Marines refuse teen's enlistment because of Confederate flag tatoo

[The Tradition]

An Arkansas teen said he was turned away from joining the Marines when he revealed he had a Confederate flag tattoo.

Anthony Bauswell, 18, has the rebel flag inked on his rib, with the words 'Southern Pride' emblazoned underneath.

Bauswell was in the process of enlisting at the Marine Corps Recruiting Center in Conway on Monday when the recruiter said it made him ineligible.

'He says DQ, just automatically, DQ,' Bauswell told KARK 4.

While each branch of the military has its own specific rules, the prohibition of racist, extremist or gang-related tattoos is all-encompassing.

Bauswell said '99 percent of the reason' why he got 'Southern Pride' in addition to the flag was because he did not want the tattoo to be seen as racist.

'I felt pretty low,' he said. 'My own government wasn't going to let me serve my country because of the ink on my skin.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ned-away-Marines-Confederate-flag-tattoo.html

 

[ottumwan in tx]

 

[shank hawk]

Count your blessings, son, that you won't soon be dying in some Middle Eastern shithole with your guts spilling out into the sand.

 

[Funky Bunch]

'99 percent of the reason' why he got 'Southern Pride' in addition to the flag was because he did not want the tattoo to be seen as racist.

Let him in. He's only 1% racist.

 

[TailgateTom]

'99 percent of the reason' why he got 'Southern Pride' in addition to the flag was because he did not want the tattoo to be seen as racist.

Let him in. He's only 1% racist.

LOL! Beat me to it! Hillbillies gonna hillbilly.

 

[TJ8869]

At least he spelled 'Southern Pride' correctly. It appears he's a cut above the typical Confederate hilljack.

 

[theiacowtipper]

My nephew was rejected by the corps and his is a cross. The problem was it was on his wrist and visible. Institutions have rules. Your life choices have repercussions.

 

[ping72]

Why would you want somebody with hate speech (especially if it's directed at you) responsible for your life?

It's an easy correct decision.

 

[The Tradition]

Why would you want somebody with hate speech (especially if it's directed at you) responsible for your life?

It's an easy correct decision.

"Southern Pride" is hate speech?

 

[TJ8869]

"I felt pretty low," he said.

It won't be the last time.

 

[TJ8869]

"Southern Pride" is hate speech?

Even if you don't consider it hate speech, it's still the flag of a country that fought against the United States military.

 

[The Tradition]

Even if you don't consider it hate speech, it's still the flag of a country that fought against the United States military.

U.S.Military insignia


In 1977 the U.S. Army Ranger School at Ft. Benning Georgia was still using black beret headgear with a regulation Ranger Flash that was a composite of symbols to honor the history of American Rangers. Since then, the black beret no longer is exclusive to American Ranger forces. Current standard Army uniform includes a black beret with blue flash, The current Ranger beret is tan in color, and Ranger School flashes have been modified to a black and gold design without the powder horn or battle flag. Rangers that are deployed to duty have unit insignia and flashes that are unrelated unique designs.

The original flash shows a powderhorn and tomahawk for early New England Rangers of the French & Indian wars like Roberts, and the Confederate battle flag for southern Rangers like Mosby, and the pathfinder spearhead to honor men like Darby and Merrill of the Second World War. Commercially available shoulder patches similar to the original beret flash, with the inverted tab text logo "Rangers lead the way" are not U.S. Army regulation issue.

http://www.civilwar.com/resources/313-flags/150182-confederate-flag-history.html

 

[strummingram]

A tribal institution turning away someone committed to tribalism... yay!

If we ever have a draft, there's your out.

I'm glad the Marines can find time to be politically correct. Maybe there's hope after all.

 

[TJ8869]

U.S.Military insignia


In 1977 the U.S. Army Ranger School at Ft. Benning Georgia was still using black beret headgear with a regulation Ranger Flash that was a composite of symbols to honor the history of American Rangers. Since then, the black beret no longer is exclusive to American Ranger forces. Current standard Army uniform includes a black beret with blue flash, The current Ranger beret is tan in color, and Ranger School flashes have been modified to a black and gold design without the powder horn or battle flag. Rangers that are deployed to duty have unit insignia and flashes that are unrelated unique designs.

The original flash shows a powderhorn and tomahawk for early New England Rangers of the French & Indian wars like Roberts, and the Confederate battle flag for southern Rangers like Mosby, and the pathfinder spearhead to honor men like Darby and Merrill of the Second World War. Commercially available shoulder patches similar to the original beret flash, with the inverted tab text logo "Rangers lead the way" are not U.S. Army regulation issue.

http://www.civilwar.com/resources/313-flags/150182-confederate-flag-history.html

The link says that was 1977. I wonder if they are still using it today. If so, it makes no sense to me.

 

[The Tradition]

If we ever have a draft, there's your out.

Good point. Being gay or wearing a dress doesn't work, anymore.

 

[strummingram]

The Rebel Flag saved that kid's life.

 

[The Tradition]

Would this tattoo be "Hate Speech"?

 

[The Tradition]

The link says that was 1977. I wonder if they are still using it today. If so, it makes no sense to me.

Well, you know who was the Commander in Chief in 1977....

 

[soybean]

What about "That was then, and this is now" don't some posters understand?

 

[Trevor4Iowa]

"Southern Pride" is hate speech?

His pride in the south isn't the present day version (under the American flag), it is a pride in its racist and brutal past. Also the confederate flag represents a direct enemy to our armed forces and he should be turned away.

I'd also put him on a watch list because he obviously holds a grudge against our government.

 

[CarolinaHawkeye]

I would hope anyone with a traitorous flag tattoo would be turned away.

 

[ping72]

"Southern Pride" is hate speech?

The Confederate flag is hate speech. Just like the Nazi flag.

 

[The Tradition]

The Confederate flag is hate speech. Just like the Nazi flag.

The word swastika comes from the Sanskrit svastika, which means “good fortune” or “well-being." The motif (a hooked cross) appears to have first been used in Neolithic Eurasia, perhaps representing the movement of the sun through the sky. To this day it is a sacred symbolin Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Odinism.

 

[Jakeleg Jake]

I guess they would have let him in if he had a Tupac or a Biggie B or some other useless drug shithead rapper tatted on his arm...makes perfect sense to me boys.

 

[Jakeleg Jake]

The Confederate flag is hate speech. Just like the Nazi flag.

Idiot post of the day...and it is early yet.

 

[strummingram]

The Confederate flag is hate speech. Just like the Nazi flag.

Is this :

"Freedom" Speech?

It looks like a piece of cloth with stars and stripes on it to me. It doesn't "say" anything at all. I've never heard a flag say a word. I have heard PEOPLE run their mouths, however.

I can assure you of this much; there are places in the world that see that flag above as anything BUT "Freedom." They see it as the source of death and destruction. Symbols are subjective.

 

[The Tradition]

It can only be "hate" speech if it's intended that way by the speaker.

Similar to how the n-word is offensive unless said by certain people in certain contexts.

If the person displaying the flag intends to say "Southern Pride" (as opposed to anything racist), then that's not hate speech.

Growing up in the south, I never viewed it as a symbol of racism. But rather a symbol of rebellion, an independent spirit, and a warning that if the government gets too uppity, the South could rise again. Sure, the south lost the war, but the north didn't take our spirit. That's what the flag means to me.

 

[ThorneStockton]

How many black people from the south get confederate flag tattoos with southern pride emblazoned on it I wonder?

 

[The Tradition]

How many black people from the south get confederate flag tattoos with southern pride emblazoned on it I wonder?

Amazon product ASIN 141207178X

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...whites-believe-represents-Southern-pride.html

http://www.breitbart.com/big-govern...derate-flag-as-black-member-of-veteran-group/

http://conservativetribune.com/black-man-confronts-rebel-flag/

 

[ping72]

The word swastika comes from the Sanskrit svastika, which means “good fortune” or “well-being." The motif (a hooked cross) appears to have first been used in Neolithic Eurasia, perhaps representing the movement of the sun through the sky. To this day it is a sacred symbolin Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Odinism.

Exactly, you just proved my point. It's not what the symbol was originally meant to be/mean. It's not even about the intent of the person who displays the symbol.

 

[The Tradition]

Exactly, you just proved my point. It's not what the symbol was originally meant to be/mean. It's not even about the intent of the person who displays the symbol.

Of course it depends on the intent of the person who displays the symbol. There are millions of people who view the swastika as a sacred symbol of good. Just not so much in the western world.

 

[hawkcub]

No matter what your opinion on the Confederate flag you can't deny it pisses some people off. In this current climate the Marines are taking a proactive stance on this.

 

[strummingram]

Semper Fi, Do or Die... unless it offends someone.

 

[The Tradition]

To put it another way... the symbol, by itself, doesn't tell you the whole story. You have to dig a little deeper.

For example, this person:

Isn't saying the same thing as this person:

 

[Jakeleg Jake]

How many black people from the south get confederate flag tattoos with southern pride emblazoned on it I wonder?

Once again another northerner "weighing in" on southern stuff...

 

[strummingram]

Exactly, you just proved my point. It's not what the symbol was originally meant to be/mean. It's not even about the intent of the person who displays the symbol.

It's not what it was originally meant to be/mean. And, it's not even about the intent of the person who displays it.

So, what is it?

 

[strummingram]

To put it another way... the symbol, by itself, doesn't tell you the whole story. You have to dig a little deeper.

For example, this person:

Isn't saying the same thing as this person:

Bad example of comparison.

Try this:

 

[Jakeleg Jake]

Is this :

"Freedom" Speech?

It looks like a piece of cloth with stars and stripes on it to me. It doesn't "say" anything at all. I've never heard a flag say a word. I have heard PEOPLE run their mouths, however.

I can assure you of this much; there are places in the world that see that flag above as anything BUT "Freedom." They see it as the source of death and destruction. Symbols are subjective.

So what are your views on this shit rag strumming?

 

[The Tradition]

Bad example of comparison.

Try this:

Good point. Since the KKK has hijacked the American flag, we should ban it.

 

[strummingram]

So what are your views on this shit rag strumming?

My views? I have no idea what it is. My view is a black and white image that is supposed to be a flag of some sort.