Black lawmaker wants paid Confederate holiday

Agreed.

Wouldn't the state & companies located there lose millions of dollars from lost income due to this ridiculous bill since nobody is working?

Maybe everybody should flood this Senator's office with phone calls, emails and letters telling him to stop extorting the people that he represents for personal gain.

everyone needs to read their history again the civil war was a whole lot more than just slavery(matter of fact the south legisation was working on a bill disbanding slavery)it was about the north getting rich off the south and forcing the south to have to have slaves(the north own more slaves than the south)all i got to say to SEN ROBERT FORD is more power to him the civil war wasnt just about slavery but a way of life that the south wanted to improve an have control over not dictated by the north r rich people so the south deserve that holiday

If you want people to know their history, you give them a history book. Giving municiple workers another paid day off only teaches me the lesson that my tax dollars are wasted. The only people who get the lesson are people in the public sector? whatever.

Not just our dead, but those who gave their lives in service for this country, to ensure that we have our rights and freedom. Which of course, I am sure is what you meant.

Not to rain on this Black Senators parade, as I do believe that he is displaying progressive thinking in terms of putting the whole slavery thing behind us. However as you said it would be far more fitting to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice to make American what it is. I believe that to an extent Veteran's day gives credit to those people but seems to be more centered around those vets who are alive. I say this with the up most respect for vets of all wars, but lets face the fact that those who died protecting our way of life deserve credit to and that includes not only military but fire fighters and law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty also.

All for one and one for all - I agree with gonetosoon. We have got to stop splitting this country. Everyone needs to accept the fact that we need to work together on all our issues instead of everyone making up their own rules and individual holidays!

Why not just do away with all paid holidays the feds get now...it cost the tax payer millions as it is.

Holy Heck. You need some counseling dude. You are you angry pile of trash just what the world needs now!

"DragonRider" once again vents his vile, fascistic mind!

There are too many paid holidays as there are. No doubt this one would have to be on a Monday as well so the post office could shut down. The whole idea is insane. I'm sick to death of hearing someone vent on TV "when we were slaves" - they were never slaves, their mamma was never a slave, their grandparents were never slaves - why not just say "when we were African"? Truth of the matter is that there were a lot of white slaves as well who sold themselves for passage to this country and many of them weren't treat any better.

Economically speaking this is just stupidity.

Now here's one smart black man with an outstanding proposal. It's only fair that they have a holiday,hell's bells,everyone else has one.

The civil war never bacame about slavery until around 1863 2 years after the war started. Lincoln was losing the war at this time and was also losing popularity. So then came the emancipation proclomation. It was just a way to gain support for the war again because the north was ready to negotiate peace terms with the south. 80% of southerners did not own slaves during this time. Do you really think 80% off common southern people were fighting so the 20% of rich plantation slave owners could keep their slaves. It was about the tariffs and taxes being placed on the south by northern congress of the time for the export of cotton and other agriculture. Slavery was already dieing out in the south. No new slaves could be brought in to the U.S. by law even before the Civil War. If blacks are about equality let us have a white history month let us have all black schools let us have the white equivalent to the NAACP. Only problem is if we did we would be called racist. The NAACP keep and groups like it keep racism alive because they would be out of business without it. last i can recall i never owned a slave in my life and i am tired of being treated like i have. White people have been slaves in the past as has every other race on earth but you don't hear us or them crying about it all the damn time wanting reperations and other government hand outs. But now you have your Savior in office and you will get all the government hand outs you want and bankrupt the country in the process. If you truely want equaility in this country do away with all black schools the NAACP anything like that as well as any of the white counterparts to these organizations because i am sick of it all.

I'm sorry, but the moment Vice President Stephens made his "Cornerstone" speech, the CSA became nothing but an institution dedicated to slavery.

Amen! Dead right on the Civil War facts. Good points about the double standards being allowed. More sickening is the medias perpetuation of it all...

Go @!$%# yourself Dragonrider

AMEN!

Hey, this guy sounds like a lazy guy from PR. He should move there. PR has more holidays than it knows what to do with!

to bly..the reason we have bet is because mtv wouldn't air black videos. the reason we have black collegs is because black were not allowed to go to most schools. the reason we have the naacp is because we were being lynched and had no rights. The reason we have black history month is because schools wouldn't teach about acomplishments made by blacks. your statement shows what an idiot you are.

bb - i realise why all these black institutions were created back in the day, but the point now is - havent we moved on from this, back in the 60's yes people hadnt come to terms with black and white being equal, but you have been equal for years now, you've been granted equal everything with the white man so its time to start abolishing these black only things that keep everyone divided.

gonetosoon Thank you, I think my fathers price paid in WW11 was as much as any other soldier. Memorial day is for everybody that paid the price. I will go buy a confederate flag to fly with my POW and American flag!!!!! Just for the senator! I know some neigbors will hate it but they are his brothers and sisters!!!!!!

Given that the Civil War was a rebellion against the United States government in an attempt to perpetuate the enslavement of human beings, there is nothing worthy of celebration about the Confederacy, except its defeat. That is completely different from our other major holidays, which celebrate worthy people and events, such as veterans, the Declaration of Independence, and yes, Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement. The history of the Confederate rebellion should be well taught in schools, but never celebrated.

That's not true Michigander! The Civil War was started because southern states felt that their state rights were being taken away when it came to passing laws, taxes, and such in Congress due to the fact that they had far fewer representitives then the north. The problem is, that most people now only remember that it became about slavery.

Absolutely correct, it's too bad most people don't know their own country's history.

"States rights" in regard to what? Yes, slavery. And "fewer representatives than the north" in regard to what? Yes, slavery. It was not an arcane philosophical disagreement about states' rights. The crisis had been coming for decades (for examople, recall the fighting in Kansas and Nebraska over whether those states would be free or slave). It is true that there are usually multiple contributing causes for any war, but the American Civil War was most assuredly about slavery, and the Confederacy is nothing to celebrate.

Agreed--it was a day off in my office, and I thought it super-strange. I've always worked on MLK day--until I came to my current office. Utterly oddball.

2.2
That's not true Michigander! The Civil War was started because southern states felt that their state rights were being taken away when it came to passing laws, taxes, and such in Congress due to the fact that they had far fewer representatives then the north. The problem is, that most people now only remember that it became about slavery.

2.3
Absolutely correct, it's too bad most people don't know their own country's history.

This is taken from Texas' 'Declaration of Causes of Seceding States'

"...Texas abandoned her separate national existence and consented to become one of the Confederated Union to promote her welfare, insure domestic tranquility and secure more substantially the blessings of peace and liberty to her people.

She was received into the confederacy with her own constitution, under the guarantee of the federal constitution and the compact of annexation, that she should enjoy these blessings.

She was received as a commonwealth holding, maintaining and protecting the institution known as negro slavery-- the servitude of the African to the white race within her limits-- a relation that had existed from the first settlement of her wilderness by the white race, and which her people intended should exist in all future time..."

'Declaration of Causes of Seceding States' (for Georgia, Mississippi, South, Carolina, Texas) http://sunsite.utk.edu/civil-war/reasons.html

BURN!! *high fives Miryam*

Also from Texas' Declaration of Causes of Seceding States

"The Federal Government, while but partially under the control of these our unnatural and sectional enemies, has for years almost entirely failed to protect the lives and property of the people of Texas against the Indian savages on our border, and more recently against the murderous forays of banditti from the neighboring territory of Mexico; and when our State government has expended large amounts for such purpose, the Federal Government has refuse reimbursement therefor, thus rendering our condition more insecure and harassing than it was during the existence of the Republic of Texas."

Please read the whole thing and not just the bits and pieces you need to prove your point. As you see with this statement, just 2 paragraphs below the one you posted, there were other reasons Texas seceded. They didn't feel that they were being adequately protected from hostilities and refused to reimburse them for the cost of defending themselves. Again, not only about slaves, that's just the part that everyone remembers/is taught.

Oh, and BURN

Let's go for all the Texan marbles and adopt Confederate Heroes Day (none of that Memorial sissy stuff...and LBJ's birthday and Cesar Chavez Day and....)

C'mon, kids. do you really think that slavery and resultant economy (wow--making money without having to pay labor--imagine disrupting an agrarian economy built on that false construct--oh, wait--cheap food made possible by migrant workers...) wasn't a core issue?

Follow the money.

Scooter,

Texas was mad because the Federal Government wouln't protect them from the savages who really owned the land but felt the Federal government should not have anything to say about their enslavement of men. Your part of the declearation doesn't make Texas look particularly good. It's the same old story. I deserve more than you. You think that slave fathers wanted their children beaten and killed anymore than Texans wanted theirs.

Thank you, Misslambchop! I think that differences of interpretation are a big part of what makes history interesting. I also think that it is worth bearing in mind that reasonable people can disagree about those interpretations, so being respectful of others' points of view is a good habit to develop.

,

Very well said...people don't even know their country's history. It's evident that our school systems curriculum is skewed. I don't think that a Confederate Holiday is needed though, people should just brush up on their history.

The whole racial thing is retarded. We now have a half-black president, black political leaders, black men winning Super Bowls....ect...how can anyone be convinced that black people are still oppressed? Black people are just like whites, Asians, Europeans.....we're all just regular people (human beings). I bet if you ask any black person today they will tell you they don't feel oppressed...the only one who keeps this racial ball rolling is Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton. You take them out of the equation and everyone gets along!

The Confederates LOST the war! They were on the wrong side! Their should be NO memorial to them! ONE nation! They had no "right" to secede!

Mark, what in hell are you talking about,one nation ? Feb.is Black History month. That's NOT one nation that's one nationality ? I say lets have a holiday for the Confederates. Some people think the Civil War is still going on. Isn't that right Mark ?

Tibet lost the war to China so they also should have no culture, memorials or any other link to their lost ways. The victor sometimes is just a big, greedy,constitution stomping bully. The Amendment that made this country indivisible was passed after the War of Northern Aggression and the defeated Southern States had to sign it to get back into the Union or live under Reconstruction. What a choice! If secession was illegal then why wasn't Jefferson Davis tried for treason? Here is the answer for all you proud yankee drum beaters- they had no case.

Having been born, raised, and always lived in the south, and also having had many relatives die in that War, I am all for a holiday to remember it more. We all should. Yes the war was about slavery. But, not for the reason that most people on this board think it was. Salves did the work. They were the cultivators and harvesters of today. Was it wrong to enslave another human being YES. But, as you read this post think about the tools you use to do your work (for example the computer you are using to read this post). Now, what if someone in government or in another part of this country said you couldn't use your computers (or any other tool that allows you to efficiently perform your money making function) anymore because it was wrong. You should set it free and allow your livelihood to die. What would you do?

On another note, look at the article again. You will see exactly where the hatred and racism lies. The NAACP isn't an organization for the Advancement of Colored People its an organization that's Against ALL Caucasian People. And I quote "Here Senator Ford is talking about the importance of race relations by forcing recognition of people who did everything they could to destroy another race — particularly those that look like I do," the NCAAP leader in South Carolina. You want to improve race relations recognize these organizations for what they are, division makers not what they claim to be. The slave owners wouldn't be interested in eradicating their property that was doing the work anmore than you would want to take your computer and throw it in the ocean. As a point of fact, most mistreatment occurred from the overseers which were generally black people. The slaves thought so much of their former owners that many of them took the names of those former owners and remained in the area as sharecroppers. Let's face it, if someone treats you poorly, you limit how much you have to do with them not the opposite.

BTW, my family roots are from the sharecropper side of things not theslave owner. So, like MOST white southerners, they had more reason to stay home than to fight. But, their state called so they answered the call.

Look at the way government runs now and study how our founding fathers wanted it to work. The most powerful government in the World is in Washington, D.C. where they govern us. This is fine in this age of instant information where you can e-mail you congressman if your not happy. Now, step back 150 years and look at what was around (a similar government from on high) and compare that to what the founding fathers set up. They setup local/state government to do most of the ruling because that's where the people were and could more easily get access to their government. If you carefully read your history and take out all of the racism and hatred you find this basic premise behind the Civil War. The Civil War was fought because the National Government was telling Local Governments what to do. We fought a revolution to free us from that type of government only two/three generations prior to the fighting of the Civil War. Unfortunately, the south lost that war. I say unfortunately not because I am for the conditions that were present at the time. I AM OPPOSED TO SLAVERY AND OPPRESSION IN ALL FORMS. I say unfortunately because with the loss of the Civil War and really until the advent of the Internet. Our local voices were drowned out in the quagmire of big government. If you read your history you will note that is why we fought the Revolution. It is also my belief that even if the south had one there would have been a reunifcation back into the United States. I just think the resulting institution would have been better and more open for all.

The other 11 months are white history months.

I know very well that slaverywasnt the main reason for starting war but became a big part of it.

After the first Dutch ship brought its first slaves to Jamestown in 1619 thats when involuntary servitude began, as they referred to it in the United States Consititution, as it first come to the American South.

Negro slaves, brought chains from their original homelands in Africa, which proved useful and profitable in what was to become the southern United States, The flat farmlands, served by meandering tidewaters rivers, were ideal for creating large plantations for growing cotton and reliable sources of agricultural products. The African slaves provided a cheap and reliable source of agricultural and household labor for the emerging south economy.

North of Virginia, where there were more hills and a harsher climate, the use of human slaves was not as successful. This part of the American colonies, the North, harnessed the labor of yeoman farmers and men and women working for wages. This created one of the great sectional differences of the United States history- A group of southern states which relied heavily on slave labor and a group of northern states emphasizing the work and industry of free citizens.

There were many blacks that owned slaves as well.

Throughout the early 1800s the South and North drifted progressively further apart over the issue of allowing human slavery to continue in the United states, As the nation expanded westward across the North American continent, particularly hard political battles were fought over the issue of slavery, finally after Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860,

The southern states seceded from the federal union rather than run the risk of having the U.S. Congress in Washington abolish slavery outright.

In 1776 there we about 1/2 a million slaves. In 1860 there were close to 4 million

MLK is a very important sybol. If i'm in a strange city and see MLK Blvd......I do a 180 and drive away from the getto!!!!!!!!!

idiot !

Don't you mean, */Americans?

And really, do the */Americans need another holiday?

And before you ask, I was Breed, born and bordered in America. That makes me American/American. By the grace of God.

And they fought for what they believed in, right or wrong. That what makes us unique, we stand up for our beliefs and if your a vet or active service, your willing to die to protect those beliefs.

How about you?

To hell with all those grey coats i wouldn't piss on thier graves if they were on fire!!

pocketchange, the reason you wouldn't piss on a greycoat grave if it was on fire is because you would burn your butt when you squatted to pee.

Pocketchange You wouldn't piss on a grave because you'd get your A$$ kicked. Losser!!!

That is why we have Memorial Day and by extension Veterans Day. These days are set aside to honor and remember the war dead from all wars not just one.

I don't know why we have any holidays, most people work them, only folks who get them all off is Govt. anyhow, but I also see Mardi Gras as holiday only for Deep South, MLK day for African/black Americans, so why Not Confederate? As a Northern implant to the South, I agree with Marge that war was not started over slavery..Funny how the North (myself) included learn that it is, with very little history taught in schools. Rather it goes through or not it's still just another work day for most!

I'll vote for that !

I'm sorry but the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday is not a holiday just for the Blacks! In fact, on it is a day for all Americans. Dr. King was fighting for all Americans whose civil rights were being trampled on. And, yes, it was focused on the Black race but it helped to open the doors for others who use his example of non-violent protest instead of using bullets, dogs and water-hoses. Dr. King Day id usually celebrated by urging everyone from every race to perform public service on that day. Volunteering at food banks, soup kitchens, Habitat for Humanity, or any thing that can help another human being regardless of the color of their skin. To say that it is a day off for Black people is wrong. It is a "Day On" for everyone!

Please skip the poor little black people speech and how we all get together for weekend gatherings. Blacks hate whites and this is just plain fact, not fiction! 90% of all interracial crimes are black on white and the proof is in the government stats if you want to check it out but here is an article from a liberal media outlet that finally admits that blacks are no saints so give the "Only whitey can be a racist" crap a rest and learn to read.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-070610hatecrime-story,0,7700301.story?track=rss

You get Saturday AND Sunday off??? Lucky.

Here are some Texas holidays besides the national ones:

1. Jan 19 - Confederate Heroes Day- combines the celebration of both Robert E. Lee's and Jefferson Davis' birthdays.

2. March 2 - Texas Independence Day/Sam Houston Day

March 32 - Cesar Chavez Day

3. April 21 - San Jacinto Day

4. November 3 - Father of Texas Day

I think we should celebrate Grandparents Day. Like thousands of others they came over from europe in 1915 through Ellis Island, legally. Grandfather went to work on a chicken farm. They learned to speak english, became american citizens, and raised 10 children without welfare or food stamps. People like this were the backbone of the american dream. Make it a forced holiday. Celebrate it or go to jail. Just kidding, but you get the point.

Just like we used to say in The Corps "every day's a holiday and every meal's a feast."

scrooge2

I get your point but, I don't think those slaves from Africa received welfare or food stamps either. They worked the fields picking cotton, took care of the slave masters homes, families, and their own children....oh and even the children that were born after the women were raped by the slave masters. All those who came before us to help make this place we call home what it is today, deserve some type of recognition.

how about this. How can you discover a country that was already occupied. Take its people and put them on reservations. "@!$%#"was not a race either. The people was taken from Africa. The History books is still not telling it right. America is not the melting pot. Its more like a salad.

Lady you are one in a few I for one applaud you i hate this African crap if you were born in American then you are a American Stop the unnecessarylabelling. As for the holiday forget it its just another way to pull us apart. As for me when asked what i am I put down human.

I agree RussellM !!

Thankyou for your service to our country....and for some obviously well thought out remarks....Memorial days...are to remember those who served...not the politicians who governed....

Just out of curiousity, were I not poor, I would put in an application to each and every minority program. Upon denial, I would hire a lawyer and sue for discriminiation, and win. I wonder if this has ever been tried? In any event, the only message it sends is 'sorry, too many white people have an education already, so you're out of luck. We'll give it to someone less needy based on the color of their skin.' Amazing when whites and others try it, it goes to court and is painted as racial. When these black groups you mentioned do the same, it is for 'equality.' Surely the Supreme Court would have a field day with this one.

Yes! Yes! Yes! I COULD NOT have said it better myself! I remember well what I was taught in school and mostly I learned a healthy respect for ALL Americans.

Mr. Ford's bill continues to perpetuate a division.

By the way, I'd like to know who's bright idea it was to have MLK day be a federal, time-off, paid holiday, and do away with President's Day. What's up with that?

Thank you. I too am proud of being an American. We are all Americans, we don't need a label.

No it won't. Muslim's will violently force their way into EVERY aspect of the United States of America inside two years!

MARK MY WORDS!

Keep running.

I would like to see a Trail of Tears Holiday, for when my Indian ancestors who were driven from their lands, because white people wanted their lands, It needs to be made a Holiday to Honor all my family who died on that journey of relocation, How many of you are living now on some of my Indian ancestors Land?

And some of my ancestors fought to help free the slaves as well and I am from the North.

Do I really think we should make another Holiday? No I don't, I'm so tired of seeing some people trying to use the race card, Yes its something we should never forget, learn by and keep moving forward on this issue as it is still alive and well on both sides of the fence, but to make a new Holiday, and waste millions of tax dollars on over time pay for the ones that must work it as well as pay the ones for the day off is ridiculous, Do we have a Miss Indian American Pageant?, Some people seem to want to keep Racism alive here in America, Who is not trying move forward now and let Racism go?

Obama should be a vision come true for us all against racism as he is the combined of the both and now shows us how much we have moved forward.

I believe Like Donna-322116 said we should stick with American Holidays and stop segregating ourselves...

We all need to see whats on the inside of each of us not the outside.

"We all need to see whats on the inside of each of us not the outside."

This is the best comment by far.

Sorry, I have to mention there is a pageant called Miss Native American Pageant. And there are several other lesser know pageants.

I found your post very interesting, propogating another racial arguement. "I'm 'native american, my people were here first.' You said you were half indian. Tell me, had we not come 'second,' where would the other half of your genes be (i.e. do you believe you would have ever been born)? I see the arguements below about 'trail of tears' and other sob stories. I see you with free land forevermore, rights the rest of the nation will never have (tax free casinos (casinos in general) millions of dollars in income, yet STILL get free government aid, etc. You're set for life. The kind of ignorant comments about how white people are the bane of your existence is quite sad. I'm of Irish background, but I don't down the English for harming 'my people.' I don't see Mexico requesting reservations, money, or apologies for taking the entire southwest from them. My point is, we ALL came from a nation, people, or a religion that was persecuted at SOME point in history. Blacks expect free money and apologies for slavery, when not one single slave or slave owner has been alive in 44 years (the last died in 1965, look it up). Indians cry about what was done to their ancestors, yet most of them speak only English, live and dress as I do, and drive the same cars as I do. Unless you live in a hut or a teepee, and so forth, yes, continue to blame my ancestors for bringing you a future with electricity and electronics filling your home. I was born white, and I can't change that. I've never enslaved anyone, nor have I ever drove anyone off their lands. Those who did are DEAD. And so should this damn issue be.

I was just making point with examples and the point was to get over it and move forward, you can't move forward if you keep looking back with the intent of keeping it alive to the point of not learning from it instead, it does no good but to cause yourself turmoil.

I personally do not get anything free, but ok a question for you, lets say you own the whole state of Texas, Someone comes and kicks you out and makes you move to Florida, or lets just say someone comes and kicks you out of the home you own now, you wouldn't try to get no compensation for it right?

There is a differance in compensation for how you are treated and for something you actually own and it is taken.

And who is to say nothing would have been invented had no one come here and took our lands, may have just took us longer, Just because you thought we were all savages you don't think we would have ever made progress? Hummm maybe we would have been better off ya think then we wouldn't be dependent on foreign oil,lol

We all need to start seeing each other from the inside out.

sorry beaumrtn, i wish the american indians would move on with the rest of the country but while american indians are getting welfare just for being american indian then its hard not to see the north as very segregated, up in the dakotas 95% of american indians claim welfare which is kinda granted so they can live the indian lifestyle in a modern world however most forego the reservations for all modern amenities, not to offend but i have only met one working indian and she is disgusted with her peers who have all allowed themselves to become super morbidly obese and alcoholic. dont call me a racist because im not, i just think its time to move on and for us to all become one united america, but with black people have all these black only things and native americans being given welfare just for being indian how will we ever become a united america????

you need to learn your American history.....the Civil War was about more than slavery...I am guessing you are an Obama supporter, talk about a horrific destruction to our nation

The Confederate States of America was never recognized as a separate country.

It was recognised by its citizens and its soldiers.

See! There's nothing "United" about the States of America, anyway.

You people are morons.