Post by droc0794 on Dec 5, 2004 10:49:46 GMT -5
I have relayed bits of this story on our site before, but every year around this time I am reminded of the local battle that took place here, in my home town, about 4 years ago.
In my home town of Natchitoches, Louisiana, we have our annual Christmas festival on the first saturday in december. It is your typical festival, replayed in many cities in our country every year. Here in Natchitoches though, it has grown over the years to a grand production. I have seen the neumber of visitors rise from 1000 to nearly 100,000. Each year a new attraction is added, the number of parade participants grows, the number of vendors increases, as well as the number of out-of-state and foreign visitors who travel to our town to take in the weekends festivities. It is by far one of the largest, and oldest in the united states.
All of this sets the stage for much influence and publicity. Like many of our sister states in DIXIE, much of the publicity is not good.
About 4 years ago, some of our noble minority leaders decided that they didnt want the SCV to participate in our festival anymore. So they approached our city council and chamber of commerce to hand down their "order". Their stance from day 1 was that they were right and we were wrong and since the white man owes them anyway, we should fold under the pressure. They made it clear that the SCV wasnt welcomed by any minorities...period. As a matter of fact, it was a slap in the face of every minority in town to have to endure the SCV's performance during the parade.
Very heated discussions were held at city hall to try and figure out what type of compromise should be made. When the final meeting was called I decided to attend and, if at all possible, voice my opinion. In my mind, I knew that the SCV would fold under the pressure of the pressing minorities; for history has proven that the SCV is only a heritage organization, best known for their re-enacting. I figured that there was no way on GODs green earth that the SCV would stand up on its hind legs and fight this onslaught. I just knew that when they considered their options in depth, they would hold true to their mold, make no waves, protect their image.
Boy I was very wrong. The spokesperson for the SCV that night was their chaplain, a local preist who stood his ground the entire night. He did a great job of keeping his wits amongst the name calling and performed his duties as a man of the cloth well in that tense environment.
Before the meeting had ended we faced protesters throwing objects and calling names, really showing the amount of class they carried. Every white person there was painted a racist, as well as some of the minorities who actually followed their heart pertaining to this situation. The vote went in our favor, with only 2 councilmen voting to throw out the SCV. But what really stood out in my mind, and still does, was the bravery shown by the only minority councilmen to vote in favor of the SCV. Not only did he vote to allow them to stay, he also voiced his reasoning; which was a highly honorable gesture. This man was booed, spit on, and called every name in the book including their favorite..."uncle tom".
This past saturday, we celebrated yet another years festival; and the SCV marched, flags waving.
It is hard to explain the feeling that always comes over me anytime I see all of that gray and our flags. The emotions and feelings are even stronger when I look back on our recent battle with the true racist, when I consider what measures were taken to ensure our right to honor our ancestors, and every time it dawns on me that we may never have the opportunity to serve and sacrifice in the manner our ancestors gave.
texasreb has been attending our festival with his family now for a number of years. He commented to me after the parade, that he had taken some really great pictures of the unit in the parade. I know that when he has the chance to sit and study these pictures, he will be filled with pride, and the sense of honor that is a must in any confederate.
I would also bet that upon a close examination of the photos he will discover that even though there were probalby 15-20 SCV members actually in formation on saturday, the numbers will probably double on his copy of the photographs.......there is no doubt in my mind that our ancestors were marching as well.......
In my home town of Natchitoches, Louisiana, we have our annual Christmas festival on the first saturday in december. It is your typical festival, replayed in many cities in our country every year. Here in Natchitoches though, it has grown over the years to a grand production. I have seen the neumber of visitors rise from 1000 to nearly 100,000. Each year a new attraction is added, the number of parade participants grows, the number of vendors increases, as well as the number of out-of-state and foreign visitors who travel to our town to take in the weekends festivities. It is by far one of the largest, and oldest in the united states.
All of this sets the stage for much influence and publicity. Like many of our sister states in DIXIE, much of the publicity is not good.
About 4 years ago, some of our noble minority leaders decided that they didnt want the SCV to participate in our festival anymore. So they approached our city council and chamber of commerce to hand down their "order". Their stance from day 1 was that they were right and we were wrong and since the white man owes them anyway, we should fold under the pressure. They made it clear that the SCV wasnt welcomed by any minorities...period. As a matter of fact, it was a slap in the face of every minority in town to have to endure the SCV's performance during the parade.
Very heated discussions were held at city hall to try and figure out what type of compromise should be made. When the final meeting was called I decided to attend and, if at all possible, voice my opinion. In my mind, I knew that the SCV would fold under the pressure of the pressing minorities; for history has proven that the SCV is only a heritage organization, best known for their re-enacting. I figured that there was no way on GODs green earth that the SCV would stand up on its hind legs and fight this onslaught. I just knew that when they considered their options in depth, they would hold true to their mold, make no waves, protect their image.
Boy I was very wrong. The spokesperson for the SCV that night was their chaplain, a local preist who stood his ground the entire night. He did a great job of keeping his wits amongst the name calling and performed his duties as a man of the cloth well in that tense environment.
Before the meeting had ended we faced protesters throwing objects and calling names, really showing the amount of class they carried. Every white person there was painted a racist, as well as some of the minorities who actually followed their heart pertaining to this situation. The vote went in our favor, with only 2 councilmen voting to throw out the SCV. But what really stood out in my mind, and still does, was the bravery shown by the only minority councilmen to vote in favor of the SCV. Not only did he vote to allow them to stay, he also voiced his reasoning; which was a highly honorable gesture. This man was booed, spit on, and called every name in the book including their favorite..."uncle tom".
This past saturday, we celebrated yet another years festival; and the SCV marched, flags waving.
It is hard to explain the feeling that always comes over me anytime I see all of that gray and our flags. The emotions and feelings are even stronger when I look back on our recent battle with the true racist, when I consider what measures were taken to ensure our right to honor our ancestors, and every time it dawns on me that we may never have the opportunity to serve and sacrifice in the manner our ancestors gave.
texasreb has been attending our festival with his family now for a number of years. He commented to me after the parade, that he had taken some really great pictures of the unit in the parade. I know that when he has the chance to sit and study these pictures, he will be filled with pride, and the sense of honor that is a must in any confederate.
I would also bet that upon a close examination of the photos he will discover that even though there were probalby 15-20 SCV members actually in formation on saturday, the numbers will probably double on his copy of the photographs.......there is no doubt in my mind that our ancestors were marching as well.......