|
|
 |
Of Flags and
Morals
By Mona Lease
Hi, all!! This is another one of "those" columns. Again - this is the
truth. Friday, July 10, marked an historic event - the removal of the
Confederate Flag from the Dome of the Statehouse in Columbia, South
Carolina. It has hung there some 54 years. The catalyst for the event
is reported to be a one Dylan Roof - who purchased a gun through an
"FBI background check flaw." I'm gonna say this: Media reports that he
bought the gun in April and used it in a church on June 17 - that is
two months - two months, readers! Why the wait? Did he have
reservations about actually using it? Did someone call him a "chicken"
and he opened fire in the church?
For those of you that really know me - you'll know that I hate, abhor,
dislike intensely, and otherwise can not stand the term "shacking up."
This wordage comes from the South - gasp! There has always been an
"unwritten" Gentleman's Code. No self-respecting Southern gentleman
would allow his wife to become so disillusioned with him that she
looked at another man. No self-respecting Southern gentleman would take
another man's wife. Family took care of family. Therefore - if you had
a brother that was the gambler/womanizer/alcohol-lovin'/gunslinger type
- you gave him a piece of ground on the family estate. He built his own
home - a "shack" compared to the opulence of the mansion with it's
crystal chandeliers, etc.
Only a husband could initiate a divorce. I heard your gasp, ladies!!
Therefore - a woman who left her husband for this type of man -
was still married, so they could not marry. No self-respecting preacher
would marry them should she get divorced. She moved in with him and
they "shacked-up." In this case - the husband either started divorce
proceedings or waited for her to come home. Usually the wife "came to
her senses" and realized what type of a man he was - sadly, when he
cheated on her or some other distasteful act. Everyone would know where
she was. Brothers would "talk" to the man who had the married woman
under his roof and sisters would speak to the married woman committing
adultery. This all makes me wonder - Have we done ourselves a grave
disservice in walking away from these morals or not following them on
this side of the Ohio River? People flying the Southern Flag lived by
this "code" - and still do today according to the Southerners I've
asked. And a man is as good as his word or handshake. No need for a
lawyer.
As for slavery - slaves built this world - The White House and the
Capitol. Most people agree that it was the lowest class of society in
China who built the Great Wall - they were called "coolies." By
definition they were locals with no skills. The Berlin Wall, the
Pyramids - everything we know that was not naturally occurring, was
built by humans. And you know that the President, the Prefect, the
King, the Queen, Aliens (if you believe they built the pyramids, etc,)
- any other "leader" - did not bother himself/herself with toiling in
the elements - rain, snow, sun, etc.
Countless slaves loved their Master/Mistress...and did all they could
to please him/her. Countless "slave-traders" who were born in Africa
captured natives and sold them to the ship captains that waited in
their harbor. Countless slaves "stayed on" after they were
freed...because it was their home...they were happy there...they were
born there...they were treated well....they were loved. Some slaves -
mostly in Louisiana territory - could read and write. Some of them went
to college and became Doctors and Lawyers.
There is a "flag" for everything. That is how we identify ourselves to
passers-by. The North had their own flag, too - by the way. Commonly
known as the Union Flag - it looked like our modern flag - with only 34
stars.
This part can work both ways. Black inventions that we use today are:
1)George Washington Carver started "crop rotation." Also to his credit
is uses for the peanut - dye, soap, coffee, ink. 2)In 1885, Sarah Good
was the first black woman to receive a U.S. patent for the "folding
bed." 3)George Crum invented our potato chips. 4)Granville T. Woods
invented the "multiplex telegraph" that allowed dispatchers and
engineers to talk to moving trains via the telegraph. 5)Jan Matzeliger
invented the "shoe lasting machine" which fitted shoe leather around a
mold of a human foot and attached it to the sole. 6)Elijah McCoy
invented the automatic oil cup. It lubricated the train's axles and
bearings while the train was in motion - which was done previously at a
stop, by hand. 7)Lewis Latimer invented the "carbon filament" in the
light bulb. Thomas Edison's was a paper filament. 8)Charles Richard
Drew perfected the "blood bank" in 1938. 9)Philip B. Downing designed
the protective mailbox - much like our modern day box. 10)Garrett
Morgan invented the "gas mask" for firefighters at that time. And he
invented the traffic signal. The "go both ways part" here is: We really
should thank this race that gave us these inventors for making our
lives easier, healthier, and more efficient. Other races have
contributed, too. It just seems that it usually is a black/white issue.
And, you could say that if the blacks wanted recognition - they should
stick with the inventions of coffee and the traffic signal. Imagine no
traffic signals and everyone racing for their morning coffee on their
way to work!!
Lastly - if we remove everything that someone says is "offensive" or
uses as a reason to commit any crime - heinous or not - what would be
left? Seriously - some people think motorcycles are offensive. After
the flags and guns are gone - what's next?
Remember the kiddies and our service people. Take good care of the
furry and feathered ones out there. Be safe and healthy. See ya next
time. Ever Toodles!! MONA
|
|
|
<
|
