Good afternoon, fellow progressives. This morning I read an article featured in the Vancouver Sun that informed me a motorcade composed primarily of motorcycles and pickup trucks (led by a replica of "The Dukes of Hazzard"'s Robert E. Lee sedan) had slithered its way through a main drag in Ocala, Florida, each vehicle bearing their favorite Jolly Roger, the stars and bars of the Dixie battle flag 07/11/15 -- just six days ago. Riders in question were donning T-shirts that read things like "Heritage -- Not hate".
http://www.vancouversun.com/...
This jaunt was promoted by people like Brad Griffin (no relation to the Peter Griffin's dog in Family Guy, I can only assume), AKA Hunter Wallace -- the pen name he writes under for his website -- Occidental Dissent. After a little research I further discovered Mr. Griffen, has ambitions of presiding over the "Counsel of Conservative Citizens" (which was founded by his father-in-law, Gordon Baum), or the CCC. KKK, by any other name, smells just as white ("We're not anti-black. We're just pro-white.")
https://ladylibertyslamp.wordpress.com/...
Now, thanks to the events posted on Occidental Dissent, I'm aware there will be the Confederate Flag Rally & Protest in Vicksburg, Mississippi as well as the Monumental Dixie rally in Birmingham, Alabama; 07/18/15 -- that's right -- tomorrow. As well as another couple of motorcade Dixie pride parades happily waving their banner through Jacksonville, FL and Leesburg, VA (starting or ending at the Louden County Courthouse -- sorry they didn't mention if this was where it was beginning or ending, but I'm guessing it's where it is beginning and for all I know they may intend to coda themselves right back where they'd begun their non- racist marathon), 08/01/15.
http://www.occidentaldissent.com/...
I don't pretend to be an authority on racism, nor do I begrudge these folks the right bequeathed to them by our first amendment, to rally as they would. It's their American right to wave a swastika through the Capital Mall if they want to. The answer to free speech we don't like isn't an effort to suppress it, but rather, to counter it -- with more free speech. I live on Long Island and don't have the resources to implement this on my own, but here's my own free speech proposal: A group local to the area who finds this incarnation of free speech in as bad a taste as I do should don white sheets and hoods, climb on rented Harleys, and follow these motorcades with their own Dixie flags flapping proudly in the breeze.
If these motorcades don't disperse within a couple of rallies, at least people will realize the Dixie Flag has a little less to do with "heritage" and a little more to do with something these fine, upstanding southerners supposedly eschew.