Here are a couple of articles I just found on events surrounding the flag.
S.C. high court tosses BBQ magnate's suit against grocery stores
[/B][/b]By The Associated Press
04.02.07
COLUMBIA, S.C.  The South Carolina Supreme Court has tossed out a lawsuit filed by barbecue magnate Maurice Bessinger accusing several grocery store chains of unfair trade by not selling his sauce on their shelves.
Nine chains with over 3,000 stores between them removed Bessinger's mustard-based barbecue sauce in 2000 after he raised the Confederate flag over his restaurants in protest of the General Assembly's decision to take the Confederate flag off the top of the Statehouse dome.
News stories at the time also pointed out Bessinger distributed literature at his restaurants with titles like "The South Was Right" and "Myths of American Slavery."
Bessinger sued Bi-Lo, Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Kroger, Publix, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Winn-Dixie and Piggly Wiggly stores, asking for $50 million. He said they violated his right to free speech under the state's Unfair Trade Practices Act by removing his barbecue sauce.
The state Supreme Court recently upheld
rulings by two lower courts that Bessinger's case did not have enough merit to be heard by a jury.
Bessinger attorney Glen Winston LaForce Sr. said the ruling ends Bessinger's legal fight.
"Mr. Bessinger is still proudly flying the Confederate flag. He stood for his principles, and I'm proud of him for that," LaForce said.
<H3>Selecting flags to fly an individual choice</H3>
<H4></H4>
<DIV ="byline">
<DIV ="pubdate">Published Monday, April 2, 2007
<DIV ="pubdate">islandpacket.com
Like many people in Sun City Hilton Head, I fly the American flag, my Marine Corps flag, my college flag and other more seasonal flags on occasion. That is my right, and it would be unacceptable to me for anyone to try and abridge this right or to dictate what flag I fly or when.
Whether my Marine Corps flag offends anyone is irrelevant to me. Perhaps there are Muslims living in Sun City who would be offended by my American flag. That too is irrelevant. I am proud of the history and traditions represented by these flags.
After living in one or another Southern state for almost 50 years, I feel qualified to tell our newfound residents from New Jersey and New York that from Texas to Virginia, Oklahoma through Georgia, one can observe the Confederate flag flown in towns, cities and farmlands. There is a pride in the heritage represented by this flag. To suggest that the flag simply stands for slavery is a fabrication foisted on the majority of the American people by the NAACP, ACLU and other black activist organizations who have successfully flaunted the political power of only 12 percent of the American population.
If you are offended by the flying of the Confederate flag, may I less than respectfully suggest that you return to the state of your origin and try to reconcile yourselves to whatever inadequacies "up there" that caused you to come south in the first place. In short, use I-95 North.
George W. Goodwyn
Bluffton
<DIV id=ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder2_Stories1_NewsArticle01_1_div style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: large" ="newsArticleTitle">Marines toughen policy on tattoos
<DIV id=ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder2_Stories1_NewsArticle01_1_divSub style="FONT-SIZE: small; COLOR: #0066cc">No more 'sleeves' on arms or legs, according to stricter Corps rule
<DIV id=ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder2_Stories1_NewsArticle01_1_divDate style="FONT-SIZE: small; MARGIN: 5px; COLOR: black">Monday, April 02, 2007
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BY JESSICA JOHNSON
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The decision to join the Marines is permanent.
Once a Marine, always a Marine, said Sgt. Jonathan Gilmore, of the U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Command.
"Being in the Marine Corps is tattooed in your heart," he said.
Starting today, Marines can no longer wear that sentiment as an inky sleeve.
New tattoos that cover an entire portion of the arm or leg, sometimes called sleeve tattoos, no longer will be allowed.
Over the years, military regulations on tattoos have changed with tattoos' popularity. Most branches advise service members to avoid tattoos that would be visible in uniform. Any that show are career-limiting, Gunnery Sgt. Daniel Moore said.
Tattoos or brands on the neck or hands are grounds for barring enlistment to most branches with the exception of the Army. Tattoos that are vulgar, sexist, racist or gang-related are prohibited no matter where they are.
Moore said a recent recruit with a possible gang-related tattoo required a letter from the Gang Task Force clearing him of any affiliations before joining the Corps.
Even if a recruit removed the questionable tattoo, Moore said that wouldn't be good enough.
It's more than cleaning up the Marine image, it's also the intent behind the tattoo in the first place, he said.
A tattoo of a Confederate flag might be grounds for denial. A Confederate flag that includes a flag for the state of South Carolina might be allowed, if it's a symbol of state pride, Moore said.
Gilmore took on three tattoos after joining the Corps because he felt it was Marine tradition. The letters USMC cover the side of his arm and a tribal band surrounds it. The tattoo hidden under the sleeve of a T-shirt still would be allowed under the new tattoo policy.
"Being a Marine, that never goes away, it's just a visual representation," Gilmore said.
The tribal tattoo is in blue ink with red drops at the corners. The colors match those found in Marine dress slacks. The navy blue pants have a blood-red stripe down the seam for the Battle of Chapultepec. The 1847 Mexican-American war battle left 138 Americans dead.
Gilmore also has a "meat tag" on his torso, a tattoo of personal identification including his blood type should something happen.
Staff Sgt. Kevin Patton, has seven tattoos, including an English bulldog, a Marine Corps mascot.
"It's a pride issue," he said.
His tattoos also are hidden in long pants and a T-shirt. Even without the new regulations, the men say they would keep tattoos to discreet locations in case they retired and chose a civilian career.
Public Affairs Officer Scott Bassett of Naval Weapons Station Charleston said he hopes tattoo studios learn the policies and advise Marines that a tattoo on the face, neck or hands is a bad idea.
However, most South Carolina Marines won't have to worry about where to put a tattoo. State laws require that anyone younger than 21 have parental consent before receiving a tattoo. That's something service members don't want to hear, considering their parents typically live elsewhere, said Miles Smith, who owns Medieval Tattoo Studio outside Moncks Corner.
"At 18, you're old enough to go to war, but you are not old enough to get a tattoo," Smith said.
Reach
Jessica Johnson at
jjohnson@postandcourier.comor 745-5860.
Edited by: Colonel_Reb