One Progressive's Nat'l Scheme To Burn Confederate Flags At Tea Party Rallies

[meegbear]

An anonymous liberal blogger in Washington state hopes that progressives across the country will show up to tea party rallies on September 12 and -- if it's legal -- light up a confederate flag so tea partiers can watch it burn.

"I think that it would start a great conversation about race and about how it's being used for political gain right now," the blogger, who preferred to be identified by his online handle, "General J.C. Christian," told me Monday. "I can imagine people showing up at the tea parties, which I'll do at my local one, and the tea party backers will start explaining why is about state's rights, not slavery, and all that and basically hang themselves."

"I think that will be one of the messages that come out of the tea party events if my idea works out and people actually embrace it," he added.

General JC Christian, who writes the satirical anti-conservative blog Jesus' General, says he's serious about Burn The Confederate Flag Day, which he announced Sunday night on Facebook and the web. And while there's no sign so far that Burn The Confederate Flag Day will spread across the nation, the idea seems sure to at least ruffle some tea party feathers.

<snip>

General JC Christian says he hopes Burn The Confederate Flag Day will expose what he says are the racial motivations of the tea party movement. The logistics are simple: protesters are urged to show up to the rallies and, if local laws allow a fire to be set, light a Confederate flag (or whatever approximation of one they can get their hands on -- the blogger told me he's not picky.) If laws don't allow the flag to be burned in a public place, the protesters are urged to show up with a singed flag they burned at home and display it prominently.

The blogger told me that even as the tea party has publicly struggled to shake off its racist image, the movement has continued to be fueled by prejudice.

"Sure, after all the publicity, the leaders are trying to clean up their act," General JC Christian told me. "But you're looking at a group I think is fundamentally racist...I think there's a conscious effort to show African Americans as subversive and anti-American and to tie that to Obama."

The ongoing debate over the Confederate flag is the perfect way to expose those racial motivations, the blogger predicts. He posits that most tea partiers will be supportive of the Confederate flag, which he says means they've got issues with race.

<snip>

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/one-progressives-natl-scheme-to-burn-confederate-flags-at-tea-party-rallies.php?ref=fpa

[lame54]

1. It is about states rights...

The right to own a fucking slave

[Somawas]

2. What an outstanding idea.

I may have to go to a tea party rally, just to do it.

[Orrex]

3. Brilliant!

I was driving in rural northwestern PA last week, and Confederate flags were everywhere. I had no idea that Erie county was so proudly upholding the traditions of the antebellum South.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

8. I live in central PA and can verify that the Mason-Dixon line seems to have been moved to the north

of the original line at some point.

They are way too common around here. However, xenophobic and racist behavior is way too common around here also so that probably has something to do with it.

James Carville was right.

[Orrex]

10. Ain't that the truth.

I lived in State College for 10 years. I was amazed at the cultural difference that became evident whenever I traveled more than a mile or two out of the city.

It's amazing that such a culturally and intellectually diverse setting could exist in such a comparatively isolationist environment.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

27. State College is an Oasis in an desert of small mindedness.

I get up there every few months to see one of my Doctors.

I get a boost just from pulling into the parking lot where her office is located. It's large enough that there might be 50 or so cars there. It's strange to look at all of the bumper stickers and see ones like Obama, anti-war, pro choice, organic foods and the like when I'm used to what I see here.

I feel like Dorothy landing in Oz. However, as you said, it's back to reality within minutes of leaving State College.

Penn State is a calming influence on the town, but it's just too bad that their sphere seems to end too close to town. On the bright side, PSU-Altoona is expanding like wildfire and is changing the social and racial outlook of the town little by little. It probably won't be close to what State College is during my lifetime, but the town is being dragged into the 21st century.

[AspenRose]

31. I've seen the stars and bars on a truck in New Hampshire.

NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Delaware, too. (Slower lower)

[Jim Lane]

35. Add Maine to the list

Years ago, we went on a family vacation to Maine. In one of the coastal cities was a small, decrepit-looking place that served the best fried clams we found on the trip. We called it "the Confederate Lunchroom" because of the Stars & Bars on the wall over the stove.

[dgibby]

9. How times have changed!

I used to visit my uncle and his family on their dairy farm near Espyville in Erie Co. I grew up in Va. My relatives on that side(maternal) fought for the Union, while my dad's ancestors fought for the South. I'm just glad they never met up on a battlefield, or I wouldn't be here posting!

Anyway, I can not imagine a Confederate Flag in Erie Co! I'm gobsmacked!

[Orrex]

11. Some folks north of Union City are still bitter about the War of Northern Aggression, it seems...

Whenever I see that traitorous banner on a truck or car or house belonging to a Pennsylvania resident, I can't even imagine what they're trying to evoke, other than nostalgic racism.

I'm always tempted to ask why they don't simply drag the corpse of a slave behind their truck instead, since the point would be basically the same.

[dgibby]

15. I've been delving deep into genealogy lately,

and was surprised to find out just how prevalent slavery was throughout the country. Many northerners owned slaves, only stopped the practice when it became financially burdensome as they changed from farming to manufacturing. Lothesome practice, no matter the rationale.

[JoePhilly]

13. Here's a good description of PA ...

PA is basically Philly on one side, Pittsburgh on the other side, and Alabama in the middle.

[Orrex]

21. I've lived on both sides of the state and in the middle, and Carville is exactly correct.

[MineralMan]

4. I would suggest that anyone planning to do this not be alone

when they do. Seriously. There are some angry, angry people at these rallies, and it could be risky on a personal level. Other than that, it's a great idea.

[Ichingcarpenter]

5. Great Idea.... and Jesus General site makes me laugh as always

Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Mexicans Seize Branson



Update 11: Andrew Breitbart releases video of Mexican assault on Branson (see video at right).

Update 10: The conspiracy deepens. FBI, ICE say Branson not controlled my Mexican beer runners.

Update 9: While it's true that Branson isn't on the Mexican Border, I was correct when I called it a "border-area smuggling corridor." All a smuggler needs to do is sail a boat through the Gulf Of Mexico, up the Mississippi to the the White River, and then portage over a couple of dams to reach Branson. The government never mentions this route, because they are in league with the Mexicans.

Update 8: OK, I've checked my translation of Los Tigres Del Norte again. I made a mistake. It means "Obama is secretly Mexican." I'm waiting for Orly's call now. I'll update you after I hear from her.

Update 7: A chihuahua was seen urinating on the Baldknobbers Country Music Theatre.

Update 6: Obama continues to ignore Branson takeover,

[txlibdem]

6. Great post, thank you!

I just wish there was a flag for stupid people who scream and stamp their feet for policies that will ultimately hurt themselves as well as millions of others just like them. We could burn that, too.

Maybe that hilarious X-Ray of Homer Simpson's cranium...

[jberryhill]

7. I really like that

That is one of those "why didn't I think of that before?" ideas.

Of course.

Burning the flag of an enemy of the United States. Who would object to that?

[EFerrari]

12. This seems like incitement to me. Why not just use

the "Not in Our Town" idea?

[red red red]

14. Brilliant...

but yes, be careful!

[Erose999]

16. Not sure if I agree with this, it just seems like the flag burning would be a baiting tactic.

The thing about the Tea Party and their racist signs etc is that its all done for cheap shock value. I think the progressive movement needs to hold itself to a higher standard and try to find a way to engage these 'bagger folks in debate rather than a pissing contest over who desecrated who's symbols.

Also, given that they are trying to make it look like WE are the racists, burning their symbols and such would probably give them credibility there.

I think if it does get to that level what might be better would be to have a line of people stomp across a "Don't tread on me" flag, as they have adapted that as the "tea party" symbol and it is not as racially charged.

[AlinPA]

17. I disagree. The teaparty is inspired by racism, primarily hatred of Obama.

[EFerrari]

20. So, we respond to their hatred with violence?

[Winterblues]

22. So burning a flag is now described as violence?

I would admit that act might cause some violence to happen, especially from the Tea Baggers, but I hardly see where the act itself is a violent act. It is basically street theater, the same as Code Pink demonstrates and that is what creates Media attention..The whole idea is to show Nation Wide the prejudice of the Tea Baggers, and I know of no other act that could do that. Who would defend that flag that is not bigoted?

[EFerrari]

34. It's not about defending that flag but of answering destructiveness

with more destructiveness. I guess I favor more the tactics that those people used to counter the Westboro nutcases -- they dressed up in costumes and held up hilarious satirical signs.

[Erose999]

23. I agree that most of their vitriol comes from racist hatred, but I don't think that every

single teabagger is a racist. Most of them are just too passive in their participation to question the racism exhibited by the "leaders" of the movement like Britefart, Williams, Paul, etc.

I don't think that every display of the Confederate battle flag is racist either. I mean there are plenty of times it IS, but the thing people who aren't from the South don't understand is that some people here see the Confederate flag as representing the distinctiveness of Southern culture (the GOOD things about the South like sweet tea, Faulkner, etc). I don't think there is another symbol that represents "the South" as a region, for better or worse.

The music of the Drive-By-Truckers might explain it better than I can:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cyDwYi4TD8

[AlinPA]

37. To many others, however that flag is the flag of Jefferson Davis for whom some of us

have no respect.

[cynatnite]

24. I agree with you, but the problem is...

that people who carry racist signs around are usually the ones least likely to engage in any kind of debate. Besides, I don't believe they would understand the meaning behind burning the confederate flag in the first place. Majority of them aren't the sharpest knives in the drawer.

[Erose999]

26. Never underestimate their ability to take things out of context and jump to conclusions.

Some of the most extremist 'baggers are stockpiling arms to prepare for another civil war. They might see progressives burning Confederate flags as a provocation toward that end.

There are places to engage them online. Any of the local forums like Craigslist with a "politics" thread or subsection should be a good place for finding and engaging them. I debate with several 'baggers on a local car forum.

[cynatnite]

36. I quit debating them a long time ago...

It was like beating my head against the wall. Facts were just too difficult for them to comprehend and they believed every repub talking point was like the bible.

[LanternWaste]

29. Less a question of baiting...

Less a question of baiting and more a question of communicating in simple ways that the right can comprehend without the necessity of carrying a dictionary and thesaurus.

As for concerning ourselves with whether or not burning a confederate battle flag is racial or not, the onus would be on the GOP talking heads to come up with easily digestible arguments which would necessarily contain context and contrast-- something they're simply not very good at.

[Erose999]

32. They can use context and contrast in their arguments... they do it in the wrong way. I am thinking

that if the flag burning does happen they will make the argument that progressives have an anti-Southern bias and that progressives are going after Southern culture. The right just loves a culture war, after all.

The right-wing media are smarter than we give them credit for. They know exactly how to manipulate stories to get the RW base to believe what the GOP wants them to believe.

[LanternWaste]

33. Regardless, the RW media would be jumping through more hoops than it's worth...

Regardless, the RW media would be jumping through more hoops than it's worth to equate burning a confederate battle flag with racism on a level the average Fox viewer could understand. It's simply not an effective cost/benefit story in this instance.

[TreasonousBastard]

18. I can't see the point. It might start some fights, which would be fun, but...

I can't imagine it would have any lasting effect.

Except maybe to make us look stupid.

[Ezlivin]

19. I'd like to keep my teeth, thank you

As a liberal atheist born and raised in the South I know you don't trifle with Southern icons without some danger.

I'm already in a wheelchair and I don't fancy getting my health reduced a couple of notches by some Skoal-spitting mouth-breathers who want to impress dead Confederate kin.

But, hey, the idea is a great one. If I were 23 and able-bodied again I think I would take a few buddies and see what happened.

[ThomWV]

25. K&R for this outstanding idea

[Edweird]

28. Not a bright idea - just my .02

[AspenRose]

30. I LOVE IT!

:woohoo: