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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 19, 2008

Wrong Day For Flag

Regarding "Sons, Daughters Stand Up For Beliefs On Flag Day" (Metro, June 15):

It is outrageous for the Sons of Confederate Veterans to use Flag Day - a day set aside to honor the American flag, a symbol of freedom and equality - to honor the flag that is a symbol of slavery and inequality. As a Caucasian, I can't imagine the hurt our brothers and sisters of African descent feel when they see that flag flying, reminding them of the evil done to their ancestors.

The Confederate flag also represents separation, but now we are "one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." So when are people going to stop fighting the Civil War?

It is respectful to honor the memory of Confederate veterans, but choose another day and don't fly that flag.

To paraphrase an old saying, don't save your Confederate money, boys; the South won't rise again.

JOYCE NEVILLE

Tampa

More Important Issues

After reading the article in the Tampa Tribune, I could not help but think the newly formed Sons and Daughters of Harriet Tubman have more important issues than the Confederate flag. They need to put this energy into trying to save the African-American youth of today from drug use and violence, increasing their school graduation rates and fighting young schoolgirl pregnancies.

These are the issues that are really hurting the African-American community, not a flag they find offensive. Don't forget, it's the Constitutional right of the Sons of Confederate Veterans to put up this flag. I suggest looking the other way.

RAY MARTINEZ

Lutz

An Affront To Soldiers

As a card-carrying, white, middle-aged Republican, I am personally offended by the sight of the giant Confederate flag flying over the interstate, and not for the more typical reasons usually stated, but for the fact that it represents a time when a group of states betrayed the principles that this country was founded on and sought to tear it apart.

My great, great, great grandfather, James Sherry, joined the 81st Ohio Volunteer Regiment, at the age of 51 to fight for the Union. His two oldest sons joined him; the three were to fight in and survive the charnel house that was Shiloh, though his two sons later died serving in Mississippi. They fought and died, like 600,000 of their fellow countrymen, to keep this nation united, strong and free.

Does the Son of Confederate Veterans have the right to fly their flag? Yes. The sacrifices made by the hundreds of thousands of men and women who have served this nation guarantee it. But just because you can does not mean you should; flying it is an affront to all who died preserving the Union that allows them to fly it.

GLENWOOD SHERRY

Tampa

War Was About Money

Before the War of Northern Aggression, as we in the South call it, the states had the right to secede from the Union if they did not feel the United States government was acting in the best interests of its citizens.

That war, like all wars, was ultimately about money - riches, whether the riches are measured in sheep, land, berry bushes or gold.

The ports in the Southern states were collecting over two-thirds of the port taxes. Over two-thirds of this money collected was being spent in the Northern states. The U.S. government would not fairly allocate the tax money being collected and the Southern states were being shortchanged. Money was going for roads, bridges, schools, public buildings all over the North, but only a pittance was being doled out to the Southern states.

The U.S. government would not listen to reason so the Southern states eliminated port taxes, which of course resulted in all the shipping business between the U.S. and Europe going to the Southern ports.

The Union tried to stop this. The Southern states simply exercised their right to secede.

SUZANNA HARVILL CREAN

Avon Park

Real Agenda Is Hidden

In reading articles about the giant Confederate flag that the Sons of Confederate Veterans are planning to fly, they make repeated claims that it isn't about racism. I feel these claims are belied by their publication, "Southern Mercury," published through an SCV PAC.

It is a publication with racist articles, promotion of books which are apologetics for slavery and extremism. The documentation of the racist agenda of the SCV is extensive. These various markings of the landscape with Confederate monuments and symbols are part of an agenda to legitimize Confederate nationalism and within that nationalist agenda is a reactionary white nationalist agenda.

Not revealing to the public what the real agenda is enables this agenda and threatens society.

EDWARD H. SEBESTA

Dallas

Just Stay In The Trop

Two big reasons for the Rays to continue to play baseball at the Trop:

1. Sunday afternoon - torrential rainstorm and the game with the Marlins just continued on with no delay for weather.

2. The temperature was 90 degrees and humid. The Trop is kept at approximately 72 degrees.

The announcer for the Cubs/Blue Jays game on WGN mentioned that the Cubs were headed out to Tampa/St. Pete and with play in the Trop there was never a problem with the numerous rainstorms in the area this time of year and never a problem with the high temperatures that we have during the summer months.

The announcers for other teams are more intelligent than some of the folks in this area who feel that the Trop should be torn down and a "sail" built next to the waterfront in downtown St. Pete.

Let's get real about this. We don't have the money; the Trop is leased thru 2027 - that's another 19 years; and who is going to sit in the 90-plus-degree weather with chances of bad storms daily in this area during the summer months?

Hopefully, those who vote for it. Won't be many in attendance.

JUNE AMBROSE

Plant City

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