Confederate Monuments, Flags and symbols in jeopardy!   There are now three initiatives pending in the Florida Legislature that threaten Florida Southern History. The most draconian of the three would make it illegal to have any Confederate or Confederate Veteran flag or emblem of any type on public property in Florida.  This does not exclude courthouses, courthouse squares, the Capital, cemeteries, State parks (Gamble Mansion) museums or libraries, libraries or parking lots.  It does not restrict it to the “soldiers flag”.  It also allows anyone to sue a governmental entity in Florida if a banned item appears on their property (owned or leased).  This does not exclude re-enactments or Festivals like the Battle of Olustee or Rifles, Rails & History in Tavares. This is Senate Bill (SB) 154  House Bill (HB) 243. We have been told that a friend of ours in the House has prevented it from leaving committee, so pray for his strength in this matter. The second, would remove Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith as Florida’s representative in Statuary Hall in Washington DC.  This bill is being heard Wednesday of this week, and it is moving along in both the House and Senate, and doesn’t seem to have any opposition for either side of the isle.  In fact, it was sponsored in the House by a ‘history’ teacher from Pasco County who obviously doesn’t know what a role model Smith was. This is HB 141 and SB 310 . The final bill,  would change the Florida State Senate Seal, removing a Confederate Flag, from the 5 historical flag display.  It seems that leadership is all for this one, asserting that the CSA was not a soverign nation.  Of course, we know this is false.  (SB 1026).   There have been numerous news reports on these last 2 bills, and you can research them more online. Here is a link to the Senate Member:  https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators Here is a link to the House Members:  http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/representatives.aspx The session started early this year and these last two bills are making progress.  Action is on the calendar for several of them on Wednesday THIS WEEK.   I encourage you to be polite but firm in asking them to oppose all of these inititatives, as they are discriminatory against Florida Veterans and offensive to you as a Floridian. If you have family/friends that would be willing to call or email, please feel free to pass the content of this message along. FILL UP THEIR VOICEMAIL AND EMAIL! Tell them you're offended that they want to erase Southern history!   BE POLITE BUT FIRM in asking them to oppose all of these bills.