There are two books out that deal with this thread: 1) Black Confederates and Afro Yankees in CW Virginia; 2) Black Southerners in gray: essays on Afro-Americans in Confederate Armies. There are essays and pictures about the members of the Confederate Veterans organization. Kim Ross Librarian kross@dcccd.edu >>> "Mona Herrin" <mherrin@hotmail.com> 01/30/00 11:20AM >>> "Southern Cross" has become a synonym for the Confederate Battle Flag in some areas for some reasons recently. I have seen it several times lately, but don't know where the term originated. I still think that the Confederate flag that flew over the Capitol of the South is more appropriate. I also believe that if we are asked to remove the symbols of our past, that turnabout is fair play-the Civil Right monuments and such. We need to search our hearts as to our motives in this, tho. Do we truly mean to offend no one? Would the Sons of Confederate Veterans permit a black person to become a member if he could prove that his ancestor fought for the South? I know of a few who could prove such was the case. I believe in truth and I believe that we have to search our hearts for the truth. I know that my ancestors fought to protect their home and family and that they fought to protect States Rights-not slavery. I too am a verteran and I feel strongly about the Stars and Stripes-I served in the USAF in the70s as a medic and I was raised in the south. I lived in Ill. for several years. I had the opportunity to stay home and watch some TV and I was appalled that there were people who really believed that we still had plantations and slaves. I was also appalled that my daughter was being taught that the War Between the States was about Slavery! I think that we need to see that history is taught correctly and that the issues are discussed freely and truthfully. I was even more appalled that some people believed that I was uneducated and ignorant because I was raised in the South! I don't want to be paintd with the same brush that the Neo-Nazis, the militia groups, and the KKK are. I don't want to give them the opportunity to use this for their gain! The bombing here in Birmingham of an abortion clinic set the Right to Life group back to square one, we can't let our tempers govern us in this and set the South back to square one. And George Wallace lied when he said that he did not raise the Battle Flag over the capitol in defiance. I was there and I also was at Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, Al. when Trammell was a Federal prisoner there. We discussed this as well as other issues. This was back in 1973. Are we being defiant in our wish to keep that flag flying? We can be proud of our history and still be considerate of others. Mona >From: lcapehar@swbell.net >Reply-To: lcapehar@swbell.net >To: TXELLIS-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: Re: [TXELLIS] [Fwd: [WESTEX-ROOTS-L] CSA plaques and memorials] >Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2000 09:55:34 -0800 > >The Southern Cross was the ONLY medal given out by the Confederacy. > >Tom Mote wrote: > > > Mona, > > > > Please forgive my ignorance for I am not really a Civil War buff. What > > is the "Southern Cross?" The CSA flag that I see and recognize is the > > one that I have always called the "Stars and Bars," i.e., the flag with > > a solid field upon which is superimposed an "X" containing one star for > > each of the Confederate states. This is the one which is joined by five > > others at "Six Flags Over Texas." Incidentally, should that theme park > > also do away with the flags of [1] Spain, because of its horrible >treatment > > of the [then] Indian population of New Spain, [2] France, whose >Louisiana > > and Texas plantation owners owned slaves and [3] Mexico, whose Santa > > Anna murdered the defenders of the Alamo? > > > > I think not. > > Tom > > > > Mona Herrin wrote: > > > > > > > > > My ancestors fought for the Confederacy too. But I know for a fact >that > > > they did not own slaves, did not believe in slavery, nor did they >believe in > > > secession, but they fought anyway, and died as a result of protecting >their > > > homes. The War divided families and friends. Why do we have to have >ot fly > > > the "Southern Cross"? <SKIP> > I > > > am sorry > > > if I offend those who want to hold on to the "Southern Cross", but I >WILL > > > NOT be alligned with the Nazi, the KKK, nor any of their off shoots. >If we > > > believe that Human Life is sacred, we cannot. Mona > > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com