Sons of Confederate Veterans split over leadership

[larry_cockerham]

That wouldn't surprise me. I've invited a couple of friends to attend a meeting with similar results. There is much association with Lt. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest among the black community. Yes, he was a slave dealer, negative points freely admitted. However, I'm afraid the fact that his grandson, also named Nathan Bedford Forrest was the imperial wizard of the highly racist clan organization in Georgia in the 1920s, has gained the Gen. much unearned dis-repute. After the war Forrest spent consideration effort in support of reconstruction of the black community for which he receives very little current credit. To some extent this is because folks haven't wasted much time looking at the facts. Yes, he was a figure head for the clan for a couple of years after the war when it was essentially a local 'militia' in Tennessee attempting to help with the civil disorder during the early part of reconstruction. Gen. Forrest called for an end to the entire organization in 1869 (ca) and was exhonerated by a Congressional committee for his actions both in the war and after. Does that excuse his professional past? Nope. Should he be given credit for the actions of his grandson? Not entirely. I believe some of this history is a part of the image problem of the SCV today, along with the media versions of history. There's always the GAR? (SUV). This current scenario will unfortunately be interesting to observe and perhaps a bit painful. Men somehow never lose their childhood.

[larry_cockerham]

That wouldn't surprise me. I've invited a couple of friends to attend a meeting with similar results. There is much association with Lt. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest among the black community. Yes, he was a slave dealer, negative points freely admitted. However, I'm afraid the fact that his grandson, also named Nathan Bedford Forrest was the imperial wizard of the highly racist clan organization in Georgia in the 1920s, has gained the Gen. much unearned dis-repute. After the war Forrest spent consideration effort in support of reconstruction of the black community for which he receives very little current credit. To some extent this is because folks haven't wasted much time looking at the facts. Yes, he was a figure head for the clan for a couple of years after the war when it was essentially a local 'militia' in Tennessee attempting to help with the civil disorder during the early part of reconstruction. Gen. Forrest called for an end to the entire organization in 1869 (ca) and was exhonerated by a Congressional committee for his actions both in the war and after. Does that excuse his professional past? Nope. Should he be given credit for the actions of his grandson? Not entirely. I believe some of this history is a part of the image problem of the SCV today, along with the media versions of history. There's always the GAR? (SUV). This current scenario will unfortunately be interesting to observe and perhaps a bit painful. Men somehow never lose their childhood.

[thea_447]

Hi! I'm not a member of SCV but I do get messages from my husband's local chapter because I help with their Fall Muster: advertising, etc. This is what just arrived by email...Thea

_www.DixieBroadcasting.com_ (http://www.dixiebroadcasting.com/)
"The Powerful Voice of Today's Southern Movement!"

You've undoubtedly already heard the previously released telephone recordings of the GEC meeting of the SCV which turned into a firing session of the duly-elected officers. But now comes a DixieBroadcasting exclusive...

DixieBroadcasting Radio, the ONLY radio outlet of the Southern Movement, has obtained a copy of the GEC teleconference held this past week on 28 February 2005!

We will be broadcasting this EXCLUSIVE recording of the teleconference FOUR different times on tomorrow, Friday 4 March 2005 at 11am, 3pm, 8pm, and 11pm (all times Eastern Time Zone)

Spread the word to every email list available immediately! EVERY SCV member should hear this!

To listen to the online broadcast, simply go to the station's website at _www.DixieBroadcasting.com_ (http://www.dixiebroadcasting.com/) and click on the "Listen Now" button prominently displayed on each page of the radio station's website. (Note: If this is your first time listening to the station,
allow at least five minutes to download the free LivePlayer for best results.
Other players will work with the broadcast, but not with as good
results.) While at the site, sign up for our email update to receive breaking news about future interviews and broadcasts, as this story further unfolds.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at
_producer@DixieBroadcasting.com_ (mailtoroducer@DixieBroadcasting.com)

[thea_447]

By the way, I DID NOT put that funny icon in the middle of the address for Dixie Broadcasting. I'm going to "write" it out to see if it happens again.

mail to producer@DixieBroadcasting.com

[unionblue]

Thea,

Sorry, couldn't get to the sites you posted above.

But I did find two more on this thread's main topic, the split in the SCV. Here is the Georgia SCV sites take on the matter:

http://www.georgiascv.com/GECStatement.htm

It has been reported that of all the states with SCV camps and chapters, 11 states, including Georgia, have called for Sweeny's reinstatement.

Here is a site with the Kennedy brothers (The South Was Right!) calling on Dr. Hodges to resign and reinstate Sweeny also.

http://www.kennedytwins.com/scvltr.htm

Unionblue

[WarEagleRebel]

Please forgive me if this has already been posted elsewhere. The courts reappointed CIC Sweeney today, March 9th. Also, those that CIC Sweeney helped to oust are also reinstated. I am a member of the SCV, Alabama Division. I believe it is important for both factions to get along and produce results. While I am an "activist" leaner, I do believe that the SCV is better with ALL descendants of Confederate Soldiers. Different camps believe in different ways. I hope, yet seriously doubt, that both sides can work together. As with everything, the SCV will have to become more politically involved if we are to uphold the SCV charge. That in no way means that there is not room for those who would like to remain more of a historical group. I'm a history major and that is what we are, a historical group. To keep the memories of the Confederate Soldier alive in this day and time means that we do have to battle with those who want to erase Confederate heritage.

Also, y'all mentioned the black community getting involved with the SCV. There is a great man named H.K. Edgerton that is a member of the SCV. He is a very active member and is an hounorary member to many camps throughout the US. He is the perfect example of an "activist" or what some call a "radical" in the SCV. Just do a google search for him and you will no doubt find much on this former NAACP member. I know of no racism inside of the SCV. Mr. Edgerton is admired by many in the SCV. The problem is two factions wanting control. We need to stop thinking "us and them" and think "us." While I may not be a popular person for saying this, I believe the SCV and SUV need to work more closely together. Together our ancestors North or South will never be forgotten, especially by those in national politics.


Richard E Mims
Chilton County, AL

[thea_447]

Thank you Richard, for giving us your opinion on this situation. I agree completely with your idea about the SCV and the SUV.

There had been a lot of email passing back and forth in my husband's camp on reinstating Sweeney. My husband's camp commander was totally in agreement with reinstating him.

I would certainly hope that both the SCV and SUV would work diligently to keep the histories of these venerated soldiers and this war alive. History should never be forgotten simply because it is unpleasant.

And Richard, I hope that we will hear some more from you in the near future.

I remain YMOS,

[unionblue]

Richard & Thea,

So it is your contentions that there is no reason for concern, that the charges that the SCV is not being influenced by the League of the South or the Conservative Citizens Councils have no basis in fact? That Sweeny and others were not trying to go outside the Constitution and take the SCV down a more radical path or a racisit agenda?

Unionblue

[johan_steele]

Richard and Thea, as it stands now I hope to God that the SUVCW is NEVER any closer to the current SCV. I see the current SCV in the same situation Forrest was in when he decided to leave the KKK. There is a direction that some are allying themselves to w/in the SCV that espouses hate instead of Heritage.

I have visited numerous SCV links over the last several years, some that Thea was kind enough to link to. Some that, as a Mod and as a man, I was so offended by as to be stunned and sickened (thank you Thea for directing me to none of those). There is no doubt that there is an element w/in the organization w/ an aim to use the SCV as a mouthpiece to modern secession, racism, re-segregation and worse.

That is not to say that the SCV is a racist organization, it isn't. Then again the KKK as created wasn't what it is today. The friendship being shown to organizations such as the League of the South and other far more objectionable groups worries me.

Those members of the SCV who want it to continue as an organization that honors it's ancestors need to make their voices heard. Or every bit of honor that more than a century of good work has accomplished will become worthless.

As I've said before, silence is tacit aggreement.

[WarEagleRebel]

I do not believe the SCV is anywhere near heading toward being a racist organization. Yes, the SCV has many League of the South members but I have seen nothing, outside of SPLC falsehoods, that would cause the League to be racist. I believe the LoS is a good organisation that gets a bad rap from the politically correct crowd. I see the LoS as nothing more than a more politically involved SCV. Many SCV camps have been created by League members or the other way around. The Council of Conservative Citizens is one of those groups that I would be conserned about. I have seen no CCC involvement within the SCV in recent years. A few years ago, a few SCV members belonged to the CCC but dropped out after it became racist. I've thought about joining the League of the South and may still do so in the future. While I do not believe in present secession from the US, I do believe the states do have that right. Believing in secession does not make you a bad person and it especially does not mean you are a racist.

The SCV is not going to become a racist organisation, there is no need for concern. The SCV Constitution is being upheld. While the SCV should be non political, it also has to look out for attacks on Southern symbols which represent our ancestors. It should not be an organisation that sits back and lets other groups take Confederate symbols out of state flags and take flags out of Confederate cemeteries. Yes, the SCV is becoming more active, if it didn't we wouldn't have nothing to remember.

I just want us all to get along together, not call each other "racist" or "grannies." I think if we were becoming a more racist group we would not be experiencing the growth we are today. Camps are popping up everywhere and more people are finding out about the organisation. We are here to protect and preserve not to hate and destroy. Those that join the SCV or LoS expecting a toned down KKK don't last too long. They are quickly told to move on. I think the SUV and SCV would work well together.

Thanks for hearing me and once I can figure this elaborate message board out a little more I plan to post more on the war. I'm currently researching the Blackwell Crowd. They were a gang of outlaws that wouldn't join the Confederate forces and hated the Union. They killed Confederate and Union alike. They worked with the Alabama Home Guard to murder many people in this area of Alabama and I believe some of those killed were ancestors of mine. The Mims' were thought to be Union sympathizers. It's still a touchy subject here in central Alabama.