header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
March 28
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir


Now and Then in the SCV | Commentary by Darryl Manzer
| Friday, Jul 10, 2015

darrylmanzer0215I find the California state flag offensive and racist. You see, the guys up in Sonoma who designed it back in 1846 said they wanted a flag that “didn’t look Mexican.” So maybe we should drop our flag and design something for today. History be damned.

Maybe we shouldn’t call the liquid we pump out of the ground and refine, “black gold.” There must be a politically correct title we can use besides just plain old “oil.”

I’m afraid that in too many ways, we’re going down some pretty slippery slopes of government censoring our words and indeed our history. Today is it a flag. Tomorrow it is what we want to say, and…

No matter how much I hate the actions and justifications for the Civil War, it is past and it is history. The flags of the Confederacy mean little to me, especially since my family fought on the side of the Union as members of the 121st New York Infantry.

I look around and listen and see that many of us are letting our free speech be trampled upon by those who are “offended” by what I say or maybe what flag I fly or what picture I paint … and think the government should do something about it.

We veterans spent time defending the right of folks to say just about anything in just about any form they want. If someone wants to fly the flag of a failed cause, let them. If they want to paint a symbol of that cause on the roof of a car, so be it. I don’t have to agree with what it may have stood for, but I do have to respect their right to express themselves.

A few years ago, some folks in Valencia were all upset that a Vallarta market was going to occupy a space in the Old Orchard Shopping Center. They complained loudly to the city that it would have signs in Spanish and English. It could bring in the “wrong” kind of people and it wasn’t a fit in the neighborhood.

Guess what? The store has been there a number of years now, and it is doing just fine. I’ll bet most of the folks who complained now shop there.

In downtown Portsmouth, Va., there is a memorial statue that reads, “To Our Confederate Dead.”There is a move to have it removed, since it sits in the middle of the street. It turns out, it cannot come down for a number of reasons. Little things like state laws that say a monument or memorial cannot be removed. Also, that particular memorial is sitting on property not owned by the government, even if it is in the middle of a street. It will stay in place.

In many places in the South, there are graves of brothers who fought in the Civil War. One headstone may show that one brother was a Union soldier and the other a rebel. Do we tear down that memorial?

Should we rename our streets and cities, since some might find the names in Spanish to be offensive? Or maybe change the English names to Spanish?

My maternal grandparents were Danish. That makes me half Danish. Should I take offense that we have a high school mascot named the Vikings? My father had a stepfather who was a member of the Lakota Nation. Should the mascot of Hart High offend me?

Replica of the 1846 bear flag. Or is it a pig?

Replica of the 1846 bear flag. Or is it a pig?

None of this was a real problem for a long time, and it shouldn’t be a problem now.

Free speech and expression are what make us Americans so wonderful. I might not like what you think or say, but I will defend your right to say it. At one time, as a member of the military, I would defend that right with my life, if need be.

I just don’t get it. We cannot start censoring words and symbols of history. We cannot do that to our words and symbols of today, either, or we will run the very great risk of destroying what took so long to build.

No, we don’t have any Confederate monuments of flags to concern us here in our part of the country, but we do have that pesky little bit of history about our California flag.

I know one thing for sure. That first flag had a bear on it that looked a lot like a pig. I find that offensive. Pigs deserve a better portrait.

 

Darryl Manzer grew up in the Pico Canyon oil town of Mentryville in the 1960s and attended Hart High School. After a career in the U.S. Navy he returned to live in the Santa Clarita Valley, where he serves as executive director of the SCV Historical Society. He can be reached at dmanzer@scvhistory.com. His older commentaries are archived atDManzer.com; his newer commentaries can be accessed [here]. Watch his walking tour of Mentryville [here].

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

4 Comments

  1. Dave Warburton says:

    The Confederate flag was never the official flag of that ill-conceived enterprise but has assumed the role in relatively recent years.’The flag was raised on the S.C. capitol only in 1961 (NOT 1861) and then used as a form of defiance to racial integration.

    It is therefore especially offensive to African-Americans. If it was offensive to Whites, it would never have been raised there in the first place. Taking it down is a gesture of understanding and reconciliation and totally appropriate.

  2. jimvs says:

    Dave, you and Darryl are both largely right (well, at least my opinion). Darryl in general, and you in the specifics of the Confederate battle flag.

    Whether or not the evils perpetrated on African-Americans (and others) during the Civil Rights movement in the 60’s have any direct connection to the The Confederacy is debatable. The battle flag chosen to be the symbol of defiance by those against removal of official racial discrimination certainly carries the stigma of those people’s actions. As such it is a painful reminder if not an insult to many Americans today.

    But Darryl seems to have been using it as one example of our citizenry and their elected representatives taking an action in response to a single heinous event; and that action carries with it at least a whiff of political expediency. One can argue that the event was the tipping point, that after so many events of similar savagery in our history it rang the bell that caused the people to hearken and demand change.

    I truly wish that is true, and the only reason this action was taken.

    Regardless, Darryl is (again, in my opinion) correct that knee-jerk reactions to uncomfortable information does not solve real problems. Whether it is a massive rise in public opinion or craven behavior by politicians who are trying to stay ahead of the wave for their own purposes, it can’t change history. The Confederacy existed; the War Between the States happened; Reconstruction was imposed on the rebel states; and the Civil Rights movement and federal government actions in the 1960’s forced change in the South.

    It may be a long time before the end game of that change is seen by any of us.

  3. Hardin Rich says:

    Well written, thank you Darryl!

Leave a Comment


Opinion Section Policy
All opinions and ideas are welcome. Factually inaccurate, libelous, defamatory, profane or hateful statements are not. Your words must be your own. All commentary is subject to editing for legibility. There is no length limit, but the shorter, the better the odds of people reading it. "Local" SCV-related topics are preferred. Send commentary to: LETTERS (at) SCVNEWS.COM. Author's full name, community name, phone number and e-mail address are required. Phone numbers and e-mail addresses are not published except at author's request. Acknowledgment of submission does not guarantee publication.
Read More From...
RECENT COMMENTARY
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2024
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
Tuesday, Mar 26, 2024
Springtime in Santa Clarita brings not only vibrant blooms and opportunities to embrace the outdoors with warmer weather, but also an array of free, family-friendly events and this Saturday is no exception.
Thursday, Mar 21, 2024
Did you know that each year, Main Street in Old Town Newhall undergoes countless makeovers for different events, such as Light Up Main Street and the Fourth of July Parade?
Thursday, Mar 21, 2024
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose Fifth District includes the Santa Clarita Valley, issued the following statement Thursday in response to an announcement by Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel of a proposal to change how calls to the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline are routed.
Monday, Mar 18, 2024
Unlike our children who enjoy a week-long spring break, we adults no longer have that luxury.
Friday, Mar 15, 2024

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale invites the community to "Let the Sunshine In," a delightful evening of food, wine and song at the annual Cabaret & Cabernet fundraising benefit.
April 20: Santa Clarita Master Chorale’s Cabaret, Cabernet Fundraiser
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:
March 27 Ocean Water Warning
As an integral ingredient necessary to help the Santa Clarita Valley to flourish, feedback from the business community is the secret sauce for achieving great things.
SCVEDEC Asks For the Business Community’s Opinion on Santa Clarita
Raise your heart rate while raising funds for the Santa Clarita Sister Cities Dollars-for-Desks campaign to provide school desks for students in Sariaya, Santa Clarita's Sister City in the Philippines.
April 13: Sister Cities Zumba-thon Fundraiser
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
SCVEDC Company Spotlight: Drumming Up Big Business with Remo, Inc.
California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) and Assemblyman James Ramos (D-Highland) have introduced AB 3074 the "School or athletic team names: California Racial Mascots Act."
Schiavo Introduces Bill to Prohibit ‘Derogatory’ School Mascot Names
Los Angeles County’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department  in collaboration with Local Initiatives Support Corporation Los Angeles is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Pitch Competition for the cohorts of JCOD's Incubation Academy.
March 28: JCOD Incubation Academy Helps Grassroots Non-Profits For the Second Year
Children’s Bureau is seeking foster families and now offers two virtual ways for individuals and/or couples to learn how to help children in foster care while reunifying with birth families or how to provide legal permanency by adoption.
April 18: Children’s Bureau Hosts Virtual Orientation
The Sunburst track was constructed in 1887 by the Southern Pacific Railroad and was a part of the main line running between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Enjoy Spring With a Ride On The Sunburst Track
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a Personal Finance Summit today where he announced his support for Assembly Bill 2927 (McCarty), legislation that would require a personal finance education course for California high school graduation.
State Superintendent Announces Support for Personal Finance Graduation Requirement
1847 - Probable birth date of Pico Canyon oil driller Charles Alexander Mentry [story]
C.A. Mentry
The first Music Jam Session at The MAIN was held on Thursday, Feb. 22 and was a hit. Come out and join in for the next one on Thursday, March 28 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
March 28: The MAIN to Host Musicians’ Jam Session
Los Angeles County Inspector General Max Huntsman of the Office of Inspector General has issued a report entitled "Tenth Report Back on Implementing Body-Worn Cameras in Los Angeles County."
Office of Inspector General Issues Latest Report on LASD Body Cams
College of the Canyons women's tennis played to a convincing 7-2 conference win over Ventura College on Moica to strengthen its potential playoff resume.
Canyons Closes Out Ventura 7-2 in Final Home Match
Join the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce with the Latino Business Alliance at the Cinco de Mayo Networking Celebration on Tuesday, May 7.
May 7: Latino Business Alliance Cinco de Mayo Celebration
The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control is hosting March Meowness promotion where all cat adoptions are just $15 from now until April 9.
Adopt a Cat During March Meowness at Castaic Animal Center
California State University, Northridge is partnering with the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians and the Tataviam Land Conservancy to battle the impact of climate change in disadvantaged communities throughout the San Fernando Valley by establishing “urban forests.”
CSUN Partners with Fernandeño Tataviam Band to Build Urban Forests
Join the Santa Clarita Artists Association on Monday, April 15, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Barnes and Noble, 23630 Valencia Blvd., Valencia, CA 91355, for the SCAA monthly meeting and guest demonstrator.
April 15: SCAA Presents Debbie Abshear Watercolor Demo
Residents are invited to join members of the Santa Clarita City Council for a special ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the addition of Santa Clarita's 38th park, Skyline Ranch Park, 18355 Skyline Ranch Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91351, to the Santa Clarita parks system on Saturday, April 6, at 10 a.m.
April 6: Grand Opening for Santa Clarita’s 38th Park
The Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center is preparing for the annual fundraising event, Celebrity Waiter, with the theme “California Dreamin’” on Saturday, April 27 at Bella Vida, 27180 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91351.
Table Sponsorships Still Available for Celebrity Waiter Dinner
Springtime in Santa Clarita brings not only vibrant blooms and opportunities to embrace the outdoors with warmer weather, but also an array of free, family-friendly events and this Saturday is no exception.
Ken Striplin | A Fun, Festive, Egg-Filled Day
SCVNews.com