NASCAR nixes Watson’s ‘General Lee’ lap

[jwramc]

Nobody is forcing NASCAR's hand here. Just like the removal of Santa Claus & Christian imagery from Christmas . . . there's no govt pressure forcing this stuff.  These are corporate decisions being made to court one audience over another. As for the pressure from protest groups . . . whatever. Let's try protesting NASCAR's use of overseas merchandise manufacturing and see how far that gets us. IMHO pressure from protest groups is usually just the public justification for a corporation's decision, not the actual reason.

Very well rationalized and said.

[Ghoste]

Exactly!  NASCAR marketing experts have told the board that the DOH will buy merchandise whether they do this or not but their research indicates that SOME visible minority groups MIGHT not buy X dollars worth of goodies if they do it.  Therefore the decision makers knew to axe was in the best interest of getting some money because in the end, NASCAR only think of themselves as being in the sports entertainment business, because thats what they really are.

[wingcar]

The really sad or ironic part of all this is that first off most people don't know or understand history, and therefore are always trying to change it or apply it to today's world.   History is history.   When most people see a Charger painted up as the General Lee they are not seeing a flag that is associated with the Civil War...they are seeing an orange jumping Charger from the TV series....nothing more.    Most could care less what the flag represents as they have no clue about history and their only understanding of history is what they see on TV or in the movies.   Hey, NASCAR the sport will always be associated with the South, and all that goes with it...flag and all.  (Has NASCAR forgotten about the 1960's Rebel 500 races, when "Johnny Rebel" would ride the hood of the winners car into victory circle waving a Confederate flag?)  I guess NASCAR no longer wants to be associated with their past. 
With this kind of thinking I wonder how long it will be, before those in power will no longer allow you to drive a General Lee with the Confederate flag on public streets.....because you know it's a "fact" that everyone who drives one is a red-neck and a hater ..... 

[jwramc]

...because you know it's a "fact" that everyone who drives one is a red-neck and a hater

Well I don't know about the hater part.   

[skip68]

Anyone group of idiots that have a problem with the flag on the general Lee are the same people that SHOULD have a problem with the history of NASCAR being started by common outlaws running moonshine.  If they can overlook that then they can overlook the flag.    They need to suck it up and shut up.   

[Mike DC]

             
I do think the rebel flag's days in public view are numbered though. 

Southerners basically take the flag as an "I love the South" symbol.  The rest of the country will never get it because they don't have their own regional subculture to the degree that the South does.  We don't have "Yankee" or "Northern" cooking, music, dress, dancing, accents, etc. 

[Ghoste]

There is but its too boring to get much of a label beyond fast food, muzak, etc.

[UH60L]

I have NEVER heard ANYONE say they were offended by the General Lee's flag.[/img]

except in the movie 


there's a similar ban at Scale Auto (modelling forum). it infuriates many fans of the General Lee, because that's their only connection to the flag. (being Australian, i have no opinion on it either way. it means nothing).

Which is why I didn't watch that horrible movie........

[jwramc]

THAT'S the reason??? 

[UH60L]

                                               
                                 
Nobody is forcing NASCAR's hand here. 

Just like the removal of Santa Claus & Christian imagery from Christmas . . . there's no govt pressure forcing this stuff.  These are corporate decisions being made to court one audience over another. 

As for the pressure from protest groups . . . whatever.  Let's try protesting NASCAR's use of overseas merchandise manufacturing and see how far that gets us.  IMHO pressure from protest groups is usually just the public justification for a corporation's decision, not the actual reason.

Funny, I have not noticed any removal of Santa from christmas....anywhere.  If anything, it's a one or the other kidna thing.  Most places around where I live, Santa is in and christian imagery is out.

Your correct though, there never was any actual "war on christmas", it was just business decisions trying to lure more shoppers in.  Can't really blame a store for trying to get more sales.

NASCAR, though.....they are not a store, they're a motor sport and one that can stand to lose alot of paying southern (and northern....) fans by alienating them over a single lap by a famous tv car that many NASCAR fans love.   Seems like a no-brainer business decision to me, I'd have that car at every race, maybe even have the tv show stars there signing autographs.

[UH60L]

THAT'S the reason??? 

The primary reason, yes, but also the way they protrayed Uncel Jesse as a pot smoker, Jessic Simpson, the lack of overall respect they gave to the original tv show....did I mention Jessic Simpson?

As soon as I heard they were going to make a racial statement about the car having a "confederate flag" on the roof, I decided not to go see it.  I have forbidden my wife and kids from ever watching it.  Pretty much everyone that I know that went and saw it hated it.

Anyone who really believes that that car or that tv show ever represented or promoted racism....those are the people who need a history lesson.

Since we're on the subject, dead horse, here comes the beat-n.......

The flag on the roof is a confederate navy jack.  As such, that flag was never and is not "THE" confederate flag.  Neither was the Virginia battle flag (the square version of the flag on the general lee car), though it WAS used in the top left corner of the second and third confederate national flags.

The first confederate national flag actually looked alot like the early U.S. flags, with a blue field housing a circle of stars and 3 red and white stripes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flags_of_the_Confederate_States_of_America

[jwramc]

Simpson was my main reason, then the over-the-top sex content that obliterated the TV show's family orientation.

Side bar- Why does EVERY remake of a classic TV show into a modern film HAVE to make it a mocking of the original? Why did Starsky & Hutch have to become laughable morons? Same for the Green Hornet, the A-Team, and now 21 Jump Street. They take a popular show, rape the original premise and ask us to pay to have them insult us for loving the originals. Can you imagine BULLITT remade starring Will Ferrell and Seth Rogan?!? F**king ridiculous. No matter how terrible the relaunch of Knightrider was (and, oh boy, it was), at least they had the respect enough to take the premise seriously, not make it a satire (intentionally anyway). 

[BY RSCO]

[Anyone who really believes that that car or that tv show ever represented or promoted racism....those are the people who need a history lesson.

You are absolutely right. This is one of the things that kills me about anyone playing the R card regarding the show, or the flag on the car.
Any person of color on the show was ALWAYS portrayed in a position of power or authority - Sheriff Little, Cale Yarborough's Crew Cheif, The Dukes Dentist, and a State Bank Examiner just to name a few.

I also despised the movie, the only resemblance to the show was the General Lee, and that one is pushing it....

[HOTROD]

Being politically correct is a pain in the ass !!!

[Mikesmoparperformance]

Well spoken BEN!  To bad the Nascar is thinking the way they do about the flag They put the flag on top because of Robert Edward Lee General lee that was the leader of the Confederate army back then.
Bo and Luke where trying to become racecar drivers voor Nascar, Shame on NASCAR!!! That they would not let the General drive his lap