You need a bit of inspiration, and I have just the right inspirational ZGram for you. But let me set it up first with a little "clip" - as they say in the movie and video trade.
Mr. Zundel and I were discussing an upcoming project where we needed to line up volunteers knowledgeable about Revisionism - and the following brief exchange took place:
EZ: We have already lined up X, Y and Z. Who else might fit the bill?
IR: Well, what about Anita?
EZ: OUR Anita?
IR: Yes. OUR Anita.
I relished that brief, poignant moment. Here is EZ, vilified from sea to shining sea as the inveterate "racist." And "our" Anita is "coloured". ( She has told me she prefers to be called "coloured" rather than "black") How little our enemies know about us! How little they know about just what sustains us!
However, a quick consultation with the lawyers brought us back down to earth - "our" Anita would be deemed "unacceptable" by the court because her evidence would be considered irrelevant to the case!
So you see, sometimes it is the system - and not the "evil" Revisionists that get constantly smeared with that huge, racist brush!
With that, here is your inspiration. I'll give it to you in chronological order, starting with what a Texas judge called a "pragmatic" solution to a controversy regarding displaying the Confederate Battle Flag:
Excerpt of Judge John H. Jackson's Order:
October 18, 2000
. . . From a pragmatic standpoint, it appears that the flag issue can be resolved simply by displaying a correct national flag of the Confederate States, or by foregoing replacement of flags [of a six flags of Texas display all of which, except for the State and Federal flags, had been recently removed Ed.] other than State and National Flags. I'm sure you agree that to allow government to bog down in emotional issues is irresponsible. Likewise, you may agree that the risk of further alienation of citizins [sic.] from their trust in government is unacceptable.
Accordingly, I will exercise which I believe is the inherent power of the Court to control the premises and environment of the Court to promote the confidence of citizens in the administration of justice.
This Court will therefore direct that no flags other than the State and National Flags shall be displayed inside the Courthouse or on the grounds of the Courthouse without the approval of this Court. . . [here he excepts a yearly Confederate flag placement at the monument] . . .
This directive shall have the force and effect of a court order upon all persons having notice of the same. . .
\S\ John H. Jackson, Judge 13th Judicial District Court
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Next comes a press release, dated Monday, October 23, 2000
Contact: Kirk D. Lyons, Chief Trial Counsel Mobile phone: 828-779-0959 Local phone: 903-872-0659 Days Inn, Corsicana
BLACK CONFEDERATE ACTIVIST CHALLENGES FLAG BAN
Corsicana, TX --"Black Confederate civil rights activist, H.K. Edgerton is traveling to Corsicana, TX to challenge an illegal order banning the Confederate Flag from the building and grounds of the Navarro County Courthouse.
Edgerton, a life member of the NAACP and immediate past president of the Asheville, NC branch of the NAACP, will appear on the grounds of the Navarro county Courthouse on Monday, 23 October, 00 at 8:30 a.m. wearing a Confederate uniform and carrying a large Confederate battle flag.
Edgerton, who currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Advisors of the Southern Legal Resource Center, Inc., resolved to test the Judges, directive after hearing about the ban at the Texas Heritage Coalition in Austin this past weekend.
"Wild horses could not prevent me from flying my flag at the Courthouse after hearing of the Judge's unconstitutional act," said Edgerton. "I am ready to go to jail over this issue, if the Judge is serious."
"We are happy to have the support of Mr. Edgerton on this very important civil rights issue," said Rob Jones of the Navarro Co. Heritage Coalition. "I hope Judge Jackson will return to his senses and revoke this unconstitutional flag ban."
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This is followed by a press release, dated 10/24/2000 from the Southern Legal Resource Center (SLRC) titled "Edgerton files affadavit regarding Flag Ban in Corsicana."
HK Edgerton appeared in front of the Navarro County yesterday from 8:30 AM until 10:30 AM. Almost all the response was positive. A Black Vietnam Veteran saluted the [Confederate] flag as he walked into the courthouse, and saluted again as he left. The veteran told HK's brother Terry Lee that that flag represented all his white comrades who didn't come back from Vietnam. "They all flew that flag!" he said. As HK maintained his vigil he noted the words on the back of the magnificent monument to Texas hero Jose Antonio Navarro, for whom the County is named: "Defender of liberty, foe of despotism."
Almost all the courthouse staff could be seen peaking at HK from the doors and windows, and sheriff's deputies were everywhere. Corsicana police cars and Navarro County Sheriff's cars circled the courthouse. A grandmother with her four grandchildren showed up waving Confederate flags and even did what the courthouse staff feared most, paraded inside the courthouse.
Meanwhile outside HK continued his vigil, while his attorney Kirk D. Lyons answered questions of passersby and Navarro County Heritage Coalition Chairman Robert N. Jones asked potential voters if the Judge had the "cojones" to enforce his order.
He did not, and now the entire town of Corsacana knows it.
After the vigil HK paraded into the Courthouse and had his picture made, holding his flag in the center of the rotunda; he then signed and swore to an affidavit of his contempt for the judge's illegal order, then had his attorney file it with the clerk and take it up to the Judge's chambers.
Afterward, Edgerton, Lyons and Jones gave an hour interview on the whole issue with the Corsicana Daily Sun.
The SLRC expects that the court will re-issue the order protecting the rights of individuals to display the flag, but not the County, even though the Commissioners have twice resolved that the 6 flags of Texas should be displayed in the rotunda. So our fight is far from over. The first victory is to liberty.
All in all a very successful days work for Confederate Heritage.
The SLRC crew then drove all night and got back to North Carolina this morning.
PS: I called the Clerk's office this morning and they told me that the judge has not made up his mind on what to do about Edgerton's contempt. A clerk said that HK being from out of town, that if he does not get a personal recognizance bond, the bond may be up to $500.00.
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To complete this mini-saga:
AFFIDAVIT [filed by H.K.]
STATE OF TEXAS
BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority, on this day personally appeared H.K. EDGERTON, who, by me duly sworn made the following statements and swore that they were true:
"My name is H.K. EDGERTON. My address is 5 Jane Street, Asheville, NC. 28801.
"I have read the order, called a "directive," of 13th Judicial District Court Judge John Jackson dated October 18, 2000, banning the display of all flags except the state and national flags inside the courthouse or on courthouse grounds.
"On this day, October 23, 2000, I have displayed a large Confederate Battle Flag both inside and outside the courthouse. For a period of more than one and a half hours, from 8:30 A.M. to past 10:00 A.M., I walked and stood with this large Confederate Battle Flag in violation of Judge Jackson's order. I have displayed this large Confederate Battle Flag with the intention of violating and being in contempt of the Judge's said order. I did not display this large Confederate Battle Flag "in the area of the Confederate Soldier Monument" with the intention of falling within the exception in the Judge's ban. I displayed this large Confederate Battle Flag on the front walk of the Courthouse, on the front steps of the Courthouse, at the front door of the Courthouse, and in the rotunda of the Courthouse with the intention of violating and being in contempt of the Judge's said order.
"I give this affidavit for the purpose of proving that I have violated and am in contempt of the said order of Judge Jackson and will surrender myself when required to do so."
SIGNED this the 23rd day of October, A.D. 2000.
H.K. EDGERTON
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_________________ The SLRC is a non-profit tax-exempt South Carolina Civil Rights law firm that advocates on behalf of victims of Southern heritage violations.
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Thought for the Day:
"People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, make them."
(George Bernard Shaw)
Back to Table of Contents of the Oct. 2000 ZGrams