The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day

Rob Carriker, "The Battle Cry of Freedom" from Over There! Songs from America's Wars (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary:

"The Union forever, hurrah, boys, hurrah!
Down with the traitor, up with the star!
While we rally round the flag, boys, rally once again,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

"We will welcome to our numbers the loyal, true, & brave,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom,
And although they may be poor, not a man shall be a slave,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

"The Union forever…"

Liberty & Union
I have long favored a ban on the display of the Confederate battle flag, which I reference, my voice full of venom, as the "Confederate swastika." What of the First Amendment? you ask. The First Amendment is nigh-sacred & nigh-inviolable; the depth of my belief in this principle is such that, though is makes my blood boil, I support the right of American citizens to burn the American flag as a gesture of disrespectful protest. The First Amendment exists not to protect the speech we like, but the speech we despise. If it does not protect unpopular speech, then provides no protection whatsoever. So, I do not call for a ban of the Confederate swastika because it is a symbol of racism (for which "Southern heritage" is a euphemism). Racism, appalling though it is, must be afforded First Amendment protection. Racist speech must be combated with social pressure, with argumentation &, ironically, intolerance. No, the Confederate swastika ought to be banned because it is a symbol of treason, lawlessness, rebellion, & dishonor. The men who fought & died under that saltire fought against the First Amendment, against the whole of the Constitution. Many of them through away their own honor by betraying oaths taken to defend that Constitution. The First Amendment should not protect Confederate symbols, because if the rebel cause had succeeded, there would be no more First Amendment. If the First Amendment was a shield for treason, then no spy could be prosecuted for espionage; clearly, the Confederate swastika deserves no such protection.

The removal of the Confederate swastika from atop the South Carolina state capitol some years ago was a good first step, the recent removal from the grounds of the state capitol better still. But it is a farce that that banner of dishonor & lawlessness will now be displayed in a museum, a sop to the "Southern heritage" mob. Rebellion, treason, & dishonor are not a heritage that ought to be celebrated.

"Liberty & union, now & forever, one & inseparable!" — Daniel Webster