Skynyrd ain’t our Enemy…
I recently published a post entitled An Inconvenient Truth the subject of which was the recent controversy involving Southern Rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd interview with CNN their distancing of themselves from the Confederate Battle Flag, fan outrage, and Gary Rossington’s (last original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd) clarification and pledge to keep flying the flag at their live shows.
Today I want to take the discussion in a new direction, one that will most likely get me as much or more hate mail than it will positive responses. That being said, this is what I feel, and this is what I feel is right to say.
Michael Givens, Commander in Chief of the Sons of Confederate Veterans
I like most of you was both angered and disappointed when Lynyrd Skynyrd appeared on CNN and declared that they were dissociating themselves from the Confederate Flag, I found their Facebook page and shared my displeasure with them like THOUSANDS of my fellow Southerners and Skynyrd fans did. I was quite please , when Gary Rossington posted his statement clarifying his position on the flag stating that:
“I wanted to clarify the discussion of the Confederate Flag in our recent CNN interview. Myself, the past members and the present members (that are from the South), are all extremely proud of our heritage and being from the South. We know what the Dixie flag represents and its heritage; the Civil War was fought over States rights.
We still utilize the Confederate (Rebel) flag on stage every night in our shows, we are and always will be a Southern American Rock band, first and foremost. We also utilize the state flag of Alabama and the American flag as well, ‘cause at the end of the day, we are all Americans. I only stated my opinion that the confederate flag, at times, was unfairly being used as a symbol by various hate groups, which is something that we don’t support the flag being used for. The Confederate flag means something more to us, Heritage not Hate”
It was good to know that so many of us spoke out and it was even better that somebody listened. Gary Rossington listened and tried to make things right, now where I come from, that’s all a man can do , or be expected to do. So why are so many of my Southern brothers in the ranks of the Sons of Confederate Veterans still raking him over the coals?
Michael Givens, Commander in Chief of the Sons of Confederate Veterans could never be described as a simple administrator, or a bureacrat within the ranks of the 31,000 that make up the Sons. He is an Independent film maker, he is articulate, proactive and thinks outside of the box in his duties. In short his has been an excellent commander but in the case of Lynyrd Skynyrd, specifically Gary Rossington’s statements he is wrong. Responding to Rossington’s statement he left the following comment in the comments section at the band’s website, www.lynyrdskynyrd.com stating:
“Dear Gary, Lynyrd Skynyrd, management, `et alia’,
I am the Commander-in-Chief of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. We are an organization, chartered in 1896 by veterans of the War for Southern Independence for the purpose of promoting the true history and principles of the Confederate soldiers’ cause. On behalf of our 31,000 members I write you today to express our deep sadness and concern over your present stance toward our venerable banner of the South. Your use of the flag in a manner that is up lifting and not aligned with any form of hate has been a stalwart defense of the flag’s true symbolism for many years. We appreciate and applaud your past efforts on behalf of our common ancestors.
Our biggest concern comes from your statement on the 8th of September 2012 to CNN. You disclosed, “But I think through the years, you know, people like the KKK and Skinheads and people have kind of kidnapped the dixie rebel flag from the southern tradition and the heritage of the soldiers.” Sir, our ancestors wrote the definition of that flag with their blood and when they furled the flag at the last battle they tucked their God-given liberty inside. The KKK and the Skinheads do not define our flag any more than the NAACP or any other hate group.
I am sure you do not agree with their hateful views of our flag, therefore I must ask you, who will stand up for the TRUTH, if not you and if not me? The answer is no one and without us the truth will be buried with the American Confederate flag. That is why we must not capitulate to their nancy demands.
Like many men in my organization, your music has been the soundtrack of my life. Your songs have helped define my own identity and Southernness. I have been a fan from the beginning. I was at the second to the last concert of the original band in Johnson City, Tennessee. All my best friends were at the Greenville, South Carolina concert a few days later. Then, our lives were changed forever—some much more than others. We have always been there for you. Your fans have not let you down. Do not let us down.
My fear is that you are living the song, WORKING FOR THE MCA and that Lynyrd Skynyrd has become the subject of a re-branding effort that hopes to make a kinder, gentler Lynyrd Skynyrd. I worked in the ad world for twenty years; re-branding’s not what we need. We need the honest and courageous Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Stay true to your people.
Please fell free to contact me if I may help. I wish you the very best and remain,
Respectfully yours,
Michael Givens Commander-in-Chief Sons of Confederate Veterans scv.org michaelgivens.com”
This was a good statement, a proper statement, and it should have stopped there, however; since making the statement he has also added :
“They still have not put it back in merchandise and the fact that they capitulated in the first place continues the acid rain of angst.”
Commander Givens has also seemingly become obsessed with a few nameless individuals in the comments (all 53 of them) section on the band’s website www.lynyrdskynyrd.com stating: “My letter to Skynyrd has brought out the loons. Y’all might want to chime in”, as well as being obsessed with the the moderators on the site.
Sir, perhaps Gary Rossington did some soul searching after the CNN interview and the backlash from the fans. The end result is that the band will once again fly the flag that has been the symbol of the band for over 40 years, and our heritage for 150 years.
You , me, or anyone else for that matter has no right to demand what kind of merchandise they sell. The free market will determine the demand. Isn’t that what our ancestors fought the war to begin with? Besides, Gary Rossington isn’t telling us what merchandise to sell.
While you have been trying to bring Lynyrd Skynyrd under the heel, a major developement has occurred in Alabama. The Herald Standard is reporting that:
“Council members in an Alabama city voted Tuesday to stop a group’s work on a new monument honoring a Confederate general who was an early leader in the Ku Klux Klan.
The Selma City Council voted 4-0 with two members abstaining to stop all work on the monument to Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest until the courts decide whether the city or a Confederate heritage group owns the cemetery property where the monument would be rebuilt.
Demonstrations by civil rights groups about 10 years ago led to the relocation of a Forrest monument from outside a city building near downtown to a section of a city cemetery honoring Confederate war dead. But Forrest’s bust was removed and apparently stolen from atop a 7-foot granite memorial earlier this year, and efforts to rebuild it have drawn protests and calls by civil rights activists not to replace it.
Detractors say Forrest traded black people like cattle, massacred black Union soldiers and joined the early Ku Klux Klan. His defenders dispute much of that and counter with stories that depict him as a protector of slave families and defender of the weak who resigned from the KKK”
I ask you this; Who is more of a threat to our heritage? A group of friends who admit they were wrong and moves forward, or a group of well organized individuals, who will never admit when they are wrong and will not be happy until they destroy everything we hold dear?
-
- Michael Givens, Commander in Chief of the Sons of Confederate Veterans
-
- Johnny Van Zant of Lynyrd Skynyrd
Commander Givens, I respect you, but I would respect you a hell of a lot more if you got off your computer, stop having a teenage-style chatroom smack down with a nameless idiot and get your ass down to Alabama to confront the REAL threats to our heritage. respectfully,Clint E. LacyMember Colonel John T. Coffee Camp #1934, Osceola, Missouri
An Inconvenient Truth; Liberal Media ignores Skynyrd Pledge to Keep Flying Confederate Flag
The members of Lynyrd Skynyrd probably weren’t expecting a firestorm when they agreed to be interviewed by CNN’s Fredricka, but that’s exactly what transpired when members of the group stated that they would no longer fly the Confederate flag at their shows. The interview, which aired Sept 9th on CNN caused an uproar in the Southern community , especially among long time Skynyrd fans.
The interview went viral almost as soon as it finished airing and angry fans flooded the group’s Facebook and Twitter accounts expressing dissatisfaction with the group’s decision to distance themselves from the flag.
The mainstream media was almost giddy with self adoration. They were no doubt, patting theirselves on the back for what they perceived as another victory in bringing down “the old South”. What they weren’t expecting was the effect that an angry fan base would have on the group’s decision distance itself from the Confederate flag, but that’s exactly what happened and at least one member of the group listened.
Gary Rossington, the last original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd released a statement on Sept 21’st stating:
“I wanted to clarify the discussion of the Confederate Flag in our recent CNN interview. Myself, the past members and the present members (that are from the South), are all extremely proud of our heritage and being from the South. We know what the Dixie flag represents and its heritage; the Civil War was fought over States rights. We still utilize the Confederate (Rebel) flag on stage every night in our shows, we are and always will be a Southern American Rock band, first and foremost. We also utilize the state flag of Alabama and the American flag as well, ‘cause at the end of the day, we are all Americans. I only stated my opinion that the confederate flag, at times, was unfairly being used as a symbol by various hate groups, which is something that we don’t support the flag being used for. The Confederate flag means something more to us, Heritage not Hate…
-Gary Rossington ”
While the left-wing media was quick to spread the news of “their victory” ( Skynyrd’s decision to distance themselves from all things Confederate), they were less enthusiastic to spread the news of Rossington’s clarification that they will still fly the Confederate Battle Flag at their shows. In fact “news organizations” such as The Atlantic Wire decided to ignore Rossington’s statement all together.
The very same day that Rossington released his statement that the group WAS NOT going to stop flying the Confederate Battle Flag at their live shows The Atlantic Wire published an article entitled “Racists Ruined the Confederate Flag for Lynyrd Skynyrd” !
The article states that: “The reason reporters are scouring online forums, fanpage comments, and Twitter is because the last surviving original member of the hard-to-spell band which brought you Southern anthems “Free Bird” and “Sweet Home Alabama”, Gary Rossington, has made a pledge to stop associating the band (himself) with the Confederate flag. It’s a big move since part of the reason the Confederate flag has remained popular (at least in rock n roll) was because Lynyrd Skynyrd’s use of the flag in concerts and memorabilia (back when Rossington didn’t think it was associated with the KKK and raging racists)”
I find it hard to believe that The Atlantic Wire author of this article had absolutely no idea that Rossington had clarified his statements about the Confederate flag and his pledge to keep flying it at their shows, or the fact that Rossington stated the war was not about slavery.
Just in case you were wondering, no The Atlantic Wire has not updated the article to reflect Rossington’s clarification about the Confederate flag. It is a little more than ironic , when one considers that when Rossington’s statements about the flag were published on Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Facebook page it received 2108 positive comments within 5 hours of its posting.
Are we really supposed to believe the Atlantic Wire had no knowledge of this? Of course they did, but they were already in celebration mode, they couldn’t spoil the celebration with a healthy dose of the truth could they?
Still, some aren’t so quick to forgive the group even after Rossington pledged to keep flying the flag. Michael Givens, Commander in Chief of the Sons of Confederate Veterans released the following statement today on his Facebook page:
“Dear Gary, Lynyrd Skynyrd, management, `et alia’,
I am the Commander-in-Chief of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. We are an organization, chartered in 1896 by veterans of the War for Southern Independence for the purpose of promoting the true history and principles of the Confederate soldiers’ cause. On behalf of our 31,000 members I write you today to express our deep sadness and concern over your present stance toward our venerable banner of the South. Your use of the flag in a manner that is up lifting and not aligned with any form of hate has been a stalwart defense of the flag’s true symbolism for many years. We appreciate and applaud your past efforts on behalf of our common ancestors.
Our biggest concern comes from your statement on the 8th of September 2012 to CNN. You disclosed, “But I think through the years, you know, people like the KKK and Skinheads and people have kind of kidnapped the dixie rebel flag from the southern tradition and the heritage of the soldiers.” Sir, our ancestors wrote the definition of that flag with their blood and when they furled the flag at the last battle they tucked their God-given liberty inside. The KKK and the Skinheads do not define our flag any more than the NAACP or any other hate group.
I am sure you do not agree with their hateful views of our flag, therefore I must ask you, who will stand up for the TRUTH, if not you and if not me? The answer is no one and without us the truth will be buried with the American Confederate flag. That is why we must not capitulate to their nancy demands.
Like many men in my organization, your music has been the soundtrack of my life. Your songs have helped define my own identity and Southernness. I have been a fan from the beginning. I was at the second to the last concert of the original band in Johnson City, Tennessee. All my best friends were at the Greenville, South Carolina concert a few days later. Then, our lives were changed forever—some much more than others. We have always been there for you. Your fans have not let you down. Do not let us down.
My fear is that you are living the song, WORKING FOR THE MCA and that Lynyrd Skynyrd has become the subject of a re-branding effort that hopes to make a kinder, gentler Lynyrd Skynyrd. I worked in the ad world for twenty years; re-branding’s not what we need. We need the honest and courageous Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Stay true to your people.
Please fell free to contact me if I may help. I wish you the very best and remain,
Respectfully yours,
Michael Givens
Commander-in-Chief
Sons of Confederate Veterans
scv.org
michaelgivens.com”
webmaster
12th Annual Coffee Camp Tour & Heritage Dinner
Don’t miss the 12 Annual Coffee Camp Historical Tour and Heritage Dinner April 21, 2012 in Osceola , Missouri. This year’s keynote speaker will be Donnie Kennedy co-author of the best selling book ” The South was Right”.
Click on the link for details!
Goodbye Bazz
It is with a heavy heart that I have to report the death of Bazz Childress , one of the most beloved activists in the South. From Kirk Lyons at the Southern Legal Resource:
“We are told that Ba…sil Dwayne “Bazz” Childress died at his home earlier tonight. Bazz Ky Division SCV Cdr, and a member of the Bd of Directors of the SLRC, KY Chairman of the League of the South as well as plaintiff in a lawsuit against a Wingate/Wyndham Hotel that had him arrested for having a Confederate flag in his hotel window at the National 2008 SCV Reunion. The case, swinefully and illegally dismissed by a Superior Court “Judge”, was on appeal to the NC Court of Appeals, where Bazz expected to smack the hotel owner again, and make a little law. Bazz was a good friend, far seeing political thinker and Christian gentleman, he will be sorely missed.”
Always dedicated, always in the fight and never backed down. Thank You Bazz for all that you did. Let Bazz be an example to all of us to follow. Special Thanks to PoP Aaron for letting us know of Bazz’s passing.
Stomp ’em Out
It appears my last post about diversity gone wrong in Nascar has upset a few of those that cast their lot with those of the politically correct persuasion. One such person, Andy Hall, who publishes the Dead Confederates blog writes:
“Clint Lacy, who claims his Across Our Confederation blog is “your voice in the Sons of Confederate Veterans,” has figured out the underlying cause of that fiery crash at the Daytona 500 the other night: letting non-white (or maybe just non-Southron) drivers into the sport. No, seriously:
Well Mr. [Brian] France [CEO and Chairman of NASCAR]; Did you get this “diversity thing” right? Did you achieve what you wanted to for this sport?
Because if your Drive to Diversity program was rolled out so that Latin-Americans could roll into dryer trucks filled to the brim with jet fuel you can give yourself a pat on the back.
I saw that wreck, and I have to say that it never entered my mind that it was the inevitable and foreseeable outcome of letting a Columbian, Juan Pablo Montoya, get behind the wheel. Shows you how clueless I am.
It’s Lacy’s conceit that his blog speaks for the rank-and-file membership of the SCV. It doesn’t, and he doesn’t, but his claim that it does makes it an SCV problem nonetheless. They ought to stomp him for attaching their name to foolishness like this, but I’m not holding my breath.”
This really isn’t surprising coming from Hall. Calling for a non-for-profit fraternal organization to bring violence to my doorstep. He did however; get one thing right, he is clueless. Never have I said that Across our Confederation was affiliated with the Sons of Confederate Veterans. In fact, if he had taken time to click on the “about” link on my blog he would have read:
“Welcome to ACROSS THE CONFEDERATION. This blog is your voice in the SCV. It is my belief that in order to be an effective and successful organization, the Sons of Confederate Veterans needs to hear from all of its members.
This blog will not discriminate on the basis of politics or camp affiliation. You send it and I’ll print it, it’s as simple as that.
Across the Confederation is not a publication of, nor is it affiliated with the Sons of Confederate Veterans.”
I did take the time to read about Mr. Hall’s blog and what I found was not surprising. By clicking on the “about” link for the Dead Confederates blog we find that Mr. Hall brags {seemingly} of having more Confederate ancestors west of the Mississippi than any man on earth and he’s proud of it…well maybe not so much. When you get past all of the “I’m more qualified than you” portion of this blog he gets to his REAL beliefs ….
“I have no use for the Lost Cause. I grew up with it; I learned early on that Grant was a drunk, and Sherman was a monster. The pervasiveness of slavery, which tainted all, was rarely discussed. We were never actually defeated, I was told; “they starved us out.” I don’t think my late-20th-century family actually bought into this foolishness much, but felt obligated to pass it along, as it had been to them. But in my family, at least, it ends with me. There’s far too much good history out there to ignore for the sake of romanticism and hagiography”
Well there you go, it ends with him. To hell with his family, his sense of pride, honor or heritage. HIS kids will learn the official “guvment” version of the war because after all, Grant didn’t expel Jews from Paducah, Ky, Sherman didn’t kill or harm civilians and Lincoln was just a good president in a bad situation {tell that to over 600,000 Americans both North and South who died in order for him to implement big government programs and subvert the rights of states}.
As far as SCV members go, I would wager that most descendants of Confederate veterans probably aren’t too happy with Brian France’s vision for Nascar, a sport with its roots planted firmly in the South, but if up to France, will have no trace of it left in the sport.-webmaster.
Lincolnites and Black Confederates
Kevin Levin a "historian" who is embraced by the mainstream for his denigration of Black Confederates.
Yes, African-Americans were impressed for service into the Confederacy just as they were “liberated” and given the opportunity to “fight for their freedom” by the Federal Government of the North. Just as both White and Black men were “drafted” into the service up to and through the Vietnam Conflict. Does this mean that any soldier impressed into service should not be honored for their service? Of course not.
Lincolnites like Kevin Levin deliberately , conveniently do not mention men like John Noland, Henry Wilson and John Lobb. All three of these men were from Missouri, fought with William Quantrill and were black.
In the book “Quantrill at Lawrence” author Paul R. Petersen gives a detailed account of the contribution of these Black Confederates.
Of Noland, Petersen writes that John T. Noland was entrusted by Quantrill to scout the town of Lawrence , Kansas before his August, 1863 raid on the town and that “John T. Noland was born in 1844. He was one of several black men who served under Quantrill . Noland showed himself a brave soldier by his conspicuous actions during the first battle of Independence and the battle of Lamar. At Noland’s funeral all of his pallbearers were white. He was described as “a man among men”. His gravestone in Woodlawn Cemetery in Independence {Missouri} denotes his service with Quantrill as a scout”
Noland later recounted that: ” I being a colored man I had the advantage of any white man as a spy… t was then the Col. {Quantrill} sent for me to meet him on the Little Blue River, and it was there that I received my final instruction, which was to find out the number of soldiers quartered in Lawrence, and if there were any in the vicinity”
Petersen’s book also gives great information for anyone wishing to set the record straight as to the practice of being “impressed” into service writing of Henry Wilson , Petersen notes that: “Wilson was kidnapped by Jayhawkers early in the war and was on his way to Kansas when he escaped. Wilson who lived near Independence chose to remain in Quantrill”s band rather than accept his freedom. He told those around him, ‘ I observed with my own eyes , the stealing, plundering and burning of homes of the people of this country by bands of ‘Red Legs’ even to the enticing of slaves into Kansas. I joined Quantrill when Master Wilson moved to Texas to run the blockade at Independence, carrying supplies to Quantrill and his men”.
Of Lobb, Petersen writes that: “John Lobb was also sent into Lawrence, but William Gregg remembered, “Lobb did not get back before we had started. He met us on the way and told us that Lane had left town”.
There you have it. Three men. Three Black men who fought for the Confederacy under Quantrill. All three entrusted to scout the town of Lawrence, Kansas prior to the great raid at great personal risk to themselves. All three men, who voluntarily fought for the Missouri guerrilla fighter.
It is quite the story. A story that Lincolnites like Kevin Levin do not want others to hear because it raises questions as to the real reasons of the war and exposes the myth of Lincoln being the “Great Emancipator”.
– Clint E. Lacy
Serves as the Press Officer for the Colonel John T. Coffee Camp #1934, Missouri Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans.
Mo. Sons of Confederate Veterans Calls for Hate Crimes Prosecution
Press Release: 10/16/2011
Missouri Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans Calls for Hate-Crimes prosecution for Perpetrators of Monument Vandalism
Contact: Commander Jim England- cjengland@mindspring.com
Contact: Clint E. Lacy – mobushwhacker@att.net 573.208.5916
The Tuesday, October 11, 2011 Southeast Missourian newspaper found at the following URL,
http://www.semissourian.com/story/177254 carried a story about a Cape Girardeau, Mo. Confederate monument being vandalized.
This seemingly isolated incident is one of many that are occurring throughout the South. Monuments honoring veterans who fought for the Confederate States of America have been maligned by politicians on both sides of the aisle as well as media outlets.
Political Correctness has run amok. It has infiltrated our schools and our communities, resulting in the “dumbing down” of our students, our citizens, our family, friends and neighbors and the end result is ignorance, the latest display of which happens to be the vandalizing of a monument to soldiers from Cape Girardeau County and Southeast Missouri who gave their lives for their homes, their families, their ideals and their country.
The 1964 Federal Civil Rights Law, 18 U.S.C.§ 245(b)(2), permits federal prosecution of anyone who “willingly injures, intimidates or interferes with another person, or attempts to do so, by force because of the other person’s race, color, religion or national origin”
The Missouri Sons of Confederate Veterans strongly condemns the vandalizing of veterans monuments and calls for the swift prosecution of those who perpetrate these types of acts as hate crimes.
Lacy Protest Monument Vandalism
Photo by Southeast Missourian
PRINT VERSION:
Posted: Oct 13, 2011 8:13 PM CDT
By Christy Millweard – bio | email
“I think when they do that it promotes ignorance,” said Lacy.
Ignorance, the very thing some people think about Lacy for holding a Confederate flag with a sign that reads ‘stop the hate.’
“First thing that comes to my mind is that they don’t like black folks,” said Tyrone Oliver. “I thought that was a little controversial.”
“Holding a Confederate flag today, I think he’s a little behind his times,” said Franklin Tripp. “This has all been settled a long time ago.”
But Lacy says he was actually protesting the defaced monument.
“It angers me because they’re destroying history,” said Lacy. “You know these men can’t speak for themselves, they can’t speak for themselves and defend their honor when their monument is defaced, so I thought I could come out here for a couple hours and bring some attention to it.”
Something the very people questioning his tactics, agree on.
“Well I think there’s some misguided people, and I don’t understand anyone wanting to deface someone’s property,” said Tripp.
“You know I thought it was a disgrace against veterans seeing that they fought for our freedom that some people take for granted,” said Oliver.
Lacy says some people stopped by to ask about his display.
“It’s given me the opportunity that it’s not about hatred, that it’s about honoring American veterans,” said Lacy.
And others, didn’t want to talk.
“Yeah you know I’ve seen a lot of black people today, and not one of them has threatened me,” said Lacy. “But a car load of what looked like wealthy businessmen did.”
Oliver and Lacy hope people can take the time to really learn about their history.
“Maybe they’re doing it because their uncle did it, or their daddy had a Confederate flag,” said Oliver.
“If you forget about your past, you have no future,” said Lacy.
Related story:
Cape Girardeau Confederate Monument Vandalised
From the Southeast Missourian newspaper 10/12/11
http://www.semissourian.com/story/1772540.html?response=no
Photo from the Southeast Missourian newspaper
“A Civil War monument on the grounds of the Common Pleas Courthouse in Cape Girardeau was struck by vandals who spray-painted both sides of the shrine with apparent pro-Union sentiments, nearly 150 years after the last shot was fired.
A two-man crew scrubbed black paint off the monument Tuesday morning. The men, from Marble Hill, Mo.-based Liley Monuments, said they hoped it would be graffiti-free by Tuesday afternoon.
But the message could still be read early Tuesday afternoon. “Go south” was written on the front of the shrine that sits along Lorimier Street near the fountain. That apparently was a request that the marker be moved, not a pro-South message. “We are in the union,” read the words on the back. “Obscene. Remove to [illegible] cemetary (sic) in the south.”
The workers from Liley said Tuesday afternoon they had tried industrial solvent and paint thinner, and the words were faded but still visible. One of the workers said getting the paint completely off Tuesday didn’t “look favorable,” but they would continue working through the afternoon.
By 3 p.m., a blue tarp had been wrapped around the monument and the workers were gone.”
Across Our Confederation 
