Myrtle Beach area businesses want debate on Statehouse flag again

Most Grand Strand businesses want to revisit the placement of the Confederate flag at the Statehouse that led a civil rights group to urge a tourism boycott of the state for more than a decade, according to a new survey.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People boycott because of the flag has driven several large sports tourism events away from the Grand Strand - including an ACC baseball tournament proposed for 2011-13 and 2012 Olympic trials for beach volleyball. Some businessmen say the cost has been too great and it's time to put the debate to rest.

The flag was moved from the Statehouse dome to a Confederate soldier memorial in front of the building in 2000 at the direction of the state legislature. The move did not go far enough for the NAACP, which wanted the flag removed from the grounds and began a boycott that encouraged tourists and other groups not to visit the state.

More than 65 percent of chamber members are in favor of revisiting the controversy, according to a Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce survey of 267 members. The remainder said they were opposed.

"It has cost our state and in particular our area. If it costs our area anything, it's too much," said Ryan Swaim, general manager of vacation rental company Dunes Realty. "It has not put us out of business, but it has cost us some, and the ACC tournament is an excellent example."

The survey also asked what should be done with the flag.

About 20 percent thought the flag should be removed from its place in front of the Statehouse and retired, and 45 percent thought it should be moved to the State Museum.

About 25 percent thought the flag should be left where it is, and 7 percent wanted it moved back to the Statehouse dome.

The state legislature is unlikely to debate moving the flag anytime soon, said S.C. Rep. Tracy Edge, R-Myrtle Beach. Lonnie Randolph Jr., president of the state branch of the NAACP, said the national NAACP would not support bringing the boycott to an end unless the legislature acts.

The Myrtle Beach area has lost more business than other areas and it's been more publicized because of the ACC tournament, said Brad Dean, president and chief executive of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.

In Columbia, "right now, I don't think there's an appetite to revisit this," Dean said.

The chamber put the question on the survey because Edge had indicated that he would lead an effort to compromise on the flag next year, but Edge said Friday he does not plan to do so.

The chamber had not polled its members on the issue in years and wanted to be prepared to take a stance if need be, Dean said.

The Grand Strand businesses support revisiting the issue, but that doesn't mean the rest of the state does, Edge said.

"Here's the problem we've got: Those businesses are probably all along the coast and probably within 5 miles of the shoreline. You can drive five hours and 250 miles before you get to the end of the state, and 245 miles of that is more than likely strong flag supporters," he said.

An ACC tournament wasn't a big enough event to bring public pressure to make legislators consider moving the flag, Edge said.

"It would have to be something like the Super Bowl, which we're not going to be getting, but I think it would have to be something on that level to galvanize the legislature to do something," he said

Hotelier Frans Mustert said he thinks the stalemate will eventually resolve itself and the issue is best left alone for now.

Most African Americans continue to come to South Carolina in spite of the boycott, so the NAACP appears to be out of sync with its base, he said.

"They [the NAACP] are hurting themselves as much as they're hurting me ... and eventually they'll give up," Mustert said.

Mickey James, president of the Myrtle Beach branch of the NAACP, said the organization members he's talked to all agree with the boycott. James wrote a letter in support of the ACC tournament in 2009, but that doesn't mean he disagrees with the boycott, he said.

James said he was focused on creating jobs at the time and conflicted with the boycott by mistake.

"I believe there should be an end to this boycott in a positive way that everyone can function," James said. "The flag ought to be in the museum."

The issue has been "a thorn in the sides of a lot of people and it needs to be removed," said Peter MacIntyre, general manager of Ripley's Entertainment Myrtle Beach. MacIntyre said he is not personally upset with the flag, but he can understand how some people might be.

"When I see the Confederate flag, I don't see racism," MacIntyre said. "I don't see it, I don't feel it, I don't think it. But I was born in New York."

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Myrtle Beach area businesses want debate on Statehouse flag again

Most Grand Strand businesses want to revisit the placement of the Confederate flag at the Statehouse that led a civil rights group to urge a tourism boycott of the state for more than a decade, according to a new survey.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People boycott because of the flag has driven several large sports tourism events away from the Grand Strand - including an ACC baseball tournament proposed for 2011-13 and 2012 Olympic trials for beach volleyball. Some businessmen say the cost has been too great and it's time to put the debate to rest.

The flag was moved from the Statehouse dome to a Confederate soldier memorial in front of the building in 2000 at the direction of the state legislature. The move did not go far enough for the NAACP, which wanted the flag removed from the grounds and began a boycott that encouraged tourists and other groups not to visit the state.

More than 65 percent of chamber members are in favor of revisiting the controversy, according to a Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce survey of 267 members. The remainder said they were opposed.

"It has cost our state and in particular our area. If it costs our area anything, it's too much," said Ryan Swaim, general manager of vacation rental company Dunes Realty. "It has not put us out of business, but it has cost us some, and the ACC tournament is an excellent example."

The survey also asked what should be done with the flag.

About 20 percent thought the flag should be removed from its place in front of the Statehouse and retired, and 45 percent thought it should be moved to the State Museum.

About 25 percent thought the flag should be left where it is, and 7 percent wanted it moved back to the Statehouse dome.

The state legislature is unlikely to debate moving the flag anytime soon, said S.C. Rep. Tracy Edge, R-Myrtle Beach. Lonnie Randolph Jr., president of the state branch of the NAACP, said the national NAACP would not support bringing the boycott to an end unless the legislature acts.

The Myrtle Beach area has lost more business than other areas and it's been more publicized because of the ACC tournament, said Brad Dean, president and chief executive of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.

In Columbia, "right now, I don't think there's an appetite to revisit this," Dean said.

The chamber put the question on the survey because Edge had indicated that he would lead an effort to compromise on the flag next year, but Edge said Friday he does not plan to do so.

The chamber had not polled its members on the issue in years and wanted to be prepared to take a stance if need be, Dean said.

The Grand Strand businesses support revisiting the issue, but that doesn't mean the rest of the state does, Edge said.

"Here's the problem we've got: Those businesses are probably all along the coast and probably within 5 miles of the shoreline. You can drive five hours and 250 miles before you get to the end of the state, and 245 miles of that is more than likely strong flag supporters," he said.

An ACC tournament wasn't a big enough event to bring public pressure to make legislators consider moving the flag, Edge said.

"It would have to be something like the Super Bowl, which we're not going to be getting, but I think it would have to be something on that level to galvanize the legislature to do something," he said

Hotelier Frans Mustert said he thinks the stalemate will eventually resolve itself and the issue is best left alone for now.

Most African Americans continue to come to South Carolina in spite of the boycott, so the NAACP appears to be out of sync with its base, he said.

"They [the NAACP] are hurting themselves as much as they're hurting me ... and eventually they'll give up," Mustert said.

Mickey James, president of the Myrtle Beach branch of the NAACP, said the organization members he's talked to all agree with the boycott. James wrote a letter in support of the ACC tournament in 2009, but that doesn't mean he disagrees with the boycott, he said.

James said he was focused on creating jobs at the time and conflicted with the boycott by mistake.

"I believe there should be an end to this boycott in a positive way that everyone can function," James said. "The flag ought to be in the museum."

The issue has been "a thorn in the sides of a lot of people and it needs to be removed," said Peter MacIntyre, general manager of Ripley's Entertainment Myrtle Beach. MacIntyre said he is not personally upset with the flag, but he can understand how some people might be.

"When I see the Confederate flag, I don't see racism," MacIntyre said. "I don't see it, I don't feel it, I don't think it. But I was born in New York."

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Considered with respect to the debate on affirmative action in Arizona

by Dianna M. Ná?ez - 30 October 2010 12 H.
The Arizona Republic

To Arizona to ban affirmative action sponsored by State measures has intensified in the weeks preceding the elections Tuesday, the. But the people on both sides to agree on one thing: If the measure passes, it raises similar national proposals and re-launch the debate on whether America has moved beyond racial and sexual discrimination which under the leadership of the movement of the 1960s civil protection.

107 Is a proposed constitutional amendment to ban affirmative action in the State, County and the municipalities of higher education, procurement and hiring, at least to ban could result in the loss of federal funds or violating a court order.If voters approve the measure, Arizona would become the fifth State to pass a ban on affirmative action.

Although these laws have slowly spread from California in 1996, supporters and opponents of prop.107 affirmative action bans say get a larger advertising if the measure passes because nation concentrates on the policy of Arizona and .Opposants immigration laws say that expect several States to mimic the Senate Bill 1070 try also take positive action that bans.

Crossing prop.107 Arizona is part of a broader strategy to target States by region, said Ward Connerly, who heads a Californian purpose non-profit based on the dismantling of the measures of positive action in all 50 States.

Opponents say that the target group of Arizona because of support from the GOP majority of racial laws prohibiting ethnic studies and by targeting illegal immigration legislature.

Measurement history

Connerly led campaign "Yes on 107.

His group was behind a similar initiative citizens in Arizona who was disqualified from the ballot in 2008 due to a lack of valid signatures.

This year, Connerly worked with Senator Russell Pearce, R-Mesa and Rep Steve Montenegro, R-Litchfield Park, who co-sponsored the Bill to designate the ballot measure.

Pearce said that he wanted the reference to evade difficult and costly effort to collect enough signatures for the petition for a citizens initiative.

"Arizona is the first state legislature has returned for the ballot)," he said, adding that Connerly should push for legislative reference instead of citizen initiatives in other States.

Opponents of the measure are hoping the measurement fails and signals to other States that America has not achieved equality for women and people of colour.

Affirmative action

Positive action was born in the 1960s civil rights movement.Programs aimed at redressing discrimination institutionalized giving women and minorities years special consideration in public education, employment and decisions today, public bodies more not basing decisions on quotas but could, for example, give preferential treatment to a group underrepresented in hiring decisions or admissions.

Some municipalities, Tucson, focusing on a qualified women and minority businesses to ensure that they receive a fair share of gouvernementaux.Contrats contracts financed by the Federal Government to Arizona to retain the positive action, even if prop.107 passes.

The arguments

Pearce said that arizona has become a leader in passing legislation that appeals to voters at national.Prop.107 pass, he said, and in other States, voters will be putting pressure on their legislators to the same constitutional protections enjoy Arizona, he said.

"(Prop.107) is underway in souffrance.Vous cannot discriminate against a group rather than the other", he said."Affirmative action... should have begun to jamais.Les Americans are on our side of a coast to coast on this issue."

Connerly believes prop.107 because affirmative action programs are discriminatory, obsolete and increase racial tensions.

But legislators, students, teachers and companies against the coalition argues that Connerly falsely represented affirmative action in Arizona.

Rep David Lujan, D-Phoenix, said that Connerly described quotas for minorities in the college admission process that do not exist in Arizona.La Supreme Court in 2003 prohibits these quotas when the Court pronounced on undergraduate students of Michigan law school admissions procedures.

The Court has allowed the race to take into consideration the admissions at the University, but limited how much of a factor could be .alors-Justice Sandra Day o ' Connor was the decisive vote and writes that America had not reached the point where there no need for positive action.

She wrote: "we expect that 25 years, the use of racial preferences is necessary interest endorsed today."

Officials with the public universities of the Arizona say they follow the decision of Michigan.

Max Feldhake, a student of 21 years who co-chairs Arizona State University lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and Queer Coalition, said he should think about whether the 50 years of positive action may do for hundreds of years of prejudice.

The impact

Although the State or Arizona municipal governments have declared not programs would be affected if the measure passes, many opponents and supporters agree that he would have an impact on aid financed by the State to a person based on the colour or sex.

Opponents say might lose funding programs include those who help the Indians to graduating college; provides educational resources for women seeking science, construction or technology degrees; and providing assistance to women victims of domestic violence.

Connerly said that these programs can continue without interruption, as long as they are open to all.

If prop.107 passes, Lujan said, Arizona will probably see the rate of registered minorities and graduating college cuts, as was the case in California when it is passed a similar prohibition.

Connerly has recognized the potential decrease, but said that he would be temporaire.Diversité bounced in most universities in California, he said.

Oscar Tillman, head of the NAACP of Maricopa County and a pastor of Phoenix, stated that if the proposal 107 passes, it will damage Arizona image even more.

"Very now, the rest of the country watch Arizona as the Mississippi River in the West", he said. "If this passes, racial tensions will be worse not better, way worse.?

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The debate School Superintendent hopes options

State parents who send their children to private school tax credit is one of the biggest issues that distinguishes the candidates for State Superintendent of education.

The Republican and democratic candidate Frank Holleman Mick Zais debated Tuesday at a meeting of the Rotary Club of Charleston .c ' was the last debate of the candidates before the polling day.

Said Zais does not support purchase school .but he supports a tax credit for parents with low incomes who want to send their children to private schools.

It also supported alternative public schools, said, like the Charter and magnet schools online.

"Every child is special and every child is different," said Zais.Mais schools now offer the same programs for each child. "If a private school is the only option, or the best option for a child, he said, parents should be able to send their children there."

Zais also supports tax credits to those who have made donations to the school for children in low-income tuition.

Holleman said: "teaching private tax credits are good wearing different."

These programs have poor children, whose parents cannot afford to pay the cost of tuition at the outset and receive compensation later by a tax credit, he said.

Holleman, his opponent has already said that he would do the families with low income a priority for tax credits, but would not necessarily limit families with low incomes.

Tax credits would drain desperately need money in public schools, he said.

The candidates also discussed their positions on linking pay teachers and salary increases for so students perform.

Said Holleman linking pay to student performance is one of the hottest issues education right now. "But no one has yet developed a system that works.?

"We do not want to put in place a system that would discourage our best child education special ed teachers, poor children or performing children", he said.

Zais said: "we need a system that rewards our best teachers and puts our poorest teachers notice."

He said that student teachers who rank in the top 20 percent based on their teaching skills complement 18 months of learning in an an.Mais teachers ranked bottom 20 percent of students completely only six months of learning within a year.

The State must an evaluation system good performance of the teacher, he said.

But he cannot wait while trying to design a system perfect, because no system is perfect.

"We don't pay our best teachers close enough, and we pay our poorest teachers way too," said Zais.

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Haley, role of debate Sheheen Government

Candidates governing deferred Monday on the role of the Government of the State, with Democrat Vincent saying Sheheen South Carolina State has responsibilities and Republican base Haley Nikki, saying companies and faith-based groups can and should fill the gaps that cannot afford the State.

These differences dominate the second of three Governors debate Monday night, broadcast statewide by ETV.Green Columbia and United Citizens Party candidate Morgan Bruce Reeves studios has been excluded.

A final discussion will take place this evening at the University of Florence, Francis Marion.

Sheheen Vincent Democrat and Republican Haley Nikki shake hands after their debate Monday.Mark Quinn moderated.

• Positions on higher education 1 c of the page.

Monday, the two agree to start on a question about funding programs 4-year-oldkindergarten or 4 K état.Un federal judge ordered the State to pay for programs in a limited number of school districts and legislators have tried and failed to extend the program throughout the State since.

Sheheen said Governor of South Carolina must commit to the program, but Haley said denominational groups, which now provide some programmes - could the needs of the State.

"We don't have the budget that can really support as early as now a program of 4 K," said Haley. "What we can do is get these faith-based organizations to bring these communities... and to really get involved in these areas who do not really have the resources that they need.It is the key to do so without Government dollars. ?

Sheheen accepted State could not afford to extend the 4 K size of the State, but said: "I think it is critical to long term that we have any State 4 ans.Cela maternal won't happen next year... but we should work toward it." We should try to improve the South Carolina.?

Profits expected billion budget means that the State will reduce libraries and other essential services, said Sheheen of employment recruitment and education .but the State must always respect fundamental responsibilities without raising taxes.

"The question is: are us is going to be some turmoil, State of the third world or should we try to keep a certain amount of respectability in the State." Sheheen request. " "We should keep the doors open in libraries.

Haley argued that the State may solicit money from State enterprises.

"Have them go and start to pick up where we have with libraries", she says."This is what we need in our bibliothèques.Nous needed your aide.Et would intensify.".

Sheheen disagree, replied: "we shouldn't beg companies for the State Government's basic functions.

Applicants are also disagree on how long-term retirement system state, is obliged to pay more during the next 30 years so-called recueillera.Haley system it would maintain current employees benefits but could consider cost reduction measures.

"We must stop bleeding," she says.

Said Sheheen maintain that the system has been the first priority.

"I think everything should be on the table to see what that will retain this state pension funds, retirement system together," Sheheen said. "" ""My objectives would not reduce the benefits we pay retired now.?

Candidates were less critical as in the debate last week, but they did not have their moments.

Sheheen once more challenged Haley on its coherence, noting that she reproached him to accept the federal money stimulus it also once voted criticized accepter.Haley Sheheen income from his law firm and opposition to the reforms, worker's compensation that she thinks would improve the climate of the State Affairs.

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