state capitol. I don't remember seeing this flag. I don't think the tour guide talked about it. If it was there, they certainly weren't making a big show out of its presence
If you were there before 1993, you'd have seen a bigassed naval ensign flying over the capitol. It flew from 1963-1993. George Wallace had it raised during his fights with the feds.
It was removed in 1993 and small but historically correct flags were raised at the monument basically to appease those that wanted to keep one over the dome.
To be honest, no matter what you think those flags stood for then or today, nobody really has a reason to be upset over their removal because for the first century after the end of the war, they weren't flown at the capitol. They were only raised as a symbol of defiance in the face of the federal government over integration and other civil rights issues. I can't speak to the situation in other states, but in Alabama, no longstanding tradition was eliminated. Instead, things were actually set back to normal.
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Posted on 6/26/15 at 9:33 pm to Evolved Simian
quote:
I used to work a block from it, and you couldn't get a view of it from the roads. Lots of trees on that side of the property.
I work a block away now and it is still that way. When the leaves are on the trees, the flags can't be seen from the sidewalk or the street and the monument is only partly visible.
Posted on 6/26/15 at 10:02 pm to JustGetItRight
Well, I visited not long before I was discharged from the Army in '94. So I must have just missed it.
I'm baffled why Gov. Wallace wanted a naval ensign flapping in the breeze on top of landlocked Montgomery. Was he a Navy man, by any chance? Of course, I realize this is Wallace we're talking about here, so anything is possible.
I'm baffled why Gov. Wallace wanted a naval ensign flapping in the breeze on top of landlocked Montgomery. Was he a Navy man, by any chance? Of course, I realize this is Wallace we're talking about here, so anything is possible.
This post was edited on 6/26/15 at 10:05 pm
Posted on 6/26/15 at 10:04 pm to PikeBishop
Have you heard of the Alabama River?
Posted on 6/26/15 at 10:11 pm to CapstoneGrad06
Yes, I've heard of it. But I didn't know that was a major waterway.
I just never associated Montgomery as a big navy town, like San Diego or Hampton Roads.
I just never associated Montgomery as a big navy town, like San Diego or Hampton Roads.
Posted on 6/26/15 at 10:17 pm to PikeBishop
It isn't compared to those. But the capital city is connected to a major U.S. port, in Mobile. A major navy port at that.
Posted on 6/26/15 at 10:41 pm to PikeBishop
quote:
I'm baffled why Gov. Wallace wanted a naval ensign flapping in the breeze on top of landlocked Montgomery. Was he a Navy man, by any chance?
Because it's the flag that Strom Thurmond's Dixiecrats had adopted as a symbol of their fight against integration.
A year later, Wallace gained infamy for his stand in the schoolhouse door.
Eighteen years after that, he was elected to a fourth non-consecutive term as governor (fifth, if you count his wife's term)and carried something like 40% of the black vote.
The guy would say anything to get votes, and it worked.
Posted on 6/26/15 at 10:45 pm to JustGetItRight
quote:
I work a block away now
I think the only thing I miss about MGM is the Thai place in the old train depot.
Posted on 6/26/15 at 11:03 pm to JustGetItRight
quote:
Since 1993.
Wow, I remember a year or two ago Charleston was trying hard for a bowl game for the MAC vs Sunbelt, but wasn't allowed to have one because of NCAA & NAACP ban on South Carolina. I think the bowl game actually ended up becoming the Camellia bowl in Montgomery.
Posted on 6/27/15 at 4:09 am to StopRobot
Good 
This has been a historic year..people are actually starting to notice and think about taking down an old racist flag and gay people are able to marry like straight people.
2015 
This has been a historic year..people are actually starting to notice and think about taking down an old racist flag and gay people are able to marry like straight people.
2015
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