Southern Heritage Group Offers Kids Unusual History Lessons
Each summer, a few lucky young folks, whose parents presumably have sympathies, spend a week at a Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) Sam Davis Youth Camp. The camps are inspired by the words of a Confederate officer warning that a Southern loss in the Civil War meant its history would be 鈥渨ritten by the enemy.鈥
Now in their seventh season, the Southern heritage group鈥檚 youth camps are supposed to help parents take 鈥渞esponsibility鈥 for teaching 鈥渙ur Southern history and culture.鈥 They feature a week-long reeducation of sorts, one that is needed, says the SCV, because today鈥檚 youth run a 鈥渢errible gauntlet鈥 and 鈥渕any are struck down along the way by one or more of the politically correct influences which flourish in our schools.鈥 The youth camps are meant to harden these youngsters so they can withstand 鈥渢he liberal, politically correct view of history.鈥
The camps are heavily indebted to , a white supremacist lawyer who to recruit hate group members to the SCV (Lyons was at one time a member of the neo-Nazi ). Lyons, who said in 2000 that his goal is 鈥渁 majority European-derived society,鈥 serves on the SCV committee that oversees the camps. He has lobbied to have SCV funds dedicated to camp scholarships and his own children have participated in the events.
Also serving on the camp鈥檚 oversight committee is , a former SCV commander-in-chief (2002-2004) who once served on the board of . Working closely with Lyons during his tenure as commander, Wilson appointed racists and anti-Semites to key SCV posts, purged some 300 SCV members and leaders who opposed racism, and worked to turn the SCV into an actively neo-Confederate organization. The Sam Davis Youth Camps, which are programs held in various venues rather than specific physical locations, were inaugurated under Wilson鈥檚 leadership.
So what does the SCV teach today鈥檚 youth? Campers are exposed to various 鈥渢ruths鈥 about what the SCV calls 鈥渢he War for Southern Independence鈥 and are given 鈥渢houghtful instruction鈥 in a whole host of topics: 鈥淪outhern history, the War Between the States, the theology of the South during the War, lessons on Southern heroes, examples of great men of the Faith, and for the first year, special programs and sessions for our Southern ladies!鈥
The first camp of the 2010 season was held in Clifton, Texas, during the third week of June. According to the , the campers were taught that the Civil War was not about slavery. 鈥淭oo many people have bought into that notion,鈥 Texas SCV Commander Ray W. James told the newspaper, 鈥渁nd wrongly exalt then-President Abraham Lincoln as wanting to end slavery.鈥 Lincoln was actually 鈥渁 bigger racist than I ever knew,鈥 James said of the author of the Emancipation Proclamation.
The campers also enjoy some interesting musical entertainment. This year, campers were serenaded by the Farnum Family, a singing group that puts on the annual 鈥淪ongs for His People鈥 gathering in Branson, Mo., which has often featured Christian Identity pastors. is a virulently racist and anti-Semitic religion that claims Jews are biologically descended from Satan and minorities are not human and do not have souls, having been created by God on the same day as 鈥渢he beasts of the field.鈥
At the 2000 Songs for His People, for instance, Pastor reportedly called himself 鈥渁 strong racist鈥 and said that he was pleased at 鈥渢he quality of our race is in this room.鈥 Identity Pastor Ted Weiland was similarly strident, telling the audience, 鈥淭here is a Jewish agenda against Christianity.鈥 Weiland claimed, 鈥淭hey [the Jews] are not the true Israel. They say we are the haters, but the Jews are the enemies of Christ.鈥
When asked about Weiland and Jennings鈥 comments, Norm Farnum told Hatewatch, 鈥淭hey were taken out of context.鈥 When asked if he was a Christian Identity adherent, Farnum said, 鈥渘ot in the context that the Southern Poverty Law Center means.鈥 He declined to elaborate.
The Farnums have some other unusual acquaintances. Their website links to Pastor John Weaver, whose 2001 defense of American slavery caused a firestorm after a newspaper reported that his tract was being sold at Piggie Park, a South Carolina barbecue institution. Weaver鈥檚 publication claimed, among other things, that 鈥渕any ... African slaves blessed the Lord for allowing them to be enslaved and sent to America.鈥 Weaver has also been identified as a member of the white supremacist (CCC). Earlier this decade, Weaver served as chaplain-in-chief of the SCV.
Lyons is a big supporter of the Farnums, writing on Facebook that 鈥渢his band MADE the western Sam Davis camp.鈥 Lyons solicited $3,000 on Facebook to bring the Farnums to the Sam Davis Youth Camp that was held in early July in South Carolina. When asked by Hatewatch whether he had concerns about the Farnums, given their connections to Christian Identity pastors, Lyons said, 鈥淭hey are a wonderful family and they have been a blessing to the camp.鈥 (Click to see a video of Lyons speaking in early July at a confederate flag rally in Columbia, S.C., that also featured the CCC鈥檚 Kyle Rogers).