Hillsborough: Thumbs down on praising Dixie

TAMPA -- Years of relatively routine proclamations by Hillsborough County commissioners setting aside a Southern Heritage Month or a Confederate Memorial Day appear to be at an end.

A new policy requires majority commission approval for potentially controversial proclamations. That, combined with an evolving landscape on race relations, is leaving an upcoming proclamation for the Sons of Confederate Veterans without support for passage next week.

"I have decided not to sign it because I think it creates pain for others, and I just thought it was best to pass on it," said Commissioner Al Higginbotham.

He was the deciding voice in whether to support the proclamation, effectively taking it off the agenda for the board's meeting on Wednesday. Commissioners Jim Norman, Ken Hagan and Brian Blair had already signed the document. Commissioners Rose Ferlita, Kevin White and Mark Sharpe refused, though Sharpe has signed in the past.

"Whether you support the Union or the Confederate at that time or at this time, there were people's ancestors who were killed," Blair said. "If it were one of your ancestors, you'd want them remembered, too."

Commissioners who decided not to sign the proclamation cited increased sensitivity about racially divisive issues, including ongoing national media coverage of syndicated radio host Don Imus' remarks and recent failed plans for a former slave ship on exhibit at Tampa's science museum.

The Sons of Confederate Veterans had received the proclamation from commissioners for years, said Hillsborough County spokeswoman Lori Hudson. The board's procedure for passing out proclamations had one simple rule: It had to come through a commissioner's office. If an individual commissioner didn't support it, he or she didn't sign.

Things changed after a Jan. 18 meeting when the board gave a proclamation recognizing Confederate commander Robert E. Lee on the same day it honored James A. Hammond, a community activist who is black. Commissioners later apologized and adopted a policy that requires review of proclamations that don't deal with children, volunteers or county employees.

Marion Lambert, past commander for the Gen. Jubal A. Early Camp 556, Sons of Confederate Veterans, based in Hillsborough, said the policy didn't bother him. But the lack of understanding by disapproving commissioners did.

"Southern heritage is not exclusive," Lambert said. "The commissioners not signing it have a lack of historical understanding of this history. It speaks of ignorance. It speaks of lack of edification. ... A lack of intellectual honesty. It speaks to the commissioners personally more than it speaks to the social end."

Hillsborough NAACP president Curtis Stokes called the proclamation a "slap in the face" for local residents, considering recent headlines. And not everything in history deserves to be honored, he said.

"What happens when the sons and daughters of the Nazis say we want to commemorate Hitler or communism? Do we give them a day also?" Stokes said.

Commissioner Rose Ferlita said the board should learn from its mistake in January and use better judgment about these kinds of honors.

"From here forth, we just have to watch what we put our names to and feel good about it," she said.

Times researcher John Martin contributed to this story. Kevin Graham can be reached at 813 226-3433 or kgraham@sptimes.com.

AT A GLANCE
The basics of the new policyHillsborough County Board of County Commissioners' Policy on Proclamations and Certificates of Commendations:

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Comments on this article

by BillV	04/15/07 05:08 PM
Stokes' flip comparison of the confederates to nazis needs to be taken to task. I challenge you Mr. Stokes, to rationally elaborate on your analogy. My money says you can't string together two coherent sentences you self absorbed pompous fool.

by Jerry D	04/15/07 03:17 PM
SO, its ok to recognize Black History Month but not ok to recognize Confederate History Month? what Hipocracy you Commisioners have for the term diversity!!!

by Billy	04/14/07 09:46 PM
I have supported Mark Sharpe in every election he hs been in. Never again. I will remain a registered Republican for the time being so that I can vote for whoever runs against him . I will vote for a yellow dog before I will vote for him.

by Evelyn	04/14/07 04:09 PM
Confederate Memorial Day, April 26th is recognized by the State of Florida, to ask a County for Heritage month is only proper,this is for all the Jews, Blacks, Native Americans, Spaniards,and all the others that served,please read your history

by Richard	04/14/07 10:40 AM
I think the commisioners need to learn more about our souths history and stop giving in to the loudest voice

by James	04/14/07 03:09 AM
Stokes is kidding right? Comparing Confederates to Communists & Nazi's? The Confederate government & beleif's were the very antithesis of Communism & Nazism! I'm offended the intolerant stokes finds my Confederate ancestors uworthy to be honored!

by Joe	04/14/07 01:00 AM
Robert - you're free to say whatever you want. That doesn't mean the goverment has to say it for you, too.

by Dave	04/13/07 10:08 PM
The Civil War was nearly 150 years ago. My grandfather was born in Florida, as was my Dad and myself. Yet we never cling to my great-grandfather's Ukrainian flag, because we're Americans. Move on and grow up. The South will not rise again.

by Jeff	04/13/07 09:19 PM
True ignorance once again has been shown by the naacp. To compare nazi Germany to the Confederacy is like comparing Santa Clause to the Easter bunny. God forbid someone should do something to possibly offend the naacp. What about my rights?

by Skeeter	04/13/07 08:43 PM
...let's keep it and add a proclamation for Denmark Vesey, Cinque, Nat Turner and Gabriel Prosser days. In fact, a Memorial should be erected for each.

by Scott	04/13/07 08:24 PM
Ridiculous. Our ancestors didn't fight against the Union to preserve the institution of slavery, they fought to escape government tyranny and preserve the states' rights to self determination. People are terribly ill informed on history.

by TheQuadfather	04/13/07 07:18 PM
Tell Mr Stokes that we Sons of Confederate Veterans are not Nazis or Communists. We are Americans! Our ancestors fought for the Constitution.

by Tammy	04/13/07 05:27 PM
When will the attempts to glorify traitors to the United States stop? The USA is home! It is time for the rebels to give up or leave themselves.

by Phil	04/13/07 04:56 PM
Sons of the Confederacy are no better than the Sons of the Nazis. Both causes were wrong to the core and should only be remembered as mistakes made in human history. The confederacy was misguided and un-American. It deserves no celebration.

by Mark	04/13/07 04:28 PM
Butch is right. Everyone go home and give the land back to the people who were here first....the Seminoles.

by Terry	04/13/07 04:28 PM
I find it amusing that Curtis Stokes is using communism as an example since the policies of the naacp mirror communism EXACTLY!

by Dave	04/13/07 04:08 PM
The NAACP is the one with the racially-divisive agenda. They demand that everyone honor their heritage while denying the same priviledge to others. This is a slap in the face to the 60,000 black Confederate soldiers and shows the NAACP's ignorance.

by gm	04/13/07 03:51 PM
don't worry, some misguided FOOLS will try to get a "Al Qaeda Day!" 50 years from now, claiming their "ancestors, fought in the revolution?" MISGUIDED!

by Allan	04/13/07 03:31 PM
My father was born in Florida, my mother in New York. Southern whites (and I'm white) who never got over losing the Civil War: GET OVER IT. CHATTEL SLAVERY IS ENDED. We NOW need racially integrated class struggle against WAGE slavery, NOT racism.

by George	04/13/07 03:28 PM
Southern heritage is much greater than the confederacy. The confederates have highjacked the image of the south and wrapped it up in their divisive ideals.

by Gil	04/13/07 03:02 PM
Unless history has somehow been revised (and that's not altogether outside the realm of possibility these days) I don't think Hitler had any children.

by Swade, Sr	04/13/07 02:58 PM
Clearly, the Commissioners have matured and are being better caretakers of the county's image.

by Donnette	04/13/07 02:06 PM
This same old song and dance is getting tiresome. Why is it acceptable to offend thousands of Confederate descendents, as long as no one else is? As a Southerner and a CSA descendent, I'm fed up with being the sacrificial lamb to the liberal pc's!

by Jim	04/13/07 02:05 PM
When will the SCV get it? Their ancestors fought an immoral war solely to preserve slavery. Yeah their soldiers were honorable, so were Hitler's. The war was fought to preserve thier peculiar institution, no spin can stop that simple fact.

by John	04/13/07 12:51 PM
Black History Month - OK. American History - Racist? Sounds like some left leaning bigots and race haters on the council to me! Either respect all histories or ban special interest "months". The hypocrisy is nauseating.

by Harry	04/13/07 12:50 PM
Respect is for everyone, it does not mean that you have to like other people,but do treat others with respect if you wish to recieve the same. Too many people in our area for everyone to get along.... it's just not going to happen

by Todd	04/13/07 12:33 PM
Once again reverse discrimination!!Everybody can have there day and make jokes about white people. But if a white grp wants to gather..no way. A white person says something off the cuff..fire him.. Anybody else says something its fine or overlooked.

by WTSherman	04/13/07 12:24 PM
The majority of the County Commission finally got one right. No need to glorify the confederates who were nothing short of traitors to the United States. I wonder what the families of slain Union soldiers would think about glorifying the rebels.

by Ken	04/13/07 12:00 PM
Following Commissioner Blair's logic, we owe some serious days to the Seminole indians.

by Matthew	04/13/07 11:52 AM
Carpet Baggers and Skalawags... All of them

by ROBERT	04/13/07 11:41 AM
It's been over 140 years sence the war between the states has been over. I can not see why some people are still fighting it. They sould all grow up and let the past drop. Some people on both sides will go on and on about it.

by Roger	04/13/07 11:33 AM
It is unfortunate that the Commission has taken a stand that the heritage of some of its citizens can be honored and that of others cannot. It is a clear statement of bias on the part of the Commission and delineates a lack of true character.

by Gary	04/13/07 11:32 AM
It is a fact that americans have a distorted view of history. know that emanciption was only used to keep Europe out of the war. Slavery was still in the North also. Now we have an empire, not a govt.as it was in 1776. States rights-dead,Liberty? Not

by Thomas	04/13/07 11:24 AM
Well boys, appreciate the slap in the face. There were no crimes committed against the constituition during that trying era. Our ancestors should be remembered gloriously. Why would you make a comparison to Hitler and communism? That makes no sense.

by Sue	04/13/07 11:11 AM
First of all, the Civil War was not fought over slavery, and in fact Jefferson Davis did not even mention slavery in his inaugural address. Second, why does my cultural heritage have to take a back seat? Why are the blacks more important?

Politics

Thumbs down on praising Dixie

Hillsborough officials reject a controversial proclamation for a Confederate group.