Tuesday, June 23, 2015

NASCAR Comments On Confederate Flag Flap

NASCAR commented today on the ongoing debate over the display of the Confederate Flag. The issue attained front-burner status after the recent shooting at a Charleston, SC church that left nine people dead and others injured.

“As we continue to mourn the tragic loss of life last week in Charleston, we join our nation’s embrace of those impacted,” said a written statement from the sanctioning body. 

“NASCAR supports the position that South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley took on the Confederate Flag on Monday. 

"As our industry works collectively to ensure that all fans are welcome at our races, NASCAR will continue our long-standing policy to disallow the use of the Confederate Flag symbol in any official NASCAR capacity. While NASCAR recognizes that freedom of expression is an inherent right of all citizens, we will continue to strive for an inclusive environment at our events.”

31 comments:

  1. Anonymous12:32 PM

    You need to read what the real meaning of the flag is!!!!

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    1. You have every right to tell people what the flag means to you. You have absolutely NO right to tell anyone else what it means to them. Your reality is not the only reality.

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  2. Anonymous12:54 PM

    And now NASCAR will lose even more fans because they are not allowed to have the Confederate Flag at NASCAR events. I am from the North so I have to admit I don't know how the Confederate Flag is viewed and it's meaning as much in the South but I do know some people from the South are proud to wave that flag. I always viewed it as they were proud to be from the South and nothing more. I never looked at it as racial. Then again; me being white I may have an easier time forgetting what it stood for back when it was created. I just think this is an issue NASCAR shouldn't involve themselves in and now that they have; they targeted a big portion of their fans that they cannot express themselves freely while at NASCAR events.

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    1. "Being white" does tend to influence our perspective, doesn't it?

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    2. Anonymous2:34 PM

      Being white, Black, brown, yellow or even purple has NOTHING to do with learning the history and respecting that there are ALSO NON-hateful southern people who view their confederate flag for other reasons other than hate but that makes too much common sense to accept! Oh, and the LGBT flag seems to draw similar ire but that is politically incorrect to have a stance on that issue either way! Open your mind regardless of the color of skin, DAVE! Most of all, the previous comment from anonymous was correct in that Nascar should keep OUT of these kind of issues While trying to accommodate SOME fans, they are offending others! Dont you/they GET that?? So much for freedom in this country anymore.......smh

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    3. Here's what I get. While accommodating people like you who love the Confederate Flag, we have alienated large numbers of minority fans. But that's OK, apparently.

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    4. Dwayne in Memphis3:13 PM

      The attitude of almost all Americans "if it doesn't negatively affect me, then you (whichever you that is) need to get over it." The fact that it negatively affects another person matters to them not a bit.

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    5. Anonymous3:43 PM

      I am offended, DAVE. I never said I LOVED the confederate flag (nor am I white or from the south) but I DO have respect for others differences and beliefs who are not hate-mongers but your guard is up and accusatory that I must be white and a hater to have such a stance. I realize there are some that believe in the hate but those are obviously people looking for an agenda; there are also others who have a positive belief and pride. But God forbid that could be! The bottom line is, if you dont like the flag then dont buy one nor display it. I dont agree with the negative beliefs of the flag but as Americans, we have that right to believe what we want and who in THE HELL is anyone else to tell someone else how or what to believe?? I dont believe in alot of other issues but I just walk on by and dont force my beliefs or opinions on others. What a freaking concept! AMAAAAZZZZZING!

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    6. Anonymous12:25 PM

      Reply to that one DAVE!!!!!!!

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  3. People chill out it doesn't say a "fan" can't display and NASCAR has taken the stance not to. Big deal

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    1. Anonymous6:29 PM

      Read this article and see if you still think NASCAR isn't determined to ban the Confederate flag at their events:
      http://racing.ap.org/article/nascar-chairman-wants-confederate-flag-eliminated-races-0

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  4. Dwayne in Memphis3:10 PM

    So NASCAR took a stance by saying, we'll continue to not display the flag as an official body, even though we've not been the one to display it all along. Way to take a stand, NASCAR!!

    To this point, feel free to fly whatever flag you like over your house...if you want the world to feel unwelcome at your house, then so be it. As a sport, however, the goal is to get as many people watching/attending as possible. The ugly truth that nobody seems willing to admit or discuss is the blatant position that quite a few NASCAR fans have: They like the "whites only" aspect of NASCAR. I don't mean every fan, and I don't mean NASCAR. But let's face the facts...it's a DEEPLY southern sport - and I can tell you (being from Memphis) race hatred is alive and well in the South. It goes both ways and it's wrong all the way around. You don't believe me, ask nascar fans about the NBA...see often you see "thug" thrown around. That's not true, either, but it's the truth as some nascar fans see it. The confederate flag doesn't help at all. I'm as proud of my southern heritage as anyone...LOVE being from Memphis. I do not own a single confederate flag. The Civil War was over states' rights, not simply slavery. Tell that to an entire group of people who are only in America because their family was brought over as slaves. That flag represents that for them.

    SO, fly it over your house all you want. Tell the entire planet that they're not welcome at your house. As for me, I'd like to see the best drivers driving for the best fans. Color only matters on the color of the car. Leave your flags at home.

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  5. Anonymous3:44 PM

    Dave,
    Your using politics and propaganda to get hits to your blog....and yes I'm one of them.
    However, We should not bring light (media) to the subject. Just make the necessary changes and move on.. What's next to b...h about >?
    Lastly, What does the confederate flag mean to YOU ?

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    1. I don't make a dime on this blog; hits or no hits. And if you don't know what the flag means to me, you clearly haven't read the article.

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  6. So the General Lee is slated for the next Demolition Derby? What's to happen there?

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  7. I am so upset right now I had to write something! I normally listen to you Dave on Sirus radio on my home from work in the evening. Today I just had to shut it off! Really, remove the Confederate Flag because a group of people find it offensive and will not attend nascar races??? Might I ask what will happen when a group is offended by OUR AMERICAN FLAG? Will that also be taken down! What is our great country coming to might I ask!

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    1. Thank God I don't feel the need to plug my ears and run away from comments and topics I disagree with. Tough to learn anything that way.

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  8. Anonymous11:03 PM

    Dave, I was brought up in a household where the story of my Great-Grandfather, Great-Grandmother and Grandfather having a cross burnt on their yard by The Clan was told many times. You better believe my family has zero tolerance for The Clan and what they stand for, and the hate they preach. That being said I was raised that words and symbols meant little and that it was actions done by others should lead me to see how to view others.

    This flag or that flag means nothing to me or anyone in our family. My grandfather didn’t shy away from things when someone used a "symbol" to try and intimidate his family and he would have laughed at the uproar the politically correct within our nation cause when they use situations like this to cause our rights to be ever so slightly taken away.

    My Great-Grandfather, Great-Grandmother, and he stood up and were counted before the cross was burnt in their yard. He continued to do so until he died at 84. That was 70+ years after the event took place. He and my parents taught me to do the same thing. Also, they instilled in me the idea that knee jerk reactions rarely lead to “good” policies. No one can produce a rule/policy that isn't going to cause some discomfort to one group or another. Banning this, shaming this or banning that and shaming that leads all of us down a road that once started upon will not end up in the place it was intended. Having someone else make a decision for you instead of you making the decision shouldn't be something we move towards. You, the Citizen, should care enough to hold on to the idea that you can make the decision. Otherwise, we all lose a bit of our freedoms that are spelled out in the Constitution. See my Grandfather cared about what was "right". He didn't care about what made him feel good.

    Banning a symbol makes you feel good because you can say, "Look, we did something". In reality, you did nothing to solve the problem before you. In this case, the issue is a mentally challenged man who never got the help he needed to take care of his health. In our Nation of so much that should shame all of us.

    BTW, I have been to several races. I have never felt like anyone within the crowd, or Official cared one way or another about my skin color. I was treated the exact same way as everyone else while in attendance.

    Just my 2 cents. I hope your week is a good one!

    MB

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  9. Brad opened my eyes today. I had no idea that the level headed blacks are so offended too. Fans need to leave their flags at home.

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  10. Anonymous7:24 AM

    The right thing to do , about 65 years late , but the right thing .

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  11. Anonymous8:47 AM

    This is Anonymous from 12:54 PM above. Race has always been an issue in this country. If what John Priester from 1:42 PM above said is true then why the heck did NASCAR make a statement about this issue. If nothing changed then keep your mouth shut and don't put yourself in the middle of a highly controversial issue if you don't have to. This is as good a decision as moving races to a tv station not many people get; thus killing ratings.

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  12. Anonymous10:05 AM

    I think we are getting into dangerous territory with this subject. If you read the Washington Posts stories this morning Nascar's statements are already being twisted into something else. The effects might not be felt immediately, but Nascar will continue its decline, accelerated due to this. For the sake of all employed by Nascar or any affiliated bodies, you better hope you draw some new fans, because this will probably finish alienating the core fan base. All they had to do was not comment. What would Bill France have done? I think he would have watched and listened, but would have never taken the chance at running off any of the fans that are left.

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    1. My guess is that NASCAR commented on this because it was the right thing to do.

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    2. Anonymous9:50 AM

      I think the opposite... My guess is that you will see a huge increase of folks who will display the battle flag (this is not the confederate flag). Not only that but I'd wager the attitude among fans will now be racially hostile. I'm not asserting that as a whole, but in pockets.
      In my opinion racism is like a pendulum. As long as you keep pushing it in one way or another it's going to keep swinging. As long as the likes of white supremacy groups or black supremacy groups have a microphone, as long as the like of Al Sharpton and other racist organizers are given the podium via the media, racism will remain alive and well. My children knew nothing of racism until they became aware of what was being spread throughout the news... until they saw riots and racial organizers being give the limelight.
      My problem with your stance Dave, is you seem to be ok with going along with the uneducated, lowest common denominator. I don't fly a battle flag, but people who do and do it for the correct reasons shouldn't be labeled racists. What's wrong with educating? Do we now not tolerate the religion of Islam because so many have perverted the Koran to justify terrorists acts? Do we allow the Bible to be portrayed as the Westboro Baptist Church would like for you to believe? Should we support the removal of George Washington and many other historical icons from their place of prominence because they were slave owners? Do we not educate and inform those ignorant of the fact that northern states were the last to ratify the 13th Amendment and abolish slavery? How about the fact that Robert E Lee freed his slaves before the war was over while Grant held on to his long after? The KKK has their own flag and this is not it. You may be ok with the dumbing down of the public to the lowest common denominator but many of us are not. Ignorance is a dangerous trait.

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    3. Isn't it amazing how 99 percent of the people who preach about the "uneducated, lowest common denominator" never dare to use their real name?

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  13. Dwayne in Memphis4:20 PM

    The same people have been "done with NASCAR" for 30 years. They were done when Jeff Gordon won 3 cups in 4 years (and called him gay). They were done when Toyota said it was coming to NASCAR. They were done when Darlington had its date changed. They were done when Rockingham was lost. They were done when Miami got the last race instead of Atlanta. They were done when the COT had a wing. They were done over a hundred other inconsequential decisions. Now they're done because NASCAR says they'll continue to not fly a flag in an official capacity that they've not flown anyway. If you're gonna leave, then just leave.

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    1. Dwayne, this is absolutely brilliant. Well said!

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  14. Dave, you've enjoyed a successful career broadcasting and discussing a sport with a group of fans have proudly flown their Confederate Flags for many decades now. How hypocritical that you wait till now to maximize your objection to that flag's display while callers and listeners kept your shows on the air. If the flag is intimidating as you say it is, then what other flags are next just because some people object to the people who fly them. Many people around the world are intimidated by our American flag...and if you say "well it's a national flag so it's not the same", well what about the Marine Corps flags flying over bases in Iraq, etc. I'm pretty sure it has caused a few people to "cross the street" and run from those dogs! Freedom of expression doesn't mean you have to like it but it can't be a double standard when it's convenient or newsworthy. If the shooter had been a different race would we be having this discussion???

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    1. You have a short memory. We have debated this issue on many occasions during the 12-year run of SiriusXM Speedway.

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  15. Anonymous7:24 AM

    Tell me guys what exactly is the crime this flag did? It didnt make that kid kill those people it didnt pull the trigger it sure the hell didnt hold a gun to that guys head........so again what crime did the flag commit? U all voice your opinions how would all of u feel if they took that away from you? U wouldnt like it right? To me thats what all u are asking these southern people to do.......who cares they want to fly there flag at nascar......i think if they cant fly there flag then they should take beer away too..........being drunk is a crime but yet nascar is ok with that.........why is it ok to help fuel something illegal but u take away these southern folks right........and for the ones of u who said fly it in your home or musem how bout u want to drink or walk round half naked then stay home and do it there own home!!!!!!!!!!

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  16. I agree on letting people have the right to choose to fly their flags. Southern people have supported Nascar for over 30 years now. What's the harm to keep the fans what they want. It should not be left up to Nascar, but the fans. I am from GA and believe our forefathers have the right to have their flag flying. The flag was not the reason this kid did what he did. It was what had been embedded in in his and I would not be at all surprised if a black group put him up to it just to start trouble. There are too many good people white and black who believe history is history. I will never take my flag down and if I go to a race I will fly it with honor as I do our American Flag. All these men fought for what they believed in as do our soldiers do now. My remark to Nascar "You are making a huge mistake by removing this all important flag. And, yes, I was a fan of Dale, Jr., but now I don't know so much. Ann, GA

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