Was Auburn city councilman Arthur Dowdell wrong for taking Confederate Flags off of the graves of Confederate soldiers at Pine Hill Cemetery?

Not only was southern heritage insulted I feel it was outright vandalism.Councilman Dowdell's lack of intelligence concerning the Confederate flag represents a lack of information not only on his part but of many others. His lack of respect for a people trying to remember their heritage and honor their ancestors shows a total lack of respect for people he should realize has the same rights as others.

we also have one in cumberland ,md. flowers and flags which is the st. andrews cross,its time for the s.c.v.hdqs.to do something about this or its going to get worse.

He was wrong and should be charged with theft and or vandalism of the graves.He had absolutely no right whatsoever to do this. I see a lot of things that "offend" me but I just ignore it. This guy just wanted to make like he did something great and I see he made sure that a camera was there.Slavery no longer exists in the U.S. and hasn't for generations. Leave our heritage and graves of our most honored ancestors alone.

Is this not theft of property? Or even destruction of private property for breaking the flag? You CANNOT just walk up in a cemetery and remove or destroy items on the cemetery property! Where is the police in this matter?

I believe Mr. Dowdell is an ignorant arrogant man. He did this just soo he could be seen on camera! I graduated in 2007 from Auburn High School, and can say that if putting a Confederate Flag out is offensive then my entire education is worthless! He can't do this! He broke the law! He stole items, and broke items! That's theft and vandalism! He should not have this insidious and flagrant use of his power just to do what he wants!! I want to see him arrested! He is not above the law!

He needs to take a lesson in History Class! We spend half of our lives learning about African American History and we get to see them march and celebrate and wear Black Panther Symbols on their clothing, yet when I put out a Confederate flag I'm RACIST AND OFFENSIVE! That's not only a double standard it's absurd! We get 1 Day to celebrate our heritage and he's trying to take this away from us! I'm offended and appalled that we not only let him get away with it but 97% of the people polled here said that he was wrong and yet nothing has happened. We are a country based on majority rules (if you don't believe that please look at how we elect people), yet we spend most of our time appealing to the minority thus getting away from what we were originally intended to do...but I digress, if we are a majority then this poll shows he was wrong and most comments say that they would like to see him arrested and tried like any other citizen for this...so let's see it!

I remember when I was in school we toured the cemetery...I was PROUD of my heritage and still am! I had family in the Civil War and am PROUD that they fought and died for what they believed! When we toured that cemetery they told us that to damage ANYTHING in the cemetery was a crime and everyone was held accountable for their actions! So I guess I was lied to about that if something doesn't happen to him now!

It is so amazing to me that this man thinks his race is being descriminated against.... for instance... Does anybody know which month is White american month? There isn't one. There also isn't a caucasion american college fund, or a miss white america pageant. I do not agree with slavery... never have. There is no excuse for the abuse that those poor people suffered. It was disgraceful. But we have come a long way since those days. Blacks are included in every white event, they can be olympians, miss america, President of the united states... just as a white man can. But if a white man were to come up with a college fund that excluded black children ... or if we were to have a beauty pageant only for white women... or a month honoring only white history.. We would all be racist and would all be drug in to court for hate crimes.

My Great Great Grandfather is buried at. I had better not hear of anyone taking a Confederate Flag off his grave that I have put there.

I had better not hear of anyone taking a Confedrate Flag off my GG Grandfathers grave. That is my familys piece of land and is private property as far as we are concerned. You step on it and you are transpassing and stealing!
Its a sad day when someone thinks he has the authority to rob anothers grave...we use to call this "grave-robbing".

this man is a minister? or a racist,bigot like wright,jackson or sharpton?
bishop is a office in the christian church,the action of this man is anti-christ.
may he find forgiveness for this evil,thoughtless act of lawlessness.

I see a lot of things that offends me; does that give me the right to do as I please? I for one am sick of all the attempts to receive attention for something that happened 200 hundred years ago. If these people had an education they would know the slaves were captured and sold by their own people, therefore are they themselves not the ones to blame?
I have never owned a slave or known anyone who has. I have never been in the KKK or known anyone who has. If part of the American history offends anyone, then perhaps they should consider returning to their own native land.
I'll chip in a few bucks for the boat ride, or maybe we can get some stimulus money to pay for it. That would sure boost the economy in our town because people would not be in danger by simply going into town and shopping.

The Civil War was not over slavery; therefore, how could a Confederate Flag be offensive? It is a part of history. Economics was the real reason. Freeing of slaves was just a tiny part.
I believe all men are created equal and should be treated equal.
This councilman must be ashamed of his race, or just plain ignorant. Either way, he should be arrested and prosecuted for his crime for destruction to grave sites.

Respectfully,

Kenny

It will be interesting to see what happens.

Are you saying that “we” as ancestors of Soldiers who fought in the “War Between the States” are not allowed to decorate their graves with the flag of which they fought? What about the soldiers graves of WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam and the most recent wars in Middle East bearing American Flags. Funny thing has it National Cemeteries; those having both American and Confederate Soldiers have flags on their graves indicating their allegiance, no one seems to be offended. Putting flags on Confederate Soldiers graves has nothing to do with “HATE”, unless you want it to appear that way. Is this what you’re teaching your children? It appears that way, no wonder you pick up the newspaper every night and all you see is black against black killing. Seems to me that you’re people killing each other off faster than the KKK ever could, and your worried about a Confederate Flag on the grave of a brave soldier who fought for what he thought was right. I think you need to rethink your motive. Are you offended because it is your way of getting attention? Well you need to get in your Big Boy Drawers because little children do things to get attention too, negative attention most often. Accept my heritage as I have accepted yours. Are you so insecure that you have to have a 200 year old crutch to lean on? If the flag represents slavery to you, you might need to research and find out how your ancestors came about being here in the first place. Have you forgotten that your own people sold your people into slavery in a lot of cases? If I was you, I would thank them every day; at least you’re among civilization in a country where you have the right to verse your opinion, as do I. But that does not give you the right to take from others, and desecrate ones grave. You don’t have to agree with me, but it does mean we have to respect each other. Leave the Flag on the graves alone! My Confederate ancestors were born and raised in the south and none of them ever owned the first slave, and most of who fought in the War Between the States didn’t. They were hard working people just trying to make a way to feed their wife and children and if you think they liked being away from them to go away to war and in some of them coming back in a box on the back of a wagon, you need to think again.
Dowdell, stick to things that matter in your position as councilman, and leave your racism at home. There is no place for it in politics in the state of Alabama. Mayor, you need to control your people. If someone made a racist remark like your councilman has done, their employment would be terminated the next day.

Are you saying that “we” as Descedants of Soldiers who fought in the “War Between the States” are not allowed to decorate their graves with the flag of which they fought? What about the soldiers graves of WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam and the most recent wars in Middle East bearing American Flags. Funny thing has it National Cemeteries; those having both American and Confederate Soldiers have flags on their graves indicating their allegiance, no one seems to be offended. Putting flags on Confederate Soldiers graves has nothing to do with “HATE”, unless you want it to appear that way. Is this what you’re teaching your children? It appears that way, no wonder you pick up the newspaper every night and all you see is black against black killing. Seems to me that you’re people killing each other off faster than the KKK ever could, and your worried about a Confederate Flag on the grave of a brave soldier who fought for what he thought was right. I think you need to rethink your motive. Are you offended because it is your way of getting attention? Well you need to get in your Big Boy Drawers because little children do things to get attention too, negative attention most often. Accept my heritage as I have accepted yours. Are you so insecure that you have to have a 200 year old crutch to lean on? If the flag represents slavery to you, you might need to research and find out how your ancestors came about being here in the first place. Have you forgotten that your own people sold your people into slavery in a lot of cases? If I was you, I would thank them every day; at least you’re among civilization in a country where you have the right to verse your opinion, as do I. But that does not give you the right to take from others, and desecrate ones grave. You don’t have to agree with me, but it does mean we have to respect each other. Leave the Flag on the graves alone! My Confederate ancestors were born and raised in the south and none of them ever owned the first slave, and most of who fought in the War Between the States didn’t. They were hard working people just trying to make a way to feed their wife and children and if you think they liked being away from them to go away to war and in some of them coming back in a box on the back of a wagon, you need to think again.
Dowdell, stick to things that matter in your position as councilman, and leave your racism at home. There is no place for it in politics in the state of Alabama. Mayor, you need to control your people. If someone made a racist remark like your councilman has done, their employment would be terminated the next day.

I am a soldier in the united states army. i served 18 months proudly in iraq. Me and my fellow brothers in arms have blessed you with the FREEDOM to come and go as you please. And this is how you repay us. i'm not looking for a medal or a hand out. just a little dang respect for laying my life out on the line for you COUNCILMAN ARTHUR L. DOWDELL. I WISH I WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE WHEN YOU DID THAT TO MY FELLOW COMMRADES. I WOULD HAVE PUT YOU IN YOUR PLACE. AND THATS STILL UP FOR DEBATE. And if the city of auburn doesn't do something about this SOON. Which i know it will probably get thrown under the bridge. And your gonna hear that the family has to press charges. That is a bald face lie. the D.A. office can choose to take matters up with him. And for the record the civil war WASN'T ABOUT SLAVERY!!!!!!!!!! WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE READ A HISTORY BOOK!!!! And you said that the confederate flag stood for the k.k.k. and racism? Why don't you man up and strap on some boots and go across seas with me buddy. And learn what our flags ( plural ) really stand for. CAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT MY FLAGS REPRESENTS. you wanted your 15 minutes of fame. well you got them now. cause over 700 people and counting knows who you are now. and come election time i hope they still remember. which you should go to jail for the criminal acts you commited, but we will see how much the city of auburn and the people we elected into office really cares about us troops.

http://www.pointsouth.com/csanet/kkk.htm Historical sight about the KLAN, with photos going back to the 1920's. Funny thing is ... in all the photos, is a MARKED ABSENCE of Confederate FLAGS. Mr. Dumbutt may want to check this site out.. and he 'd get over his PETTY Intimidations.

Either way, SIR YOU OWE that WHITE lady an APOLOGY

Arthur Dowdell deserves to be lynched for this. Look out Auburn, Hal Turner is coming.

Back in the 60's I stood up for blacks. But in the last few years i have learned
That today's blacks think everything that white people do that they don't like
Is racist. Where are my rights now? As long as everything that white people do is seen as racist there will always be racist people .I was not a racist back in the 60's but if I 'am now the blacks of today have made me one.

As my mother told me a long time ago, let someone talk and they will show you how ignorant they are and you don't have to ask. If someone had treated Martin Luther King's grave in this disrespect, we would have another burning of businesses downtown.

Maybe the city councilman, for lack of other names to call him, needs to go back to school and see exactly what the Civil War was all about. It was okay for the people to fight the Brittish when we parted from England and the Queen. But is is not okay fo rteh Southerners to show the respect of their heritage when we parted from the Union that took our money then freeded the workers we had purchased with our hard earned money. If the new care dealer sold the councilmana new car truck for his farm and then the finance company came and took the truck and left the councilman pennyless with no recourse, would he be angry? That's in essence what the south did when Lincoln had freed the workers they used to purchase the workers. If the southern farmers had been given their money back for their investment, there would not have been a "civil war". Why is this so hard to understand? They wern't treated fair then and their ancestors are not being treated fair now. The councilman should be impeached because of his flagrant violation of the law.

Councilman Dowdell should a least be removed from office, if not arrested for the crimes that he committed and the comments that he has made in this matter. If this had been a white councilman removing flags or symbols from a black gravesite, he/she would have been arrested and removed from office before the ink was dry on the newspaper and the entire black community would be wanting their head on a plater, well, now let us just see what the City of Auburn will do about this, but as the comments in the paper are any indication, then nothing will be done!

Mr. Dowdell : You are a Ignorant , Arrogant Man !.

I am tired of the double standard in this country. Mr. Dowdle is nothing more than a rascist and a ignorant fool. He is a disgrace to the citizens of Auburn. He should be arrested for vandalism.

Actions like this should be a wakeup call to everyone who is incensed at this action. Now is the time to join the UDC or SCV, who has the political clout and numbers to standup to this outrage when our elected officials are scared to. Membership in the SCV and UDC is available to anyone who has an ancestor who was in the Confederate military. (www.scv.org and www.hqudc.org) Do it now before it is too late.

GREAT!!! We have a full month of "black history month" but one day for the confederate soldiers on their GRAVES as if they were going to rise up and do someone any harm. What an idiot!!! Maybe this shows Auburn's intelligence by electing an idiot to serve them. Yes, I said to SERVE them. He takes the Auburn's tax money for his salary to break the law by stealing the falgs on the graves of helpless people. If the Confederatses were alive he wouldn't go in and steal their property. He'd be shot or hung as they did back then.
Councilman, when you take something that doesn't belong to you, it's called THEFT and should be punished, not by a fine but, 30 days in jail and removed from office. You, like Nixon, violated the trust of the people and you should be removed from office as he was. You are a disgrace to the entire city of Auburn!!! Any Councilman that would justify what you have done, should also be removed from office as a cohort.

The man who removed flags from Confederate graves should be prosecuted for vandalism and/or theft. Anyone who would desecrate a grave should be jailed.

My great great grandparents fought in the war between the states and proudly protected the south to the best of their ability. Gen. John Pemberton was commanding officer at the battle of Vicksburg Miss and surrendered only after the people of Vicksburg were reduced to havind to eat dogs and rats. We as southerners are proud of our heritage. We have the right to display the Confererate Flag on our property {see second amendment}at any time we choose. I served my country for four years in the Marine Corp. I was willing to give my life for my country. If those people whose rights were violated by Mr.Dowdell choose not to file a lawsuit against him, I will. He was in violation of both state and federal law when he choose to do this evil thing.

BTW the lynching comment is wrong. Mr. Dowdell I dont know what you think, leave a comment if you are a man. but I CAN TELL U! I judge people by there actions! and yours are a slap for us.
you need to go back to school, alot of the press makes the kkk and Confederate flag close. witch is bull. but if you study your history good sir!
READ A HISTORY BOOOOOOOOK! (Lordearthpro@gmail.com) plz email me if you have the balls. cuz u sure had the balls in the photo! and ill be there monday! please do if you touch my flag your going strait to jail! now ill talk to everyone else, plz come monday

That is like taking flowers.momentos.or anything a family has left on a grave site to honor someone. Can't the families file charges? It is robbery! I don't care how offencive it is to him. This is our history wether they like it or not. We should be complaining about some of their all black (no whites) events since they can particpate in all of ours.I am not racist,but my ggrandfathers fought in the civil war and yes we have confederate markers on their graves.

Wouldn't it be unlawful for this man to remove flags from the graves? I could understand it if a member of the family did not want it on the gravesit, but wouldn't it be unlawful to radomly remove flags from graves? What if it had been American flags? Could he remove flowers without any problems? The man obviously dosen't know a thing about the War Between the States. Maybe he only needs to be educated.

Hell forget flying them for a week fly'em year round.

And arrest this man!!

The councilman is just showing his ingorance. What he did is wrong and then to say the flag stands for racism is just an excuse to make himself look so offended and good before the cameras. Why the people of Auburn re-elected him is beyond all understanding. He sure can pull some dumb stunts. Get him out of office it's that simple.

All any black person sees is racism in everything. It must be terrible to go through life that way. In my 62 years of life, the most racist people I have ever met have all been black, and I don't see it changing in my lifetime!

this guy has no right to desecrate a grave in a cemetaryand should be sued for his actions. every body knows that flag is a part of history god knows the scum of earth apears. so get over it council mansome body sue the guy

i'm the soldier who wrote a couple of comments back. thank yall for the support you are giving this. it makes me proud to be an american soldier. cause of people like yall i can easily over look retards like dumb dumb dowdell. i will be there bright and early monday morning. i can't be in uniform cause uncle sam want let me, BUT i will be there monday morning. if we can get the people there that voted in this poll. that would be so wonderful. i know people have to work. and those will be there in spirit. so if you can make it. please do so. i'll be there at 7 am sharp. i hope to see all of you there. AND TO SHOW ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE NOT TAKING IT ANYMORE.

Dowdell The Thief belongs in jail - and he needs to be impeached from office. He isn't morally, ethically, or mentally fit to hold elective office.

Put him in jail where the two bit thug bully belongs. How did this sorry excuse ever get elected to office in the first place?

Time to rid Auburn of his sociopathic and psychopathic influence.

I'm buying a flag pole and putting one up in my yard and would dare ANYONE to come and TRY and take it.

Cheeta can't help it, the urge to steal from White folks is in his genes.

I'm am from Minnesota. I'd like to know who appointed that councilman god so that he is the one to decide how someone may honor their dead. I don't condone slavery, but get real. Does that man think his people are the only ones to suffer at the hands of another? My ancestors were almost hunted to extinction by the British crown and I don't find that the British flag reminds me of how terribly they treated my ancestors. Dude get a life and let people honor their dead how they so chose!!!

From a northerner who thinks you are an idiot for your attitude toward a Confederate battle flag.

I would like to ask Mr. Dowdell what makes his opinion any more important than anyone else's opinion. A grave is private property and if someone wants a Cross, a Confederate flag, American flag, or a flower arrangement that is a personal choice not to be impeded by some self serving individual. Unless Mr. Dowdell paid for the graves this is not his personal decision to make. I wonder if this man has ever even heard of a church...Thou shalt not steal, look it up, the 15th verse in Exodus Chapter 20 explains how Heaven feels about what he has done. I think you should give up the seat you hold as a councilman, what you have done is a crime, just as if you had walked into Garden Hills and stole flowers off a grave because you didn't like the color. You have admitted you did the crime, and you plan to commit further crimes on Monday. Anyone else admitting to stealing and the plan to further steal would be arrested, I think the city of Auburn should be represented better.
The comments Mr. Dowdell made really put his intelligence in question. A small flag is intimidating? Also, he made the comment that "these people" only need one day not a week, begs the question...Isn't February called "Black History MONTH"? Now according to Mr. Dowdell's comments this should be reduced to one day, possibly a Sunday unless he is only referring to the Daughters of the Confederacy. Then I would have to say he is a bigot...bigotry runs both ways, and it appears Mr. Dowdell is a bigot and a racist. Now the South will not be known only for white supremacists, now we have black supremacists as well. Tolerance Mr. Dowdell, YOU need to learn that lesson

well im from Beulah Alabama that's a little more than 10 miles from auburn but it aint that far away. look i am a redneck and i will admit it and i don't like when some1 disgraces the rebel flag like that im gonna ell my wife when i get married if some1 messes wit my flag once im dead i want her to sue the mess outta them. listen dowdell just because your a high congressman and because your black and so is our president don't mean that you can get away with anything you want i hope you rot in prison for a long time because any1 that says tha a person with a confederate flag they need a huge history lesson but i say if you disgrace the confederate flag because you don't like then your racist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think he should be made to make a public apology and the mayor should make him put every single flag back on the grave site. Everyone knows that if that was a grave from a known former slave and the flag was removed from their grave the councilman would be trying to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law so Mr. Mayor please make him put them back and charge him with theft of property and vandalism.

How Stupid is this idiot? First he removes private property, second he removes property form an american Veterans gravesite and third the flag itself has been tested and granted freedom to fly. Maybe he should go to Tampa this weekend for flying of the largest Confederate Flag int he world to get a clear understanding of the rights of individuals reguardless of personal stupid and selfserving acts. Please feel free to forward my email to thie idiot!
Ron Eudy, Tallahassee, Florida.

I don't necesserialy agree with Dowdells' action of removing the flags but niether do I agree with some of the commernts noted relative to the representation of those flags, such as that flag reflecting their heritage. A heritage that represents bondage and oppression and theft of a heritage of those who also fought and continue to fight because of the mentality of you who want to hold onto a past that was hurtful to this country and what it represents.

I hope the good people of the Auburn area will turn out in numbers and show this thug that he can't get away with this type of illegal behavior. Please , if anyone reading this thread knows the people whose graves were violated , talk them into filing charges against this idiot. White people have got to stop letting these race hustlers run over them. Right is right and what he did is wrong. Illegal too.

It is very hard for me to believe that in 2009 Mr. Dowdell is using the
confederate flag to try to make a political point. He just showed his ignorance.
The Auburn city mayor should incist he step down from his office, also
apologise to the citizens of Auburn for his most racist behavior. Then have
the police arrist him for vandalism and theft. If your mayor cannot or will not
do these things then as voters you should inpeach your mayor. White people
have rights as well as blacks. The working,tax paying citizens pay their salery. Mr. Dowdell's actions are no different than any crimimal in jail. He needs to be punished for his crimes.

C. WATKINS SAID:

"White people have rights ......"

Not any more. Welcome to the multiracial Marxist "paradise" once known as the Land Of The Free. Whites have no one else but themselves to blame for meekly sitting on their hands while their country was overrun by non-Whites and their government was hijacked by left-wing, "liberal" Marxists.

Enjoy!

I wonder on whose behalf Reverend Arthur Dowdell was acting when he desecrated the Confederate Veteran’s graves by removing the flags from the graves and announcing his intent to continue to do the same thing again.
Was it his:
A. Constituents - as an Auburn City Councilman?
B. Daughter - as an angry and offended parent of a small innocent child?
C. Congregation - as a servant and representative of his church and while doing God’s work?
D. Political base – as an attention grabbing media star and look-at-me advocate?
E. Dark inter self – as a means and method to further racial strife for his own personal benefit?
F. You fill in the blank space.

A bigoted, ignorant, ill educated person who is black has done a stupid and illegal act. Let’s see if justice is done. Will he be prosecuted as prescribed by law? I (and maybe America) want to know.

Section 13A-7-23.1 of the code of Alabama reads as follows,
(S13A-7-23.1)
(a) Any person who willfully or maliciously injures, defaces, removes or destroys any tomb, monument, gravestone or other memorial of the dead, or any fence or any enclosure about any tomb, monument, gravestone or memorial, or who willfully and wrongfully destroys, removes, cuts, breaks or injures any tree, shrub, plant, flower, decoration, or other real or personal property within any cemetery or graveyard shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.

How convenient that there just happened to be a photographer present, as Mr. Dowell was passing by, to capture the moment on film for the Friday paper. Mr. Dowdell seems, now as in the past, to be searching for a "cause" that he can attach himself to in order to gain some noteriety. Although he has been fairly quiet recently, but looking at past tactics, we can only hope that Mr. Dowdell refrain from threatening to call in the "Big Gun", Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton to join him in his trumped up quest. From where I sit, Mr. Dowdell continues to be an embarassment to the City of Auburn. At least the Daughters of the Confederacy should file charges against him. p.s. I'm a damn Yankee(Istayed) for over 30 years, and this has nothing to do with a piece of cloth, but to live and let live. The End

Ironically enough,I spent this past week touring battlefields in Virginia and at Gettysburg.I am VERY proud of my southern heritage but that does not mean I support slavery or am a racist.I then come home to see this un-educated man who apparently is rude and insensitive to anyone who does not agree with his way.This would be like someone who did not agree with us being in Vietnam taking an American Flag off a grave of someone who fought and died over there.This was just an ignorant attempt for Dowdell (I left the Mr.off for a reason)to get back in the news since it has been awhile since the last time he did or said something stupid.

Mr. Dowdell you need to go back to 5th grade and retake either Civil War history or even Alabama history because in the 5th grade i learned what a confederate flag stands for. Heres a little history that you apperently missed so in march of 1861 before Lincoln even took office 7 states South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Geogia, Louisiana and Texas declared their secession and then in April of 1861 after the attack on Ft Sumter 4 more states declared there secession those states were Virgina, Arkanas, Tennessee and North Carolina. The Confederate flag is a symbol of these states also including the bordering states Kentucky and Missouri. That sir is what the Confederate flag stands for. It has NOTHING to do with race or slavery!!!
The fact that you Sir took something off of peoples graves is strickly illegal and I for one hope you get prosecuted to the fullest. I dont know who you think you are and what gave you the right to do what you did but you were wrong and I sir am from Auburn and i will do everything in my power as a voting american to make sure you arent even as much as a city councilman ever again because you Sir belong behind bars!!!
How would you feel if someone were to mess with the graves of your family members??? i bet you wouldnt appricate it anymore that these peoples familys do.
And lastly I want to say to Mr. Robert Scott, I read your comment and you said it perfectly... word for word... and i personally want to thank you for everything you and all the men and women in our armed forces do for our country... My husband just finished his 6 years in the Air Force and I dont believe you guys get all the respect and thanks you deserve so again I thank you for all you do to protect our country. You are a true HERO!!! Thank You and God Bless you!!!
-Little Bear

Dowdell is obviously a grandstanding politician, stirring the pot to embroil his constituents in a self-concocted "outrage". His actions are staged for the media in hopes of fueling racial divisiveness. Will the public allow this councilman to continue spreading his hateful propaganda and incite people across the nation? Ironically, Martin Luther King never had an issue with the Confederate flag, but a two-bit hate monger from Auburn, AL wants to shout about his being offended by flags on private graves. I'm sure there is an ethical or criminal violation of his office in this ridiculous stunt. It remains to be seen if the City of Auburn has enough fortitude to call a misdeed what it is, desecration of private graves, and mete out all the penalties for which his crime requires.

Misguided dupes like polldaddy contributor Bernice Perry Barnette are swayed by this type racist claptrap and antics of a public elected official misusing his power. Ms, Barnette, like Dowdell, has no insight into understanding the respect we have for our ancestors who fought to keep out northern invaders and folks like her. They are totally incapable of appreciating the positives of Southern culture. It would serve both Dowdell and Barnette to read more than the comics, obtain their GEDs and raise their consciousness higher than an that of an average, immature, insensitive, far-left liberal with no understanding whatsoever of how we venerate our Confederate family members and their reasons for fighting in the War Between the States. We true sons and daughters of the South know our heritage is truly a Southern thing, never understood by those infused with close-minded ignorance, like that displayed by Dowdell (and disparaged in print by Barnette), and never will be. God Save the South from our petty detractors.

Dowdell is a racist disgrace to his city, state, country, military men and women from ALL conflicts. Just who does he represent? I think the answer is now clear. If this had occurred in color reversal, Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson would already be in Auburn stiring up crap. Where are the white Al Sharptons and white Jessie Jacksons of the USA - they don't exist because it would be perceived as perpetuating racism if white people rallied to protest this stupid man's actions. RESIGN, NOW, DOWDELL!

I think what Dowdell did was totally wrong, how would he feel if someone went into a cemetary and removed something from one of his family memebers grave. People like this man is the reason there will never be total racial harmony, all Dowdell is good for is starting trouble.
Action like this just shows his true colors and how he feels about white people in general. Heck, what he is complaining about don't we have a whole month for black history, I think thats a little bit longer than one week.
My only hope is that the city council does not cave into this man and change cemetary guidelines to please him, but he will play the race card and they will tuck their tails and run like usual
If Dowdell does not like it here in Auburn, he can always leave town, which would not be a bad idea.

Treat it like sagging pants. I don't like it so I don't look at them.You don't like that flag don't look at it.

The police stating "no report has been filed yet" is starting to become annoying. The idea the police department is conveying is that if no one complains to them, there's nothing they can do. This is untrue.

Based upon local news accounts, TV interviews and news photographs, the Auburn Police have "probable cause" to open an investigation. They need only take the statement of the eye witness quoted in the original story, and ask the newspaper for official copies of the photos showing Councilman Dowdell holding the flags he stole to initiate a criminal complaint and bring the matter before a judge.

If anyone else stole something from a grave, they would be brought before a judge, why not the councilman?

To allow grave desecration under the guise of not having cause to initiate an investigation speaks to the integrity of the Auburn police department and does not reflect well upon it. What the police department's upper echelon is doing is the kind of approach one might expect of a politician who doesn't wish to take a stand.

Police are not politicians. The law is not to be applied or ignroed based upon who breaks it.

The police exist to enforce the law without passion or prejudice and they swore an Oath to do that. Fellas, please uphold your Oath.

-- Hal Turner

Yes, Arthur L. Dowdell was wrong. It is very touching when someone remove something from your love one grave. Someone removed some flowers from the grave of my love one and it really hurts. And you don't just remove a flag or anything from a grave because a grave is sacred. Of all the people in the world is that councilman Dowdell and supose to be a man of God would do something like that. Dowdell where is your repect? Please everybody have their hertiage and please repect their beleive and especially the grave of a love.

Ahh, I see the Tea Baggers are out in force! Feeling disenfranchised in an era where a black man -- yes, a black man -- is president? A little upset that a black man has the temerity to touch and destroy your silly little flag? Well, get over it! The Civil War ended nearly 150 years ago and guess what? You lost! Slavery ain't coming back. Your little great-grandfathers, whether they were duped and fought for rich planters or willingly fought for the continued enslavement of their fellow being and the notion of white superiority on their own, they LOST!
That flag has been waved at more lynchings, segregation meetings, etc. It was on the back of truck of white guys who yelled racist slurs at me for no reason as I walked to campus at the University of Alabama. You and I have different interpretations on the meaning of your silly little flag. I know when I see it at the things I just mentioned, it's not heritage and love that I'm feeling for the Confederate battle flag. They are telling me to stay in my place!
I don't necessarily agree with Councilman Dowdell defacing the flags because they were on private property. But he did what a lot of us feel like doing when we see the South's version of the Swastika. I only wished he had videotaped himself doing it and put them on YouTube so I could enjoy it over and over again.
You commenters need to get over yourselves! Your latent racism is what holds back the cities of Opelika and Auburn and the reason you have brain drain when talented young blacks leave the area. Keep your flag in a museum and out of my face!

well, well, well, I see another piece of pond scum has crawled out from under a rock. that little flag ?...it was PRIVATE property.... that little flag ?... it was ON private property. What we have here is a prime example of someone denying others rights granted them under the constitution of the US. it's not about flags..it's about RIGHTS. you dont like that flag, too bad, others have the RIGHT to display it, no matter what their reasoning. just like other scumbags have the right to display swastikas, images of guevara, etc...etc..etc...
You have shown your racism in unilaterally deciding that only YOUR opinion counts, that dimwit councilman has shown he has no respect for the constitution, and he has really shown that as a preacher, he's a liar and a thief...
You and he are exactly the same as the scum in the klan, the white power party, the black panthers, hamas, fatah, hezbollah, talibanetc..etc..etc.. the list goes on. Most of us dont need to laugh about video taping it, we can see the results of it DAILY in the headlines.

Mr. Dowdell has shown himself to be a disgrace to the public service of the City of Auburn and should not be allowed to continue as a member of the council. His ignorant rantings and actions have been tolerated too long. There is no excuse for such a public display of disrespect, especially from a "community leader." His actions may have provoked a group who bring only chaos and hatred to march on our beloved city. Is this the example that we want our children to see? Yes, there are parts of our heritage that are better left in the past, but if we forget that past, we are destined to repeat its mistakes. We don't need the KKK here demonstrating on our streets. I don't think that even Mr. Dowdell can argue with that.

it is my personal belief that Author Dowdell is wrong in doing what he did. he defiled graves and destroyed personal property and i believe that charges should be brought against Mr Dowdell. This is Auburn, Alabama. The heart of Dixie. It is part of our history as southerners and it is our flag. we might not be the confederate soldiers anymore, but it is still our flag and in my eyes what he did went against the south and against the united states of America. what he did was unamerican. I am a proud southerner and I am ashamed to live in Auburn with him as my city council men. I was even more ashamed that there were so little people who showed up to support the cause. I myself was out there to support my flag. I am American by birth, and southern by the grace of god. i love America and i love the south, but i am appalled that we can stand by and let out city council member defile out flag and defile graves. we should stop him and impeach him from office and press criminal charges against Mr Dowdell.

this ignorant arrogant jerk has no business in a position of public trust...SHAMEFUL... RECALL OR FIRE HIM

This councilman has violated the law and has desecrated graves and tresspassed on personal property. He should be charged with tresspass and intentional vandalism and grave desecration. He has proved that he is also a racist and has committed a hate crime against the people of Alabama, as well as being guilty of malfiescence of office and desecreation of private property under cloak of authority as a councilman. He should be immediately removed from office and charged with the felonies that he has committed and if found guilty recieve the maximum punishment under the law, just as I would should I be stupid enough to have my picture taken while I was vandalizing private property and desecreating graves. If I went to his families cemetary and removed items from his families grave he would scream bloody murder and call me a racist and that I had committed a hate crime, and that I should be punished to the maximum extent of the law. It is obvious that this councilman has no respect for the law or for personnal property. He acted without authority and has embarrassed the very council and people that he is suppose to represent. As such he is unfit for office and the other councilmembers should immediately ask for his resignation from the council or resign themselves as they are also an embarassment to the community.

It is an embarassment for the City of Auburn. I thought city leaders were supposed to set the example for the citizens of the community. People wonder why racism has not gone away. He is no different than the Klan. I wonder how pissed off he would be if I destroyed something that had to do with NAACP. Don't you think that is the same thing? The flags were a sign of respect to the people who fought and lost their lives for a cause. Whether the cause was right or wrong, it is apart of this country and is a small piece of a very large puzzle that makes up this wonderful country.

I live in Virginia and if anyone is caught in VA removing ANYTHING off of a grave, for which they do not have the grave's family authorization, is arrested. Pure and simple.

Why has this UDC woman not filed charges and had Dowdell arrested?

I think Mr. Dowdell should be charged with hate crime.

This is just as bad as desecrating Jewish graves.

Hugh Betcha,

That's an insult to Cheeta.

God bless America!

Dowdell claimed that the battle flags offended him .So he took it upon his self and went to the cemetery which he had no business. He went in another council district of his own to get offended. Poor excuse Dowdell. You must have had to rack your little pea brain mighty hard to come up with an excuse to get attention and your picture in the news. What can you get your little pea brain to think up next to make news?

I'm wagering that no charges will be brought, the Mayor will let it pass without further comment, the Police will not act (disappear and not serve) and Councilman/Bishop/Rev. Dowdell will have gotten just what he wanted in the first place. Win the fight by throwing the first punch then "duck and cower,” play the race cards (the full deck), call in the FBI and plead that my family has been threatened. The entire scenario has been a political farce, which Councilman/Bishop/Rev. Dowdell orchestrated to cover himself with glory in the eyes and minds of his constituency. In addition, he is chipping away at a symbol that he has defined as evil.
It has all the components of a hate crime.
Where in our Constitution and body of law does it say you have a right to not be offended?
Does anyone agree?

There is nothing in the Constitution saying we are all to be free from being offended. Those flags were the legally owned property of those who placed them and Dowdell criminally stole their property as well as violated their rights to free speach under the First Amendment.

Dowdell doesn't have to like the Confederate flags, but he has no right to steal them or deny others the right to display them.

Well Mr. Dowdell you have once again proven yourself to be a black from a small town in Alabama lacking all intelligence.You obviously don't know your American History at all. You are reacting to only what other black people have supposedly told you. You need to get off your high horse. The first step in stopping racism is not to be racist yourself!!! I hope that the punishment fits your crime.

You have just become another number in the statistics. GOOD JOB in making more black people in Alabama look bad. Good job!!

You have only made yourself and your family look like idiots!!
Good job!!

Those of us who live in Auburn are well aware of the Rev. Dowdell and his self glorifying antics. He believes he is the Al Sharpton of Lee County and does not realize that most people consider him a fool.

I do hope he is prosecuted for trespassing and destruction of personal property.

Wow - it took longer than I thought until someone - "lovejones4" - made the inevitable connection that anyone taking issue with the despicable actions of this supposed "public" servant must be a defender of white supermacy and racist ideals. So, lovejones, what were you doing at the University of Alabama? Learn anything? Ever study the constitution, or the right to freedom of speech, particularly "unpolular" speech? You don't have to agree with anything about those flags, but your own self-granted disenfranchisement (since you mentioned it) doesn't give you or anyone else cause to take that right away from someone else. Offended? Sorry. Write a letter. Make a YouTube video. Cry about how much white people really hate balck people - whatever makes you feel better...but don't assume you are beyond the law and that you bear some moral badge of entitelement, suffering and victimhood because some other bigot of a different color called you a name. And don't drag MY President into this, either - guess he'll always be "black" first when it suits YOUR purposes, huh? You're pathetic.

I remember my grandmother always saying "God looks after fools", so I guess God's looking out for Dowdell. Frankly I'm offended and annoyed when I hear a three hundred dollar car with a set of 22's going boom boom boom down the road because the radio is so loud. So therefore since Mr Dowdell wasn't arrested for his acts, does that mean I wouldn't be arrested if I ripped their boom box out? Oh I think not. Mr Dowdell when you can look into a mirror and see a person, and not a BLACK person, then maybe you will have accomplished something. I vote to throw him in the slammer and let him put the flags back wearing an orange jump suit, Now that'd be worth taking a picture.

check out what they are saying on BET website! This is an outrage! This man has admitted to committing a crime, why can't the city of Auburn arrest him without someone else having to come forth and press charges. If someone did something to Dis-honor Martin Luther King JR in such a way, they would be put in jail instantly!!!! How are we an equal nation with this bs going on. A black man has twice the rights of a white man. I live in the south and I know this to be true! It's finally time for all of us true SOUTHERNORS wake up and have a civil rights movement of our own!

Anyone that's ever come in contact with Dowdell knows he's a racial bigot, and not very high on the intelligent side. I guess it just speaks for itself on the type of people that put him in office. The fact that he misrepresents himself as a man of the cloth has created more snickers than pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving. Does the bible not say "obey the laws of the land", so why has Mr Dowdell not been charged? Plain and simple, Dowdell committed a HATE CRIME, and should be held accountable for his actions. The color of a person's skin has no justification to "Cherry Pick" parts of history to best suit them. ITS HISTORY, leave it alone, and respect it. I guess Dowdell wants to take "Black" credit for greens next, (before you do Dowdell, EDUCATE yourself, they date back to 4th century BC from the British, and Greeks. Well before the Christian era, the Romans grew several kinds, and I'm sure along the way they passed the plate of a few jews.
This is quite embarassing that a city official would represent himself in this manner, but more so if he is not held accountable for his racial actions, not just criminal actions.

Why in the world is this still an issue yet today? THE PAST IS IN THE PAST FOR A REASON! To learn about what happened to make sure it doesnt again, not to keep bringing up what did happen, and it is against what you believe. PEOPLE START WORRYING ABOUT THE FUTURE!! What did it prove by what he did? Only that he is still living in the past, and doesnt care at what cost what he has done to the future!! He didnt think about what damage he has done for the rest of the people to have to pay for, he was only thinking about himself at the time!!

If he felt like something needed to be done about the flags, then he should have taken the proper steps to take this action to where it needed to go! What just kills me is that everything that happened in the past will always be considered a racist thing against every white person that is alive now!! why must it be this way? Like I said before I would and am worried more about the future than something that happened 100, 200 years ago! We live and we learn from it, to insure it doesnt happen again, not use it as an excuse to do stupid things, and yell, "this is a racist thing against my people"

Hey mister, my people where treated unfairly also,and you dont hear me shouting when ever you celebrate Martin Luther Kings birthday, that this is a racist thing against my people! When you advertise on tv "That a mind is a terrible thing to waste" you know, the add for the United Negro College Fund. that hey we dont advertise a college fund for just white students, couldnt that be called "Racist"?

I guess I will end this....... I am sure it will be said I was racist with it!

Let's not be hostile and become the very thing we claim the flag does NOT represent, which is hate. We don't want to 'lynch' anyone. What we do want
is for this gentleman to be PROSECUTED for Criminal Trespass and Desecration of a Grave. This is private property, and the Councilman DID not only criminally trespass, but he also desecrated several graves. These acts are AGAINST THE LAW. WHERE IS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OR THE LOCAL POLICE IN CHARGING THIS GENTLEMAN WITH THESE ACTS?

Now, as far as a hate crime, this argument could be made. If I went to a predominately black or Jewish cemetary and desecrated graves, I woud be criminally charged, and the HATE crime law would be invoked. The law should be applied equally.

This is America, and we all have the right to freedom of speech, but everyone had better pay attention, for the "HATE" crimes that I just mentioned impede free speech. Perhaps we should stick to criminal trespass and grave desecration, if the local District Attorney has the guts to apply the law equally.

I have long nursed an interest in the War Between The States and removing flags placed by loved ones from a grave is sacrilege. We all have our own way of dispersing grief and to have political correctness brought into this private realm is disgusting. Many African Americans fought at the side of the Confederacy under this banner, as well as Indigenous Americans. How can such a misguided individual reach maturity through the education system full of one eyed prejudice and hate and be a member of the church? The South fought for their homelands and families and knew nothing of political correctness. The wolf was at the door and this flag was their common identifying symbol.

The despicable Klan came later and is not a symbol of the Confederate Nation. The Klan march under U.S. flags as well as Confederate, sdo why not rip out U.S. flags?

These "Old Boys" black and white, deserve more respect!

An Australian sympathiser.

We don't go around kicking over Muslim grave stones just because we think terrorism is wrong. It's the same damn thing as people being ignorant and saying all people of Arabic ancestry are "evil" because of a few bad apples. What he is doing is in the effect the same thing. He is stereotyping this "symbol" (the confederate flag) and grouping it with such horrible things as the Ku Klux Klan and slavery.

Think of it this way - it would be the same as if people from Britain ripped up American flags on the graves of American soldiers in England (from WWII) because they fought a revolution. How dumb is this guy?

"“It might have snapped itself,” he said. “If it did, so what? If I had my way, I would have broke them all up and stomped on them and burned them. That flag represents another country, another nation'".

I too feel that people should not be forced to change their ways and should continue being able to place flags that represent a nation that fought to keep the right to enslave people of a certain heritage.

How has nobody brought up nazi flags yet? Don't you people know Godwin's law?

Dowdell must have been listening to Obamas favorite minister, the racist Reverend Wright for the last twenty years.

and if the SCV or UDC dont come out swinging with a lawsuit to counter this outright hatred then they are complete cowards.

Mr. Dowdell just ignited a flame that will rage and burn in the hearts of caring and loving Southerners. Those flags were on the graves of veterans, men that fought and died for their country. Men that gave their all for their homes and families. The UDC was just trying to remember them and honor their service on Confederate Memorial Day. Mr. Dowdells actions are reprehensible to the extreme, and the repercussions of his actions will reverberate all throughout the South.

Mr. Dowdell is the true face of hatred, bigotry and intolerance in Alabama.

This country was founded on the principles of individual freedoms & choice. Just because Mr. Dowdell finds the CSA Battle Flag offensive & representative of "the Ku Klux Klan and racism" does not entitle him or anyone else to trespass on private property & remove or desecrate items legally & legitimately placed there, either by the owners or with their permission. His actions transcend differences in ideology and is direct violation of existing laws as well as behavior befitting an elected official. He should apologize publicly & immediately there afterwards resign from the council. In addition,, I believe he should be arrested & prosecuted to the full extent of the laws he violated.

The Councilman that removed the Confederate grave markers is responding to what the NAACP has led him to believe about Confederate heritage.
The NAACP is the only organization that promotes this attitude.
The NAACP is indeed a racist organization. All one has to do to determine the NAACP is a racist organization is look at their RESOLUTIONS TO BANN THE CONFEDERATE FLAG. And this instance is a classic case of how they go about it.
From this racist Councilmans actions, many black people now suppose they should have a reason or attitude against the Confederate heritage.
What people should do is EXPOSE NAACP RACISM to the point they are viewed by everyone as the racists they are.
For example, every legislative member that is an NAACP member, should be asked why they support NAACP racism, and asked if they are a racist. Sooner or later they would start feeling ashamed, or embarrased to admit they are an NAACP member.
I for one, despise the race baiting, hate promoting, NAACP ignorance.
To hell with them and their attitude.
I surely hope that at least one but better a group, presses charges and has this Councilman arrested for vandalism of these Confederate grave sites.
Charles Parks, CSAHPS

tTAKE A WARRANT OUT ON HIM AND HAVE HIM ARRESTED, AND IF HE DON'T GET ARRESTED, MAKE A PIC NIC OUT OF IT AND PROTEST IN FRONT OF CITY HALL. (Be sure to let the media know what and WHY you are doing)
I should think the only reason this black racist NAACP member has not been ARRESTED is because non of the people that he damaged, stole, and removed the flag from the graves HAS MADE A COMPLAINT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
PLEASE SOMEBODY - HAVE A WARRANT TAKEN OUT ON HIM, or file suit against him in Civil Court. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What Mr. Dowdell did does not represent every black person in Auburn. Most of us know him for who he is. Don't blame the blacks for him being on the City Council, blame the judge who allowed him to be there after he was exposed by his opponent of not even being a resident of Auburn. God is not pleased when someone who claims to represent Him and knowingly deceives God's people. There are more important issues in Auburn. Mr. Dowdell, go to the YDC and see how many youth are there, because of lack of representation and help from people like you. Why stir up hatred? Nobody owes you anything, but you do need to account for your actions. I'm black, and what offends me most is seeing all of these young people walking the streets (girls dressed like whores, guys dressed and acting like thugs), and you finding it necessary to pose for a camera desecrating a grave that has nothing to do with you. That cross around your neck means nothing. Back in the 70's, every Sunday, Reverend Borders used to go out on the street on Auburn Avenue in Atlanta, GA and invite everyone from drunks, to prostitutes, to drug dealers in Wheat Street Baptist Church to hear "Thus saith the Lord". A lot of them accepted Christ, repented of their sins and began a relationship with Him. It takes more than getting on a street corner every now and then with a bull horn. If you don't live it, you shouldn't preach it. Try quoting this for a change; "May God who gives patience, steadiness and encouragement, help you to live in complete harmony with each other - each with the attitude of Christ toward the other." (Romans 15:5 TLB). It is not easy always to get along with others and put our concerns aside to see others' views, but it's not impossible either. "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."

Well, he has proved that white people are not the racist ones. Our heritage should be important to all citizens. Honestly, I have done nothing or said nothing racist. But Mr. Dowdell I have always believed there is a difference in a BLACK person and a NIGGER. You displayed the difference. I have NO control over history...if you have ever watched the Lion King, it says, "it doesnt matter, its in the past." Well, we honor Martin Luther King every year for an ENTIRE month. I had to learn about him in school and do projects on him EVERY year. I didnt complain, EVER!!!
I do know, that I will continue the heritage of OUR country, and I will RESPECT all parties in it, and as a CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU SHOULD TOO!
I cannot help what my ancestors did, and I cannot change that. But from the words of my father and his fathers father, "If we would and could go back and change anything, we would have picked our own DAMN Cotton"
Oh, and if you wanna be mad at someone, be made at the African American Slave Traders who sold blacks to people in America. Dont hate me. IT DOESNT MATTER, IT IS IN THE PAST! Lets do get over racism and MOVE ON!!! And as always, you wear your flag and I will wear mine.

I agree with Councilman Arthur L Dowdell concerning removing those confederate flags from the Pine Hill Cemetary, which is a public cemetary maintained by public tax dollars. The confederate flag is a symbol of hate and division and it is time for it to go. This symbol should not be displayed in any public place. If people want to display it on their own personal property, that's one thing, but to displayed this hateful symbol in public places should not happen. The confederate flag is a symbol of terrorism and it is about time for the American society to come to common terms about it. We are a country of hypocrites. We can not have it both ways. Blacks in this country were and still are being terrorized by this symbol of the confederate flag. This symbol of hate, division and terrorism should be put in its' place. In 2009 in the United States there is no place for this symbol. The South lost the War Between the States, so get over it. That dark time is gone, it's history and the South needs to move on like Black People have. If you loose the war you don't get to fly your flag all over the place, only the victor get to do that. The whole world knows this! The white people who see the confederate flag as their heritage, it's only an excuse for them to hide behind. If the confederate flag was their heritage why didn't they speak-out while it was being used as a symbol of hate, division and terrorism. These good white people should have stood-up along side good black peole denouncing the use of their heritage being used as a symbol of hate, division and terrorism, but they didn't stand-up and now their symbol of heritage has become a symbol of hate, division and terrorism, that's a fact!

DOWDELL IS PROBABLY A FRAUD
MIGHT BE A FIRE BUG TOO.
Savior of Christ has a point here. Dowdell is wearing a cross. And he is acting as a Christian in Gods way ???
No, I think MR. Dowdell is probably one of "those" "Preachers" that run around with a cross, and doesn't have a church or a congregation. It's a tax gimmick. So if hel is one of those that worries about tax dollars being spent in ways he doesn't like, he has no right. DOWDELL IS PROBABLY A FRAUD.
And is that a cigarette lighter in his hand ? IS DOWDELL A FIRE BUG ??? If there are any fires in Auburn, the police should be looking for Dowdell. He probably knows something about it. What a racist idiot.

Dear Barbera Speed,

Coucilman Dowdell has in fact committed a crime, which I think he should be taken to court over. Here is the Alabama law regarding it.

http://www.legislature.state.al.us/CodeofAlabama/1975/coatoc.htm

What he's done is a class C felony and deserves to be brought to court over this insult. Of course I expect him to play the race card but he shouldn't be allowed to get away with this. This is as disrespectful as removing American flags off the graves of dead soldiers that were brought back from Iraq. Just because he claims he was "intimidated" which is b.s. doesn't mean he should be allowed to get away from this crime.

If the police of Auburn will not enforce the law out of fear of being called "racists" then that town has failed without a fight to give justice back to the fallen soldiers of the Civil War there in that cemetery and their descendants. Bring Dowdell to justice Auburn City!

It’s amazing to me how many historically challenged people are running our country and local Governments, you are a shame sir, to you religious position, your intolerance to others, a shame to your community, and a shame to your council. US citizens have every privilege to honor their dead, especially those who fought for freedom from an oppressive Big Government. Could you have obviously missed your history lesson somewhere along the line, or maybe as an irrational act, failed to control your emotions?.

First lets address with the whole slavery issue. Were there violations of Christian principle by North and South Slave owners, yes, should there have been NO. Among ALL men, there are the ruthless, in EVERY RACE. As you should well know Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon all had Bond servants and lets not forget Philemon, the run away “slave”, who was returned, by Paul, to his master to be reconciled under the Spirit of the Law that is written on our hearts by the mercies of the Lord Jesus Christ, our elder brother. Old Testament and New Testament Scripture, as you should well know indorses the holding of BOND and hired servants. Our responsibility was to teach your ancestors how to live according to Gods commandments., Yes, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob’s Commandments, and not just the 10 commandments but the whole law, magnified by Yeshua The Christ..

The highest figure anyone can give is that at most, 6% of Southerners owned slaves. That means that 94% of the soldiers of the Confederate Army had NO reason to fight for slavery. From the very beginning, Lincoln offered to continue the institution of slavery if the South would come back into the union. This offer was rejected and our ancestors continued to fight for their INDEPENDENCE of a tariff, taxing, invading, and diabolical dictator. It was only when Lincoln failed to relinquish control of Fort Sumter in South Carolina Territory and conscripted an army of 75,000 militia from several states of the Union, to invade the Confederacy that war truly broke out.

Emancipation wasn’t considered until, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, as the nation approached its third year of his bloody invasion into the South. The proclamation declared "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free."

Despite this expansive wording, the Emancipation Proclamation was limited in many ways. It applied only to states that had seceded from the Union, leaving slavery untouched in the loyal border states. It also expressly exempted parts of the Confederacy that had already come under Northern control. Most important, the freedom it promised depended upon Union military victory. ( So he allowed Black Americans to share in the blood letting, in other words he needed more targets for Confederate bullets.)

By and large records show that bond servants were, educated, fed, clothed, health care, and shelter was provided totally out of their own resources. Today American citizens are forced to support a welfare system that encourages a lack of productivity, which perpetuates itself from generation to generation. If this Nation obeyed the commandments of the Almighty we would have every 3rd year a 3rd tithe, to care for the infirmed, widow and the orphan and not for the lazy man who won’t provide for his own family.

Another point of interest, your own brothers in Africa, warring factions sold your ancestors to slave traders, NORTHERN “Yankee” slave runners. No doubt this was a terrible time of suffering for your ancestors

Look at another way God, Yahweh Elohim caused Northern and southern Israel to be led away into captivity, first by the Assyria Empire(621bc?) then Judah by Babylonian Empire (786bc),,why,,,,because they failed to keep his Laws Commandment, statutes and Judgments. We’re your ancestors any different? God is no respecter of persons. Were they Holy

(Continued)
Were they Holy people by our creator’s standards? Be thankful that they were brought to this country, the Greatest country in the world to be civilized and taught the Judeo-Christian ethics. Would you rather be HERE or THERE?

Prov 22:27 - Prov 22:28 8Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

WHO GAVE YOU THE RIGHT TO VIOLATE ANOTHERS PRESONS ACT OF HONORING THEIR DEAD. If you are a intolerant hypocrite, and racist you have no right to wear that phony cross on your chest, and more that, we have a right to place a simple flag on a grave of a deceased patriot.

By the way, do your research on the clan before you categorize it with the Academically centered Daughters of the Confederacy and the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Nathan Bedford Forrest left the clan because it was to violent. He was a Confederate of Great principle trying to deal with anarchy during reconstruction. Had Lincoln, lived I believe the Clan would not have even existed. After 4 long years of his own war that he created, he was weary of blood shed and he was ready for reconciliation,

SO WHY CAN”T YOU AND I DO THE SAME?

Shame on you for perpetuating racism in the minds of your children, rather than teaching them about a people fighting for Independence in 1861-1864. I’m sure you teach them about the American Revolution and the great DR Martin Luther King who also gave his life for the freedom of all peoples. So why classify Our heritage as racists? Granddaddy always said that if you’ve got a finger pointed at somebody, beware cause there’s three pointing right back at you.

Remember this from the Lord’s word“ The Fathers eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge” Recognize that one Bishop?

May God bless you in every way, may your children enjoy peace and a happy home paid for with the blood of Patriots, both North and South,WW1,WW2, Vietnam, Korea, Iraq and may they also be taught the truth.

Racism is raising its ugly face once again. This time, however, the shoe is on the other foot.

One needs to study the history of the Confederate Battle Flag rather than continue to subscribe to the false belief that it stands for something "negative."

I taught Political Science on the college level until my retirement and I was amazed at the false beliefs that many had toward this Flag. The only thing more amazing was the lack of desire to know actual history, based upon fact.

I honor the Confederate Battle Flag, yes, I am a Southerner through and through. I detest anyone, Councilman or otherwise, creating destruction as was the case with Mr. Dowdell. I think "equality" should be the order of the day and this "preacher" should be appropriately dealt with according to law.

Title 13A-11-12 should be applied. Not only does this cite reflect a violation but "case law" backs it up.

To Mr. Dowdell I say, "You know what offends you personally and I know what offends me. Your actions, Sir, offend me and you are in violation of the United States Constitution."

Axtions of some in the past do not make right Mr. Dowdell's actions in removing the Confederate Battle Flag from the graves of Confederate Soldiers buried in a public cemetery. Racism is racism, regardless of the skin color of the offending party.

Final point, violence is not the answer. Patience, education and a passion tempered with "control" is best in the long run. Even though, I understand the passions of most Southerners as is shown in the poll. Over 97% of those answering the poll indicated that Mr. Dowdell acted in violation of the current law and Court decisions.

No one need back down at this coming Tuesday night's council meeting. Understanding of ones' heritage, even if different from mine, is the most appropriate course to take.

Those that want to fly the Confederate Battle Flag should be allowed to do so, so says the Court. Those that desire to wear other insignas have the same right. Can we not "agree" to "disagree" in a civilized manner?

There is going to be a large turnout at the upcoming council meeting and violence could easily erupt but let hope not. I will probably not be in attendance due to longterm health problems. I will, however, continue to fly the Battle Flag and will, equally, recognize the right of those with an opposing opinion.

"Separate but equal," I thought was in the past but it is not. Tradition dies a slow death and, presently, tradition is not dead in the South. The sooner each of us recognizes this and accepts the fact, the better we all will be.

Alabama football, Auburn football and racism is alive in Alabama. This is just how it is. I am a avid University of Alabama fan and benefactor but I do not, never have and will not intentionally offend my Auburn friends, neither will I offend my Black friends. On the other hand, I expect no less from them.

Roll Tide, War Eagle & Long Live the South!

You people are disgusting, sorry, and pathetic! YES he is wrong vandalizing tombstones and should be punished by being forced to apologize for his actions, but what makes me sick to my stomach is that you monsters think that he did a dishonor to soldiers who died fighting for a hateful cause. You filthy bastard say things like your "proud" of the solders that fought for what they believed in? You have to be the lowest scum of the Earth to want to claim the Civil War as part of your heritage and be "honored" for what they did. So sad! FACT: You people should not fear death because you all have Hell to look forward to, that way you all will be able to spend all of eternity with your "Proud" and "Honorable" racist Confederate "Hero's".

Regardless of your opinion of the Confederate flag, in America we DO have the right to freedom of speech. A flag on my ancestor's grave does not violate your rights in any way, shape or form. You may put any flag you like on your ancestor's grave and I would have no right to fuss about it either.

Dowdell's actions were wrong and violate the essence of American freedom. If we can't admit that some of our ancestors died in the Confederate cause, what else are we going to have to pretend didn't happen as well?

ISN'T THERE A LAW AGAINST VIOLATING GRAVE YARDS? HE HAD NO RIGHT TO TAKE THE FLAG OFF THOSE GRAVES, AND HE NEEDS TO BE FIRED FOR HIS ACTIONS. WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE DOES THIS SEND WHEN THE CITY TURN THEIR FACES ON THIS? AND IF I WERE THOSE PEOPLE I WOULD SUE THIS MAN, AND DEMAND THAT THE CITY DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND FIRE HIM. THIS MAN CAN SAY ANYTHING HE WANTS, BUT WHEN YOU TAKE A FLAG OFF A GRAVE ESPECIALLY SINCE IT'S PRIVATE HE CROSSED THE LINE. PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO PUT WHAT EVER THEY WANT ON THEIR LOVED ONE'S GRAVE YARD AND IF IT OFFEND'S HIM WELL TOO DAMN BAD GET OVER IT. AND BESIDES THE REBEL FLAG IS A BATTLE FLAG AND NOTHING MORE.

To Charles Brown..........
First of all only God knows who is going to hell or heaven. Your the one who is disgusting, it seems your ignorant of history. There are a lot of things in the history books that were left out about the truth regarding the civil war. Written by people from the north made to make the southerners look bad. Sherman was a terrorists, the butcher. What he and his men did were apalling, inhumane. His men burned down people's homes, burned their crops, stole their live stock, and raped women and girls, yes raped. The men took most of the women from the south they refered to them as war booty, the men did what ever they wanted to these women. They were spoiles of the war as these women were refered to. Sherman wrote that the sounterners must be destroyed, wipe off the map, he wanted all of the southerners killled. Including women and children.

And Lincon didn't give a rats ass about the blacks. He him self owned slaves as a lot of people up north did. Who do you think sold the southerns the slaves in the first place? The people up north did. And then they complained we owned slaves? Talk about being a hypocrite. The war that was wedged against the south was in fact illegal, and the war was never about the slaves. Did you know that only 10% if that much owned slaves in the south, didn't know that did you? Or the fact that several countries owned slaves, like UK, Spain, several other countries as well.

Had Sherman lived today he would have been charged with war crimes, and Lincon locked up in the mental ward, that man was crazy, yet they made him a hero and sherman a hero. Sherman tried to complete genocide of the southern people. Through starvation, burning down our homes, crops. live stocks and the rapes of women and girls. And kidnaping the women, these women were never heard from again.

The southern people wanted to be left alone to live our lives, but no the north came down here and started a war with us, their claim slavery what a joke that was considering the north sold the slaves to us in the first place and they them selves own slaves. It was about money because if we had seceded from the union the north would lose money, the north made money off the south by selling the south slaves. Being decendents from union soldiers you must be proud knowing they were murderers, rapists, and sherman the butcher/terorrists.

FIRST AND FOR MOST I WOULD LIEK TO SAY MY DADDY CITY CONCIL MAN DOWDELL WAS RIGHT FOR HE DID HE MIGHT HAVE WENT TO FAIR WEN HE TOOK THE FLAG BUT HE WAS RIGHT AND WRONG IN MANY DIFFIRENT WAYS... THAT FLAG PEOPLE SAY THAT IS AN HONOR KILLED PEOPLE MY COLOR THATS WHY HE ACTED THE WAY HE DID YOU HAVENT RECIEVE THE THREATS LIKE WE HAVE AND YOU SAY ITS AN HONOR WHY PEOPLE ARE THREATING TO KILL US IF IT IS YOU CAN BE UPSET BUT WOAH KILLING?? THAT DOESNT SEEMS LIKE AN HONOR TO ME BUT I UNDERSTAND WHERE PEOPLE COME FROM BUT ALL IMMA SAY LET IT GO ITS OVER WITH HE SAID HE SORRY LET IT GO.. YOU HAVENT BEEN THRU WHAT US BLACCS BEEN THRU SO YOU DONT SEE WHERE WE COMING FROM BUT I AM DONE I SAID WHAT NEEDED TO BE SAID

Amazing... there are bigots on both sides of this issue...

it's simply sad that the man wasn't arrested on the spot and a disgrace that he hasn't been arrested and charged since.

No man is above the law.

K

City councilman Arthur Dowdell was wrong as hell, he's a loser.

My ex husband Arthur Dowdell knew what he was doing. He is use to steping ing into shit. He loves SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Would the public please Vote his country Ass out of office.

Would the public please Vote his country Ass out of office.