No penalty for furling Confederate-themed Mississippi flag

[TexasTowelie]

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi House has rejected an effort to punish universities for not flying the state flag that prominently features the Confederate battle emblem.

All eight of the state's public universities have furled the flag in recent years amid criticism that it's racially insensitive in a state with a 38 percent black population.

Republican Rep. William Shirley of Quitman, who is white, offered an amendment Tuesday saying any university that refuses to fly the Mississippi flag could not receive bond money. It would have cost each campus about $1 million for repair and renovation projects.

"He offered this last year, and we voted it down," Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jeff Smith, R-Columbus, told the House.

Read more: http://www.meridianstar.com/region/no-penalty-for-furling-confederate-themed-mississippi-flag/article_a6d40b35-efa1-5ead-bafd-088991789302.html

[Rhiannon12866]

1. Since it's still the official state flag, I'd think it would be tough to avoid it

But it does speak to the beliefs of the voters of that state, that they had a chance for a new flag - without the confederate symbol - and they voted against changing it.

I rather like the new design they voted down:

[TexasTowelie]

2. That is a far more preferable flag design.

I don't believe that any of the universities (public or private) are flying the state flag anymore. The one private university that I have some familiarity with is Millsaps College in Jackson since they were in the same athletic conference as my alma mater for several years. They stopped flying the old flag before many of the public universities since they are a reasonably progressive liberal arts college.

[Rhiannon12866]

3. It is odd that they voted to keep the old one, considering the implications

But I took the time to read an article and apparently it just wasn't considered important. Really? Of course, from my perspective I'm seeing a lack of GOTV and/or voter suppression...

And here in New York, you'd think the confederate symbol would be considered uniformly offensive. But the Saratoga County Fair - the county where I grew up - sells memorabilia with the confederate symbol on it. A year or two ago there was a flap about whether it should be prohibited - which I assumed would carry the day - but apparently people wanted these things and they decided to allow it.

One time I stopped to visit a good friend - lives in an apartment complex not far from me. And I spotted a pickup in her parking lot that was flying a large confederate flag! Yikes! I was so shocked that I took a picture of it! So I guess there are reactionaries - insert more appropriate word here - all over...

[TexasTowelie]

4. There is someone about eight or nine blocks from where I live that flies the Confederate flag.

They appear to be on three lots and have their entire yard fenced. I also see the flag on some of the grave markers at the cemetery that is about a half mile away. Considering that Wharton is over 25% African American it is a taunting symbol.

[Rhiannon12866]

5. Considering the history, you'd think that it would be at least controversial everywhere

Though it's possible 21st-century New Yorkers - at least in my neck of the woods - might be a little foggy on their history. But we certainly have a pretty varied population, especially in Saratoga, since that's been a tourist mecca since the 1800s and there are people living there from all over - and a large African American community. I would have thought the confederate symbol would be unacceptable to everybody.

And it is an insult, should be for everyone. I think I read that Mississippi is 36% African American, that's a sizeable population, so you'd think enough people would have spoken out loudly enough that it would have become a national story. It's disturbing that it didn't...

[safeinOhio]

6. I've been thinking about putting one in my yard

with, big, readable writing on it that says

Surrender Monkey Flag