shocker1
10-06-2007, 08:37 AM
OH lawdy, here we go y'alls.:)
Secessionists share views, find unlikely similarities in downtown Chattanooga Thursday, October 04, 2007
Download MP3 (http://www.timesfreepress.com/MEDIA/audio/metro/2007/oct/Kirkpatrick_Sale_1004.mp3)- By Lori Yount
Staff Writer
At first glance, it may seem liberal Northeasterners who believe in doing away with the use of fossil fuels would have little to agree on with conservative Southerners who think their states should've been left to stand alone from the rest of the United States since 1861. But one thing has urged them to put aside their differences and even unite them -- a passionate belief that the United States federal government is a tyranny.
"There's a lot we share in common," said former New Hampshire legislator Burt Cohen, who had scribbled "sympathetic" over the "Observer" title on his name tag.
For one thing, Mr. Cohen, who describes himself on the left side of the political spectrum, said he always believed the North was wrong in its actions during the Civil War.
"It's a pleasure to be able to recognize this is not a Southern thing," said David Jones, chairman of the Tennessee chapter of the League of the South. "It's a desire for liberty that goes beyond Dixie, goes beyond a Scot-Irish heritage."
And they're uniting in Chattanooga today as the New York-based Middlebury Institute, along with the League of the South, hosts the second annual North American Secessionist Convention at the Marriott downtown.
Since the League of the South was co-hosting the event, leaders said they chose Chattanooga so the secessionist convention could be held back-to-back with the League of the South's annual conference, which starts Friday at the Marriott. To have both conventions is characteristic and an honor for Tennessee, Mr. Jones said.
"Tennessee has a long history of being in the forefront of history of (secessionist movements)," Mr. Jones said, referencing Tennessee troops who helped bring the final blow to the British in the American Revolution and those who fought for Texas' independence from Mexico, including Sam Houston and Davy Crockett.
Tennesee was the last state to secede from the Union and join the Confederacy during the Civil War, or as Mr. Jones called it, "The War for Southern Independence."
About 40 observers lined the walls of a Marriott conference room this morning to listen to about 15 representatives at a table take turns briefly reporting their groups' efforts toward secessionism.
William D. Kennedy spoke about his attempts to be included on the ballot as a presidential candidate who supports states' rights. A Christian Exodus member told the gathering his group had determined South Carolina, the first state to secede from the United States in 1860, would be one of the states most likely to secede again, and they have had other members move there to influence and infiltrate county governments.
The convention has grown from its first year to include delegates from about 18 states and two European nations -- Belgium and Ireland, Middlebury Institute director Kirkpatrick Sale said. He said he wasn't sure if this year's convention would produce any resolutions or amend "The Burlington Declaration" that came out of last year's meeting.
He said the Middlebury Institute, which studies separatism, secession and self-determination, doesn't have any political affiliation and dismisses the raised eyebrows in allying with the League of the South, which has been named a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
http://www.timesfreepress.com/absolutenm/articlefiles/22689-Secession.jpg
Walter D. Kennedy presents his presidential exploratory committee to a representatives of secessionist groups today at the second annual North American Secessionist Convention at the Marriott in downtown Chattanooga. Kennedy calls himself a "messenger candidate" for states' rights.
"The League has been unfairly accused of being racist, but even if it had racism in it, that would not deter the institute from allying with it," he said. "There are racists in any organization."
At the moment, the idea of secessionism may seem to be "radical," but League of the South President Michael Hill believes environment is right for society to move back toward smaller, decentralized governments. For now, he said they're trying to spread the message what they think liberty is and the secessionism it may take to get there.
"When it happens, God only knows, literally," said Dr. Hill, a former history professor. "I'd never thought I'd see the fall of the Berlin Wall.... These things, once they get started, it escalates quickly."
http://www.timesfreepress.com/absolutenm/templates/local.aspx?articleid=22689&zoneid=77
Secessionists share views, find unlikely similarities in downtown Chattanooga Thursday, October 04, 2007
Download MP3 (http://www.timesfreepress.com/MEDIA/audio/metro/2007/oct/Kirkpatrick_Sale_1004.mp3)- By Lori Yount
Staff Writer
At first glance, it may seem liberal Northeasterners who believe in doing away with the use of fossil fuels would have little to agree on with conservative Southerners who think their states should've been left to stand alone from the rest of the United States since 1861. But one thing has urged them to put aside their differences and even unite them -- a passionate belief that the United States federal government is a tyranny.
"There's a lot we share in common," said former New Hampshire legislator Burt Cohen, who had scribbled "sympathetic" over the "Observer" title on his name tag.
For one thing, Mr. Cohen, who describes himself on the left side of the political spectrum, said he always believed the North was wrong in its actions during the Civil War.
"It's a pleasure to be able to recognize this is not a Southern thing," said David Jones, chairman of the Tennessee chapter of the League of the South. "It's a desire for liberty that goes beyond Dixie, goes beyond a Scot-Irish heritage."
And they're uniting in Chattanooga today as the New York-based Middlebury Institute, along with the League of the South, hosts the second annual North American Secessionist Convention at the Marriott downtown.
Since the League of the South was co-hosting the event, leaders said they chose Chattanooga so the secessionist convention could be held back-to-back with the League of the South's annual conference, which starts Friday at the Marriott. To have both conventions is characteristic and an honor for Tennessee, Mr. Jones said.
"Tennessee has a long history of being in the forefront of history of (secessionist movements)," Mr. Jones said, referencing Tennessee troops who helped bring the final blow to the British in the American Revolution and those who fought for Texas' independence from Mexico, including Sam Houston and Davy Crockett.
Tennesee was the last state to secede from the Union and join the Confederacy during the Civil War, or as Mr. Jones called it, "The War for Southern Independence."
About 40 observers lined the walls of a Marriott conference room this morning to listen to about 15 representatives at a table take turns briefly reporting their groups' efforts toward secessionism.
William D. Kennedy spoke about his attempts to be included on the ballot as a presidential candidate who supports states' rights. A Christian Exodus member told the gathering his group had determined South Carolina, the first state to secede from the United States in 1860, would be one of the states most likely to secede again, and they have had other members move there to influence and infiltrate county governments.
The convention has grown from its first year to include delegates from about 18 states and two European nations -- Belgium and Ireland, Middlebury Institute director Kirkpatrick Sale said. He said he wasn't sure if this year's convention would produce any resolutions or amend "The Burlington Declaration" that came out of last year's meeting.
He said the Middlebury Institute, which studies separatism, secession and self-determination, doesn't have any political affiliation and dismisses the raised eyebrows in allying with the League of the South, which has been named a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
http://www.timesfreepress.com/absolutenm/articlefiles/22689-Secession.jpg
Walter D. Kennedy presents his presidential exploratory committee to a representatives of secessionist groups today at the second annual North American Secessionist Convention at the Marriott in downtown Chattanooga. Kennedy calls himself a "messenger candidate" for states' rights.
"The League has been unfairly accused of being racist, but even if it had racism in it, that would not deter the institute from allying with it," he said. "There are racists in any organization."
At the moment, the idea of secessionism may seem to be "radical," but League of the South President Michael Hill believes environment is right for society to move back toward smaller, decentralized governments. For now, he said they're trying to spread the message what they think liberty is and the secessionism it may take to get there.
"When it happens, God only knows, literally," said Dr. Hill, a former history professor. "I'd never thought I'd see the fall of the Berlin Wall.... These things, once they get started, it escalates quickly."
http://www.timesfreepress.com/absolutenm/templates/local.aspx?articleid=22689&zoneid=77