The state of Mississippi proposes license plate that honors KKK leader

   The Mississippi Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans wants to sponsor a series of state-issued license plates to mark the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, which it calls the "War Between the States." The group proposes a different design each year between now and 2015, with a plate featuring Nathan Bedford Forrest, a General in the Confederate Army and the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, slated for 2014.  Mississippi Governor and rumored Republican presidential candidate Haley Barbour is catching heat for not denouncing the proposal.  This is the same Haley Barbour who said while he grew up in the 1950’s-1960’s Mississippi, that race relations “were not that bad.”  Hmm … Governor Barbour, are you expecting the public to believe that you’ve never heard of the murder in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi of then 14 year old Emmett Till in 1955?  Have you heard of the assassination of Medgar Evers in Jackson, Mississippi in 1963?  Surely, Governor Barbour, you’ve heard of the murders of civil rights workers James Chaney, Michael Schwerner and Andrew Goodman in Philadelphia, Mississippi in the summer of 1964, right?  You’ve at least seen the movie, “Mississippi Burning”, right Governor Barbour?  How about "The Ghosts of Mississippi"?  Governor Barbour, as anyone is, you are entitled to your own opinion but you ARE NOT entitled to your own set of facts or in your case, your own HISTORY.  (Is this guy SERIOUS about running for President?)
   Before he became the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, Nathan Bedford Forrest was a General in the Confederate Army.  In this role, it is alleged that he committed one of the most heinous war crimes in American military history during the battle of Ft. Pillow in 1864.  Forrest allegedly ordered the massacre of black and white Union soldiers AFTER they agreed to surrender unconditionally.  General Forrest was gracious enough to WAIT until the victims had dropped their weapons BEFORE he ordered their massacre.  The Sons of Confederate Veterans must REALLY be proud of such a courageous soldier.  In the heat of battle, there is nothing like displaying “Courage Under Fire”, huh?
   Post Civil War, Forrest went on to become the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan which was formed in Pulaski, Tennessee in 1866.  The Klan reportedly was initially created to become a propaganda machine with the mission of convincing newly freed slaves that it would be within their best interests to return to slavery.  Imagine the gall it must have taken to try to convince people who were FREE that a return to a life in BONDAGE would be the best thing for them to do. 
   It will be interesting to see how far this proposal goes in the Magnolia State’s legislature.  Governor Barbour, in a television interview, said he won’t denounce the license plate proposal because he didn’t expect it to pass in the Mississippi House.  We’ll see.
   Haley Barbour wants to be elected President of the United States in 2012.  Not only does he need a refresher course in history between now and then, he needs to be reminded that he wants to be President of the UNITED STATES and not the CONFEDERATE STATES. 
   Governor Barbour, if you are indeed elected President of the United States, I’m sure the Sons of Confederate Veterans will be as proud of you as they are of Nathan Bedford Forrest.  Good luck, you son of … the South.


Peace, peace in the Middle East.

Craig Riggins


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