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Date Posted: 17:29:40 01/15/03 Wed
Author: Redneck
Subject: Yep, you are right again Marv....
In reply to: Marv 's message, "Re: Aint that some real bull$hit......." on 16:18:56 01/15/03 Wed

Indian activist wants apology over flag flap
2003-01-15
By Jack Money
The Oklahoman

An American Indian called Tuesday for a state House member's apology and resignation over comments that Confederates during the Civil War were no better than today's terrorists.
United Native America founder Mike Graham said Rep. Kevin Cox, D-Oklahoma City, went too far when he made that comment and others last week.

Cox refused Tuesday to apologize or resign, insisting his comments were aimed specifically at the Confederate government that rose against the United States at the time.

Cox is battling a proposal to put up the Cherokee Braves Stars and Bars, a Confederate flag flown by a regiment led by a Cherokee, at the state Capitol.

"This is totally racist and humiliating to Native Americans," Graham said of Cox. "He has humiliated himself, the state of Oklahoma and insulted the Indian nations here in the state and across the nation. He has no credibility to remain in office."

Graham, a Cherokee, said his tribe and others in Oklahoma joined the Confederacy in an attempt to drive the U.S. government out of their lands.

The goal was honorable, given the way the tribes had been treated by the government up to that time, he said.

"Our part in the Civil War was simply to keep the federal government out of our homelands here in Oklahoma -- after being forcibly removed from other southern states under the U.S. flag," Graham said.

Cox, a veteran black House member, said last week he didn't want any flag associated with the Confederacy flying at the Capitol.

"Anybody that intends or tries to overthrow the government -- that's treason by any stretch of the imagination. I did not degrade Native Americans in my statements," Cox said Tuesday. "My statements were directly related to a group of Confederates led by Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee."

He also questioned the motives of Rep. Wayne Pettigrew, R- Edmond, who is proposing to fly the Cherokee regimental flag.

"When you say 'Confederacy,' that means enslavement for my people," Cox said. "Had the Confederacy prevailed, it would be possible for me to be picking cotton on Wayne Pettigrew's plantation."

Pettigrew unveiled his proposal last week to fly the Cherokee Braves flag.

The Cherokee flag is similar to the Confederate States of America Bars and Stars, but adds stars and the words "Cherokee Braves." A cluster of five red stars was added to represent the Indian nations that were aligned with the Confederacy.

According to a history of Confederate flags compiled by a Georgia chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the flag commemorated the signing of a treaty Oct. 7, 1861, between the Confederate States of America and the Cherokee Nation.

If eventually approved, the flag would fly with 13 others that are part of a display on the Capitol's south plaza to show what empires, nations and states have claimed sovereignty over part or all of Oklahoma during the past 400 years.

The display was created at the direction of the Legislature. But since the late 1980s, one of the poles that would have represented the Confederate States of America has remained empty.

Former Gov. Henry Bellmon said then that action was necessary because the Legislature failed to specify which of seven possible Confederate flags should fly when it passed an earlier joint resolution detailing how the poles should be used.

Former Gov. David Walters' administration also tried to resolve the dispute.

Historians told Walters' administration the appropriate flag to fly would be the Confederate States of America Stars and Bars.

But neither black legislators nor supporters of the Confederate battle flag were satisfied with that recommendation, so the pole remained empty until late last year when all the display's flags were removed and replaced exclusively with Oklahoma state flags for the Capitol dome dedication ceremony.

Former Gov. Frank Keating decided after the Nov. 16 ceremony to leave up that display until exiting office this week.

Pettigrew said the flag he proposes does not represent the Confederacy.

On Tuesday, he defended Cox.

"I never question anyone's motives," Pettigrew said. "I defend their actions. Kevin is my friend, and he is a good legislator. We have found commonality on many issues.

"At some point in time, we all have to be equal. That should be true whether you are American Indian, Chinese American, or anything. You know, before I was married, I dated interracial," Pettigrew said. "Most people don't know that. I don't have any prejudices at all toward anybody ... African American."

As for the flag plaza, Pettigrew said his goal "is simply to put up a historically accurate flag -- complete the flag plaza. If we are not going to put up all 14, then let's not put up any. Both Representative Cox and I agree on this."

Cox said he believes Pettigrew's suggested flag is inaccurate. He said historians tell him the flag never officially represented the Cherokee Nation.

While the flag may have been adopted by Gen. Stand Watie, his troops burned down Cherokee Nation governmental buildings in Tahlequah, Cox said.

Barbara Warner, executive director of the Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commission, said she agreed with Cox.

"It represented one regiment of Confederates. The flag never flew over Oklahoma, which is what the plaza represents," she said. "My understanding is that the Cherokee Nation does not support this."

Cox said he would not disagree with Pettigrew's proposed flag being displayed in a museum along with the other 13.

"You can't rewrite, nor should you try to erase history," he said. "But the only flags flying in front of the state Capitol should be the state flag and the American flag."
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Or the ones that the re-writers of history want there.

Assholes better just leave the rest of us alone.

Redneck

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Replies:

Re: Yep, you are right again Marv.... -- Marv, 18:28:56 01/15/03 Wed