Civil War History - Secession and PoliticsWas it Slavery, or was it States Rights? Perhaps it was the election of Lincoln? What were the real reasons for Southern Secession and what were the political issues in this time of war? Find your answers here in the Secession and Politics Disussion.
The greatest battle ever fought on the North American continent and the historical aftermath of this titanic contest have been lost forever in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. On the same grounds where Robert E. Lee, John Buford and John Reynolds fought for principles they held dear to them, Gettysburg College has decided that political correctness is more important than it’s historical identity.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans hereby alert all of our members and friends to attend the rally to be held on September 2 and September 3 at Gettysburg College to protest the College sponsored art exhibit featuring the hateful anti-Southern artwork of John Sims.
It has become apparent that neither Gettysburg College nor Gettysburg appreciates the value of Southern tourism. The valor exhibited by Confederate soldiers in this decisive battle is no longer important to officials of Gettysburg or Gettysburg College. The Confederate Battle flag is an honored flag flown on the battlefield by our Confederate soldiers. By promoting what the college calls “art” in which any intelligent person can see is nothing but thinly disguised hatred, the Sons of Confederate Veterans have decided that an economic boycott of the Gettysburg area will commence on September 3. And millions of American citizens with a love of the South and their Confederate heritage have been deeply offended.
Commander-in-Chief Denne Sweeney hereby calls on all members, families, and friends to avoid Gettysburg and not to spend any money in the Gettysburg area. All people concerned with the anti-Southern bigotry of this area should alert friends, media, and anyone concerned with the growing problem in Gettysburg so that this boycott will become nationwide and not just regional.
After September 3, Gettysburg is to be avoided whenever vacation plans are being made. Please pass this on to all media, lists and Internet services for widespread distribution.
Brag Bowling
National Press Officer
Sons of Confederate Veterans
PRESS RELEASE
GETTYSBURG BOYCOTT TO INTENSIFY
The Sons of Confederate Veterans recommend that visitors to the Maryland-Pennsylvania area plan their historical vacations in areas such as Southern friendly Washington County, Maryland, rather than in the borough of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Commander-in-Chief Denne Sweeney of the Sons of Confederate Veterans has announced his disappointment at the failure of the town government of Gettysburg to help negotiate an end of the scheduled September 3 art exhibit at Gettysburg College which features the “art” of John Sims who plans on lynching from a gallows a Confederate Battle Flag as part of his “recoloration project”. It is shameful that Gettysburg College has decided that their insensitive politically correct art exhibit is more important than being a good citizen of Gettysburg. This form of hate speech, thinly disguised as art, is repugnant to most Americans, not just Southerners. Gettysburg College has thumbed its nose at their own neighbors and then asks the small town to pick up most or all of the considerable security expenses while the lynching goes on.
In no way does this excuse the Gettysburg local government. The weak actions of the borough of Gettysburg stand in stark contrast to their neighbor, Washington County. Maryland, who always go out of their way to be “Confederate friendly.” During the filming of the movie GODS AND GENERALS, a proverbial red carpet was laid out for the Southern participants in the project.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans suggest that when our many friends and neighbors decide on a War Between the States vacation site, they consider the friendly confines of areas such as Washington County, Maryland, who have many fine restaurants, businesses and hotels. The governing body of Washington County and their local businesses understand the importance of Southern tourism, and would not allow such a hurtful exhibit.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans will be preparing a list of events in the Gettysburg area, which we urge all of our membership and supporters to avoid in the future. Also, check back frequently to the Sons of Confederate Veterans website (www.scv.org) for a listing of Confederate friendly hotel, restaurant and business establishments in localities such as Washington County, Maryland.
I have seen on other boards the call for Reenactors & S.C.V. groups to organize and "March" on Gettysburg as a form of protest. Wouldn't this be a better show of our displeasure then a Boycott?
As I stated in another post, I am not in agreement with John Sims’ point of view regarding the Confederate flag.
However, I would like to point out that Gettysburg College offers 18 courses related to the American Civil War. For more information, check out this website:
These are 18 full-credit courses, offered every year. By contrast, Sims’ art exhibit is a temporary, one-time event.
So Gettysburg College will offer its students 19 opportunities this year for exposure to thinking about the Civil War. The Sons of Confederate Veterans have seized upon one of those 19 – arguably, the least significant of the 19, since it will be a temporary, non-credit exhibit – in order to claim there is an anti-Southern bias at Gettysburg College.
I’m sorry, but they’re going to have to do a lot more research into the content of those 18 courses before I will consider that they have come close to demonstrating their point.
And exactly what do they think the town of Gettysburg is supposed to do about it? Spend money on lawyers to file a hopelessly futile lawsuit to try to prevent Sims from exercising his First Amendment right to freedom of speech? Article I, Section 9, Paragraph 12 of the Confederate Constitution expressly guaranteed the right of free speech, using the same wording as the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. And it guaranteed that right to everyone, not just the people whose point of view the SCV happens to find agreeable.
IMHO, the SCV has succeeded only in giving vastly greater exposure to Sims’ point of view than Sims could ever have hoped for.
The SCV leadership would have been better advised to stuff a sock in their own mouths, instead of trying to stuff one in Sims’.
I know, if the SCV had stayed mum on this it would have been a tempest in a teacup. They have done more to help this man than he could possibly dream of.
It appears the Army of Northern Virginia won the battle of Gettysburg this year.
The Gettysburg lynching was canceled after the college decided to move the lynching indoors, and the lyncher decided to take his gallows and go home rather than go inside.
Sent: Monday, August 30, 2004 4:16 PM
Subject: BULLETIN: SIMS STRIKES HIS COLORS
BULLETIN
Artist John Sims has abandoned his plans to "lynch" a Confederate flag as part of his exhibit at Gettysburg College.
The Gettysburg College Public Relations office told SLRC Executive Director Roger McCredie about 4 p.m. EDT that Sims had cancelled the "lynching" ceremony altogether. Earlier today the College had issued a statement saying it intended to move all events connected with the exhibit indoors, including the "lynching" of a Confederate flag.
"Mr. Sims made his final decision yesterday [Sunday, Aug. 29]," the PR spokesperson said.
George, Thank you for the link above. Through it I have found some very interesting links. Amazing the jewels one link will lead to! I agree that too much ado was made over this issue. I disagree with dishonoring the flag but a boycott was too much. A power march and peaceful showing of Confederate pride would of been a much better display. Tommy you are right. Now he has the attention he wanted from this.
Kat
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
Thanks, I am feeling a bit better, but don't look for me much until after Labor Day. Just snuck up to see what was going on and thought I would ease back gradual. I'll fire a shot now and then so you rebs don't think you have a clear field. Can't wait to get back for a future knock-out, drag-out with you, Thea, Hal and Bill, my favorite Rebels with a capitol 'R'!
Until then,
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
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