South Dakota town lashes back at George Floyd, his uncle after Confederate flag fight
KoB sends in this article about George Floyd’s uncle’s crusade against the Confederate battle flag in his small South Dakota town.
It seems the uncle, Selwyn Jones, carpetbagged into the small town a few years back. The cannon and flags represent the city’s namesake of Gettysburg, PA. The South Dakota town was founded by veterans of The War Between the States.
Jones didn’t even know that the Confederate flag was on the city’s police patch or squad cars and only became offended after a South Dakota reporter called him to get his opinion on the matter. Since then he used his pulpit, however bully it may be from his relation to Floyd, to advocate for the change. The city and police department acquiesced, but this anger the locals.
There’s a few ways to look at this one. He only recently moved to the SD town and was unaware the patch had the offensive (to some) image on it, so why concern himself with it? However, he has purchased a business (and likely a home) there, so he has every right to a say in local political issues.
Likewise, it should be noted that the patch is a recent addition to the department, designed in 2009. This is not something that’s been a part of the city for decades as many of the Confederacy targets in the South. I can see what the agency/city was going for with the nods to the Battle of Gettysburg (the bloodiest battle of the war that saw more than a quarter of the ~175,000 men there to become casualties), but even in 2009 the Confederate flag had been a source of significant controversy for many years. It seems like an unnecessary lightning rod (a “dog whistle” in the parlance of 2020) to add it to a police department’s patch.
Also, as a history buff, if they were going to go for historical accuracy, they could have picked the far less problematic actual CSA stars and bars that were the country’s flag. They also should have used a period-accurate Union flag. There be way too many stars on that Old Glory there to be Civil War vintage.
Category: BLM, Guest Link, Police, Politics
I still don’t understand why people keep supporting the Democrat-run South in the Civil War.
The Civil War was clearly a war between Republicans and Democrats, started by the democrats.
The Republicans were the new upcoming party, and the Democrat swamp refused to recognize the electoral victory of Abraham Lincoln, and took their toys and went home, declaring their states independence.
Sounds familiar?
It also had to do with money, Joe. The North was rapidly industrializing but it was expensive, and the South was making a mint of cash off cheap labor, and from cotton and tobacco trading with England.
Destroy your opponent’s economy and you win the war, and that leaves your opponent broke.
I would leave it up to the entire population of Gettysburg, SD to decide. One man’s disapproval is noted, but he doesn’t make policy.
And yes, I agree with The Civil War being a war between the Democrats & Republicans. I first saw that analysis by Dinesh D’Souza in his file ‘Hillary’s America’
Yep. You have a right to express your opinion and “disapproval”. And we, the REST of the local citizens, have an EQUAL right to express our opinions and disapprovals/approvals.
And as the DildoCrats like to talk about “Democracy”, 50%+1 majority wins.
OK, very good. Thanks Mason. I didn’t send this in to Mason in order to re-fight the War or get bogged down in right or wrong of it, or the causes (there were many). And I won’t pick apart the historical inaccuracies of the article, or the fact that folks from out of town are throwing rocks and are blaming Trump or White Power for this. Notice the article is kinda sorta old (Jun of 2020). Mason and I are both very Historically inclined and share things back and forth often, as do AW1Ed and I do. My main point was the fact that ONE (1) person out of more than ONE THOUSAND (1.000) could dictate the patch that was worn by TWO (2) Police Officers in a Prairie Town founded almost 150 years ago by VETERANS OF BOTH SIDES on land that was cleared of Bison, Dakota, and…well…Prairie Dogs was offensive and had to be changed. And the ongoing narrative that George Floyd was a big hero that needed to be idolized for dying of stoopidity while under the control of an unthinking, going by the book/his training LEO. That is just the excuse that is being used. The purpose is to drive a wedge between the people of this country, create some anarchy and pave the way for the NEW World Order of Socialism done right this time. Again, I cannot give the benefit of 60+ years of study on this time frame of American History. And I will not attach many of the links to some of the true histories (not the propaganda) because some of those sites have a rattle the cup button. You can, however, Google Abbeville Institute, or The SCV and find documentation on the “other” causes of that War. Gettysburg SD is not the only town that was founded by Veterans of the War. Fitzgerald Georgia is called the Blue/Gray City to Honor the men of both sides that started that city. Many of the Cemeteries in the Mid-West have the Veterans buried side by side and those sites are maintained by the… Read more »
I’m gonna have to disagree on the “less controversial” Stars & Bars. The national flag(s) of the Confederate States, whether you’re talking about the Bonnie Blue Flag, the Stars & Bars, or the Stainless Banner, are the *actual* flags of slavery.
The Rebel Flag/ANV Flag/Southern Cross is not. It was first flown by Johnny Rebs under Robert E. Lee. Since then, however, it has been flown by American soldiers of every race on every front in every conflict where they’ve fought. It is a symbol of American fighting men, and their courage and fighting spirit. Doughboys flew it over theor trenches on the Western Front. Marines flew it on Guadalcanal and hoisted it over Shuri Castle. The racially-integrated US military fought under it on the Korean Peninsula and in the southeast Asian jungle. And it whipped from the antenna of many a combat vehicle in Iraq and Afghanistan. Quite a few black men have proudly carried a Rebel Flag into battle in the 160 years since its invention. Many of them shed their blood beneath it. Some of them gave their lives beneath it.
The Rebel Flag is not offensive. The various iterations of CSA national flag, however, most certainly are. They should never be displayed unless in a purely historical (museum, reenactment, etc) context.
That ANV flag figures prominently on the Second National and Third National flags.
And they meant it to be there for a reason.
Your first sentence is correct. Your second sentence needs the answer to the obvious question.
“The Other Whitey” is correct.
It is still every bit Confederate as the others, arguably, it is the most revered Confederate artifact.
It was the emblem of sword of the Confederacy, the embodiment of that fight, and all the good and bad of it. That is -why- it is revered.
Personally, the American “rebel flag” to me is the Betsy Ross. It is the symbol of the Revolution that won us a Nation and Liberty. And now Liberty for all. And I firmly believe eventually we free the world.
I think that “less controversial” is meant only that most of the people to whom the battle flag is “offensive” are to F%$@ing stupid to realize what it is and therefore it is not protested.
I concur with your analysis that the political will to break from the Union in order to preserve the ability to have slavery (really the only “state’s right” in question) resided in Richmond and was represented by any flag that represented that government. I would bet that the percentage of men fighting for the Confederacy that owned slaves was very low. Most slogged through mud, rain, snow, or the scorching heat in summer just to walk from one place to another to maybe get killed did so just because they were born where they were (on both sides).
Incidentally, I would say that the folks who actually had the ability to choose a side WERE the ones who owned slaves – or were rich and passionately against it.
FuzeVT, less than 5% of the Confederate Soldiers that toted a rifle or pulled a lanyard was a slave owner. Owning 20 or more gave you a pass from the draft. Or, as in the North, a person could pay a fee, or hire a substitute to serve in their place. Many “Bounty Men/Jumpers” from the Northern States, that would sign up, get the money, desert, and go sign up again under another name…rinse and repeat. One reason why it was known FIRST as a Rich Man’s War and a poor man’s fight. And Richmond only became the Capital after Virginia seceded, kinda as a reward for joining, but primarily as a future, close by, negotiating tool with the US Government. The “Fire Eaters” politicians of the South were under the impression that fair trade and commerce would resume between the two separate governments, and the “Radical Republicans” & “Peace Democrats” wanted the tariff monies generated by the cotton trade. In 1860 80% of the Federal Revenue came from tariffs paid mostly by the Southern States. And yes, the original Rebel Flag in America was the Betsy Ross. And that was the basic design of the First National Flag of the CSA, Red & White Stripes with the 7 stars in the circle (The Stars and Bars). The Saint Andrew’s Cross was adapted as the Battle Flag of the Army in Virginia due to the confusion caused by the similarity of the 2 flags, at a distance, in the smoke, on a Battle Field. Was the best way to avoid “Friendly Fire.” Considering that many early Confederate Units wore a dark blue or black uniform, and many Northern Militia Units wore a gray uniform. The Saint Andrews Cross Design was also a nod to it having been used as a symbol of Rebellion thruout the years and to the massive number of Southerners of Scotch/Irish descent. The Second National Flag was a Saint Andrews Cross in the Corner with a white field to further differentiate from the Stars and Stripes. Hanging limp with no breeze, and at a distance it… Read more »
Thank you for the info. I’ll trade you some pictures I took an a Chancellorsville Staff Ride I did while stationed in Quantico.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/RnErIegZ41sUWLzx2
And Fort Pulaski taken several years earlier
https://goo.gl/photos/oTzfUbibUNU4CvSb9
And Camp Sumter (known to you yanks as Andersonville) taken in 2009 while stationed in Albany, GA
https://photos.app.goo.gl/CaPNiGE33SAusXDEA
Cool! Thanks Devil Dog! Been to all, but my Chancellorsville trip was just a drive thru due to time constraints and excess baggage traveling with me. That Battle still being studied and taught on the Sand Tables. The Bears overall plan for Desert Storm 1.0. If Jackson had not of been taken out, Gettysburg PA might not of happened. By the same token, if Jackson had of been at Gettysburg PA, THAT would have ended differently too. He’d of taken the high ground on the FIRST Day, (unlike Ewell dicking around), Longstreet would of had his defensive battle position, and while Meade beat the Army of the Potomac to pieces, Pickett would’ve come up and caught them in the ass. Game, set, and match. Fort Pulaski, been there a buncha times, part of my “Bubbas Tours” go to for out of state guests/family History Teaching Classes. Was a major participant in the Memorial Services for the Members of the Immortal 600. Ol’ Bobby Lee, as a younger man, had a lot to do with the building of that one. And did the inspections of all of the Coastal Forts before he took over the ANV. Also the FIRST Fort to prove that in the war of fortification V rifled warhead, warhead will/did win! Every.Damn.Time! Camp Sumter! Sad, haunted place. Did a boatload of Services and Programs there. Can take a measure of personal involvement with the National Park Service from converting that site from just a Cemetery to the site of the National POW Museum. Something we pushed for a long time and leaned on a lot of politicians to get off their ass and do something. Had an ancestor that was part of the initial Guard Force when it was FIRST opened in late Feb of ’64. His unit was the remnants of the 55th GA overrun and captured at Cumberland Gap fight in Sep of ’63. They escorted some of the POWs from the Olustee FL fight to there and then went on to Atlanta when the Home Guard/Militia Troops took over. Had other ancestors that were POWs… Read more »
Not lost to history…. STOLEN VALOR in the Civil War.
I’ll just toss this little nugget out there.
The Civil War was brutal.
Many fled the battlefield. AWOL. Desertion. Survival.
Call it whatever you want, whatever fits.
The important connection here, is that
almost all fighting units in the Civil War
were hometown units, with state flags.
Today’s “Army National Guard”.
When Civil War units were disbanded and sent home,
they knew who died on the battlefield,
who was wounded, and who vanished without a trace,
and without a goodbye.
Could all these AWOL deserters return home
and pick up on their work and lives in good health?
For many, the answer was no.
They’d be spotted, reviled, and run out of town on a rail.
The answer?
GO WEST, young man, go west.
MUCH of the WEST is founded, settled, and grown,
by a percentage of Civil War “heroes”,
who were actually less than heroic during a horrible war.
Much like today,
but without the transportation and communication we have,
parades, ceremonies, monuments, and events
were everywhere in the late 1800s.
Out west, too, where no battles were fought.
Much like today,
not everyone who marched, spoke, donated,
or put on war era uniforms……
for praise, thanks, adulation, and benefits…..
(you may complete this sentence as you wish….).
Interesting thought. It would have been a lot easier to get away with it back then, too.
Spot on MD61. It was rampant…On both sides. And yep, it was easy as hell to either claim or deny service. That is one reason why, when the whole pension for service started, a requirement was a sworn affidavit from a citizen of good standing that someone had served. I have a photo copy of the one from where a GGrandmother drew a few dollars a month.
It would be almost comical but for the Stolen Valor Part. One of the things that would preclude getting a section of land from the Homestead Act was desertion from the Army for Federals, or serving in the CSA. Remember the Andy Griffith episode of the Battle of Mayberry, where everybody was a hero AND a Colonel or Indian Chief? Deep research by Opie uncovered the truth of the only casualty being a cow. And it was shared by the two sides for a BBQ.
Notice from the article or maybe a google foo of the local Gettysburg SD Newspaper; The Mascot Name of the school sports team is “The Battlers.”
KoB,
This is GREAT.
I never saw The Battle of Mayberry.
Watched it NOW. Here.
Slow start.. but a great finish.
Classic. Thanks! 🙂
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6u54ls
It’s not entirely correct to say that no battles were fought out west. The New Mexico Campaign is an often-overlooked Confederate incursion under Brigadier General Henry Sibley aimed at seizing California and the Arizona and New Mexico Territories. Sibley’s cavalry was victorious at the Battle of Valverde and again at the Battle of Glorieta Pass, though their supply train was destroyed in the latter engagement, forcing Sibley to retreat back into Texas. Sibley’s scouts and other lead elements also had minor skirmishes across Arizona, some as far west as Yuma.
There were also occasional small gunfights between in California with Confederate sympathizers, and California state regiments sent east to free up US regulars from the various frontier forts fought campaigns against the Apache, Navajo, Shoshone, and Sioux & other plains tribes, including the Colorado War.
You right TOW. One reason why it took Arizona so long to be admitted as a state. It also has the distinction of being the only territory to secede from both the USA and the CSA. I’ll try to remember to dig up my article on that to share the highlights. They had a nasty war there long before OK Corral/Lincoln County/John Chisum.
Also why the FIRST Transcontinental Rail Road went thru Nebraska instead of Texas. Original plan was to take the southern route to avoid the mountains and such.
I believe West Virginia seceded from both USA and CSA.
The Other Whitey,
Correct. Many battles (and skirmishes) out west.
My intended statement is about
towns founded where no battle(s) took place.