Lynyrd Skynyrd won’t abandon the Confederate flag (Way to step in it, douchebags)

[swag]

http://www.salon.com/2012/09/23/lynyrd_skynyrd_wont_abandon_the_confederate_flag/

Guitarist Gary Rossington released the following statement on the band’s Facebook page:

I wanted to clarify the discussion of the Confederate Flag in our recent CNN interview. Myself, the past and present members (that are from the South), are all extremely proud of our heritage and being from the South. We know what the Dixie flag represents and its heritage; the Civil War was fought over States rights.

We still utilize the Confederate (Rebel) flag on stage every night in our shows, we are and always will be a Southern American Rock band, first and foremost. We also utilize the state flag of Alabama and the American flag, ‘cause at the end of the day, we are all Americans.

I only stated my opinion that the confederate flag, at times, was unfairly being used as a symbol by various hate groups, which is something that we don’t support the flag being used for. The Confederate flag means something more to us, Heritage not Hate…

In other words, the next time you see a Confederate flag at a Lynyrd Skynyrd show and you are a little offended, don’t see it as reference to slavery–see it as a reference to all the good stuff that the antebellum South was known for.

[SoapBox]

1. The war is over Mr. South...

They just won't give up.

FYI:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederate_Flag

[Fawke Em]

6. "We" have given it up.

Most Southerners never even talk about that flag...

...or the Civil War, for that matter.

[RC]

10. Oh, really?

You've never been to Missouri then, huh? The Civil War is still a big deal here.

[Fawke Em]

41. Not here in the cities of Tennessee.

Can't vouch for the less-educated counties, but that's the problem, now, isn't it?

[Politicalboi]

2. I wonder if the Confederate Flag was

Pink with the state flower, if they would be so in love with this flag still.

[Raster]

3. "...the Civil War was fought over States rights."

States rights = the right to own slaves.

It never ceases to amaze how the old "states rights" canard is drug out time and again and glorified. The Civil War was fought primarily over the issue of slavery. Period.

[Hoyt]

8. Exactly. Tell the fools to read the various state's Articles of Secession.

They'd see it's about nothing but slavery.

Beginning with the second sentence, Mississippi's says: "Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery-- the greatest material interest of the world. Its labor supplies the product which constitutes by far the largest and most important portions of commerce of the earth. These products are peculiar to the climate verging on the tropical regions, and by an imperious law of nature, none but the black race can bear exposure to the tropical sun. These products have become necessities of the world, and a blow at slavery is a blow at commerce and civilization. That blow has been long aimed at the institution, and was at the point of reaching its consummation. There was no choice left us but submission to the mandates of abolition, or a dissolution of the Union, whose principles had been subverted to work out our ruin."


There is a lot of good music in this world, why listen to crap from bigots.

[WinkyDink]

12. "a blow at slavery is a blow at...civilization...." Astonishingly insane.

[Care Acutely]

32. That argument bears an amazing resemblence to the "free market" arguments of Randian jackwads

"How dare you place regulation on our use of labor! We are the producers! An attack on us is an attack on civilization!"

[cemaphonic]

40. Or the Dred Scott decision

The antebellum South had no problem at all with using the federal government to trump the laws of Northern states. That 'state's rights' bs is the worst kind of historical revisionism - it's not quite as offensive as Holocaust denial, but it's arguably worse, since it's superficially more plausible and draws in more people.

[SouthernLiberal]

22. Yes, it was about states rights

In the secession document for South Carolina, it was very clear. The south objected to northern states having the right to declare that anyone inside their borders was free.

To say the war was fought over states rights is correct, but vague. They weren't for states rights, they were against them.

[Lilyeye]

25. I was just on a classic rock FB page and the comments were crazy

Of course they all said that the flag had nothing to do with slavery and that it was a states rights issue. Then one went on to say that most slaves were treated good so it really wasn't that bad. Then another idiot said it is weird that a republican freed the slaves and now "the blacks" voted for democrats. So much stupidity I had to unlike the page.

[Raster]

31. "...most slaves were treated good so it really wasn't that bad." Really?

That's why old white southern, conservative crackers are just lining up to be put in chains, forcibly worked and beaten if they misbehave. Yessiree, bring on the good ol' days.

Here's one of my faves whenever someone tries to drag out "states rights": really, name something about the civil way that DIDN'T involve the slavery issue. Name one thing.

[NoGOPZone]

34. Anyone who thinks slaves were treated good

can prove it by volunteering to be my property for one short hour.

[Mike Daniels]

4. What offends me is that Rossington continues to feed off LS's corpse

No-one who had any type of life would pay more than $20 to go see "Gary Rossington and Friends" perform a tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd.

However, Rossington apparently can sucker a bunch of fools to pay 75 bucks (or whatever) to see a bunch of hired hands with no connection to the original band perform under the name of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Really....Can anyone outside of Rossington even name "ONE" album the band has released since the band initially broke up after the plane crash.

[Drale]

7. I payed 6 bucks to see them last year

and it pissed me off when they started playing their new right wing fanatical songs when all I wanted to hear was their old stuff.

[Mike Daniels]

13. "Here's a song from our new album..."

Words that should never be spoken on stage nowadays from a band whose heyday ended in the mid-70s.

[leftyohiolib]

5. it's the flag of a nation that declared war on the u.s. you washed up bafoon

"the Civil War was fought over States rights. " yeah the right of states to own slaves. what a dumbass

[ahg]

9. It is a heritage of hate, you ignorant rasist asshole.

and your music sucks too.

[WinkyDink]

11. LS ought to be shackled and made to work in the fields.

[JaneyVee]

14. Didn't they die in a plane crash?

[Mike Daniels]

18. The singer (Ronnie Van Zant), one of the guitarists and a backing singer died in the crash

The remaining members reunited years later in various groupings behind Ronnie Van Zant's brother who took over the vocal roles.

That said, only three members of the "classic era" are still alive today and only one (Rossington) is performing under the LS name.

[Tom Ripley]

15. Why don't the Dixie necrophiliacs fly the white flag of surrender?

That is the last one that flew over the Confederacy.

[JohnnyRingo]

16. The flag "that represents their heritage" was only used for 5 years.

Their banner before the war was the American flag. Their flag now is is our flag.

My relatives fought in that war for the Ohio Militia, and they won. Trying to retain their independent status is as ridiculous as Germany or Japan flying pre-war flags because they "represent their heritage". No they don't.

For those in the South who can't seem to understand why this is offensive, I propose a new NASCAR paint job. I'd like to sponsor "The General Sherman". I'd paint the civil war era US flag across the roof and a nice big flame job along the side. I would add the slogan "Burning a path of victories from here to Atlanta", and see how they like "my heritage".

On edit:
Skynard has been playing "Free Bird" since the fathers of my grandkids were babies. Please stop.

[edhopper]

17. Always thought they were a bunch

of redneck bigots since Sweet Home Alabama.

[Raster]

19. They were.

[Bake]

20. The South AIN'T gonna do it again ...

No apologies to Charlie Daniels ...

Skynyrd, take the hint.

Bake

[Hukdonfonix]

21. I'm more of a libertarian when it comes to being offended

If someone wants to fly a flag of dog crap on a popsicle stick I dont care

[Canuckistanian]

23. Whenever I hear the word "heritage" from a southerner

I think slavery and black oppression.

And the Confederate flag has LONG been used by those who don't think slavery was a bad idea.

It's tainted now - there's no "proud heritage" about it.

[Odin2005]

24. That flag is a symbol of TREASON as well as slavery.

[LynneSin]

26. IE Lynyrd Skynyd tribute band won't abandon low sales for their new albums

BTW what really annoys me is that this band isn't really Lynyrd Skynyd.

The only original member is Gary Rossington and he took a 10 year break between 1977-1987.

All the other members of the band are gone. EVen most of the REPLACEMENTS for the original members are gone.

This is the current band - one original member, one who played 2 years in the 70s and then came back in mid-90s, the brother of one of the members who died (who joined 10 years after his brother, an original member, had died) and everyone else from 1999 or sooner. To call this band Lynyrd Skynyrd is a joke. They are more like an LS tribute band.
Gary Rossington – guitars (1964–1977, 1979, 1987–present)
Rickey Medlocke – vocals, drums, mandolin (1970–1971), guitars, backing vocals (1996–present)
Johnny Van Zant – lead vocals (1987–present)
Michael Cartellone – drums (1999–present)
Mark Matejka – guitars, backing vocals (2006–present)
Peter Keys – keyboards (2009–present)
Johnny Colt – bass (2012–present)

[HopeHoops]

28. Shit. I don't even know who the current members of GENESIS are!

The band fundamentally changes when Gabriel left and again when Hackett left (hence the name of the "And Then There Were Three" album). The last album I bought was the white one with the green swirly on the cover (forget the name) circa 1982. I'm pretty sure the band is still around, but none of the original members are in it. And they never really even counted Chester Thompson other than as a stage drummer.

It's a natural progression with bands to have turnover.

[LynneSin]

29. Was never a Genesis fan after Gabriel left

They became too commericial

[HopeHoops]

37. "Wind and Wuthering" was good, as was "Trick of the Tail". The downfall was "Duke".

I saw them in concert on the "Duke" tour. I inflated a condom (did you know they get like three feet long?) and sent it off into the crowd. It survived the entire concert and flew overhead several times. Some young girl in front of us yacked the ENTIRE time they were doing the really good music. Then "Misunderstanding" came on and she jumped up and yelled, "EVERYONE BE QUIET! THIS IS MY FAVORITE SONG!" It took a lot of self-control not to slap her silly upside the head. That was one of the dumbest songs they ever did (if not THE dumbest).

[HopeHoops]

27. To be fair, it has been their icon for four decades. It's pretty much a trademark for the band.

And he did state that he is against it being used by hate groups. I'm against teabaggers dressing in US flags (a violation of the US Flag code by the way). I'm not sure what you mean by "all the good stuff the antebellum South was known for". I can't think of anything.

[RandiFan1290]

30. Try being Americans

There is no "south"

[benld74]

33. They cannot B-e-c-a-u-s-e then They would not have a place to,,,,

I was cutting the rug
Down at a place called The Jug
With a girl named Linda Lu
When in walked a man
With a gun in his hand
And he was looking for you know who.
He said, "Hey there fellow,
With the hair colored yellow,
Watcha tryin' to prove?
'Cause that's my woman there
And I'm a man who cares
And this might be all for you."

I was scared and fearing for my life.
I was shakin' like a leaf on a tree.
'Cause he was lean, mean,
Big and bad, Lord,
Pointin' that gun at me.
I said, "Wait a minute, mister,
I didn't even kiss her.
Don't want no trouble with you.
And I know you don't owe me
But I wish you'd let me
Ask one favor from you."

"Won't you give me three steps,
Gimme three steps mister,
Gimme three steps towards the door?
Gimme three steps
Gimme three steps mister,
And you'll never see me no more."

Well the crowd cleared away
And I began to pray
As the water fell on the floor.
And I'm telling you son,
Well, it ain't no fun
Staring straight down a forty-four.
Well he turned and screamed at Linda Lu
And that's the break I was looking for.
And you could hear me screaming a mile away
As I was headed out towards the door.

[Quantess]

35. Meh. We're talking about Lynrd Skynrd, remember?

It's kind of their image.

[Zoeisright]

36. Traitors.

[Hugabear]

38. This "heritage" argument is 100% pure bullshit.

The easiest way to counter this argument is to ask which flag flew over the Southern states the longest - the Confederate or the US?

The Confederate flag flew over the Southern states for a measly 4 years, whereas the US flag has flown over them for well over 200 years.

Furthermore - if it's all about "states rights" - then why aren't they flying the flag of Alabama? Most Confederates strongly identified themselves with their states - not a centralized government. So it would stand to reason that a Confederate soldier or veteran would identify their heritage through their home state, not the CSA.

[lame54]

39. The state's right to own slaves