We have allowed ourselves to become captive to extremist buzzwords like divisive, controversial, and tolerance. Just these three little words cause way too many of us to engage in verbal contortions in an attempt to prove that we, and our Cause are not divisive, controversial, or intolerant.

Perhaps if we all keep in mind what these words mean, we would stop allowing them to trip us up, and slow us down.

Divisive means creating disunity or dissension. Controversial means to cause a controversy. Controversy means a discussion marked especially by the expression of opposing views. Tolerance means the capacity of the body to endure or become less responsive to a substance (as a drug) or a physiological insult with repeated use or exposure.

When the extremists accuse of us being divisive, controversial, and demand that we have more tolerance, they mean that we must accept unity with their agenda, not even discuss it, and become physically, and psychologically numb from the repeated exposure to their agenda.

Personally, I have no interest in promoting unity with them. Neither do I want to stifle dissention from their agenda, nor buckle under to their demand that certain issues not even be discussed. I certainly do not want to become numb from repeated exposure to their venomous and villainous attacks. We must also keep in mind that tolerance to alcohol, drugs, and poisons ultimately end in death. Tolerance to their poisonous agenda will ultimately lead to the same end.

We should wear the label "divisive, controversial, and intolerant" as a badge of honor. When accused we should say "thank you."

It should be the goal of every one of us to cause as much disunity, dissension, controversy and intolerance to their agenda as we possibly can.

We must remember why it is called a "battle" flag in the first place. If we are not willing to use it to do battle, we may as well wave the white flag, and go home. We must stop treating the enemy with any kind of respect whatsoever. How much respect do they show us? How many times have we seen howling mobs burning our flags? A few years ago another howling mob in Selma Alabama, lead by a member of the city government, attempted to physically topple the Forrest monument. That is why I had no objection to the Billy Yow t-shirt showing a boy urinating on the NAACP while holding a battle flag. That is about as much respect as the NAACP deserves.

The first step to physically freeing ourselves is to free ourselves psychologically, and we cannot free ourselves psychologically until we reject everything the enemy stands for, and refuse to play by their rules. Give them no respect and give them no quarter.

Greg Hanson lives in Apple Valley, Minnesota. Contact Greg at lookingsouth03@yahoo.com.