Guest opinion from our friend, Capt. George Harris:
A couple of days ago I picked up a copy of The Prince William Times and found a front page article about PWC’s “Mini-Trump”, Corey Stewart. I found it most interesting that Stewart, a carpetbagger from Minnesota, ranted on about “our Virginia heritage”. The worst kind of carpetbagging. And he wraps himself in a flag that he declares is the flag of the Confederacy. Another attempt at faux-patriotism for the South. This is the first flag of the Confederacy and there were two others. This is the “Stars and Bars” that served as the national flag of the Confederacy.
This flag (below) was the Battle Flag of General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia-it was NEVER the national flag of the Confederacy. However, it was incorporated into two subsequent Confederate national flags. It’s continued use by white racists only serves to fan the flames of racism that that continue to burn more than 150 years after the end of a war that nearly destroyed the “perfect union” our founders so desperately sought when they signed the Declaration of Independence long ago on a hot, muggy day in Philadelphia.
I have seen the Facebook video mentioned in the article. Stewart is pulling out all the stops to show that he is a “True son of the South” when he is anything but. He is so bad that even Trump fired him. When are the citizens of Prince William County going to wake up and fire him? And hopefully the citizens of the Commonwealth will see through this carpetbagger and not elect him to our state’s highest office.
George S. Harris
Captain, US. Navy (Retired)
Manassas, VA
I grew up in Southwest Virginia and saw a lot of genuine Civil War nostalgia but I also saw a shameful amount of racism. It deeply offended me when George Allen came from another part of the country and started whistling “Dixie” and I was glad to see Jim Webb show him the door.Corey Stewart started this stuff to make a name for himself statewide, but it is doubtful that he’s gaining the reputation he expected. If he loves history so much why hasn’t he learned from it?
Robin Hood,
I seriously don’t think he knows much about history.
Actually he should read what William Faulkner had to say about Virginians being snobs (and proud of it).
He’s not our native son, for sure.
I forgot to thank George for his contribution.
I spent my life trying to educate kids. I was glad to see George doing some major correcting. If I see the Battle Flag of Northern Virginia called “the stars and bars” too many more times, I am going to have apoplexy.
I would like to go on record, yet again, about how I feel about displaying the flags discussed by George Harris. I don’t think Confederate Flags should be flown over any public buildings or displayed other than in a museum setting or at a cemetery. There are probably appropriate places in educational settings where other flags are flown.
Private buildings and institutions may do as they see fit. Flags in and of themselves don’t harm people. However, various confederate flags have been hi-jacked from history and have been misused to flaunt supposed white supremacy and hate. Therefore, public use of said flags has become inappropriate in all but select settings.
I agcree almost completely with George. The one minor difference is that the rectangular battle flag is the one most associated with hate groups and that flag looks like the battle flag of the Army of Northern Virginia, but is, in fact, the battle flag of the Army of Tennessee. The Northern Virginia flag, as George pointed out, is square.
Thanks for the clarification, Fire.
Corey continues to draw national ire. As a defender of the statues in Charlottesville and as a person who would never drape themselves in a confederate flag for obvious reasons, I think he is doing more harm than good.
The statue of Lee is not even close to waving a confederate battle flag.
Here’s the latest from the Daily Progress in Charlottesville.
http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/politics/stewart-s-support-for-statues-draws-ire-nationwide/article_652bfdee-2add-11e7-bc9b-470d7b5eb1c5.html?utm_source=WhatCountsEmail&utm_medium=Daily%20Newsletter&utm_campaign=Daily%20Newsletter#utm_source=dailyprogress.com&utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletter%2Fdailynew%2F&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline
http://www.fauquier.com/prince_william_times/republican-supervisor-criticizes-corey-stewart-s-defense-of-the-confederate/article_595cb292-25c4-11e7-a881-3ba1ffe02962.html
I am posting a link to an article about Marty Nohe’s response to this. It includes his black adopted son’s thoughts also which I think are insightful.
Even if you don’t agree with his son, the thoughts are his own, therefore valid from his perspective.
Thanks, El Guapo.
After reading “Fire’s” comment, Imwent on a search and found this info on the “Confederate” flag. General Johnston was very busy propagating this flag?
http://confederateflags.org/army/fotcaot/