Confederate flags on post, what are your feelings?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 14:02:05 -0400

http://www.businessinsider.com/amazons-sales-of-confederate-flags-are-booming-2015-6

Confederate flag sales are skyrocketing

Sales of Confederate flags have skyrocketed more than 2,000% on Amazon.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Aug 9 at 2015 2:15 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 14:15:28 -0400

No problem. An anti-PC reaction is healthy.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Aug 9 at 2015 2:47 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 14:47:13 -0400

There usually is a run on stuff people think will be hard to get later on. Whenever the Administration talks gun control, there's a spike in sales. ATF ban on "penetraters", spike. Post Sandy Hook, etc. spike. It's hard to find a box, let alone a reasonable priced box, of 22LRs anywhere and hoarding is the COA du jour. BTW for you shooters out there, the Government has made it so hard to manufacture powder, most of it is in Australia now. DuPont, IMR, Winchester, Hodgen, etc. gone. Great idea to force a strategic material capability off shore.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Aug 10 at 2015 10:51 AM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 10:51:26 -0400

SFC Private RallyPoint Member - If all other "offensive" flags and paraphernalia are outlawed (i.e., gay rainbow flag, black pride flag, flags from college and NFL teams that are not the ones I support, etc.), then I guess it is OK. However, if they don't forbid things that may be offensive to anybody, I am against it.

Frankly, I am just very tired of all the PC BS, especially when it is not evenly applied.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2015 10:57 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 10:57:25 -0400

I don't see the problem with it. Like someone else said, it goes along the lines with any other flags (team flags, rainbow flags, college flags). Military personnel come from all sorts of backgrounds and are usually pretty tolerant of others views and still can get along and have a beer after duty no matter where they came from or who they are. As long as the stars and stripes are flown higher, I don't see the issue.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Aug 10 at 2015 11:03 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 11:03:01 -0400

The Confederate Battle Flag, the one that has thousands of people in an uproar was nothing more than a rally symbol for the forces of the Confederate states. The Confederate States, at least to my knowledge, never used this flag as a unified flag to cover their states; rather they flew state flags as well as a few other designs such as the one pictured above.

As far as flagging them on post, I think it would come down to where the flags are being flown. Should it flown on the main post flag pole? In my opinion, no it shouldn't. Should service members be allowed to fly them outside their living area? Well that is where the grey area comes in to play. Keeping in mind that you are merely leasing the house from the government which in this case is the landlord/property manager, you must comply with what the property manager says. And this goes for all the different flags out there. While I don't include sport teams' flags and the such in the same category, if the post is going to disallow the flag of the Confederate Battle Flag, than it would do the same for the others such as the Gay Pride flag and others that are not associated with a county, state or federal government.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 10 at 2015 4:36 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 16:36:21 -0400

I think this situation has no right answer.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Aug 10 at 2015 5:03 PM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 17:03:58 -0400

As far as the sale of the Confederate Flag on any military installation, until you can get "EVERYONE (Civ & Mil)" to AGREE on an ACCEPTABLE NEUTRAL representation/definition as to what this flag should mean to all Americans, (Human nature being what it is, we know that ain't happening) I would say that the sale of the Confederate Flag should be banned form all military installations (AAFES, NEX, etc) and others (Thrift Mart, Yard/Garage sales, etc) allowed to sell in/on Gov property, to include all vendors, as doing so puts the military in an awkward situation of being falsely accused of "supporting" a cause, which is not where it want to or needs to be as it pertains to current feelings and emotions surrounding this flag.
Me personally? I could care less, as it's not the flag I'm concerned about... I'm more concerned about the people (any) who would act negatively towards others because of or in the name of it...

Response by SFC Harold Benton made Aug 27 at 2015 9:39 AM

SFC Harold Benton — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 09:39:48 -0400

I see nothing wrong with it. If someone is offended, it is the offended persons problem , not the "Offendee".

Response by MSgt John Taylor made Sep 17 at 2015 2:53 PM

MSgt John Taylor — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 14:53:52 -0400

Geo Washington & Thomas Jefferson had, and promoted slavery. Do we wipe out all evidence of them because that offends people today? I would wager that 99.9% of those that fought under a confederate battle flag didn't own slaves. The stars and bars meant something completely different to them, just as it means something completely different to all of us today. Are you righteous enough to tell me that my beliefs are wrong?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2015 9:10 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 09:10:15 -0500

It should not be allowed on any military installation.