NASCAR have been distancing themselves from the Confederate flag as much as possible for several years. The stock racing league saw the light on the Southern Cross a very long time ago, and it seems like only now that many other coporations are getting up to speed on it.
The flag of Dixieland has been co-opted by white supremacist hate groups; and therefore signifies bigotry, oppression, prejudice and some of the worst hate crimes in our nation’s history. Right now America is removing it as quickly as possible.
Bubba Watson is doing his part to preach tolerance and equality, vowing yesterday to paint over the Confederate flag that rests atop his famous “General Lee” automobile from the Dukes of Hazzard.
NASCAR prohibited Watson from parading the General Lee around Phoenix Raceway before a NASCAR event in 2012.
NASCAR spokesman David Higdon said in a statement at the time:
“The image of the Confederate flag is not something that should play an official role in our sport as we continue to reach out to new fans and make NASCAR more inclusive.”
Of course, you’ll still see that flag all over the infield and parking lot, at every race this season. (And probably next season too) There is a huge component of the NASCAR fan base that still embraces the Confederate flag, and perhaps always will.
This past Sunday, NASCAR made a bold initiative to prove that sentence wrong.
Daytona International Speedway undertook a flag exchange this past weekend to swap out the Confederate version for the American flag, but track officials said only “a few” took them up on the offer. That’s kind of sad and disappointing to hear. You would hope that more Americans would “get it” by now.
If this AP report published on Yahoo is to believed, then it seems like the Confederate flag enthusiasts only became more emboldened by the recent backlash; and not ashamed at all.
Well, there is good news on this issue, at it pertains to more important arena than a stock car racetrack. The South Carolina Senate overwhelmingly voted (37-3) to take the symbol of hate down from the State House. Now the proposal just needs to be approved by the State House of Representatives.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous sports talk radio stations all across the country.
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