Not since General Sherman’s infamous March to the sea has Dixie been under such a siege. Thanks to one crazy, heartless white boy in South Carolina who should hang from the flagpole that once held the Stars and Bars, our southern heritage is being bombarded like Fort Sumter. Although the Confederate flag has rightfully been removed from state capitols and stadiums, it still flies proudly over the sand of southern beaches and from the rusty beds of Chevy trucks.
You’d think those contentious objectors of northern descent would be satisfied with capturing our flag, but now, down here in Hays County, some infiltrators in our school administration decided behind closed doors to ban the spirited song “Dixie” from being played at Hays High School. Here’s a news flash for y’all: We don’t need a band to lead thousands of Rebel fans in a chorus of “Dixie”.
So, if the Rebel band can’t play “Dixie”, what song do you think they chose as a replacement? “The Eyes of Texas”? Oh, no. “Texas, Our Texas”? Nope! Perhaps “Deep in the Heart of Texas”? Nuh-uh. The young Texans in the marching band at Jack C. Hays High School, home of the Mighty Rebels, will be playing “On, Wisconsin”. No joke! When I first heard about this, I thought it was a devilish prank so I checked with a reliable source who might verify this ridiculous rumor. A band mom confirmed that her daughter has been practicing “On, Wisconsin” beneath the blue Texas sky for the past week. Oh, by the way, that tremor you just felt wasn’t from fracking. It was the heroes of the Alamo rolling over in their graves.
Allow me a minute to give you some background on the Mighty Rebels’ new fight song. It is currently the fight song for the University of Wisconsin, but the phrase “On, Wisconsin” was the battle cry of a regiment of the Yankee army that fought and killed Rebels at the Battle of Chattanooga. Whoever thinks “On, Wisconsin” is a good substitute for “Dixie” doesn’t know the difference between his butt and a hole in the ground. Someone apparently needs to do his American History homework.
Up in Knoxville, do you think the Tennessee fans in Neyland Stadium would ever stop singing “Rockytop” and join in a chorus of “Sweet Home Alabama”? Does the Longhorn band play “Boomer Sooner” after every score? I think not! So why should kids born on Texas soil with southern roots deeper than those of a live oak tree have to play a song named after a Yankee battle cry?
I did a quick search of more appropriate songs that the Rebel band could play. There are dozens of songs with Texas in the title, even more with a link to the South. Who in blue-coat blazes thought “On, Wisconsin” would be accepted at Bob Shelton Stadium? Why not “New York, New York” or “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”? I bet my fellow alumni at the University of Tennessee would volunteer the use of “Rockytop” for the Rebels. It’s not the first time a bunch of Tennesseans helped Texans in a fight for liberty. Perhaps Hays High can borrow a song from Ole Miss.
I think the students, families and fans of Hays High School should take a rebel stand and download “Dixie” on their fancy cellphones. Then, when the Rebels cross the goal line, show those school administrators what you think of “On, Wisconsin”.
Ol’ Clint Younts is deeply proud of his ancestors, no matter which side they fought on. Heck, they fought on both sides of the Civil War – or Northern Aggression against the South, as some yahoos like to call it – and those cousins might still fight today.
