Black artist will burn, bury the Confederate flag across the South on Memorial Day

[appal_jack]

Black artist will burn, bury the Confederate flag across the South on Memorial Day
Opinion
by David A. Love | May 22, 2015 at 12:16 AM


Can you think of a better way for a black man to spend Memorial Day than to burn a Confederate flag?

As was reported in the Orlando Sentinel, an artist will do exactly that, with plans to make it happen in all the states throughout the former Confederacy.

John Sims, an artist from Sarasota, Florida, is honoring the constitutional right of self-expression by staging burnings and burials of the Rebel flag, that troublesome symbol of the Old South that many, particularly African-Americans, associate with slavery, white supremacy and state-sponsored terrorism and lynchings.

“We are in America, and people have the right to fly whatever flag [they want],” Sims said. “And I have the right to bury whatever flag, and to burn whatever flag.”

Sims noted that the Dixie flag, which the South flew during the Civil War, is associated with many toxic memories of the American experience, especially from the black perspective. “There’s a notion of ‘Southern Heritage’ and who owns [that], but a very important part of Southern culture is the African-American experience.… The Confederate flag is a flag of terror from its use by the Klan in the ’20s to the anti-civil-rights movement in the ’50s and ’60s,” Sims said.

“The flag is almost too toxic to handle, and for those who do, I’m suspicious of their engagement. Are you in denial?”

(snip)

To be sure, a number of people will disapprove of Sims’ form of artistic expression, but their own sentiments in support of that flag are misplaced and indefensible.

Although the Confederacy lost the Civil War and surrendered 150 years ago, some white folks refuse to let it go. Still fighting a war to keep blacks down and poor whites in poverty — because the slave system did not need white labor — they simply cannot escape the nineteenth century. As Euan Hague wrote in Politico Magazine in April, the passion for the Confederate flag has not ended for many Americans. Neo-Confederate sentiments seemed to be in relative hiding until the 1980s and 1990s.

Today, the symbols of the Confederacy are all around us. The state of Texas just went before the U.S. Supreme Court and defended the placement of the flag on Texas license plates.

Recently, students at the University of Texas at Austin passed a resolution to remove a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis from its prominent spot on campus. And at the University of

North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Students for Education Reform are demanding the renaming of Saunders Hall — a university building which honors Confederate colonel and KKK Grand Dragon William Saunders — to Hurston Hall, in honor of Zora Neal Hurston, the first black UNC student prior to integration.

(snip)

Although defenders of that flag may want to convince us that it has nothing to do with slavery, or segregation, or hating black people, we know better. After all, aside from serving as an official flag of the Confederacy and a symbol used by groups such as the Klan, the Confederate battle flag played a prominent role against the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. After the Brown v. Board of Education school desegregation decision, states such as Georgia reintroduced the flag in protest, while other states incorporated the secessionist symbol into the state flag, and others flew the battle flag on top of the state house. After Georgia changed its flag in 2003, Mississippi remains the only state flag to incorporate the Confederate emblem.

(more at link)

http://thegrio.com/2015/05/22/artist-john-sims-burn-bury-confederate-flag/

I think that this is wonderful, particularly Sims' statement that "We are in America, and people have the right to fly whatever flag [they want]...And I have the right to bury whatever flag, and to burn whatever flag.” Too many white southerners try to pretend that they can revere the Confederate flag and also be patriotic Americans. Sorry racists, you can do one or the other, but not both.

-app

[KingCharlemagne]

1. I don't always fly the Confederate flag, but

[appal_jack]

2. Excellent meme! nt

[daleanime]

25. ......

[Orrex]

3. Doesn't this misguided soul know that the Civil War was about states' rights & the tariff?

Last edited Sun May 24, 2015, 11:50 AM - Edit history (1)

Damn. Quite a courageous statement. Good for Sims!

[appal_jack]

12. It infuriates me when it's called "the war of northern aggression."

Of course I know that atrocities were committed by all sides during the Civil War, but those pretending that race and slavery had nothing to do with it are being willfully obtuse. And that "war of northern aggression." thing started with Confederate soldiers firing upon Union troops at Fort Sumter from what I recall...



-app

[Orrex]

14. I agree

A few years back I got into a rather heated argument with a guy who insisted that slavery was only an incidental issue for the South, and that the real cause of the war was the dreaded tariff.

After letting him rant for a few exchanges (he'd apparently just learned of the it's-the-tariff strategy, so I wanted to let him run with it), I pointed him to Alexander H. Stephens' Cornerstone Speech, which basically shut him up.

Here's a particularly explicit gem:

The new (Confederate) constitution has put at rest, forever, all the agitating questions relating to our peculiar institution African slavery as it exists amongst us the proper status of the negro in our form of civilization. This was the immediate cause of the late rupture and present revolution.

Parenthetical note added by me.

And another:

Our new government is founded upon exactly the opposite idea; its foundations are laid, its corner-stone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery subordination to the superior race is his natural and normal condition.

"Great truth," eh? That's quite a statement, Al!

And yet another:

They (the North)assume that the negro is equal, and hence conclude that he is entitled to equal privileges and rights with the white man. If their premises were correct, their conclusions would be logical and just but their premise being wrong, their whole argument fails.

Parenthetical note again added by me.

And this wasn't some fringe, backwater slave trader, either! Stephens was the vice president of the Confederate States of America, for crying out loud! And he gave his Cornerstone Speech just weeks before the Battle of Fort Sumter.

I imagine that you and most of DU already knows about this, but I confess that my primary school education glossed over most of the Civil War, and I didn't learn of the Cornerstone Speech until well into my 20s. It seems pretty clear that Stephens, at least, knew very well what the war was about, and it sure as hell wasn't the tariff.


Again, bravo to Sims for making this bold and courageous statement. I hope that it goes well for him.

[appal_jack]

17. Important quotes. We all benefit from these reminders & facts. nt

[NutmegYankee]

18. Just quote the Texas declaration of succession. They made it obvious what drove them.

We hold as undeniable truths that the governments of the various States, and of the confederacy itself, were established exclusively by the white race, for themselves and their posterity; that the African race had no agency in their establishment; that they were rightfully held and regarded as an inferior and dependent race, and in that condition only could their existence in this country be rendered beneficial or tolerable.

That in this free government all white men are and of right ought to be entitled to equal civil and political rights; that the servitude of the African race, as existing in these States, is mutually beneficial to both bond and free, and is abundantly authorized and justified by the experience of mankind, and the revealed will of the Almighty Creator, as recognized by all Christian nations; while the destruction of the existing relations between the two races, as advocated by our sectional enemies, would bring inevitable calamities upon both and desolation upon the fifteen slave-holding States.

By the secession of six of the slave-holding States, and the certainty that others will speedily do likewise, Texas has no alternative but to remain in an isolated connection with the North, or unite her destinies with the South.

https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ref/abouttx/secession/2feb1861.html

Makes me wish Sherman had marched southwest to the Rio Grande.

[Orrex]

21. Also quite damning, to be sure.

Makes me so proud to be part of the white race that founded this grand nation.

[kairos12]

63. Teabagger's dog whistle tune.

[Arugula Latte]

33. I always love the dumbasses who say "it was about economics!"

Uh, yeah -- the economics of slavery!

[mackdaddy]

68. Excellent Resource and summary, Thank you so much!

I looked up they source speech, and I agree it is one of the 50 most important documents that tell the history of the United States.

To be "Fair" the first few paragraphs of the speech do detail some economic and tariff conflicts, but the vast majority of the speech details why the Southern states are correct that "Negros are Inferior to Whites" so they need to be slaves.

I have to admit that I have never heard of this speech, and being born in Bluefield WV in an area literally split by the Civil war, I never heard as cogent an explanation as in this document. (Bluefield was split into WV and VA).

[mainer]

34. Up here in Yankee land, we call it "The Great Rebellion"

Had some southern visitors come to town and they stared at our local Civil War monument in puzzlement. "What was 'The Great Rebellion?" they asked.

"The Civil War," I answered.

Lightbulbs went off in their heads and they said, "Oh, you mean "the War of Northern Aggression.'"

[backscatter712]

38. The War of Southern Treason.

Or call it the Slaver's Revolt.

[Exilednight]

41. Funny story....

I am originally from chicago and moved to Virginia when I took a job in goverent in 2008. My neighbor was born and bred here in Va, and is a huge civil war buff.

He came up to me one day and was trying to give me a history lesson about the battles that took place in the area, and he kept calling it the war of northern aggression.

I knew what he was talking about, but I wanted to show his ignorance.

He went on about how "you people up north call it the civil war, but it's really the war of northern aggression.

I responded by saying, "actually we don't call it the civil war, either. We call it the war of southern liberation."

Needless to say, he wasn't too happy.

[madokie]

4. I support this

Blacks in this country, the world even, haven't had a fair deal yet. It does my heart good to read this this morning, thanks
Hope you have a wonderful day. I know your heart is in the right place for that I embrace your message.

I'm a 67 year old Vietnam Vet in case you didn't know that. If I can be who I am then any one can be too as open to all people. To see them as an equal, actually there should be no thoughts of being equal because that is when everyone sees their fellow person as the same as they are and we're all in this together. Its not right that the rich gets buy with looking down on all the rest of us like they're better just because they know how to game the system Some of us are good at building things, some are good at being a doctor, a nurse, a teacher and on and on and none of us are any more important to our society than the other. money has nothing to do with our worth.
I'm old and retired now but I could still teach younger people due to my many years of doing what I did and was good at what I did.

[appal_jack]

11. I agree 100% madokie

Last edited Mon May 25, 2015, 09:43 AM - Edit history (2)

All of you who served in Vietnam bear heavy burdens. Regardless of the reasons for the war (which I think were terrible on the US' part), you answered the call to service, whether due to draft or enlistment. The architects of the war were criminals, but the Americans who served should always be remembered as citizens who stepped-up when America called. On this Memorial Day, I honor your service, and the ultimate sacrifice made by your fallen comrades.

It sounds like those times, and the times since have given you the wisdom to speak about how we are all in this together from the heart. Please do keep on teaching the younger folks - that's our only hope, after all, that they will carry on the struggles for justice and equality. I am roughly a generation younger than you, but sport grey hairs a-plenty already, and will also do my best to teach what I can during my time here on this earth!

-app

[GGJohn]

60. Vietnam Vet here also.

Great post and welcome home brother.

Capt. GGJohn
U.S. Army Ret.

[GGJohn]

5. I love it!!!!

This is what free speech is all about.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

45. Agree 100% n/t

[Nye Bevan]

6. "Can you think of a better way for a black man to spend Memorial Day....

....than to burn a Confederate flag"?

Yep.

[CreekDog]

31. He's black and an American, are you?

Your approval of how black Americans respond to this country's racist past and present is irrelevant and your continued offering of this kind of disapproval is insensitive.

[Nye Bevan]

43. The OP asked a question. I answered (nt)

[CreekDog]

50. Yes you answered to tell the black American that he was wrong on the confederate flag

For aome reason you thought you knew better than him. You're always posting to chide or correct black people here about their statements or views on racism.

What is it about your opinion that makes it more right than theirs?

[Nye Bevan]

52. The OP asked a "yes or no" question. My answer was "yes".

If my answer had been "no" I could be accused of implicitly criticizing the 99.9999% of black people who will be doing things other than burning Confederate flags on Memorial Day. So is the OP at fault for asking the question or am I at fault for answering it?

[CreekDog]

70. No, the OP did not ask such a question

That was a rhetorical question in the column that was posted.

If you don't know what a rhetorical question is, what special expertise do you have about black Americans that you specifically know how they should spend their time?

What special knowledge do you have that black Americans do not that makes your opinion on what they should be doing on Memorial Day more important than theirs?

[Nye Bevan]

71. I assume those are rhetorical questions? (nt)

[1StrongBlackMan]

32. Like how? n/t

[CreekDog]

37. You can't resist an opportunity

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4142300

[Iggo]

46. Please proceed in telling us how you think black people should act.

(Godammit, I can't find that fucking popcorn smiley. Anyway, it goes right here.)

[Nuclear Unicorn]

58. Instead of reflexively jumping your case I'd like to make a supposition about your intent.

If I understand you correctly I think it isn't that you think he's doing wrong but life has much more to offer than merely thumbing one's nose at a long-defeated moribund act of treason. No harm but for Memorial Day something along the lines of honoring the Tuskegee Airmen would be more valuable.

How far off the mark am I?

[mountain grammy]

7. Makes me wish I had a confederate flag to burn... K&R.

[Enthusiast]

8. This will make their little heads explode!

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[eppur_se_muova]

9. A good way to honor soldiers who fought and died to preserve the Union.

I hope he announces, with each ignition, that it's 150 years overdue.

[KingCharlemagne]

10. They also fought and died for "a new birth of freedom" (to quote

Lincon's Gettysburg Address). I can think of few causes more glorious than smashing chattel slavery.

[sarge43]

19. "Why we fight."

Mr Sims, burn one for my great great grandfather, Cpl Frederick H, 3rd Michigan Volunteers. Thank you.

[Bonhomme Richard]

13. The only good confederate flag was the white one.

Not very long ago I finished reading Gen.Grants Memoirs and currently I am in the middle of Gen. Sherman's memoirs. I sometimes think things haven't changed at all. They are only using different tactics.

[Marrah_G]

15. I hope no crazy person hurts him!

[Martin Eden]

16. For redneck neoconfederates, that's akin to drawing the prophet Muhammad

Hopefully there won't be violence.

Personally, I support this symbolic act. It will be interesting to see what kind of press coverage it gets.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

56. I support Ms. Gellar's rights; I support Mr. Sims as well. nt

[Martin Eden]

65. I support her rights, but I detest her act. n/t

[fasttense]

20. Burn baby burn.

It needs to be done regularly. That flag and it's creepy, abusive slavery obsession, needs to burn annually.

[The CCC]

22. Black artist will burn, bury the Confederate flag across the South on Memorial Day

What could possibly go wrong?

[daleanime]

26. Hopeful?

[silverweb]

23. I hope he has *excellent* security.

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]Lots of it.

He's a very courageous man, but will face much threatening and very likely violent hatred.

[appal_jack]

48. I suspect that John will be smart about it.

But yes, I hope that he has good and alert friends watching his back all the time.

(Full disclosure: I knew John a bit when we were in school together about 25 years ago. I have not seen him since, but like where he has gone with his art and life ever since...)

-app

[silverweb]

51. So cool that you "knew him when."

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]He sounds like a pretty extraordinary person by any standard, and I hope this whole endeavor is accomplished safely and successfully.

[PatrynXX]

24. well as the south likes to burn books

why not.. books oh I meant the Koran (depending on the spelling) that is a book thus book burning. flag burning is a far less thing.

in protest again why not

[ProdigalJunkMail]

35. horseshit...

that was one fucking wacko and a couple of compatriots... it certainly wasn't the south. and to top of the simple fact that he was pretty much a one man show on that little tidbit, more people protested his plan to burn korans than supported him.

nice bit of south bashing there...

sP

[randys1]

27. Only one non supportive response, makes my heart feel good, for once.

[appal_jack]

49. Indeed. Glad to see the support for free speech and accurate history. nt

[DinahMoeHum]

28. I'd rather see them use that flag as a toilet. . .

. . .or a garbage can.

[Exilednight]

42. I'd use it as toilet paper, but it's an insult to wipe my ass with

Such a repressive symbol.

[TNNurse]

29. I have lived in the south all my life.

I can take you to my Confederate great-great grandfather's grave. I would be happy if the only time I ever saw that flag was in history books and museums. It is only used as a symbol or bigotry these days, not matter what they tell you.

Now if there were any living Confederate veterans they could fly one....but that would be the only chance.

[KamaAina]

30. Finally! Some flag-burning I can get behind!

I support the free-speech rights of others to burn the U.S. flag, but will not do so myself.

edit: Perfect timing. A few Confederate Southern states still officially celebrate "Confederate Memorial Day".

[backscatter712]

36. The Confederate flag should be desecrated - it's the flag of treason, slavery, and hate.

BURN, FUCKER, BURN!!!

[Arugula Latte]

39. Good! Light 'em up!

[DonCoquixote]

40. He needs to watch out

Burning the Rebel flag is a felony on Florida. Note, burning the stars and stripes is legal, but NOT the stars and bars.

Says a lot about what flag gets real respect around here.

[Nye Bevan]

44. Unconstitutional (as ruled by USSC, Texas v Johnson, 1989) and therefore unenforceable (nt)

[Bluenorthwest]

47. The artist has some very great work and a mighty website to enjoy....

Multi-Media extravaganza, go click like crazy.
http://www.johnsimsprojects.com/home4.html

Also article about Mr Sims with photos and everything.

http://bombmagazine.org/article/4269/

[Warren DeMontague]

53. I support this message. Too bad some on DU think he should be arrested and his speech surpressed.

After all, he is knowingly doing something that might make some people real mad, and as such he is guilty of "incitement" and "shouting fire in a crowded theater".

Well-established legal precedent according to certain self appointed 1st Amendment experts here, as repeatedly argued in recent weeks, determines that ANY act of speech which might make someone else REAL MAD is NOT protected under the 1st Amendment.

I think it's apppalling, but we have people here who are so grossly misinformed about free speech, they would apparently gladly put this guy in jail.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

57. During that entire brouhaha I argued my points feeling, the whole time, that

an episode such as this was just in the offing. The reactions of some who chose cynical opportunism to try and silence a political opponent all but demanded Providence show their hypocrisy.

[Warren DeMontague]

64. Yep.

'Zactly.

[appal_jack]

67. Rights need to be universal if they are to be rights.

Excellent points, Warren DeMontague. Thankfully, more than a few of us here at DU stand up for free speech across the board. I'm not sure whether we are a minority here, or the "incitement" crowd is just louder, but I am quite confident that we have reason and truly American ideals on our side.



-app

[FLPanhandle]

69. +1

All those hypocrites who support this but condemned the other as "incitement".

At least we know know who the hypocrites are.

[Nye Bevan]

72. but but but but

that's DIFFERENT! No fair applying the same rules to speech I approve of and speech I don't approve of!

[onecaliberal]

54. That flag isn't fit to wipe the ass of my dogs.

Burn baby burn. I hope they burn thousands of them.

[romanic]

55. As long as it's not the US flag

then burn away.

[DustyJoe]

59. Artist is much smarter than Valdosta State University students

At least this artist is sending a message using the correct flag for his message.

The university students who I guess never took a basic civics or civil war
history class. Their use of the Stars and Stripes to walk on as a symbol of protest
against slavery and racism, ignored the fact that the Union soldiers and Black soldiers that fought for
the North proudly carrying the Stars and Stripes were the side that was
fighting against slavery and racism.

[romanic]

61. Speaking of...

I just read one of the students who stomped on the US Flag at Valdosta has been on the run with weapons charges, and recently posted a vicious manifesto to kill all "white European devils". Jesus Mary and Joseph what a lunatic. D:

[butterfly77]

62. Kicked&Recommended!

[Bryce Butler]

66. Burn, baby, burn...

[Oktober]

73. Meh...