Below is the text of an email sent by Mr. Dewey Barber, founder of Dixie Outfitters, asking for our help in this matter.  Lets all do out part and call or write the folks at the bottom of this email and let them know that we don’t appreciate this decision and want it reversed.

This email has been posted here with permission from Mr. Barber.

Dear Southern Compatriots,

I received the email below from concerned parents. Dixie Outfitters has sent emails to the parties involved, sent free protest bumper stickers to these concerned parents and supplied contact information of support organizations. Please help us stop this discrimination against our children and our heritage by writing, calling or emailing Principal Veita Jackson Carter and Superintendent Dr. W. Daniel Boyd Jr. at the addresses below.

If your emails, letters and calls do not change the minds of the school administrators we are prepared to support marches, protests/rallies and engage the media to end this blatant discrimination against our Southern children.

Dear Mr. Dewey Barber,

My name is Terri Sneed and I am writing this letter in regards to a meeting that JoAnne Justice and myself held on 8/28/09 at Hawthorne Jr./Sr. High School in Hawthorne Florida.

The morning of 8/28/09 I received a phone call from Hawthorne Jr./Sr. High School. They called to inform me that my children needed to be picked up or that I was to bring a change of clothes to them so they could continue their day at school. Due to the fact that my children have nothing that is not permitted in our dress code, I immediately asked what they wore to school that was not appropriate for our schools attire. Libby Hartwell (V.P.) informed me that the shirts my son has been wearing for 6 years was not appropriate attire and the same for my daughter that has been wearing hers just as long. That same morning I find out that JoAnne Justice has also been called to pick up her child that has also been wearing the same shirts for many years. Much to our surprise we find out that many other children have been forced to remove their shirts, to turn them inside out or to be sent home if they had these shirts on.  We are totally appalled at what is taking place. Can they take from us our heritage?

This is who we are!!!! The Confederate flag has been in our home-town and our school for as many years as I can remember.

When we meet with the Principal Veita Jackson Carter, M.E.D- P, Vice
Principal Libby Hartwell and the Dean Laura Green I specifically asked them all if there has ever been an issue, fight or controversy over these shirts being worn. The answer was NO.

We live in a small town where these children black and white have grown up together from Pre-K to 12th grade. Everyone knows everyone and NEVER has there been an issue with the Confederate flag. When I asked WHY these children could no longer wear their shirts their only response was that it offended them. Not that it offended the children but it offended them.

Politely they were handed the information that you made available to us. We figured that since they were new to our school that maybe they were ignorant to what the Confederate flag stands for. So I asked that the information be read aloud so everyone could get a "Short History Lesson". They informed us after reading the article that their minds were made up and that they rule the school. Last to my knowledge we pay their salary and the History books can not be changed.

Personally, I think it is a true sign of ignorance as to what the Confederate flag stands for. It truly disturbs me to think that there is one person that can change the lifestyle of many. Taking from our children who they are and what they stand for. Proud to live in the South, black and white. In our town it has never been a racial thing and my question is why make it one now?

I hope that there is something that maybe you can do to stand behind us as parents that mean no harm to anyone but wanting to stand up for the rights of our children and what they believe in. Thank you for your time and hope to hear from you soon.

Truly yours

Terri Sneed

Here is some of the information that we have found for the school and school board:

Superintendent:

Dr. W. Daniel Boyd Jr.
supt@gm.sbac.edu
352-955-7880

Deputy Superintendent:

Sandy Hollinger
hollinsh@gm.sbac.edu
352-955-7880

Principal:

Veita Jackson Carter, M.E.D-P
jacksovl@gm.sbac.edu
352-481-1900
FAX 352-481-4859

Vice Principal:

Libby Hartwell
hartwelles@gm.sbac.edu
352-481-1900

High School Dean:

Laura Green
352-481-1900

School Board of Alachua County
Kirby Smith Administrative Center
620 East University Avenue
Gainesville, Florida 3601-5498

Hawthorne Jr./Sr. High School
P.O.Box 40
Hawthorne, Florida 32640

The email below was written by Mr. Bill Hinson and distributed via email.  I just wanted to make sure my readers were aware of Mr. Rucker’s feelings regarding the Confederate Flag.  This “country music artist” is very popular with the Nashville crowd right now but I know he won’t be getting a cent of my money and I hope my readers will feel the same way!

How soon we forget!

Hootie and the Blowfish (Darius Rucker)

In the article below you will read about Hootie and the Blowfish protesting the Confederate flag in SC.

Remember and never forget that Hootie and the Blowfish’s lead singer at that time was none other than Darius Rucker who now is a recording artist in country music.   Rucker has had three number one hits this past year (2009).  The songs are:  "Don’t think I don’t think about it," "It want be like this for long," and "Alright."

Please pass this information on and on we must spread the word and remind people that Rucker is against your heritage!

If you are your children or grandchildren buy his music, you and them are helping make this guy rich!  Again please spread the word about Rucker.

He is trying to sneak in under the radar!  It won’t work, not on my radar gun; I am one who never forgets!!!

Pass it on!!!

Bill Hinson

Below is the article and the lyrics to Rucker’s hate song

Here is the link to the story involving Mr. Rucker participating in a march against the Confederate Flag in South Carolina.

Darius Rucker marches to protest the Confederate Flag

Darius Rucker as Hootie of Hootie and the Blowfish in the 1998 album Cracked Rear View lamenting the South Carolina Flag.

Drowning lyrics

Trouble with the world is we’re too busy to think about it, all right
Why is there a rebel flag hanging from the state house walls?
Tired of hearin’ this shit about heritage not hate
Time to make the world a better place

Why must we hate one another?
Well no matter what we gotta live together
Just that you don’t look like me, tell me what do you see
When we pass on the street what do you wanna see

P.E.’s coming is all I gotta say
Wanna turn and run away
They’re just telling you how they see it
Right or wrong they don’t care, you wish that they would quit

[chorus:]

Drowning in a sea of tears
Hatred trying to hide your fears
Living only for yourself
Hating everybody else
Cause they don’t look like you
Nanci singing it’s a hard life wherever you go
About some fat racist living in Chicago
Trying to teach his kids to hate everyone
Well tell me why is that something you wanna teach your son?
Why must we hate one another?
When the people in the church, they tell me you’re my brother
You don’t walk like me; you don’t talk like me, saying
Go back to Africa, I just don’t understand

[chorus]

I’m trying to be someone that he could look up to, but
When I walk down the street, tell me what do you see
I’m a man, I’m a man, I’m a man
No I’m not like you
Why do you hate me so
I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know
Hating everybody else cause they don’t look like you.

Lyrics Submitted by:  Compatriot Greg Stewart

Statue of Cleburne to be Dedicated in Georgia

     Ringgold Telephone Company and the City of Ringgold are proud to host the First Annual Ringgold Gap Civil War Festival, featuring the unveiling of a life-size bronze statue of Confederate General Patrick Ronayne Cleburne.

     The events will be held in historic Ringgold, Georgia on Saturday, October 3rd. It was November 1863, Ringgold, GA. The Confederate Army was in retreat and pursued by Federal forces. Confederate General Patrick Cleburne was charged with the task of holding off the approaching Union troops, so the Confederates could safely withdraw. Cleburne sent his 4,100 men into Ringgold Gap to occupy the bluffs above the very narrow pass, unbeknownst to the approaching union troops. Hooker and his troops of 21,000 began their pass through the gap. After several assaults from Hooker’s men, Cleburne’s troops were able to hold the gap until all the Confederates had safely withdrawn.

     For his service, the Confederate Congress voted a resolution of thanks. Now, with help from renowned sculptor Ron Tunison, and with financial support from Ringgold Telephone Company and the General Patrick Cleburne Society, the revered Civil War hero, General Patrick Ronayne Cleburne, will again stand guard in Ringgold Gap.

     The unveiling and dedication of the statue of Cleburne will be held Saturday, October 3, at 10:00 a.m. in Confederate Park, off Highway. 41, Ringgold, GA. Due to limited space, people wishing to attend the ceremony will be required to park on Robin Rd. Shuttles will be provided to the statue site.The Ringgold Gap Festival will be held in conjunction with the unveiling ceremony. Storytellers, historical lectures, sutlers, plays, an experience camp, and an appearance of the Hunley submarine replica, will all be included in the festivities.

     The events, which will take place on Robin Rd., are free to the public. The festival grounds will open at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 3. To conclude the day’s events, a period ball will be held at 7:00 p.m.

For information about activities, directions, festival maps and schedules, visit www.RinggoldGapFestival.com.

Contact: Marcy Cirlot Ringgold Telephone Company (706) 965-1249 Mcirlot@rtctel.com