FROM THE KINGSPORT TIMES-NEWS (5/21/10)

Flag is a symbol of heritage and pride

Re. the complaint about Sullivan South’s mascot, the Confederate Battle Flag is not a hate flag; it’s a Southern flag. It is a symbol of Southern pride and heritage. The complainer in this incident would do well to read a history book. Some claim the flag as a symbol of racism or slavery, but they do not consider the 96,000 Southern black men who volunteered for service in the Confederate Army, or the 23,000 Jewish Confederates, or the thousands of Catholics, Irish, Native Americans, and Hispanics who served in the Southern army. After the war, approximately 200 former black Confederate soldiers drew pensions here in Tennessee. Many more applied, but as records were lost, altered, or destroyed, oftentimes by the Union military itself, they could not prove their service.
Kingsport has a particularly interesting history during the war, as it was strongly pro-Southern in the midst of the more pro-Union sentiment of Upper East Tennessee, so much so that the Kingsport area was referred to as the “Little Confederacy.” Sullivan South and its students and alumni have been well satisfied and proud of their flag, mascot, and school for many years, and they should be. These individuals and organizations who demand removal of symbols of Southern pride and heritage commit wanton and hateful acts against dead people who are unable to defend themselves and against us, their descendents. Our citizens and officials who bow to political correctness are ignorant at best and cowards at worst.
Joe Adkins
Jonesborough



Someone is offended. So what!

Sullivan South High School has the right to use the rebel flag as their symbol. It is a way to show their Southern pride and school pride. Jack Barnes says, “We’ve had a complaint.” So what! Do you think that everyone who is offended by something should immediately get their way? I am offended by the fact that prayer was taken out of our schools, millions of babies are murdered every year by an abortion, liberals trying to take God out of government, not having assembly services in schools where a preacher can tell the boys and girls about Christ. They took God out of schools and replaced Him with the resource officers, they teach children sex education and hand out condoms. The schools in this country are out of control, and that is the price you pay for taking God out of schools. Put God back in the schools, and you will see a big change for the better.
James Hartley
Church Hill


No Native Americans as mascots

Re. removing the Confederate flag as Sullivan South’s flag. If the flag is removed or not allowed to be displayed on the school property, I think it only fair that Dobyns-Bennett be forced to immediately cease using the image of a Native American as their mascot. It is not fair to pick and choose who is the most offended. For years some have been offended by the use of Native Americans as mascots. Considering the plight of African-Americans and Native Americans, it’s safe to say that Native Americans have consistently received the short end of the stick.
Jim Hicks
Kingsport



Slaves were kept in North after war

In response to questions about the Confederate Battle Flag, the Stars and Bars, which is a symbol of Southern pride, not one of hate, never once flew over a slave ship, while the same cannot be said for the Union flag. Slavery was not only an institution in the South, because there were over a quarter of a million slaves held in the North’s 19 states where slavery was still legal until Dec. 6, 1865, well after the war had ended, although Lincoln’s proclamation made Jan. 1, 1863 freed the slaves in the South, it left those in the North still in bondage.
If the North was so interested with ending slavery, why did they not free their slaves at the beginning of the war, in lieu of not doing so until well after it was over? Ninety-nine percent of the soldiers that fought under the Stars and Bars never owned any slaves, but fought for states’ rights, against Northern aggression, and the North never raised the issue of slavery until the war was well under way, and they used it to establish some justification for their aggression. It is sad when a few people believe they have the power to change history, and we just give in to them, in lieu of telling them to just grow up and get over it.
Clayton Upchurch
Kingsport