Mayor Peyton Wikipedia.com Entry
There is currently a very interesting wikipedia.com listing on Mayor John Peyton. We're not sure how long it will be there, so we thought we would copy and paste the text here. It is currently under the External Links section of the mayor's wikipedia profile.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/192
It wasn't me. In fact, I may go remove much fo the portions that are speculative as that's not the purpose of Wikipedia.
Jim, you are a do gooder! I bet you wrote that entry.
The Mayor is NOT responsible for confederate memorabelia in Gate Stores, that is a reach. If he lets the Human Relations Commission do a study on the Fire Department, he should be prepared and expected the outcome he got. But the paper said he had not read the report as of the meeting with the HRC chairman when he told him he was not going to do the firing recommendation!!! He probably did not read the purchase order for the stores as it came throgh, that related to confederate items.
When will African Americans put the past behind them. Of course there is racism, but bringing it up ever free moment they have does not help the cause. If anything I get more disgusted.
I think the African American culture should worry about the millions of young men behind bars, the vicious cycle of welfare and early mothers. Get out and speak with the young black youths to educate them on the benfits of education.
Also they need to put the focus into family. It is a shame that many black mothers are left to fend for themselves.
Stop complaining about racism and fix all the issues in the black community.
Jim,
I think pointing out racism, either within overtly political situations or not, has as much a place as does procuring solutions to the systemic racism you emphasize.
Also - you spelled benefits wrong.
When will the south put its racist past behind them? Answer...It cant it seems to be ingrained in the souths very fiber. Its a disgrace and yet seems to be embraced. Confederate license plates sanctioned by the state, Confederate army reenactments, redneck olympics its just pathetic.
Your Fox news talking points flow from your mouth very easily because you are not a member of an ethnic group that has been systematically denied opportunity in this country for the past 200 years. The ills you refer to are not the root cause of the problem but just the end result of the myriad of core problems that face black americans in this country.
Whoa, we have 2 Jim's it would seem. I'm the first Jim. This could get confusing.
PS: It has since been removed from Wiki.
Check out the site www.bantheconfederateflag.com. It looks as though this is where it may have orginated.
I also googled the following website, maintained by the same person:
http://www.palmcoastnews.com
It's too bad that we found this topic so late, because it really is worth discussing. I would like to see the Confederate flag banned.
Do you really think that the Payton family doesn't scrutinize the products they sell? I've overheard clerks indicate that it is against corporate policy to sell "rolling papers" and "explicit magazines". Gate is very conscious of their image. They chose to allow the sale of the Confederate flag, despite the controversy.
An overwhelming majority of people who display the Confederate flag do so simply because they love the South. We are not racists, and we are not anti-American. However, we do celebrate the fact that in terms of culture and values we are not like the North. Those of you who don't like it should go back where you came from instead of trying to ram your culture and values down other people's throats. Funny how tolerance and diversity only applies to certain PC-approved groups.
Linda, nobody can "ban" the confederate flag because of the US Constitution. Our commitment to freedom is why neo-Nazi groups are allowed to march, and ironically, why Dr. King was allowed to overcome racism in the South a generation ago. America is a free country, and whether a Confederate Flag is owned by a proud southerner or by a racist, I completely support their right to buy, sell, and fly it. And so should you.
Ivey,
It is because of our Constitution that we can ban the Confederate flag. We can't yell "fire" in a crowded theatre of threaten to kill the President.
The Swastika and the Confederate flag have distinct differences. The Confederate flag existed only as a symbol of an enemy state of the United States. We still haven't learned our lesson of the Oklahoma City bombing. Anti-American symbols are dangerous and can affect human behavior.
This is copied directly from the US Constitution (it's the First Amendment):
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Flying a flag is recognized with tons of precedents as freedom of speech.
Now, it's your turn...simply find me the words in the Constitution that outlaw flags of enemies of the United States, and we can get to work banning the flags of The Confederacy, Great Britain, Japan, Germany (yes, Linda, the Nazis were enemies of the United States), Italy, Korea, Spain and VietNam-every country we have ever been at war with.
I understand your point that you view it as anti-American, but the US Constitution is all about limiting the power of government. The government simply does not have the authority to tell anybody what flag they can fly.
Actually, the government can limit speech. You can't yell "fire" in a crowded theatre and you can't display pornography.
The U.S. Constitution provides in pertinent part, “Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort…†"Adhering to" means to support or have a firm belief in. Displaying a flag is the most fundamental type of support. And the Confederate battle flag primarily existed as a tool to kill U.S. soldiers on the battlefield.
Notwithstanding the aforementioned, the Congress could ban the flag because of its secondary effects. We have the right to bear arms, but we can't carry guns on a plane to protect the safety of other passengers. One only has to look at Tim McViegh and the Oklahoma City bombing to see the effects of anti-American beliefs can have on human behavior.
Please go to visit: www.bantheconfederateflag.com
You said: "And the Confederate battle flag primarily existed as a tool to kill U.S. soldiers on the battlefield.'
The flag never killed anyone. But I think you meant, "The Confederate battle flag was a symbol of those who killed U.S. soldiers on the battlefield." You are forgetting though that the "U.S. flag was also a symbol of those who killed U.S. soldiers on the battlefield."
Remember...it a CIVIL war.
Linda was right in indicating that it was a "tool" used to kill U.S. soldiers. The flag was used as a guide to dress-right and make quick formations so that shots could be fired.
You could be silly and say that cnnons never killed soldiers, cannon balls did. Either way, I think you missed the point.
Also, the Confederate soldiers killed were not considered American soldiers. In fact, General Lee wasn't granted his US citizenship back until 1976, posthumesly under President Ford.
I've seen the website and it make sense. I guess it would depend on your views of the Confederate flag before viewing the site.
I thought the argument that selling Confederate memorabilia supports terrorism was compelling. People often forget about the Oklahoma City bombing and who Tim McVeigh was.
I will boycott Gate Petroleum and anyone else who sells the Confederate flag.
Furthermore, Mayor Peyton's office referred to the political ad that depicts him with a Confederate flag as reprehensible. Was it also reprehensible for his family owned business to sell items depicting the Confederate flag? If not, I see some hypocracy.
Linda, I will grant you that you have a well researched opinion. You and I illustrate the classic difference between judicial liberalism (you found some text, and when you interpret this and define that, voila, you have "interpreted" the Constitution to say exactly what you wanted it to say) and judicial conservatism (I checked if the Constitution prohibits flying the flag of our enemies, and it wasn't there).
Question: why is slavery illegal? Is it illegal because somebody "interpreted" that some text in the Constitution means that slavery is illegal? No, it's because of the 13th Amendment, which clearly states that slavery is illegal in these United States.
Congratulations that you cleverly found something in the Constitution that could possibly be interpreted to support what you want to do. You aren't alone...there are lots and lots of people who subscribe to that same theory. They are called liberals, and unfortunately for them, the Supreme Court just added two very young, very conservative justices.
I say again, the Constitution doesn't prohibit the flying of flags of our enemies. Therefore, the government can't ban it. If you want to ban it, try to get a Constitutional Amendment like the anti-flag burning crowd is doing.
Anyone who finds the Confederate flag offensive should boycott Gate Petroleum. The company makes itself look backwards and dull-minded by selling novlety items bearing the Confederate flag.
Since when is wanting to ban the celebration of treason a liberal issue. Its a conservative issue. The ACLU would not support a ban of the Confederate flag, but many veterans groups would. It was a veteran's group, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), that originally tried to get the flag band in the early 1900's.
Having clean bathrooms was a reason to stop at Gate gas stations. Selling the Confederate flag is a very good reason to stop supporting a gas station, even if they have clean restrooms.
I won't stop at Gate anymore.
The Confederate battle flag is inherently anti-American. The flag only existed as a symbol of an army that wanted to break up the United States.
We have a California man who is being tried for treason for making an al Qeda video. Displaying a Confederate battle flag and stating, "the South will rise again", is tantamount to wearing an al Qeda t-shirt and shouting death to America.
Why did this get posted to Metro Jacksonville anyway? Seems like an awkward attempt at a political smear and is out of place for the forum.
What do you mean a political smear? If a company sells Confederate memorabilia, they deserve to be criticized.
Are you defending the sale of the Confederate flag? Selling novelty items depicting the Confederate flag is against the law in the state of Florida.
Florida Statute 256.051 - Improper use or mutilation of state or Confederate flag or emblem prohibited.-- Reads, in pertinent part:
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to copy, print, publish, or otherwise use the flag or state emblem of Florida, or the flag or emblem of the Confederate States, or any flag or emblem used by the Confederate States or the military or naval forces of the Confederate States at any time within the years 1860 to 1865, both inclusive, for the purpose of advertising, selling, or promoting the sale of any article of merchandise whatever within this state.
So please explain how revealing that a company is behaving badly and exhibiting anti-American sentiments is a political smear?
its just a damn flag. get over it. this whole discussion is a waste of time. the problem with you people is that you cant forget the past....its the past. give it a break...and forget that crap about remembering the past to learn from mistakes. if we still have the problems then theyre in the present! the point is racism still exists and it always will because we are not all the same and some people are ignorant and intolerant of people who are different. let them isolate themselves as the world is diversified, and GET OVER IT!!!
If its a waste of time, then why did you bother to post? The flag is offensive, and as one poster pointed out, illegal.
The symbol is banned from most schools and should be banned from all public places. Most polls indicate that more than 75% of Americans are offended by it, either because of its association with racism or association with treason.
Tim McVeigh, a known Confederate flag waver, killed 168 people because of his anti-American views. The symbol needs to be banned and shouldn't be protected speech. So... you GET OVER IT!!!!
Linda - it's a smear because you're implying that the Mayor is racist because the gas stations his family owns sells offensive trinkets. The implication would be ridiculous even if Mayor Peyton had a hand in the day to day operations of the stores. You're trying to smear the mayor and whip up racial discord over a non-issue.
donna, i dont have any sort of problem with wether the flag stays or goes, i just have a problem with you wasting your breath on a forum if you arent going to do anything about it. now stop complaining and change it if you want it to go. if 75% of us are offended then you should have no problem pushing something thru our courts so until then....GET OVER IT!!!
Who claims the mayor is racist? We just claim that his family-owned business is anti-American and breaking the law by selling the Confederate flag in the state of Florida. Its not a "smear" compaign. We're just pointing out facts.
Gate sued the federal government when the military used eminent domain to seize Blount Island. Would Gate have sued the Confederacy? Or just the U.S. government? Displaying the Confederate flag and then going after the federal government for more money, after they paid $106 million for property to be used by our military, when we're at war, is evidence of being anti-American.
You are here to push your way around, and draw your ounce of blood from everyone. I would highly recommend everyone stop wasting their time with this group, and their anti-first amendment crusade.
BTW, this is coming from someone who grew up in the North.
Subversive and seditious speech was not intended to be protected speech by our forefathers. For proof of that, one only has to look at the U.S. Constitution, which provides, in pertinent part, "Treason against the United States shall only consist of levying war or in adhering to their Enemies..." If a person adheres to something, they support it or hold a firm belief in it. Displaying a flag is probably the most fundamental form of support, or demonstration of a firm belief in something.
We are currently prosecuting a California man for treason after participating in Al Qeda video tapes. Are you going to defend him, too? Or are you a hypocrate?
Mr. McDonald is correct. Slogans like, "the South will rise again", combine with the Confederate flag is threatening the United States. Anyone who promotes such talk should be locked up in Gitmo
Gate isn't making enough money gouging us for gasoline at $2.55 a gallon. Now they have to take money away from our military budget while we're at war.. I'll choose Kangaroo from now on.
I won't shop at Gate anymore because they removed the Confederate flag. They caved in to political pressure. They're cowards.
Gate is an anti-American company and should be boycotted by loyal Americans. Any company that sells the Confederate flag is doing more than celebrating treason. They are encouraging anti-American behavior.
The crime in Jacksonville is out of control. Is the mayor doing enough? His family-owned business buys a lot of property in Jacksonville. How could the mayor benefit from higher crime? Is the mayor's family buying land dirt-cheap in high-crime areas? Will that land significantly increase in value when he does decide to get a handle on crime? If so, he and his family could make millions of dollars by manipulating the real estate market.
I happened across these comments and I cant believe what alot of you think. First let me say that the confederate flag has been around longer than any of us and will continue to be around longer then us. Those of you who believe that the flag is a threat simply because Tim Mcveigh had one, Gate sells them, Or, the flag is racist are going against the very fabric of this nation. What gives any one of us the right to decide it should be outlawed or banned? Everyone is entitled to their opinion. But when others believe that only their opinion is right and we should ban objects such as flags and guns thats just plain stupid! And as far as crime in this city...give me a break! The mayor isnt responsible for crime. The problem is we wont lock these hoodlums up for any significant amount of time. Look at the rap sheets of those who ACTUALLY COMMIT THE CRIMES. My great country is going to the dogs.
The Florida legislature can decide to ban the sale of certain items. And they've banned the sale of merchandise depicting the Confederate flag, FL Statute 256.051.
We must distinguish between dissent and being disloyal. Millions of soldiers dies so that other could voice their dissent. I don't believe that one soldier ever served so that someone could be disloyal. It is wrong to celebrate treason, especially when we have troops in harms way.
The Confederate flag is a very devisive symbol and should be banned from public view, like pornography. If you want to worship ideas that have been long discedited, do it in the privacy of your home.