Ron Casteel's Talk
I figured that since it's now been almost a month and a half since it took place, I'd better bring this account to a close while the memory is still there. I did, however, take notes and am using them for most of this.
After all, I am the Division Historian and Need to Write the History While it is STILL Somewhat New.
After a delicious lunch, we were treated to to a talk by Ron Casteel of Jefferson City, Missouri and is the current Lt-Cmdr-in-Chief of the Sons of Confederate Veterans for the past two terms.
He opened with the remark, "It's nice to be here in the hometown of Abraham Lincoln as a representative of the Confederacy."
Ron, a thirty year veteran in the media as a reporter and TV anchorman, gave quite a rousing talk on the current SCV battle against political correctness and media bias. And he is a former member of the media so knows what he's talking about.
Two years ago, our division was preparing to build a monument to the Confederates who are buried at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois. When it was becoming apparent that there would be problems from the media and certain groups, the division requested his help which he gladly gave and the monument was dedicated two years ago at the convention.
"WHY, WE ARE NOT RACISTS, and NO, WE DON"T WANT TO BRING BACK SLAVERY."
Commanders Casteel's two things to the media, should they inquire.
The root cause for the media's bias against the Confederate flag is education. Children are indoctrinated that diversity is good and the south bad because of slavery. The war was ONLY about slavery. The flag represents slavery.
Plus, history is no longer taught as just history. It is lumped together in a multi-culturalism object called social studies these days.
Education is definitely anti-southern. Unfortunately, education is also educating future media people.
More to Come. --The Old Blockade-Runner
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
