A Reminder
by Walt Hilderman, Save the S.C.V.
The recent legal reversal handed down by the Tennessee court system to Dr. Hodges and his GEC faction of moderates brings with it the realization that the fight to save the SCV from itself might be over. If Dr. Hodges and his supporters have another card, they had better play it.
The Sweeney-led radical faction of the SCV is again calling for a special convention. PCIC Ron Wilson was unable to convince the Confederation to hold such a meeting last year for the purpose of rewriting the SCV constitution, but it seems likely that the Sweeney effort will prevail. After the constitution is altered, the moderates on the GEC will be purged by a radical-packed convention at Nashville in July. Between now and then, all those who supported Hodges during his twenty-five day reign as CIC will suffer the same fate of those who stood with Save the SCV for two years: they will be hounded out of the SCV.
As the SCV descends into corporate madness, we at Save the SCV thought we should post the below excerpt from Walter Hilderman’s 2004 campaign for Commander-in-Chief of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. From time-to-time, it might to be interesting to compare what the SCV is becoming with what it might have become under different management.
Introduction
The SCV is the only organization of its type that has the membership, infrastructure, and financial resources to effectively confront the forces that are arrayed against the cause of Confederate heritage. A new strategy must be developed to effect that confrontation on favorable ground. The SCV must become a positive force in America for changing the public perception of Confederate heritage. As an organization, the SCV must recommit to patriotism, community involvement, and Confederate history/heritage education. We must be enthusiastic and approachable. We must break our ties with organizations and individuals that have earned the distrust and fear of the average American. We must operate in the light of day, always reassuring the public that we are what we say we are: heritage not hate; and that we have no modern political agenda, hidden or otherwise, except for the defense of Confederate history, Confederate heritage, and Confederate symbols.
As Commander-in-Chief, my administration will maintain routine contact with media outlets, as should all responsible non profit corporations. We will answer, in a straight-forward manner, questions about our goals, our philosophy and any organizational affiliations that we may have. Those affiliations will be confined to organizations with no modern political agenda except the positive promotion of Confederate heritage. In turn, the media will be less suspicious of our goals and more inclined to present a positive image of Confederate heritage and the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
My administration will offer those arrayed against the cause of Confederate history and heritage the opportunity to work with the Sons of Confederate Veterans for open and honest contact, hostility reduction, and problem solving dialogue. SCV members and camps nationwide will be the grass roots of this effort. Traditionally disparate groups can find common ground and mutual respect.
By bringing my campaign for CIC into public view, the average citizen will realize that there are thousands of good patriotic Americans in the SCV. They will also learn that there are extremists who currently control our national leadership. The public will realize that it really does matter which side wins. They will understand that if the SCV goes over to the side of political extremism, the last best chance to save our nation’s Confederate heritage from destruction will be gone. Saving the SCV is only the first part of a greater struggle. Once the SCV has responsible leadership, we will launch a nationwide, positive, outreach campaign to save Confederate heritage. That is the real fight.
Platform for CIC Campaign: 2004
If elected to the office of Commander-in-Chief, I will immediately begin working to accomplish the following objectives for the Sons of Confederate Veterans:
Adopt a Mission Statement and Core Values that reflect the ideals set forth by the Preamble to the SCV constitution. Publicly reaffirm that the Preamble and constitution are our fundamental, guiding legal documents.
Retain an independent auditing firm to conduct an audit of SCV finances in order to make sure that SCV financial records are legal, complete, accurate, and that we are in compliance with 501 c3 requirements.
Restore the charters of all camps suspended by the current CIC. Restore the memberships of compatriots who were forced out of these camps, or who resigned as a result of the suspensions. Allow those camps the option of restoring their pre-suspension camp leadership.
Remove from office all CIC appointees who are members of the League of the South, the Council of Conservative Citizens, or any other organization that actively pursues a modern political agenda that is contrary to the requirements of the Preamble of the SCV's constitution.
Publicly reject modern political activity by the SCV as an organization. Encourage all SCV members to fully exercise their rights and responsibilities as loyal citizens of the United States.
Fire Kirk Lyons. Publicly sever all professional relations with the Southern Legal Resource Center. Retain reputable attorneys with no connections, past or present, to racists or neo secessionists. Have the new lawyers review all past legal actions initiated by the SLRC.
Initiate charges of misconduct against those who have violated the SCV constitution. Those charged may include Bragdon Bowling, "Tubby" Howlett, John Adams, Boyd Cathey, and others. The charges previously filed against Ron Wilson will be actively pursued.
Return Confederate Veteran responsibilities to a volunteer, non paid position.
Establish a committee to make recommendations to the membership regarding SCV election reform.
Establish a committee to examine and make recommendations with regard to the SCV's Organization Affiliation Policy.
Formulate a strategy and begin the process of making peace with the NAACP without sacrificing our Confederate heritage and symbols. This process must be pursued by our local camps, brigades, and divisions. We must make contact with the NAACP at their local chapter and state offices. We must work toward an honorable peace with the NAACP from the bottom upward, as opposed to our current strategy of making war with them from the top down. America is tired of the endless conflict surrounding the "flag issue" and wants it settled. If the Sons of Confederate Veterans can bring about a settlement, we will be recognized as peacemakers.
Get a "clean bill of health" from the Southern Poverty Law Center. Publicly repudiate racism and racists groups. Publicly repudiate neo-secessionism and neo-secessionist groups. If the SCV can separate itself from extremists and defuse the flag issue, the SPLC will have no choice but to acknowledge our accomplishment. They have not classified the SCV as a hate group, yet. In fact, they have reported that we are a history/heritage group that currently suffers from politically extreme leadership. The SPLC has reported on our internal struggle. They will report on whoever wins.
Pressure the SPLC to stop using Confederate flags as symbols of neo-secessionism on their website and to stop using the term, "neo-Confederate" to describe contemporary American secessionists.
Repeal the Memphis Resolution and develop a philosophy of organizational transparency in order to show that the SCV is an open organization with nothing to hide.
Re-examine our membership application procedure. If we are serious about applicants actually being descendants of Confederate veterans, our application forms and documentation requirements should reflect that commitment.