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Confederate Flag: Appropriate for Walpole High?
April 15, 2010
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Adam Riegel, Author
Angela • Jul 14, 2021 at 4:04 am
I’m black and attended Walpole high and I can say with my chest that I experienced racism and ignorance in this school for years, I’m glad the name is gone, it should’ve been a while ago.
Mike • Sep 17, 2012 at 10:32 am
With all of that being said; Walpole still has a dilemma and that’s their mascot, the rebel:
In all realities it’s not really a dilemma atoll. Samuel Adams will go down as this countries greatest rebel against the most powerful Country in the world. A title they held until that enemy flag in question appeared for the first time. So indeed Massachusetts and her flag could be regarded as the original rebels. Then in 1812 the Essex Junto spearheaded by non other than John Lowell Jr. esq. met for the Hartford Convention to discuss as they called it ‘Mr. Madison’s War’ and possibly the secession of New England from the Union because NE was staunchly in opposition to a war with the greatest power on the planet, that was surely going to thrash us. NE’s representatives had no misgivings on what a war with England was going to result in. John Lowell Jr.’s nickname was indeed ‘The Rebel’. Because of the Essex Junto’s stand on war with England; England spared New England from the ravages of war but indeed ravaged the South and our nations capital as well. So Massachusetts is very much in line with a mascot of that distinction. You actually have a choice in deciding which era to go with.
God Speed Walpole; I’m confident that the right thing will be done here.
Mike • Sep 17, 2012 at 9:27 am
Unfortunately, this flag to some unsuspecting student who sees it only as a symbol of school spirit is lost in the real meaning of this flag that is very much alive in this world as a symbol of its original intent. I’m sorry that a school system in Massachusetts decided when it did decades ago to display it as the school colors. It’s mind boggling that they did in the first place seeing that their fathers fought against this flag resulting in the death of more Americans than in ALL of our wars combined to-date. Fathers that are in the grave that defended the flag of our Union against that flag of anarchy and are buried in that same town. Where’s the respect for those guys? I’m here to tell you if they had a voice that flag never in a million years would have ever been considered.
But there it is; a flag that symbolizes Walpole’s academic pride to the kids that go there today and for the past decades that this mistake was initiated.
The fact is, and Walpole today is in full recognition of the fact that this symbol IS a symbol of suppression to the black race and IS a slap in the face to those glorious troopers that stoop up against that flag of anarchy against the flag of Washington. As an avid reader of American history and the son of a Union trooper who was wounded in the fight to save this nation from the slave aristocracy that incited a war to protect their property and expand it to the new territories; I find that flag to be not only offensive and insulting, I find it a slap in the face to those veterans of Walpole and the rest of this great nation that stood up against it saving this country, the greatest country on the planet. There is no place as I know that Walpole of today understands, for that flag not only on Union soil; but anywhere in this country.
jon • Oct 8, 2011 at 1:13 am
its history not racism! dont lose tradition!
Fly It High • Jun 3, 2010 at 5:10 pm
I can see the point of view of those who are against the flag, but the flag at this particular site/town has nothing to do with racism. People need to stop making a big deal out of nothing and let it be. Honestly, to all of the people who think they have an idea of what they are talking about, if you have never played sports for Walpole (especially football) you wouldn’t understand the school pride side of it. Sam Obar, along with many other people debating this topic, will never understand what the confederate flag means to Walpole High School students. The flag in Walpole was never meant to be seen as racism and it hasn’t created any major problems. No members of the student body are going around bullying blacks or committing hate crimes. The majority of the students dont care about the flag either way. It’s the politically correct people who need to stop making a big deal about this topic because its doing nothing beneficial for anybody. There are bigger problems to be taking care of than a flag that represents school pride, and only school pride. The man has every right to hang it there and no pathetic petition can change that. Everybody has to stop being so anal about such a small “problem.” Most of the colored students don’t mind it because they are willing to put the racist meaning of the flag behind them, which is where it belongs. The flag may used to represent racism but people need to look past that fact and realize that this has nothing to do with being racist. So until the school/town starts committing hate crimes and singling out black students, there is no need to draw attention to a flag that, once again, represents SCHOOL PRIDE. They already took away the football teams fight song, “Dixie,” because it was the “politically correct” thing to do. Black students on the team were fine with the song and now it is no longer being taught. The only problem there is is the one being created by the population who believe they are doing something right for the sake of the school by making this a news story. LET THE FLAG FLY. It is not causing any real problems at the school or in the town. The Rebels is the mascot of the school not because of the way they are portrayed in the American Revolution, but simply because it is a cool name. I mean what is a “Hilltopper” anyway? Back to the flag. Those who are trying to bring about a rise of the people against the flag are the only ones who are creating a problem. People are going out of their way to bring attention to this matter. LET THE SLEEPING DOG LIE. Nearly every player, whatever sport it may be, enjoys being called a Rebel. This is clearly not because they enjoy being seen as a “racist.” To depict Walpole as racist due to the flag of their mascot is just ridiculous. Stop trying to make this into something that it doesn’t have to be.
wsweeney • May 30, 2010 at 7:58 am
I guess the liberal media starts young
Dont let it bother you • May 25, 2010 at 3:32 pm
I dont see the big deal. I think that it shouldnt bother people, its just school spirt anyways nothing rasist. What im trying to get at is soon all the sports teams will be called by there colors because there is something “rasist” about it, and I think it should be stoped before all high school sports are ruined because a small group of politically correct people need everyone to be happy. I think the flag is a great way to show school spirt and I think it should be allowed to be used as the school mascot.
The Rebellion • Apr 16, 2010 at 9:31 am
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