The Controversial Confederate Flag

I was born in a southern state. I lived my early childhood in a western state and the remainder of my early adulthood in a mid-western state. I've returned to the South. The winters are much more tolerable with a gentler pace of life in the South. The unspoken rule in the South is to take things slow-and-easy. Do otherwise and one suffers an adverse effect. The humidity and heat double-whammy settles down upon everything in the South like layers of steamed, hot, heavy blankets from mid-Spring to late-Fall. You're prone to a heat stroke or collapsing from fatigue under the heavy humid heat if you don't slow down anytime you're not in conditioned, cooled air.



Of course another relic of the South is the Confederate flag.
I remember watching the show, The Dukes of Hazzard in the 1970's. The show ran a few years and I recall it was an entertaining, wholesome show. It featured a fast, painted orange '69 Dodge Charger ran hard and fast by the 'Duke' actors who slid in and out of the car without opening the doors.
Very obvious was the Confederate Flag painted on 'The General Lee's' roof,  which I thought perfectly represented the show's setting. I never thought the actors, nor the car with the Confederate flag painted on the roof represented hatred towards any group of people, nor did I see that any part of the show represented white supremacism.

Re-runs of the Dukes of Hazzard were recently pulled from the air because of the Confederate flag controversy.

The General Lee will have the Confederate flag removed-retailers ban the Confederate flag.

Some believe the Confederate flag symbolizes racism.

Some say the Confederate flag symbolizes Southern pride.


 It's true-the Confederate flag symbolizes different things to different people.


Today, the Confederate flag is still flown at people's homes; displayed in the back window of pick-up trucks; and sewn on the back of jackets.
Personally, I have not associated negativity with the Confederate flag, nor have I associated the flag with white supremacism. But I understand some do so we may have to agree to disagree. But it is within one's right to display this flag and the people who don't like it will have to realize a flag doesn't mean we need to war with each other or forbid a person for displaying a flag they want to display.

The Confederate flag represents a part of history when this country was divided and warring between the Northern and Southern states.
 The Civil War was a harrowing period of time in this country's history during the 1860's, but the war was resolved. 
The key words here are 'history' and 'resolved'. What occurred in the past can't be changed, undone or erased even if all the relics of the war are destroyed. History happened. We can learn from what happened if we don't forget what happened. Some people choose to connect with that past by displaying the Confederate flag. That's their choice and it does not mean they want the past to come forward. No one alive today was alive during the Civil War years so no one can fault anyone for that history of our country.

The Confederate flag continues to be a reminder about what divided this country 150 years ago, and to others it reminds them of what still divides us today. How a person views the Confederate flag depends on your ancestors, your family, your upbringing, your knowledge of history, your values, your morals, and if you do or don't believe this country and people have learned anything and grown from what happened in the past or not.

Individually we ought to learn something valuable from that period in our history and move forward so that history isn't repeated for another Civil War.

Always a lady

I was thinking about ladies in the entertainment field who've in my opinion have stood out by displaying first-class elegance.
Shirley Jones was initially on my list, but after I read she's written a book telling about her sex life shedding light she's nothing at all the characters she's portrayed on television shows or movies.
In my humble opinion, an elegant lady knows certain things need to be kept private. I took her name off my list.

The women on my list have not only portrayed elegant wholesome characters in their professional careers, but they've also presented themselves as ladies of grace and their off-screen life as well.

Ladies-
-dress appropriately for the occasion
-are mannerly, calm, cool and collected 
-are charming and respectful
-express themselves without being rude, loud or vulgar

I like this definition/description of a 'Lady' on Urban Dictionary-
 "Lady" is a Title that defines an Elegant Gracious Loving Woman who uses Etiquette and Diplomacy in both Public and Private Matters". Her Beauty comes from within. She has a firm bridle on her emotions and conducts herself with wisdom.


The following ladies receive my honorable mentioning-
Katherine Hepburn, born in 1907;
Greta Garbo, born in 1905,
Ava Gardener, born in 1922,
Lucille Ball, born in 1911,
Ginger Rogers, born in 1911,
Ella Fitzgerald, born 1917,
Della Reese, born 1931, and
Doris Day, born in 1922.

I'm sure I can come up with more names if I worked longer on this,
but actually I'm wondering whether I exhibit lady-like qualities?
The names on my list are entertainers, but I'm not insinuating only entertainers 
can act or be ladies of class and elegance.

(Images below were uploaded from google images)

June Lockhart- born in 1925



Shirley Temple Black- (1928-2014) was just 5' 2" tall. She actually knew Eleanor Roosevelt and Amelia Earhart. Her accomplishments were astonishing from an early age when she brought smiles and laughter to millions during the 1930 Depression years. She later served as a diplomat to the United Nations and as an U.S. ambassador to two countries.


Shirley Temple Black-was a child actress, singer, dancer



       Cicely Tyson- (1924-2022



        Dawn Wells- (1938- 2020)



Florence Henderson- (1934-2016)



Mary Tyler Moore- (1936-2017)

 

Donna Reed(her professional name)- (1921-1986)

  Donna Douglas- (1933-2015)

















     Carroll Brunette (1933-                               


    Grace Kelly- (1929-1982)


       Loretta Lynn (1932-2022



The women I mention here are/were women who present/presented themselves as dignified and classy at all times.

Any woman, of any economic class; race; nationality; age, or profession, can make herself attractive, classy and elegant. A lady is a women with refined charm, maturity and respect toward herself and others.
A lady makes the entire experience of interacting with her a very pleasant one. And, if you've not met her, you desire to make her acquaintance knowing it would be a very pleasurable one.

I've noticed the women on my list were born in the first half of the 1900's, with most being born in the 1930's. Many of these ladies were performing and were viewed on television and movie screens mainly during the 1940's through the 1970's.Thank goodness the work of these ladies was preserved on formats for later viewing again for old time sake and for younger generations to view lady-like etiquette.

Interestingly, I've noticed the younger generation of women don't appear to place much importance on being a lady. They can take lessons from any of the ladies on my list to observe how a lady speaks, dresses and presents herself. A lady doesn't clutter her speech with vulgarity, nor does she need to display an excessive amount of skin to be attractive. A lady is polite, respectful and tactful at all times, nor does she partake in gossiping or talking negatively of anyone. A lady is classy and elegant without being snobbish. A lady is determined by the way she conducts and presents herself. Ethnicity and social class aren't factors.

I'm aware times have changed, but many of the most popular roles women and young girls portrayed today on television shows and movies are so harsh; the lyrics are harsh to the songs they sing; their choose to dress is scantily; and their word choices are very unflattering.

I'm aware what's socially accepted has gone through changes over the years, but any woman or girl can choose to conduct herself in a lady-like manner, makes herself very fashionable, timeless and classy.

I think 'old school' is cool and shouldn't fade away or be forgotten.


Women's fashion has gone through change over the years.



On a personal note, I prefer natural-colored hair.
But should there be a desire for drastic color change to say, green,
blue, orange or purple hair, there are consequences.
Hair dyed an unusual color reminds me of a clown.


Being yourself is good enough. 




The tips in this video will help present yourself more lady-like 

and classy. They're actually very good tips!




The content in this video is on target.

Code Talkers are War Heroes- updated

A few years ago I shared some interesting facts about the Code Talkers.


Statue of Code Talker

Here's the declassified Navajo Code Talker Dictionary.

Today, I'm saddened to hear that Alfred K. Newman, at the age of 94, has passed on.


Navajo Code Talkers are War Heroes

There were 29 original Code Talkers, and Mr. Newman was a member of this elite group of 421.
Here are their names.

Here is additional information written about the Code Talkers, with photos, of how the Code Talkers were vital during WWII.



I believe the Code Talkers were very instrumental in the war effort.

These legendary servicemen, according to the Navajo Code Talkers Association, in this Navajo Times article written in 2014, is dwindling to less than 30.

Plans for a Navajo Code Talkers may be a reality, which is stated in this article. And, in this same  November 29, 2017, CNN article, with video and photos, only 13 Code Talkers were still living.

Mark Lester- from actor to Doctor of Osteopathy

I just recently learned that Mark Lester, the young child actor who played Oliver Twist in Oliver!, the 1968 movie musical, is now 60 years of age.
He's been a practicing Doctor of Osteopathy and licensed acupuncturist.

He has a website for his Carlton Clinic.




(photo from google images)


I think that's quite extraordinary!