Arkansas teen rejected by the Marine Corps because of his Confederate flag tattoo

Most people agree that the Confederate flag is a symbol of racism. However, there are others who ignore the history behind it, and keep insisting it’s just a symbol of Southern pride. One such person is Greenbriar, Arkansas teen Anthony Bauswell.

The 18-year-old’s an ambition to join the Marines had just one problem: he sports a Confederate flag tattoo bearing the phrase “Southern Pride.” Bauswell said the recruiter saw the tattoo and said:

“DQ, just automatically DQ.”

Screen Shot 2016-01-23 at 10.54.38 AM
Anthony Bauswell (KARK)

Bauswell said of the experience:

“I felt pretty low. My own government wasn’t going to let me serve my country because of the ink on my skin.”

The body art policy for the Marine Corps forbids anything that is “sexist, racist, eccentric or offensive in nature.” Because it is a Confederate flag, this tattoo definitely qualifies.

Bauswell, however, insists that’s not why he has the tattoo:

“I definitely don’t want it to be seen as racism, which is 99% of the reason I got ‘southern pride’ on it.”

Sorry, kid, it doesn’t matter. The Marines have a very good reason for rejecting someone boasting such a tattoo.

[NY Daily News] Featured image via screen grab

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