WTF

 I'm speechless

That it happened in the Deep South doesn't surprise me.
 
That the University approved it does.

From the KKK/public riots after the desegreagation of the University of Mississippi in 1963 to former Senator, Trent Lott's, bigotry at Strom Thurmond's birthday party a few years back... nobody is surpised.  Welcome to Mississippi. 

I can understand them doing this in their own time, with their vile, repulsive rituals, but for someone to actually sanction this!?!?! Do these people know what the kkk stand for??? I'm shocked and disgusted with all of the people involved with this

i hope LSU gets killed

Uh, it's Ole Miss that is having the rally, not LSU.

Hold up... it isn't "University Approved," so put down your pitchforks and torches.

Ole Miss is a public institution, and as such has "free speech zones."  The government cannot, Constitutionally, discriminate based upon viewpoints.  The only 'approval' from the university is that these jackwads said, "we're going to rally in x free speech zone."  The only response we can give is, "ok, you've given your mandatory notice."

I'd also like to point out that the only reason these white-sheet wearing douchebags are protesting is because the UNIVERSITY has taken an action with which they disagree.  We have some idiot students who have started chanting "The South will rise again" after a school song that has been in place for decades.  They have banned the song because the chant gives a very bad image; being defiant, drunken and idiotic, our students have protested.  In comes the KKK, decrying a violation of 'free speech.'  This is why they are marching on my campus.

Ole Miss has done nothing wrong here.  Ole Miss HAS to let those idiots come to a campus free-speech zone.  Ole Miss sparked this anger when it forcibly removed students from the image of impropriety.  Ole Miss is the victim here, not the culprit; she's the victim of a handful of idiots in her own fanbase, of the KKK, and of people who jump to conclusions over what "approved" means...

These guys are a bunch of brain dead idiots, but if they went through the proper channels then they have as much as a right as any group to stage a protest. Weather you like it or not they are protected by freedom of speech just like everyone else.

Idiots like this are what gives the south a bad name and statements like I am not surprised it happened in the south are unfair, unwarranted, and down right disgusting. The south is not a bunch of back woods hicks miss teeth and sleeping with their sisters.

I was born and raised in the south and I am damn proud of it and makes me sick to see idiots like this making us look bad and using the rebel flag as their mascot or logo.

Can you explain to me how chanting a song that is part of southern heritage gives a bad image and if you say it's racist don't bother I will tell you that is the most ridiculous excuse to use.

Amen to that BigTone.  I alternated between being angry and depressed that people would jump to the conclusion that the University sponsored the protest.  I know people are just waiting for the other shoe to drop... waiting to say, aha, you ARE racists! 

This isn't our fault.  We have a handful of genuine idiots, half of a student-section full of follow-the-leader down-with-the-man rebellious-types, and now the KKK is trying to make itself relevant once more by inserting itself into this conflict.

They wouldn't even be here if we weren't trying so hard to distance ourselves from this kind of stuff.

Did any of you people who jumped on Ole Miss so quickly stop to think, 'hey, why is the University approving of a protest against the university?'  Really?  Did that logical dead-end not jump out at you?  It is because we HAVE to.  That pesky First Amendment gets in the way of shutting up idiots in white sheets.

I wonder if the KKK realizes that 95% of the players in this game are BLACK?  LOL   STUPID freakin Republican lovin' racist REDNECKS!  Even though "I hear" that Ole Miss is not supporting this (that they HAVE to let them protest)- they should grow some sack and tell the KKK to get the f$%k off of their property! Deal with the Legal Aspects later.......

Not the song, the chant.  From Dixie With Love is an amalgamation... a composition of Dixie (a confederate battle song) with The Battle Hymn of the Republic (a union battle song).  It actually comes off beautifully and is indicative of the unique blending of past and present that can be found in the South...

Shouting "The South Will Rise Again" over the words "His Truth is Marching On" is simply not part of that song.  It started circa 2002, when I was still in undergrad.  We have tried over and over and over again to get this chant to stop, but the students wouldn't listen.  Finally, Jones gave them an ultimatum: stop the chant or we'll stop the song.  We all now know how that ended...

I miss from FDWL, and I hope they eventually bring it back... but we killed the song because having a student section that's 3/4ths or more white yell "TSWRA" - especially when, as evidenced by this board, so many people are so quick to call us racists - is absolutely and completely unacceptable.  That's why I supported Jones move to ban the song until we kill this chant for good.

Amen to elguapo and BigTone. As a native Georgian, I appreciate that someone is speaking out for those of us intelligent and decent human beings born in that region of the nation. And yes, if you must have free speech than you must allow those that few want to hear. The protections of the First Amendment aren't in place for those who are saying things which don't offend anyone.

Just so you know Vin as a REP. I don't recognizes idiots like these guys

Dude...  Why are they protesting?

Say it with me... :  The KKK is protesting because the University (see, the University) banned a song that preceded a chant with racist undertones.

Why would the University underhandedly support a KKK protest?  

Say it with me:  There's no logical reason.

If the University AGREED with the KKK, they would never have banned the song.  Heck, they probably would have given out pamphlets to encourage the phrase.

Open your eyes.

I am not sure I understands what racial undertones this song or chant has. The biggest misconception is that the civil war was fought just over slavery. Slavery was part of it and it was the straw that broke the camels back but that was not the main issue the main issue was the oppression of the south by the north. The taxes levied on the south by the north the laws put into place by the north that threatened the southern way of life.

People need to get over racism.  All it does is stymie our development as a society.  And remember, don't take yourself too seriously....we're here for a good time, not a long time!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuuBVWo_W3U

I get what you are saying- I'm not that slow- LOL ! My point is that, regardless of the 1st Amendment or NOT, the University does NOT have to allow them on their property! It may be a "Public Institution"- but- it IS Private Property as all Universities are! Hence WHY they have their OWN Police Department as well!   Maybe later down the road, they will have a legal battle on their hands- but it's worth it to protect the "image" of the University itself!   You see, people like me, who live in the West DO have a perception of what the "South" is and what it stands for (whether that perception is right or wrong matters not) and IF the University actually STOOD UP against this "protest" on THEIR property- maybe that perception would change!

ya i know

Sorry if I came off rough, I could've been a bit nicer.  I'm just frustrated.  Extremely frustrated.

Trust me on this... I'm a lawyer.   As a public institution, there must be certain areas where an individual can fully exercise their free speech.  We can prevent them from protesting around the stadium, but if they're willing to set up at the Union or in the Quad, we can't do much...  at least not since they've apparently given notice they intend to march.

I can't fault you your opinion, right or wrong.  The South generally doesn't get much exposure; what it does get usually involves the more unsavory aspects of life.  If I weren't born and raised here, I probably would  also have a negative image.

But, just as I can see your point of view, you have to understand what it feels like to have you and the things that you love unfairly rolled into that redneck racist stereotype. 

We have worked so hard to overcome this image, and so much of that is being undone by these pajama-wearing idiots.  We do care about our perception; we've fought so hard to correct it.  That's why it is so frustrating that our hands are tied in this matter.  It's downright infuriating when people then insinuate that we are condoning the KKK's rally, as does the author here.

All I can say is that I'll be tailgating this weekend.  If they do rally, I'll do my best to antagonize one and draw a punch.  Maybe, at least, I can get one of them off of my campus and in jail.

Seems OK to me. If the KKK has gone through the proper channels to gain permision to protest then who are we to deny them this right of expression.  Unfortunately the same permisson might apply to Pro-Choice, Democratic Party and Health Care debates....that's just pure 'evil'

If I had some more respects left- I would give you all of them for this statement!  I can "somewhat" understand your frustration of being "labeled" like the South gets labeled, but it is what it is. The ONLY people that can change that perception are people like you, but unfortunately, us "outsiders" aren't accustomed to actually SEEING people like you either!  For instance, the Confederate Flag is VERY LARGELY VIEWED as a symbol of racism outside of that little Southern Bible Belt down there, but there are ALOT of Southerners who will defend it as a symbol of their history (which- I agree- is a part of history as well). However, I also view it as racist as does the MAJORITY of this Country.   I still feel like this "protest" by the KKK could have been avoided by NOT allowing them to do it (no matter what the cost- or the Constitutional Laws) at all from the onset!

BigTone, what has been discussed ad nauseum in Ole Miss circles is this:  "The South will Rise Again" is something you see on a bumpersticker in backwoods Mississippi, Alabama, Lousiana, et al. 

Sure, it's susceptible to an innocent interpretation.  I've heard so many people defend it as being about an economic recovery that I've lost count of the times I've heard that explanation...  But it also has a more sinister interpretation.

TSWRA has been used at Klan rallies, by very uneducated persons and, more importantly, once before in our University's history.

Civil rights planners believed (rightfully so) that if they could crack Ole Miss, they could integrate the South.  Unfortunately for us, our campus and school became a flashpoint in that conflict.  As if Mississippi didn't have enough embarrassments, yokels from all different states drove to Oxford to protest James Meredith's enrollment in our university.

After those riots, after the initial shock... Mr. Meredith was still harassed and harangued.  At football games, the band led an little cheer at the end of FDWL...  Rather than "Glory, glory, hallelujah, His Truth is marching on," the actual words to Battle Hymn of the Republic, they chanted "Glory, glory segregation, The South WIll Rise Again."

These parallels.. these intimations of racism past and of connotations we could not possibly allow ourselves as being seen to condone... that's what led to the ban of FDWL.  The chant was a recent phenomenon and we moved to nip it in the bud; sadly, its removal came at the price of a true tradition...

Wait, we have a lawyer on the Q? And here I was thinking I was as educated and professional as we get.

Hey,  I just graduated.... so I wouldn't expect too much of me, just yet.  

I'm just a walking legal malpractice claim, waiting to happen...

Still, I commend you. I have two brothers who are practicing attornies, and I know it's not easy.

Vin this is exactly the same type of narrow-minded view that you are trying to speak out against. The Confederate flag only has that persona because of idiots like these bozos. I fly and wear mine proudly and will continue to do so, but I can assure you that I am far from a racist and do not know any or have even met any in person who is that I know of , and I have lived here all my life. The Confederate flag to me and all of those I know is a symbol of a rich and vibrant history and a heritage that I will never be ashamed of. Were there ugly things that came out of the south yes but no more then what came out of every other part of this country.

People who wear sheets over their heads so their faces cant be seen are cowards.  If they want to march they should do it so that their faces can be seen.  As a side note the south didn't leave the union due to slavery.  They left for the same reason that this country fought Great Brittan.  Unfair Taxes.  Industry tariffs were crippling the Souths economy.  Slavery wasn't abolished until 1865.  Lincoln issued the emancipation proclamation freeing slaves after the war started. Only because the Republican party said they would no longer vote to fund the war if he didn't.  Though he privately hated slavery he had no intention of ending it, just stopping its expansion into the American West.  The Civil War was fought to preserve the Union. 

Thank you for clarification - obviously you are someone who is right there, seeing it happen, and affected by the whole thing.    

I find it interesting that these things happen EVERY YEAR at ole miss, but the other schools in the state don't seem to have ANY problems. Much less the rest of the SEC schools.

Something needs to change.

1. dixie
2. rebel flags
3. basketball coach plead guilty to a hate crime and still has his job
4. 'the south will rise again"
5. colonel reb (plantation owner) and the name "ole miss"

If they would change those five things, they could gain a lot of credibility. As it is, it's unfortunate that the make Mississippi and the rest of the south look bad. There's enough misinformation out there without the 'evidence' supplied by this university.

What are you talking about?  Every year?  You act as if this is Mississippi's cross to bear...

1) Our band plays, among other things, Dixie.  It used to play, before these idiot yahoos ruined it, From Dixie With Love, a mixture of Dixie and The Battle Hymn of the Republic.  I'm all for cleaning up our image, but Dixie?  Really?

2)  Rebel flags?  I agree wholeheartedly.  They are stupid and have almost been completely removed.  There are always a few tents during the tailgate that have refused to take them down, but they aren't in the stadium and you have to make a concerted effort to find one on gameday.  But, again, this isn't just Ole Miss' problem.  If you'd like, I can hyperlink where you can buy a purple-and-gold Confederate Battle Flag.... so you can sport your school (LSU) colors AND your redneck taste.

3)  Depends on who you listen to.  The cab driver claims he was innocent and mean ol' Kennedy picked a fight.  Kennedy claimed he was innocent and the cabbie went psycho.  Truth is likely to be found somewhere in the middle...  Still, a hate crime?  You're reaching.  He punched a guy.  If you want to get into he-said, she-said, there are multiple allegations that the cabbie directed racial slurs to one of our black basketball coaches, which prompted the alleged Kennedy beatdown.

4)  Agree entirely.  Stupid and it has to go.  Even at the cost, sadly, of a real tradition.

5)  Colonel Reb is dead and gone.  He hasn't been around since 2002 or 2003... which, I'd surmise, is more recently than you have visited Oxford.

The name Ole Miss?  So it was rooted in some archaic phrase, it's redeeming grace is that it also has an obvious parallel to the state name.  The coldly logical side of me says to throw it out, but I daresay that things like "Dixie" and "Ole Miss" aren't the problem here, it is sheet-wearing hypocrites protesting for the return of a ridiculous chant.

Trust me, Mississippi hasn't been the only state to make the South look bad, we've all had our hands in that.  If you'd like, I could give examples, but there's no sense in unnecessarily airing out dirty laundry.  Put your sports allegiances aside and quit trying to bicker.

1. I realize that, and happen to really like the song - particularly from dixie with love - but the perception is that its an endorsement of the confederacy. I know there is ALOT more to it than that, but i does offend some people.

2. i know that the rebel flags are more or less gone. But the uproar over them when TT was there isn't lost on a lot of people in the region.

3. Sure the truth does depend on who you listen to, but he DID plea guilty. Therefore he was found guilty. The charges leveed against him were that he assaulted a middle-eastern man and called him racially explicit names (textbook hate crime). Whether he did it or not, i dont know, but that was the accusation, and he pled guilty.

4. glad we agree. (again, its more perception than anything).

5. I visit Oxford often. I know you dont use Colonel reb officially anymore, but you know as well as i do that he still the 'unofficial' mascot. "no longer on the field but always in our hearts" as I read a month ago on a tshirt.

I assure you im trying to bicker, I just think there is no school in the SEC that has the constant racially charged issues year in and year out than ole miss.

The sooner they recognize it the less it will effect them going forward, but every time one of their traditions is questioned (usually by univerisity officials), it is met with severe and stubborn resentment. I'll concede that it is likely the vocal minority, but nonetheless: perception.

"Rebel flags?  I agree wholeheartedly.  They are stupid"

That is a bunch of bull shit if you ask me that is part of the history and heritage of the south and needs to remain that way. Why should I have to suffer and be accused of hate for what a bunch of back wood hillbillies do. The rebel flag does not stand for racist or bigotry it stand for a long and deep tradition of southern hospitality, pride and not about hate and slavery. Do some idiots try to use it that way yes but the is the few and not the many.

I have the right to were or fly the rebel flag as any one else does with any flag from any other country at least it is part of American history.

 and damn proud of it

I rest my case.

Excuse me you got something to say say it. I am pissed I don't like be accused of being a racist based on my love of the south and my use of the rebel flag. We are not all like those a$$holes in the KKK. I give everyone the benefit of the doubt regardless of color,race, gender or what ever, but I am a southerner and proud of it. you have a problem with that.

I absolutely don't think youre racist. nor do i think ANYONE at ole miss is. but there are alot of people who see and hear these things and are genuinely offended by them. That isn't there fault. you can't wave a swastika around in Israel and say, its not meant to be offensive - its the oppressed that dictate the level of tolerance for these things. I'm not offended by dixie. I happen to love the tune. But it is not my place to tell a black guy that he shouldn't be offended by it.

I understand your point but my point is I really don't care. There are a lot of things that offend me that go on like people wearing and flying flags from other countries and then telling me I can not fly my rebel flag. Not standing for the National Anthem, taking God out of the pledge, I think the worse one is the misconception that the south is full of nothing but a bunch toothless, racist, sister loving, Rednecks. But no one seems to care about that are make a big deal there is no cover story about that but let something happen in the south and it is automatically a race issue.

What these guys stand for is disgusting and they will pay for it in the end but to lable everyone who lives in the south or flies a rebel flag a racist is BS.

"...liberal sodomite college."  Exactly WTF does he think is going on at keggers down there?!?

You know what is said is it is not only in the south.I live in central Ind.and we had a chapter of the kkk untillthe early 90's that would make the south proud as they would sayI did noy think that Ind was a confederate state during the civil war....these people died out now i read were the new kkk are starting back hunting members85 Members ..[we are not raceious we love all people only thing we are against are drugs..]Well why are there flyers still have a person wearing a white out fit like the people from the past???My feelings if you truely are against drugs why hide your face.The invisibile nation yea right..I have my own choose of words which i can not put on here.REALITY IS IT DOSE NOT MATTER IF YOU ARE THE KKK.THE BLACK PANTHERS'MEXICAN MAFIA,or any hate group it will chase work right out of your town or area were you live at and good luck getting new bussiness to come back.Once you get a bad rap you just screwed your kids future......

I think something here needs to be cleared up.  First and foremost as Americans it is our right to fly whatever flag we so choose.  Second with all the bloodshed on our "beloved stars and stripes" who are we to say what is deemed racist?  Native Americans I'm sure are not big fans of seeing the Red, White, and Blue.  Third the KKK when it marches carries the flag of the United States of America,  right along with the Confederate flag.  Fourth is that the KKK is not an organization that is relegated to just the south.  They are in every state in the Union.  They have a rather large association here in Old Bridge, New Jersey. They once tried to rally in my town and were turned away.  Fifth while yes they were formed for racist reasons it is not the only thing they march against.  They are also not fans of Roman Catholics, or the Irish or homosexuality.  Sixth and it is probably the biggest misconception about the south.  The "rebel flag" or Confederate flag that you see today is not the flag of the Confederacy.  It was the battle flag of the Northern Army of Virginia.  The stars represent the 11 states and two territories of the Confederacy.  The actual flag of the Confederacy looks a great deal like the Union flag.  During the Battle of Bull Run 4800 Americans and Confederates were killed. It being the bloodiest one day battle of the war. A lot of it having to do with nobody could tell the difference between the flags, thus General Beauregard the first Confederate General went back and told the Confederate government of all the confusion in battle and the flag of The Army of Northern Virginia was born.    The actual flag of the Confederacy is called The Stars and Bars much like The Stars and Stripes.  Also people often forget or don't know that even though Maryland and West Virginia were not part of the Confederacy they were slave states and remained slave states during the Civil War.  Lincoln freed only Confederate slaves to get them to join Union Armies.  All slavery was abolished in December of 1865  which was eight months after the war ended.  For those interested The current Georgia state flag is based on the actual flag of the Confederacy.  Real Southerners fly the flag or wear it proudly as a symbol of heritage not hate.  Don't let a group of sheet wearing cowards misconstrue your thoughts on the south. 

  I was born and raised in Arkansas.  I've lived for 40 years in Louisiana.  I am very proud to acknowledge that my great grandfather served in the CSA, 5th Georgia Infantry from May 14th, 1861 until he was "pardoned" after Lee's surrender in 1865.  .  I am southern by birth, southern deep in my soul.  As a southerner, I reserve the right to show my pride for my family's history and heritage however I wish, as long as it's within the legal parameters set forth by the laws that govern our country.

I am an avid LSU Tiger fan and season ticket holder.  I also reserve the right to shout, to the top of my lungs, " GO TO HELL, OLE MISS, GO TO HELL!"  I'll be there tomorrow afternoon to watch as LSU hopefully soundly defeats Ole Miss.  

None of this means that I approve of this KKK gathering. Right to free speech or not, the group is racist to the very core, in it's founding roots, and racist in it reason for existance today.  I think I would not be wrong to say that a vast majority of southerners......probably more than 98%... do not like the principles and ethics set forth by the Ku Klux Klan.   I certainly abore all the organization stands for and promotes.  I've tried hard to teach my children and grandchildren the same values, as my forefathers taught me.

The confederate flag?  It bothers blacks.  To them, it is a confrontation.  It does not matter that to me, it represents history and tradition.  These people are as much citizens of this land as my family has always been for nearly 300 years.  I do not fly or display the confederate flag publically.  I took offense years ago, when when I saw those black U.S. Olympic athelets raise their fist in defiance, promoting black power.
I take offense to being called "cracker", "honky" or any other slurred name for whites.  Black folk are offended by the many, many slurs that degrade them.  I don't use those terms, either.

The KKK may hold their little insignificant display of white supremacy.  I do not have to be there to watch it, and plan to steer clear of the area between 10 am and 11am.  I am proud of the officials of the University of Mississippi for taking the stand.  They are defending and honoring ALL their students by these decisions to stop racism, no matter how insignificant.  I didn't think they had it in them.

They're a bunch of old guys, they're protesting for Viagra, so the South can rise again.  What's wrong w/ that?

*crickets chirping*

Well, I thought it was funny.

I imagine many African Americans see the Confederate Flag the way many of the Jewish faith see the Nazi Swastika.  And while many don't want to hear that, it's the truth.  I know the Civil War was about more than slavery, but if you can't see the likeness of the two, you're truly blind.  There's no coincidence that the KKK often bear both. 

And for the record, I hate everybody equally.

I am out of respects for the day, so I'll hit you up tomorrow for this post! You couldn't have said it anymore TRUTHFULLY!  I know alot  of "Confederate Flag Defenders" will argue that it stands for their Heritage and NOT racism and bigotry (and that may be true to an extent), but MANY MILLIONS of Americans view it completely the opposite way- including myself! In Germany, for instance, they have BANNED the flying of the Swastika for obvious reasons and WE should ban the flying of the Confederate Flag for the same reasoning- but some people just don't get it!   And before anybody jumps in my face for this comment, my HERITAGE (Ancestors) come from West Virginia, Kentucky, and Maryland- so technically- my HERITAGE is Southern Confederate (alot of my Ancestors fought for the South)- yet I refuse to CLAIM that Flag as my Heritage!  My HERITAGE is AMERICAN and I will fly NO OTHER Flag than the Stars and Stripes!

For the record Vin in my yard and on my flag pole the stars and strips are always on top with my Confederate Flag just beneath it. were it belongs. The use of the Confederate Flag (unless used as a symbol of hate by assholes like the KKK) is no different then some one with an African, Mexican, Cuban, or any flag for that matter.

You are entitled to your opinion as I am entitled to mine!   I view the Confederate Flag as a symbol of Racism, Bigotry, and Ignorance and NOTHING more. You however view it as something totally different- and that's cool as well! Maybe in your part of the Country, it is common to fly that flag in your front yard, but in my part of the Country- it is NOT! As harsh and WRONG as it may sound , here in the West, you may get killed for flying that flag- I'm sure your pretty safe in the South though......  I'm not saying that I am right and you are wrong, I am merely saying that the Confederate Flag is not "viewed" very positively in MOST parts of the Country!  As I stated, my "roots" are Southern in nature- yet I view that flag in a negative light as do ALL of my relatives!  BTW, your comparison of the Confederate Flag to the Mexican, African, or Cuban Flag is NOT a COMPARISON at all considering those flags represent flags of different NATIONS- not the flag of a "MOVEMENT" which was the case in the South!

They represent their HERITAGE as does the rebel flag. I know that there are some places that the flag would not be received very well I am not going to walk into Compton and wave it around I am not stupid.and I can understand why they think that way but that does not make it right. To judge me without knowing me are anyone just because of a flag is no different then judging someone by the color of their skin.

I am not judging YOU in particular, you seem to be a really good person. I am however judging the Confederate Flag and what it STANDS for in my honest opinion!  As far as HERITAGE, I would consider you as an AMERICAN- not a Confederate!  As I said, the Confederacy was a "MOVEMENT"- not a HERITAGE, and unless you actually BELIEVE that the South should STILL secede from the United States and STILL own slaves- then I would say that it is NOT your heritage!