This just blows my mind. As part of my research into the Confederate Battle Flag issue, I ran into several people and sites that posted a photo showing black soldiers in the "1st Louisiana Native Guard", which was supposed to somehow "prove" that the war wasn't about slavery. Here's the kicker: it turns out that often-reproduced photo is actually a carefully edited photo of black UNION soldiers. Someone went to great lengths to falsify this. Here is a great site where you can read all about it and see the original photo as well as the altered version: http://people.virginia.edu/~jh3v/retouchinghistory/essay.html

I did some babysitting for money starting when I was in junior high. And I worked at Jack-in-the-Box for a few days during a heat wave, but the manager never scheduled me again when business dropped off. And then I worked one Spring as a stringer for a small local newspaper, writing up articles about the local Little League baseball games. But my first "regular" job was working as a cashier at a drive-in movie theater.

For a few years, J.C. Penney was officially called "Penneys" -- I remember the logo at the top of this page: http://logos.wikia.com/wiki/JCPenney

Actually, I believe that's a Southern California thing. In Northern California, we would say "Take 17 over the mountain" or "Take 280 to ..." etc. ETA: I hadn't read far enough to see this had already been discussed.

This is a private group page on FB, called Speak Up C_____ County. It was created to be a place to discuss current events that impact those of us in the area. The guy who started it is my dh's cousin's son. He sent me an invitation, and I responded with "But I'm not from C____ County". He said that was okay, that they wanted people who knew how to think and had common sense. His dad has been in the hospital this week, so he hasn't chimed in at all.

Over the last couple of days, I have been engaged in a back-and-forth debate on Facebook with some people over the flag issue. Today, it was pretty much one gal that was responding and asking questions. I was very careful to not make judgments about character and to stick to the facts. I made it clear that I was looking at the sources of the "facts" that were being given -- both the ones I put forward as well as the ones countering what I said. I conceded the valid statements (yes, there were blacks and northerners who owned slaves), but pointed out statements that were factually incorrect or not logical conclusions. I pointed out that a certain couple of sentences appearing verbatim, without citation, on over 3500 websites (including some with "black" in the name) is not proof that the statements are true, but rather proof of plagiarism or lazy scholarship at best. I continued to answer questions. And then, all of a sudden, I was met with the "you're not from here, so you don't understand" argument. I was actually accused of trying to analyze, as if that is a fault. And then ..... they blessed me. :laugh:

Hopefully, when he had to cut out that section of the wall to get to the pipes, he had it replaced with an access panel. If so, that will make it a whole lot easier to get to the pipes to see what's going on with the tub. Have you tried fiddling with the "switch" that diverts the water to the tub spout instead of the shower head? It may be that something is a little cattywampus in there, and what used to the be the full open position is now partially closed.

I'm sorry you and your family experienced all of that.

Good for Apple! I think this is an entirely appropriate response.

I saw a battle flag flying from the back of a pickup truck here in the Upstate of SC this evening. It is the first one I've seen since the shootings. Here is a nice article about our area, written by someone who doesn't live here. I think Mr. Stein does a good job capturing what it's like here. Some highlights: “On the streets and in the restaurants, blacks and whites mingle with an ease that is totally unknown in my hometown of Beverly Hills, where blacks and whites are almost never seen together. In the recovery community, where I spend much of my time, blacks and whites are pretty much interchangeable. “I have been coming to Greenville much of the year for years now. I have never heard a racist remark by anyone, black or white. Not one. I also spend time in Greenwood, a much more traditional nearby South Carolina town, and likewise have never heard a racist word there. “South Carolina is exploding with vitality and growth. Like most of the south that I have seen, it is too busy to hate. That is progress indeed. http://www.wyff4.com/news/Ben-Stein-shares-thoughts-on-race-violence-South-Carolina/33790750

If it were just one man that had used the flag to support his twisted beliefs, the events of this past week might indeed be termed a knee-jerk overreaction. But the truth is that this flag has been used as a show of defiance of desegregation and by other white supremacy-type groups for the past 60 years.

You know, I just confided to a friend that I am weary. This past week has been such a roller coaster of emotions for me. I was hopeful, and now I am seeing even worse willful ignorance than before. You're right -- different viewpoints is too nice of a way to say it.

I'm with you. This gal -- older woman, raised in the South (VA and SC, maybe other states as well) -- copied and pasted pretty much that whole page. I very respectfully challenged several of the items, one at a time. I talked about the necessity of citing reliable sources, including going back to primary source documents. I agreed with the kernels of truth, such as R.E. Lee freed his slaves in 1862, but I pointed out that he did that because his father-in-law's will required that he do so. He actually petitioned the court to extend their servitude first, but when it was denied, he freed them. That is NOT proof that he was against slavery, folks. She has not responded to a single statement. That's bushleague in my book.

Most of these responses make me so sad. Not because so many just walk away, change the subject, etc. -- I get that. It really is the best way in many cases, I'm sure. It's just so sad that there are so many people who cannot engage in a civil discussion with someone who has a different viewpoint. I am a transplant to SC. I was told today that I have no right to speak about the flag issue. I am pretty much decided that I am going to stay away from an annual 4th of July event at a friend's house that I have enjoyed in past years. I don't know that I will be able to keep my mouth shut, and I don't want it to be a divisive event because of me.

Here's an argument I encountered today that I don't remember having seen before: MYTH - The South revered slavery. FACT - A very interesting fact on slavery is that at the time the War of 1861 -1865 officially commenced, the Southern States were actually in the process of freeing all slaves in the South. Russia had freed it's servants in 1859, and the South took great note of this. Had military intervention not been forced upon the South, a very different America would have been realized then as well as now. I'm off to see whether I can find a kernel of truth in this "FACT". Most of the other "facts" posted on this site (http://www.rulen.com/educate) are distortions, at best. If anyone has any insight as to where this tidbit comes from, I'd appreciate hearing about it.

I refuse to get caught up in such things that don't directly involve me. My Mom and her family, unfortunately, have a history of everyone "sharing" the offenses of others. I was 30 years old when my grandmother passed away. At that time, I overheard a conversation between my Mom and her uncle, which led me to find out that my grandma's sister was still alive. I had never met her, because my Mom was honoring her mother's "feud". I thought she was dead. I regret that I was not strong enough at that time to get contact information from my great uncle so that I could at least meet my great aunt. It's too late now.

When I lived in CA, pools and trampolines were always in a backyard enclosed by a fence with a gate that had a latch, etc. Here in SC, it is not uncommon to see pools or trampolines in unfenced yards -- they are even in front yards if that is the best (most level) place to put them.

From the SC Code of Laws: SECTION 10-1-165. Protection of certain monuments and memorials. (A) No Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican War, War Between the States, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, Native American, or African-American History monuments or memorials erected on public property of the State or any of its political subdivisions may be relocated, removed, disturbed, or altered. No street, bridge, structure, park, preserve, reserve, or other public area of the State or any of its political subdivisions dedicated in memory of or named for any historic figure or historic event may be renamed or rededicated. No person may prevent the public body responsible for the monument or memorial from taking proper measures and exercising proper means for the protection, preservation, and care of these monuments, memorials, or nameplates. ETA: (B) The provisions of this section may only be amended or repealed upon passage of an act which has received a two-thirds vote on the third reading of the bill in each branch of the General Assembly. Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/news/local/article12312485.html#storylink=cpy Wouldn't it be ironic if we somehow renamed some of these crumbling roads after some "good guys" but had to leave them in their deplorable condition because we spent all that money on renaming? It costs a surprising amount of tax money to rename roads, not to mention what it costs all the residents / businesses on that road. And then there is the confusion factor, which is not easily discounted. Think about things like emergency response vehicles trying to find a house or business. Think about updating GPS databases. I would love to see the students at Wade Hampton High School or James F. Byrnes High School raise the issue of renaming their schools. (Those are two local schools that I know are named after guys who are not honorable, in my opinion.) It would mean much more if it came from the students themselves rather than from "outsiders". But I doubt that kids even know about what these men did and said. And I'm not sure they would care if they knew. And I don't know whether it could be argued that they fall under the terms of the law quoted above.

My sister and I did one of these in Charlotte a few weeks ago when she was visiting. It was THE BEST thing we have ever done together. We had a blast.

I love this!

I re-wrote what I said originally, because I thought it over. I "spoke" too quickly. I apologize.

I suspect it's somewhat like grits. When my brother-in-law visited us in CA many years ago, he was surprised to find out that he couldn't get grits with his breakfast at Denny's. Here, it is a standard item. I don't remember ever seeing any version of the Confederate Flag displayed anywhere in CA.

Speaking as a South Carolinian, flying it on the statehouse premises sends the message "This is SC. This represents us." And it simply doesn't represent too many of us.

Yes. And the fact that all of the secession statements refer to "slave-holding states" or "non-slave-holding states" or both, further bolsters the fact that slavery was the central issue.

Yes, but the big difference is that Vietnam veterans had been fighting on the American side again Communism. I well remember how terribly they were treated on their return to the U.S. and it was deplorable. And that was a terribly divisive time in American history. The Confederate veterans were fighting against the Union -- against America, and in favor of maintaining slavery. It's hard for me to understand honoring that by flying their flag on my statehouse grounds.