Is This About Honoring Confederate Heritage?

The president of the United States came to Oklahoma yesterday, and this is what he encountered:

People wave Confederate flags outside the hotel that President Barack Obama is staying the night, on Wednesday, July 15, 2015, in Oklahoma City. Obama is traveling in Oklahoma to visit El Reno Federal Correctional Institution. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

We should note that the number of people involved in this particular welcome barely broke into double digits. so don’t let the picture deceive you. Here’s a more telling angle: Let’s take even a closer look … no Army of Northern Virginia battle flags are to be seen. In fact, we have four or five navy jacks … and three flags with messages on them that were not carried by Confederate soldiers. What might they be?

It’s Comedy, Not Heritage: The SCV Meets in Richmond

The Sons of Confederate Veterans is meeting in Richmond at a time when many of its members believe that Confederate heritage is under attack.

How so? Well, listen to Ben “Cooter” Jones, the chief of heritage operations for the organization as well as an entrepreneur:

The nation has been wrestling with Confederate symbolism in the wake of a shooting that left nine people dead last month at a historic black church in Charleston, S.C. After photos emerged of the accused shooter posing with the Confederate battle flag, elected officials have moved to end government-sanctioned displays of the Confederate emblem, and some have discussed the removal of Confederate monuments. Private retailers have also stripped Confederate flag merchandise from their shelves. Early this month, the TV Land network pulled “The Dukes of Hazzard” from its schedule.

On Thursday, Jones compared the decision to book burning by the Nazis.

“It’s the same kind of totalitarian and demagogic thinking that leads to things like that,” Jones said. “Don’t doubt it.”

Cancelling “The Dukes of Hazzard” is equivalent to book burning by the Nazis? What’s next? Is Daisy Duke going to be compared to Anne Frank?

But that’s not all …

During the convention’s opening ceremony Thursday morning, a J.E.B. Stuart impersonator said, “Richmond is once again the center of the Confederate way of life.”

“The days of Reconstruction are upon us again,” said Stuart, portrayed by Wayne Jones. “And this time, we must prevail.”

The days of Reconstruction were never upon Jeb Stuart, folks. He was mortally wounded at Yellow Tavern on May 11, 1864, and died the next day.

And who must prevail … the supporters of white supremacy? Again?

No word yet on whether Tripp Lewis plans to expose various misdeeds … or is that Anonymous CSA?

Does Ben Jones Respect the Confederate Flag?

Most people familiar with American popular culture as rendered through television know something about “The Dukes of Hazzard.” That show has been in the news in recent weeks, when a television network specializing in reruns decided not to air it any more.

That sparked some controversy. Leading the charge was someone near and dear to readers of this blog, Ben Jones, who played “Cooter” the mechanic in the show. Ben’s had a colorful career since then, including serving in the United Sates House of Representatives. He’s currently the chief of heritage operations for the Sons of Confederate Veterans, coming aboard just as the SCV had to confront the removal of replica Confederate flags from Lee Chapel at Washington and Lee University.

Everything I know about Ben from personal contact suggests that he’s a fine fellow who knows his baseball, but when it comes to these issues, we disagree a great deal, and his appearance here on this blog several years ago did not go well for him (although he deserves credit for making the effort). I also know that he continues to be proud of his work on “The Dukes of Hazzard,” including lending the name of his character to a string of stores known as “Cooter’s Place.” These stores are owned by Ben and his wife, so he ought to know what they sell.

Thus it occurred to me to find out what sort of Confederate flags are sold by the store owned by the man who is the chief of heritage operations for the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

I don’t recall that even Stand Waite or John Ross approved of this flag.

This one confuses me. Aren’t you supposed to shoot deer? Are you supposed to shoot the flag? Or is this a wildlife preservation message? I can’t tell.

Nor can I identify the unit that deer flag honors. Same here:
I’m supposed to hook the flag and reel it in?

Well, perhaps this is a tribute to Confederate logistics and what might have been. 10-4, good buddy.

This is a traditional favorite. But I’m puzzled as to the Civil War connection. Perhaps it’s an artillery flag (red being the color of the collar for artillerists’ uniforms, as seen here.)

So much for regulation headgear.

Really? Maybe this commemorates Burnside’s Mud March, but I wonder.

Whatever floats your boat … but I don’t think smiley faces were placed on real Confederate battle flags. Rather, it sends the message that someone’s day is a brighter one if he offends others. Send one to Connie Chastain now.

There are more, but you get the idea. Or maybe you don’t. Want a Confederate flag bikini, for example? Click here. Swim trunks? Click here. Want to sleep under the flag? Click here. Want to go formal? Click here. Want to be the Confederate answer to David Cassidy? Click here.

And to you want to try your wet, sweaty body with the Confederate flag? Click here.

I was unhappy not to find this for sale.

And that, folks, is how to honor Confederate heritage and the service and sacrifice of the Confederate soldier and sailor. Tell ’em Cooter said so.

Note: Not all the images offered here are the images presented on the website in question … because some of them really weren’t very good. I wanted you to enjoy what was there with the best images of the merchandise possible. Upgrade your site, Ben.