Feelings on displaying the Confederate flag on your POV or person while on a military installation?

Talking points... carefully crafted to deny liberty and freedom of speech.

As an antique tankers, I have several comments that I would like to make on this subject.

1). There was never an authorized Confederate States flag designed or accepted by the body of said states

2). All of the units fought with their state, unit flag, and the Confederate Battle Flag

3). The Battle Flag has become the defactor "Confederate Flag" because it was the one flag all southern units carried.

Well, some people are offended by it because they personally felt racial prejudice from yahoos waving and displaying that flag. At that point, the only thing they are going to know about it is that flag is a symbol for racial oppression and they are not going to care if there is another meaning. Just another perspective.....

The whole thing is about perception. The crucifix can be offensive to some as it portrays death. To others it is a symbol of love and sacrifice. So the view of the confederate flag is a perception. Some view as a symbol of oppression while others view as a symbol of pride and history that has nothing to do with slavery or racism. Unfortunately it takes bone radical group aka the kkk to take that symbol and turn it into something else

So pray tell, what should they know about it?

I totally agree... there are much better, bigger and more important things to be worried about... people need to quit making issues out of crap that shouldn't be an issue and worry about things that should be handled... like the wounded warrior project, hidden wounds, soldier care, family, etc... get off the race crap let it go... it is a stupid ignorance issue that should have died long ago but continues to kick us because people have to have something to whine about... i say leave the whining to the little ones soldier up and do your job...

You would probably have a different opinion if you were black and living in the south. This flag represents slavery and oppression. I is still waved with reverence in the south by those that wish to return to those days. Not an issue for you. Fine. But don't for a second think it is not an issue worth dealing with. Troops are not getting care because politicians feel as you do about the confederate flag.

Despite the fact that you are allowed your freedom to speech PO3 Gordon Soderberg I strongly suggest you educate yourself before disrespecting half a nation. As someone who has moved between Ks & Tx most of childhood & adulthood I've seen just as much racism & reverse racism in both "North" & "South". While I lived in Texas (SOUTH) many people had that flag in many places. Yes some of them were Black & Hispanic not just White. That being said, unless you are trying to say that there are black individuals that want to be slaves again, then you should probably stop & realize that it also represents Southern Pride and sometimes you should take in the full situation; even if that means asking, instead of being prejudice.

Thankyou Capt. Well stated

The problem, IMHO, is that there is a dual meaning to that flag. I accept that to a lot of Southerners it is merely a represenation of heritage. I get that and have no probelm with it. However, to a significant portion of our society it ALSO represents racism, because it was OVERTLY used by racist groups as their flag. What I see is people either don't understand or don't want to acknowledge that simple fact. Other national flags you mentioned usually don't have that sceond conotation attached to it.

As American Soldiers - we fought and died for the preservation of the Constitution which includes the First Amendment - Freedom of Speech and Expression. The right to fly any flag in the United States is protected by the First Amendment. When we begin to remove symbols because certain groups cry foul over how they feel - then we will have to begin removing all things of symbolic nature in this country for any group who will cry foul later - and in doing so, we will remove the pathway from our past that enabled us to define a better future for ourselves. When we begin to govern based on feelings instead of what is right in accordance with the Constitution, then we have abandoned our oath as Soldiers - as Protectors and Defenders and Guardians of the Constitution. The Native Americans experienced slavery and more trauma than black people in the U.S. (not to marginalize such experiences)- so what if Native Americans now begin to have an issue with the American flag - should we take it down too? I mean after all, the American flag was responsible for the institute of slavery in the U.S. and for more deaths of slaves than the Confederate flag. As for slavery - the first slaves in America were Native Americans and then Irish prisoners sent over from England and then children - who were white and forced to work in harsh conditions in the north. The first black slave was owned by a free black man in Virginia, and the largest black slave owner prior to the beginning of the war in 1860 was a free black man in South Carolina. The north had more slaves than the south at the beginning of the war, and General Lee set his slaves free before the war even began - but General Grant of the Union did not even free his slaves until after the war. Lincoln's position prior to the war was that slavery was not even an issue and he felt that black slaves should be sent back to Africa - however, even then, not all black slaves were from Africa. Therefore, the issue of racism extends beyond a flag and it lives and breathes not because of a flag. The military is a great example of how people can live together harmoniously and that we can accomplish amazing things - when we are one color (Green) - not focused on what divides us, but all that unites us. Therefore, we either protect the rights of all, not the few, and we defend the rights of people in this country to fly any flag they choose - not because it may offend someone, but because it is their right to do so for - and the reason why you and I served this great country, and why our brothers and sisters - and ancestors died for this country. As for me, I have fought along side men and women who were white, black, Hispanic, Asian, Muslim, Christians, Buddhists - but the one thing we all had in common - we were Americans... nothing else - just Americans!

So Bo an Luke Duke were just slave running American traitors huh. Like I said, people see things from the viewpoint they want to. Just like most see the Nazi swastika as evil incarnate, it's original meaning was anything but.

SGT Flickinger, it isn't an issue of geographical perception. They are many southerners who see it the same way as northerners.

True, but my point is that not all see it that way. Next time you see someone who's flying the confederate flag, ask him/her if she supports all the bad things listed. I'm not defending the flying of it, I'm only saying it may not represent to them what it represents to many of you. I'm not southern so it doesn't mean squat to me.

The flaw in that arguement is that the Nazi flag did infact represent a group of dispicable people. They are gone now. If we felt that way about our southerners then we would have bannes it along time ago. The battle flag of the confederacy didnt mean genocide, rape, torture and the like as the Nazi flag did. Its just the viewpoint of some and an example of how narrow minded and unAmerican this country is becomming.

Its part of a much bigger picture and a smaller America that our history and freedoms are being rewritten and destroyed.

How many were slaughtered in the crusades? Yet i dont see any move to ban the Christian flag. Dont ya love how hipocrissy works.