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BY ALLIE SPILLYARDS

You're watching multisource politics news analysis from Newsy.

Girl Scouts, Special Olympics, Dallas Mavericks... all specialty license plates seen on Texas Roadways. But what about a Confederate flag? It’s a request just one vote away from approval and it’s stirring up a whirlwind of controversy.

REPORTER: “The city of Dallas has a large Confederate memorial and several schools named after Confederate generals. But is resurrecting the rebel flag on a license plate honoring the past or simply provoking tension?”

The request came from the Sons of Confederate Veterans. It’s now up to a vote by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles after being denied once before.
Many in the media have focused attention on whether the flag is an offensive symbol, but a blogger for the Dallas Morning News suggests there’s a bigger question at hand. He asks, is it even historically appropriate?

“Why would we honor the flag of a nation that fought us to prevent us from becoming what we are today, one of 50 states in the good ol' USA? ...Do we think that if the Confederacy had won the war that we'd be debating whether to add a Star-Spangled Banner to a license plate? I think not. Besides, most of us would not be using ‘we’ in that sentence …”

But those in support of the plates say it’s a small way to remember loved ones. Houston’s KHOU has more.

“The Confederate flag is about the size of a baseball. The Texas Sons of Confederate Veterans designed the plate and says the goal is to remember Texans who died fighting in the Civil War.”

A reporter for NPR reminds, this proposal isn’t a first.

“Of course, Texas wouldn't be the first state to display the Confederate flag on a license plate. Nine others already do so. Georgia and Mississippi both have the Stars and Bars on their state flags.”

So where’s that last vote? The Atlantic Wire explains the holdup.

“At this point, the vote has been put off momentarily, because the ninth member of the DMV board passed away. It's up to Governor Rick Perry to appoint his replacement. “

That board is expected to look at the design again in September and decide its fate.
 

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