VA To Limit Display Of The Dixie Cross In Federal Cemeteries

The Dixie Cross (Confederate Battle Flag) at the graves of Confederate Dead
at Arlington National Cemetery.

Last week marked another unfortunate and somewhat minor victory for white supremacist idealism, cultural Marxism, and anti-Confederate heritage regressive bigotry.

Perhaps everyone will recall that back in May of this year, a bill was proposed and sponsored by California Representative Jared Huffman (D - San Rafael) and 84 other regressive and reactionary members of the US House of Representatives to limit the public display of the Confederate battle flag in cemeteries overseen by the US Department of Veteran Affairs. 

The purpose behind this bill was to favor the regressive and wrong-thinking, pro-white supremacist view of the flag and ultimately remove it from public viewing from flagpoles where Confederate veterans are buried in Federal cemeteries. Another effort on the part of Social "Just-Us" Warrior cultural reactionaries in their war against the memories of the honored Southern dead, and largely to discredit their status as American veterans worthy of recognition.  

While Huffman’s amendment to a VA spending bill passed on a bipartisan vote, a majority of House Republicans voted against the measure. A total of 84 Republicans voted with all but one Democrat in favor of Huffman's proposal, while 158 opposed it. The provision was ultimately left out of the final bicameral compromise VA appropriations legislation.

The bill died on June 24th of this year after congressional opponents struck it down. I spoke on this point when I updated a blog post back in May of this year. I pointed out that when the SJW regressives fail to win though the legal process, they circumvent it though backroom deals with like-minded Tools. Hate and reaction it seems always finds away, and unfortunately, fails to disappoint when one looks for it to happen. 

On Tuesday, August 23rd, the US Department of Veterans Affairs, allegedly on its own accord, decided to ban the large-scale display of the Dixie Cross banner in cemeteries overseen by the agency - in keeping with the specific details from the failed House bill. 

"We are aware of the concerns of those who wish to see Confederate flags removed from public venues because they are perceived by many (wrongly!) as a symbol of racial intolerance. We are also aware that the national cemeteries originated during the Civil War and that they are the final resting places of those who served (honorably) on both sides of that conflict and, as such, flags of the Confederacy are also viewed by some merely as historical symbols," the VA's interim undersecretary for memorial affairs, Ronald Walters, wrote in a letter to Representative Huffman. He also referred to the new policy enacted unilaterally as a "reasonable compromise" on the subject of the flag's display.

"While racist individuals and groups continue to embrace the Confederate battle flag, (over the strong objection of honorable Confederate heritage groups and a vast majority of Southerners of good will and moral conscience) it has never been more clear that this anachronistic symbol of hatred, slavery, and insurrection should not be promoted or gratuitously displayed on federal property," the regressive Mr. Huffman said in a statement on Tuesday. 

 

Starting later this year - possibly US Veteran's Day (Nov. 11th) - the ban on the flag's display will take effect. The Confederate battle flag will no longer be allowed to fly on any flagpole in national cemeteries. However, groups like the Sons of Confederate Veterans and United Daughters of the Confederacy will still be permitted to adorn individual graves with small Confederate banners on two days of the year: US Memorial Day and Confederate Memorial Day (although considering that the latter is celebrated on different days in various Southern States, the display of these flag could in fact come to more than just two days). The flag will also continue to be displayed at certain ceremonies and at private burials taking place at national cemeteries.

On a local level, smaller versions of the flag or items bearing its image on individual graves will not be removed so long as there is no cost to the government, or banned by local staff unless they conflict with other local rules on permitted displays - which of course means if someone doesn't like it there it will be removed by whatever delicate little snowflake works at the cemetery in question and to hell with the wishes of the families of the dead. 

Previous policy permitted for year-long display at VA controlled cemeteries where Confederate soldiers and veterans are buried in mass graves. 

This act, while certainly rooted in anti-Confederate heritage reactionary bigotry and regressive, pro-white supremacist idealism posing as "tolerance and compassion" on the part of the SJW crowd, is not a complete victory for those who seek the complete banishment of the flag's display from public view. 

On an interesting note, officially there have been no Confederate flags of any sort flying on VA cemetery poles since 1973. 

Wait what?

Yep, it seems that all the current ado about the display of the flag on VA cemetery poles appears to be nothing more than window dressing to justify the limiting of displays of smaller flags on individual graves, and to give a group of regressive politicians some good press for their special interest handlers....er, I mean concerned activist groups. 

No doubt it is seen as a step in that direction by the authors of the former legislation and those who cut the backroom deals that led to the policy taking effect despite the inability to achieve legal success. Also likely as the first step toward the ultimate overall banning of the display of any banner or temporary memorial in national cemeteries. 

Consider that at present in America, there are instances where the display of the US flag is being removed from public viewing by like-minded snowflakes who justify these acts as progressive, or out of "respect" for people who see the displays of the national colors as offensive in one form or another. 

Is it really too much of a stretch to believe that someday - should the current PC cultural trends endure for another decade - the flagpoles in VA run cemeteries will be removed entirely? Or that all stick flags adorning the graves of US Veterans placed their by the families of the dead will be removed siting some "beautification ordinance" as a justification? Or that "interpretive plaques" will be placed at the site of gravestones shaped as Christian crosses or the Star of David to explain their presence to those who may be "offended" by their display?

When one slips down the wet cobblestone path of cultural Marxism, the roll down the hill of regression is a long and bumpy tumble - but one that picks up speed all too quickly. Should the supporters of legislation like this continue to gain ground, the final solution of this particular path will be a dishonorable one indeed. 

I would also add that the US Department of Veteran Affairs would be better served by looking after the needs of those US Veterans and soldiers currently living - specifically those who are (sometimes literally) dying to get into the VA clinics for treatment in those all-too long waiting lines. 

Perhaps instead of taking deals from regressive politicians who seek to dishonor the dead, those currently in charge of the VA should work harder to advocate and insure that our American soldiers and veterans are treated with the dignity and respect they very much deserve, but all to often do not receive.

Just a little food for thought, along with a little good ole Southern Fried Common Sense.