
What did you think of the excerpts from the rough draft of Dumb Jock -- The Alex Austin Story? And how come you downloaded the cover?
Connie Chastain wishes to remind us of how her mind works:This is interesting to mull over. Apparently, since he chose to comment on it, he finds something objectionable, or at least noteworthy, about writing that makes heroes and heroines of Southern white people. Presumably, that is a no-no for people like Brooks Simpson; presumably, we should conclude that his mind doesn't "work that way," and thus the only portrayal of white Southerners he approves of in fiction and drama would be negative ones....
"… all the heroes in my novels are Southern white men, and all the heroines are Southern white women. But then, a couple of the villains are Southern white men. However, MOST of the villains are yankee wimmin."
Apparently segregation (or outright exclusion) reigns supreme in her fictional world, too....Brooks Simpson
Crossroads Blog
Southern Man is an atypical, offensive 100,000-word mainstream love story I wrote for the impolite purpose of honoring Southern, white, Christian males. I have the effrontery to portray the title character, Troy Stevenson — coal miner's grandson, corporate executive, and former college football star — in a positive light.Since Brooks Simpson apparently objects to positive portrayals of traditional, conservative Southern white folks, presumably, he prefers them to be portrayed in fiction and drama as evil racists, religious bigots/zealots, inbred idiots, philanderers, domestic abusers and/or rightwing terrorists.
Contrary to prevailing American beliefs, Troy hates and harms no one, despite being culturally traditional and politically conservative. He's an honorable man who provides for his family and helps others as he can. But he's far from perfect. The novel's conflicts revolve around his personal weaknesses, chiefly a nascent drinking problem, the haunting family secret that underlies it, and the mistakes he makes confronting them.
If an admirable Southern hero isn't odious enough, Southern Man also commits the unpardonable cultural sin of dissing feminism. The heroine, Patty Stevenson, is a homemaker happily fulfilled by her husband and children. The villain comprises three women—an amoral 1980s material girl romantically obsessed with Troy and two radical feminists who help her file a false sexual harassment complaint against him after he rejects her advances.
Perhaps the most egregious cultural sin I have committed in Southern Man, though, is my refusal to take on the obligation so many Southern (and other) writers evidently embrace—to atone for the South's “sins” and accelerate its “rehabilitation” by portraying white Southerners, especially men, as evil racists, religious bigots/zealots, inbred idiots, philanderers, domestic abusers and/or rightwing terrorists. My characters are flawed but decent and personable, not the repulsive regional stereotypes all too common in pop culture.
But I bet she really doesn’t disagree that she’s not a Rainbow Confederate, and I’m simply agreeing with her self-assessment. And yet Connie doesn’t disagree with me.Problem for who? Yep, that's pretty narrow ground but it's not my ground. It's not my problem that some people offer only two alternatives, usually one idea and its total opposite -- and try to fit you in one or the other.
(Quoting Connie): Link to where I have depicted the Confederacy of as a diverse society, culturally and racially tolerant. Link to ANY statements of mine that argue that the Confederacy was really about “fighting hate” or “fighting racism” and had nothing to do with slavery or white supremacy.Now here’s Connie’s problem: she’s staked out some narrow ground for herself by daring someone to post that she’s said these things. Note, however, that she does not say whether she believes in them … just that she’s not expressed them in print. But let’s embrace the logical conclusion that Connie now accepts that the Confederacy has something to do with the efforts of white southerners to protect slavery and preserve white supremacy in an intolerant society. Watch her deny that she’s ever said that, either … and you’ll see that she’s just trying to be clever because she doesn’t want to share with everyone her understanding of the Confederacy.
Sick from Freedom shows that as many as 1 million of the freed slaves died from cholera or smallpox while the federal government, controlled by The Party of Lincoln for half a century after the war, did essentially nothing at all about it. Thousands of ex-slaves returned to work on the plantations where they were previously enslaved because the alternative was starvation and death from disease.Unless they can find some way to evilize white Southerners with this information, it's useless to them, regardless of how truthful it is, so I suspect their response to be dead, ringing silence and emain so until hell freezes over...
The main priority of The Party of Lincoln at that time (from 1865–1890) was its war of genocide against another colored race, the Plains Indians, in order to "make way for the railroad," as General Sherman himself announced. The U.S. army, aided by ex slaves known as "Buffalo Soldiers," eventually murdered some 60,000 Plains Indians, including thousands of women and children, while putting the rest of them into concentration camps known as "reservations."
http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/113789.html
Friday, June 15, 2012Aw, the contrition brings a tear to your eye, don't it? I got a lump in my throat....
I want to take this moment to put forth my most sincere apology to anyone, especially my instructor and the University of Virginia staff and/or students who, may have seen this site before I actually launched the site. It came to my attention through my instructor as he checked and verified our class blogs that someone had posted inappropriate pictures on my blog. This blog is going to be used as a sounding board for discussion in a class that I am taking this summer in Philosophy dealing with the effect symbols. I chose to do my discussion on the Confederate Flag. To my dismay, some of my friends uploaded an number of saucy images to this page and for that I am truly sorry.
Check back soon for updates on my discussion about the Confederate flag and its symbolism in modern America.
Thanks for your understanding.
Victor "Vic" Hatcher


Look, I know a cock-and-bull story when I see one. The blog was created by Corey Meyer in March 2012, because that was a very active month for the Virginia Flaggers, and he hates the Virginia Flaggers. In fact, it's a toss up who/what Corey hates more -- the Confederate flag, the
dvocate who respects the flag. But he has given special attention to the Virginia flaggers on his blog.I suspect that the Confederate flag story out of Lexington will go viral by the end of the day. No doubt, we will be treated to the standard mainstream media narrative of an unfinished Civil War as well as the overly defensive posture of the SCV. Already we’ve heard from Brandon Dorsey, who is the local SCV commander in Lexington:What tripe! Just because the SCV's defense of the flag is the only thing Kevin Levin pays attention to does not meant that's the only thing the SCV cares about or works on. Sheesh.As far as I am concerned, this is little different that some states shutting down all their public schools to avoid desegregation and then claiming their motivation for closing them is of no concern because they screwed over everyone.Oh brother. Pass the hyperbole. The SCV and other heritage groups have staked everything on the display of the Confederate flag. It’s all or nothing. Any attempt at limiting its visibility is seen as an attack on their history and heritage as if they alone have a monopoly on the Southern past.
The days when the Confederate flag represented a people, a culture, and a history are over. Thankfully, we now live in a time when an ever wider spectrum of voices are able to make their voices heard and they are adamant that the flag ought not to be displayed on public property and/or supported with taxpayer dollars. Why? Because of its history and nothing the SCV or anyone else says or does can change the flag’s symbolic connection to a history of violence and racism. I suspect that most reasonable people would agree that there are settings in which its display is appropriate and even necessary, but that is a discussion the SCV will not consider.The days when the Confederate flag was connected with violence and racism are over. Today, hysterical charges of racism are the last gasp of the sick and weakened left struggling for relevance. Thankfully, we now live in a time when all voices are supposed to be heard. Unfortunately, people like Kevin Levin apply that principle selectively. Regardless, Southern heritage advocates are slowly turning the tide of public opinion despite the best efforts of Dixie-bashing bloggers like Levin to prevent it. Keeping Southern history and heritage "evil" is what "memory" type blogs like his are all about.
This has nothing to do with hating the South or “evilizing” the Confederacy. That is as unimaginative an argument as one can make and as we have seen it will lead to the SCV’s continued marginalization in society. The SCV’s decision to stake everything on the flag reflects a simplistic understanding of the very history and heritage that they claim to defend. Instead of wasting limited resources on court cases, television ads, and airplane banners they should be thinking of creative ways to share the rich history of the Confederacy and their ancestors in their local communities.It has everything to do with hating the South and evilizing the Confederacy, which is Kevin Levin's whole motivation for teaching, blogging and writing. The SCV isn't marginalized in society because of anything it does; it is marginalized for the same reason family, religion and tradition are attacked and marginalized by the insidious forces participating in Gramsci's long march though the institutions. Moreover, the SCV hasn't staked everything on the flag. The are defending it because it is the number one target of the heritage erasers....
When it comes to the Confederate flag the SCV is doomed to fail and they deserve everything they get.Ah, yes. The hubris... the arrogance. Spoken as if by someone who thinks it's the voice of God speaking...