Jackson Jambalaya

I would vote for the first one in a heart beat

Keep the current one. Plus, with that much "white" in the first two, anyone flying them would get a very dirty, dingy flag in a short period of time.

I don't know why you bother to stir this up. We absolutely need a new flag, but I also know that 99% of the comments you get here will say keep the old one. So whats the use?

I like the first one very much. We lost the war almost 150 years ago. It's time to let it go. I think that some of the opposition last time there was a suggested change in the flag stemmed from the fact that the proposed alternative was butt-ugly. Mississippi really does need to leap from the 19th to the 21st century.

I like the first one and am all for changing the flag. But I think this is one of the problems with how it was done the last time. Don't give people a choice between two flags, just vote on whether to keep the old flag or not, then if the vote is there to get rid of the old one, that is when you come up with a new design. Too many people would not vote for a change if they know they don't like the new one, even if they were in favor of a change.

We have had a referendum and election on the Flag.

The flag stays

Comments are surprisingly refreshing. The heritage kooks must have had a long night.

first one. definitely

#1

We should have one with a boll of cotton depicted to memorialize governors Bilbo and Barnett.

The 2nd one looks like the 3rd National Confederate Flag. I like the first one.

Nice designs all, but I vote for #3. The "heritage kook" thing almost silenced me until I remembered I don't give a flying rat's @$$ about clintonrebel's opinion. S/he's a tricky one, that clintonrebel.

Keep the one we have.

I'm Clintonrebel

Frankly, I don't care what our state flag looks like, or the flag of any other state for that matter. There are much more important issues facing our state than a piece of fabric flying over some state office buildings. And, no, I don't care what other people think about our flag either. It's not something I ponder as I try and make a living each day.

Does the flag have " In God We Trust"? By all means let's have the motto plastered on it.

#1 looks very impressive.

That flag represents a lot of dead soldiers. It stays.

And who came up with the other proposals anyway? If the flag is changed, it will be to the 1861 flag.

For the heritage crowd, why not agree to go to the Bonnie Blue Flag or The Magnolia flag?

"Annoy a redneck----change the flag". NUMBER 1 ROCKS.

@11:41 By your logic, Germany should still fly the Nazi flag, it certainly represents a lot of dead soldiers. Quit being an ignorant hick and join us in 2014.

The.Issue.Has.Been.VOTED.ON. The majority voted to keep it as is. I really don't know why this bit of kerfuffle hasn't gone away; the *vox populi* has spoken, and resoundingly. Don't like it, move to another state whose banner better pleases your delicate sensibilities. ANd, ohh, for the love of Pete...shuuuuuutttttt upppppp about this, already.

Do we really have to get into a debate comparing Nazi Germany and the Confederacy? One was an oppressive government that sought to conquer the world and eliminate 'lesser' races. The other was an organization of legally sovereign states fighting an oppressive government that had invaded with the SOLE purpose of collecting taxes.

What is meant by "I came across these on the internet"? Who or what group put these designs on the internet and for what purpose?

The second one is indeed similar to the Third National Flag of The Confederacy.

90% of the viewers of this blog (or residents of this state) have no idea there were various Flags of The Confederacy, why they flew and why they were retired. Those who decry the canton corner of the current state flag have no idea what it represented, only what they've been told it meant?

The only reason they object to it is because they've been told by race baiters that's the way they should react.

Bill Dees continues to advertise his disdain of history and heritage. I doubt he could recognize and speak intelligently to the various Flags of The Confederacy. Does he also advocate tearing down all the Confederate monuments across the South, blowing assunder the museums, statues and other memories? Does Dees still have a portrait of Sherman on his garage wall?

So....in order to escape 'The Old South', we are presented with images found 'on the internet' draped in vestiges of 'The Old South'. A 1900s era steamboat. A 1900's era image of the muddy mighty Mississippi. Draped in Natchez-esque Spanish Moss the faint call of Massah's voice in the distance.

....It Jus Keep Rollin' Alonnnng.

IF you want to talk tradition/heritage, that is one thing. If your sole excuse to keep it is to honor the dead of the losing side in a war... *facepalm*

And if you REALLY want to talk about tradition, feel free to educate yourselves:

http://www.mcsr.olemiss.edu/~mudws/flag/

Ophelia: Pay special attention to the update at the bottom. Yes, there was a vote. Keep the flag or go to the crazy amalgamation that ended up being presented. Hardly a referendum.

Perhaps if people knew more about the heritage\tradition of the flag(s) that truly represented a free state of MS, before it was... Confederated?

Ophelia - that's what they say about Obamacare too.

@ 1:40. I know that the flag in the canton of the Mississippi State flag is the Confederate battle flag, not a national flag. I believe that we should continue to honor the incredible bravery of the Southern soldier, and the unsurpassed suffering of Southern women as a result of the War. That can be done, and is being done, with monuments and the like. The battle flag is extremely offensive to 40% of the state's population, principally because people of good will allowed haters like the KKK to adopt the flag as a symbol of hatred. That's why I think it needs to go.

@ 1:40. Oh! One more thing. I do have a portrait of Sherman on my garage wall, but it's Sherman the little boy who "owns" the beagle, Peabody.

Annoy a redneck---change the stupid flag.

Lets look at other states and how they have past 'southern flag" heritage. Especially the confederate battle flag. States like; North Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee. So why is Mississippi the only state constantly being called out about the flag? I think it needs to be changed so the state and business can make money from it.

States like South Carolina Palmetto and Crescent, California the bear, Wyoming the buffalo, Texas the star, New Mexico The Zia Sun, Arizona the star and sun burst.

Business in South Carolina make hundreds of thousands of dollars each year selling every thing from belts, wallets. glass wear, golf stuff, clothing you name it. Mississippi could too if we just had something marketable.

I definitely favor the 1st one.

I like #1.

JimAtTheRez

Take the current flag but get rid of the red white and blue stripes - ( make it one big rebel flag! )

It needs to go. There is no reason to keep it. It does us considerable harm when it comes to economic development and recruiting companies to come here.

Keep the flag we have!!! If you do not like it, you are welcome to relocate!!!

Bill Dees' reasoning for a flag change is that 40% of the population misunderstands the flag and he further explains his idiocy by pointing out the the KKK adopted the battle flag in some of it's movements, therefore it should be abolished.

The KKK and all white supremacist groups also adopted, at one time or another, the Union flag. Should we shit-can every heritage symbol later adopted/confiscated by nut case groups simply to appease the ignorant? And do we also shit-can the Union flag since many nut groups have displayed it?

Bill Dees is the lead cheerleader for the ignorant. Education is the key to this dilemma, not caving to stupidity and ignorance.

Really like #1, with slightly thicker stripes on the sides. I could get behind a different flag, as long as it doesn't have a lighthouse on it....

Love the rednecks hanging on to the dumb ass civil war, that took Mississippi from 5th wealthiest STATE in country to LAST.

This confederate son prefers the magnolia flag.

You're exactly right, 6:12. Hence the 'tax collection' I referred to above. It's because of this, and the barbaric actions taken to collect the tax, that 150 years later, we are still the poorest state.

I have an idea why don't we remove all the flags including the American Flag so we will no offend the cry babies.

While I am personally ready to move on to a new state emblem, I'm pretty sure Mississippi's abundant supply of "cheap" labor had something to do with its wealth at the time. When that labor force was liberated (whether it was to be as a result of war or not) MS's wealth was going to suffer.

I'm a lifelong Mississippian in my early 20's, hold 2 advanced degrees, vote 80% Republican, identify as fairly conservative, and this issue absolutely gets under my skin like no other... Is it a pressing life course altering point of public policy? Absolutely not. But it stands as a glaring micro-cosm example of the ass backwards s*** that causes the rest of the country to look at us like second class citizens. It's time to change this flag to something respectable and amicable to all that doesn't give the rest of the world a visible icon to prove that Mississippi is last in every statistical category imaginable... Including moving on from our bigoted history... And PS to all you "heritage" folks... 90% of my peers the feel the same way I do... Black, white, green, and purple

The Confederacy was a failed rebellion against the Union. I've never understood what there was to be proud of. The war was a loss treasonous loss. We should be thankful we were allowed back in the Union. Never mind that the Stars and Bars weren't added to the Mississippi flag until after the Reconstruction era. We all know that post-Reconstruction was when the state worked its hardest to restrict the rights of those who'd been granted full citizenship after the war. Ultimately, the "Heritage" of the flag is one of hate. I think we can all agree, that during the time this flag has flown, we segregated, oppressed and lynched. Someone above said the flag represents dead soldiers. Nope. We didn't raise that flag over our Capitol until long after the Civil war. The bodies that fell dead after the current flag was raised were lynched.

Two degrees hasn't changed your appreciation of tradition. Didn't pledge did you?

Conservatively speaking, you don't know jack.

The capital city of Mississippi is nothing but a sewer, plagued by crime and thugs, but it's the State flag doing all the damage?

The first one is FANTASTIC! Really a strong design.

I'm a lifelong Mississippian in my early 20's, hold 2 advanced degrees, vote 80% Republican, identify as fairly conservative ...

But you are here anonymously so your appeal as somehow more worthy to opine on the matter is only fiction.

“ As a people we are fighting to maintain the Heaven-ordained supremacy of the white man over the inferior or colored race; a white flag would thus be emblematical of our cause. ”
—Savannah Morning News, 1863

Referring to the Army of Northern Virginia or early Confederate flag on a larger white background.

Revisionist historians still abound. Please read the declaration of secession for Mississippi.

"Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery - the greatest material interest of the world. Its labor supplies the product, which constitutes by far the largest and most important portions of commerce of the earth. These products are peculiar to the climate verging on the tropical regions, and by an imperious law of nature, none but the black race can bear exposure to the tropical sun. These products have become necessities of the world, and a blow at slavery is a blow at commerce and civilization. "

Entire document: http://www.civil-war.net/pages/mississippi_declaration.asp

Or, we could just go with something innocuous, gentle, unalarming, peaceful. Like a white star on a blue background. After all....Who could object to the flag that was raised over Jackson, Mississippi the day after the state (sensibly) seceeded? Right?

See? It's all about matters of ignorance. Most of you have no idea what you just read is true and you were almost ready to jump at the Bonnie Blue for a peaceful answer to so called reconciliation.

And while we're posting quotes from various persons two centuries ago, let's throw up some of Abe's.

'Advanced Degrees'? Definition?

Yeah, the whole "it wasn't about slavery" thing goes out the window if you spend about 10 seconds checking facts.

Let's analyze the youthful ignorance of the 20 year old with degrees and the 80% of their peers that agree.

Sir/madam, should this be the case and should you feel you have a valid argument, your comment, laced with logical fallacy, belies this.

Logical fallacy is a flaw in reasoning. A degree doesn't provide you the skills of reasoning. In fact, in modern education, it robs you of that skill. So, your attempt to appeal to authority through your education, simply points to your inability to reason through a subject.

Knowledge is nothing but an anchor without reason. You can pay for whatever education, get whatever letters behind your name, do whatever that makes you think your C.V. looks good... none of that matters without the ability to reason. Knowledge doesn't equal intelligence unless you are on a game show. Having a good memory and regurgitating biased facts (biased because only those facts that support a specific position are considered) doesn't equal intelligence.

Accepting and understanding another viewpoint and weighing it's validity to all the other viewpoint/positions and using knowledge and reason to determine what is the most logical and accurate amalgamation of those viewpoints, is the sign of intelligence.

Beating someone over the head with your degrees and false bandwagon fallacies is just simply attempting to rob the conversation, instead of discuss it as a responsible adult.

Now, to the point of discussion: Slavery was a fact of life. Every race has been subject to slavery and mostly blacks were utilized in the South during this timeframe because of the perceived idea that they were better suited labor for the climate. There are numerous symbols openly used everyday from areas/times that includes open slavery, yet no one is complaining.

It's time us black people become individuals devoid of our race and quit attempting to ride the race bus to a better place by rehashing long past inequities.

Yes, 2:22, and just as those of us who truly believe that Obamacare is the ultimate Road to Hell (just wait, if you think there are "bugs" now!)...the flag-changer faction must, like us ACA deplorers, simply shut up and accept the fact that it's here to stay. Wonder what the Venn diagram would look like, comparing MS flag-whiners to MS ACA-lovers? I'm guessin' a whollllle lotta overlap.

Flag #1. Its time

All those who want a new flag are free to put in the elbow grease, leg work and dinero to put the matter on the initiative ballot again.

9:56 it is not here to stay. It will be changed one day.

Maybe it will be changed one day, maybe not. Maybe instead, opinions will be change. But, maybe this time opinions will change based on historical accuracy instead of lies spread by race baiters and incorrect inferences drawn by the low information crowd.

If Kenneth Stokes, Jesse Jackson, Jerry Mitchell, Bill Minor and Barack Obama proclaimed tomorrow that large, domed buildings are veiled symbols of white racism, Office Depot and Wal Mart would sell out of poster board by mid afternoon and Bert Case would be rehired to cover the assembly at the State Capitol.

A California bar is urging an Orange County courthouse to remove it because it's offensive. Im cool with that. I don't care what happens in California. If they were trying to tell The Great State of Mississippi what to do, I may get offended. Now, no one is proposing that we change it again. The news outlets are the ones getting everyone stirred up about it to have something controversial to talk about. California is playing the MS media outlets like a fiddle....

2:54 is exactly right. This is simply the democrats over at WAPT stirring the pot. And it's a 'Civic Center,' not even a courthouse. The Center has plans to demolish and redesign the area where the flags are on display anyway, so they are whining about nothing.

I want to keep the old one only because it makes Tom Head cry in his veggie burger.

This is simply the democrats over at WAPT stirring the pot.

LA Times first wrote about the story in December 2013. But nobody has ever accused the crew at WAPT of being particularly bright.

I like the first one, but don't like that large white field. Bright gold would be better background for the magnolia and stars.

Well, you better start worrying 'cause that trashy flag will be gone soon! As far as leaving Mississippi goes, well, you know how far you can shove that, don't you? When that relic is removed, you red-neck cry babies are welcomed to wrap yourselves in the left-over flags and cry at night.

You Honkies just wait. When Larita get her robe lot of things going to be change.

Too many liberals have found JJ.

Musgrove had to pander to the Democrats and have a referendum.

None of the current and possible new leaders will have to.

you don't have to be a liberal to think the flag needs to be changed. on the other hand, you do have to be ignorant to keep waiving it at the rest of the country and expect them to talk you seriously.

Thank you 5:05. The problem arises because these "caught in the Old South past" can't realize the war is over. OVER. phuck it. WE LOST. OVER Done. Sorry a bunch of old people are dead because of it. They would be dead now anyway.

Move on. The world laughs at us because of you idiots clinging on to your flag and guns.

I'm 5:05 and I still clinging to my guns. But agree with you on the flag

The Union army has engaged in aggressive wars, planting the flag amidst the burning rubble and bloated bodies of innocent civilians since 1861, but you don't hear the self FLAGellaters calling for dumping Old Glory.

Abraham Lincoln holds the record for ordering the largest mass execution in US history. Six days later he signed the Emancipation Proclamation on 1JAN1863.

Btw, PBS will air a report on the Mississippi Sovereignty Commission tonight.

Let's hope Enoch Sanders wasn't watching when R. L. Bolton was fingered as being a Sovereignty commission informant. There is was no evidence, just suspicious speculation on the part of Jerry Mitchell.

I wonder what Horace knows why attorney Mark Lane--the CIA spook who was at the Jonestown Massacre and allegedly fled with millions of dollars looted from Jim Jones' coffers--was be riding the freedom-rider buses into Jackson.

Maybe Jerry Mitchell will start knocking on Lane's door.

People that can read the articles of succession are revisionists. We get it.

Did you mean the Articles of Secession? And what is that you got?

General Robert E. Lee in a letter to Lord Acton on why he fought for Virginia and the Confederacy(15FEB1866)~

snip...

I consider it[State sovereignty] as the chief source of stability to our political system, whereas the consolidation of the states into one vast republic, sure to be aggressive abroad and despotic at home, will be the certain precursor of that ruin which has overwhelmed all those that have preceded it. I need not refer one so well acquainted as you are with American history, to the State papers of Washington and Jefferson, the representatives of the federal and democratic parties, denouncing consolidation and centralization of power, as tending to the subversion of State Governments, and to despotism....

Thousands want to keep our current flag as is so why keep trying to create news when their is not a problem with our current flag?

https://www.facebook.com/msflag?ref=profile

I plan to get in the last word

And so what would that "word" be?

The last word in the 2003 plebiscite was "Keep the Current Flag."

If you like the "vanity" flag, just hang it on your back porch!

I'm a disabled veteran from the United States Marine corps. Yes, it is way over due for a new flag.. I like the first new design... They lost the war and it's very disrespectful to continue to fly it over any American land.... please, change the flag.Simper Fi

I am a disabled veteran from the United States Army. The people voted and by a large %, the people said keep the flag.