Effingham High Rebel mascot controversy (Washington, White: 2015, high school, move)

[Newsboy]

This is getting REAL ugly ... and starting to get national attention.

Video Captures Moment Man Fights Back Against Activists Pushing to Remove School’s ‘Rebels’ Mascot: ‘Everything You Said Was Racist’ | Video | TheBlaze.com

Angry Effingham County Whites Defend 'Rebel' School Mascot

WTOC: Top Stories

THIS IS EXCELLENT BTW:

Heated debate over Effingham High mascot - Bulloch County Bulloch County

[gentlearts]

reb·el

noun: rebel; plural noun: rebels

/ˈrebəl/

1.


a person who rises in opposition or armed resistance against an established government or ruler.
"Tory rebels"


synonyms: revolutionary, insurgent, revolutionist, mutineer, insurrectionist, insurrectionary, guerrilla, terrorist, freedom fighter

Maybe the folks objecting should look it up first.

[CoastalGAGuy]

To the victor go the spoils. This whole debate is over, in every sense of the word, "spoils."

[Newsboy]

EFFINGHAM SUPERINTENDENT STATEMENT:

The Effingham County Board of Education prides itself as a leading school system in the state of Georgia. Opportunities abound for all students to be successful in whatever course in life they choose to follow.

The recent concern over the rebel name at Effingham County High School has brought attention to a great high school with not only a tradition, but a vision where every child is successful.

The Effingham County School System was proactive years ago and started using the “E” as our official logo or symbol. All uniforms, both school and athletic should only have this approved “E” and the school system will ensure adherence to this rule. All official signs and scoreboards located around campus have the official “E”.

There are some artifacts that are part of the school’s history that remain such as a sign given by the class of 1982, a few small items in a trophy case in honor of a beloved past coach, and a painted phrase and caricature commissioned by a past principal in the 1990s.

As it has in the past, the Effingham County Board of Education willingly listens to the concerns of all stakeholders. We truly need and welcome everyone’s involvement to continue our progress.

Effingham County High School will continue using the rebel name not as a name of hate, but as a name associated with pride in one’s school and its traditions.

Fortunately, even with the distractions outside of school this past week, our student body has behaved admirably. They have pride in Effingham County High School and respect for each other.

Thanks again for your continued support of the school system.

[CoastalGAGuy]

It sounds to me like they're not changing a thing.

[bellhead]

Originally Posted by CoastalGAGuy

It sounds to me like they're not changing a thing.

No, an outside group pressuring them to change something isn't going to have any effect. Only if the local business community which there isn't much of in Effingham or internal demographic change where to apply pressure would there be a change.

[BullochResident]

Originally Posted by gentlearts

reb·el

noun: rebel; plural noun: rebels

/ˈrebəl/

1.


a person who rises in opposition or armed resistance against an established government or ruler.
"Tory rebels"


synonyms: revolutionary, insurgent, revolutionist, mutineer, insurrectionist, insurrectionary, guerrilla, terrorist, freedom fighter

Maybe the folks objecting should look it up first.

They way I see it, "revolutionary" and "rebel" have two slightly different meanings.

"Revolutionist" seems to be the term thrown around for a rebellious group that succeeds (George Washington against the British), whereas the term "rebel" seems to be thrown around rebellious groups who failed (The Confederacy during the Civil War).

[DanielAvery]

It probably never occurred to these outsiders pressuring ECHS to change its mascot that many of us associate the 'Rebel' mascot with the events of late 1864, when Sherman's army invaded and basically trashed Effingham's west half (along the railroad) during Sherman's March to the Sea. Any lingering "resentments" reflected in the choice of a Rebel as a school mascot could very well have been resentments of the Southern-born residents against the Yankees who destroyed a lot of our county way back then.

It is funny (in a transparent way) that ECHS has had this mascot for decades, but only now are these people so horribly offended and demanding the removal of the name. It's like social media outlets are in the business of telling certain people what they ought to be outraged over, and these people march in lock-step regardless of whether the feigned offense is legitimate or not.

[gentlearts]

I get tired of being told what I am supposed to be outraged about. In my book, being a rebel is a good and necessary thing. It should be encouraged. They need to rebel against the Effingham dropout rate, for sure.

[DanielAvery]

Running toward outrage after outrage and embracing all the various feigned offenses is the behavior of people with way too much time on their hands.