Posted on Aug 22, 2014
Feelings on displaying the Confederate flag on your POV or person while on a military installation?
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Recently, I had a long and heated discussion with a fellow veteran about this issue. I don't know for sure whether a branch-specific reg or a DoD-wide reg exists that prohibits/allows personnel on a military installation to display the Confederate flag on their personal vehicle or on their person (e.g. a belt buckle). Maybe this is a base-specific policy and left to the judgment of the installation commander. Display of the Confederate flag is a divisive issue and people often feel really strongly one way or the other. But today, it is still a relevant topic and touches on other military leadership/discipline areas, including the actions of one member deeply offending another member -- regardless of whether said action is legal/authorized. That can create huge problems in a military unit, and this happened in a unit I personally served in. So, below are my questions for the RallyPoint community about this issue.
Please try to keep comments professional (don't attack one another) and explain your thoughts as best you can.
Questions:
(1) How do you feel about the Confederate flag being displayed on the vehicle/person of a service member if he/she is ON post? How does your opinion change if the member is OFF post?
(2) What does the Confederate flag symbolize to you personally? What do you think it can symbolize to other people around you who may perceive it differently?
(3) If you have personally experienced a military-related situation where a symbol/flag caused someone to be offended, what happened and what did you/would you have done as the leader?
I look fwd to everyone's thoughts on this. Personally, I have some strong feelings about this issue, though I don't want to bias people's answers upfront. Please be as honest as possible.
Tag: SSG Emily Williams Col (Join to see) 1SG Steven Stankovich SSG Scott Williams 1LT Sandy Annala CPT (Join to see) SSG V. Michelle Woods MSG Carl Cunningham
Please try to keep comments professional (don't attack one another) and explain your thoughts as best you can.
Questions:
(1) How do you feel about the Confederate flag being displayed on the vehicle/person of a service member if he/she is ON post? How does your opinion change if the member is OFF post?
(2) What does the Confederate flag symbolize to you personally? What do you think it can symbolize to other people around you who may perceive it differently?
(3) If you have personally experienced a military-related situation where a symbol/flag caused someone to be offended, what happened and what did you/would you have done as the leader?
I look fwd to everyone's thoughts on this. Personally, I have some strong feelings about this issue, though I don't want to bias people's answers upfront. Please be as honest as possible.
Tag: SSG Emily Williams Col (Join to see) 1SG Steven Stankovich SSG Scott Williams 1LT Sandy Annala CPT (Join to see) SSG V. Michelle Woods MSG Carl Cunningham
Regulation
Policy
Respect
Confederate Flag
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 325
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According to many historians the flag had nothing to do with slavery or owning slaves sent
from Europe or Africa. It was about States Rights. There were several Southern Flags flown
by different states. The current Confederate flag grew to become the most popular and stands
for State Rights even today. It has become a hate symbol by those who are looking for something
for a reason to hate and/or change history.
from Europe or Africa. It was about States Rights. There were several Southern Flags flown
by different states. The current Confederate flag grew to become the most popular and stands
for State Rights even today. It has become a hate symbol by those who are looking for something
for a reason to hate and/or change history.
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I believe this question has become moot because more and more units check with the Marines have now ordered the Confederate flag to be removed from everything. Anyone that displays the confederate flag can we easily be assumed that he or she is displaying it for a reason. I have found no one that can give me a good explanation of that reason. Many people say it’s because we’re proud of our southern heritage. But when I asked him what the sudden heritage that you’re proud of is either they can’t articulate it or it has nothing to do with the confederate flag.
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To me the Confederate Flag doesn't bother me in the slightest so it would not bother me if someone displayed it.
The Confederate flag reps the south and it heritage. To others I know it reps something totally different and mostly because the symbol of the flag has been adopted by hate groups which gives it the bad rap it doesn't deserve. I guess I have an affection for this flag because I had family members fight in the south during the civil war, although I disagree with their reason they went to war with the north.
I can not remember any instance during my time in service that the Confederate flag was an issue.
The Confederate flag reps the south and it heritage. To others I know it reps something totally different and mostly because the symbol of the flag has been adopted by hate groups which gives it the bad rap it doesn't deserve. I guess I have an affection for this flag because I had family members fight in the south during the civil war, although I disagree with their reason they went to war with the north.
I can not remember any instance during my time in service that the Confederate flag was an issue.
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I'm going to answer your questions indirectly.
1) If I'm going to offend someone, I want the offense to be intentional and targeted. Knowing that a large number of people might be offended, people who I do not want to offend, I'll have nothing to do with the Confederate Flag. If someone I knew, peer, subordinate, or senior; I'd ask them if they were aware that they might be offending people. How they respond would probably tell me all I need to know.
2) To me the Confederate Flag is a historical icon. It has no meaning. I know that some other people feel differently. I find it odd that a symbol of rebellion against the government still incites favorable passion in the some people who are also "proud to be an American."
3) My troop commanding days, the platoon's were in open squad bays, so there were no personal displays. The Marine Corps was in the tail end of pretty bad racial violence, so anyone displaying any type of racial symbols (Confederate Flags, Black Panther symbols, Latino gang signs) got "extra special" attention.
1) If I'm going to offend someone, I want the offense to be intentional and targeted. Knowing that a large number of people might be offended, people who I do not want to offend, I'll have nothing to do with the Confederate Flag. If someone I knew, peer, subordinate, or senior; I'd ask them if they were aware that they might be offending people. How they respond would probably tell me all I need to know.
2) To me the Confederate Flag is a historical icon. It has no meaning. I know that some other people feel differently. I find it odd that a symbol of rebellion against the government still incites favorable passion in the some people who are also "proud to be an American."
3) My troop commanding days, the platoon's were in open squad bays, so there were no personal displays. The Marine Corps was in the tail end of pretty bad racial violence, so anyone displaying any type of racial symbols (Confederate Flags, Black Panther symbols, Latino gang signs) got "extra special" attention.
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It was a flag created by soldiers to represent their values and to keep from being mistaken by the opposing force. It has been usurped by nefarious groups, and so has the us one. I don't care as long as they aren't being obnoxious. I had to tolerate probably and mexican flags and all.kinds of.college stuff. As long as we aren't exclusive and causing trouble why not
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that is a touchy subject ! I live in south and have had bad vibes from civilian and military people over similar things for years all I heard was you D_ _ Yankees need to go back north .I can respect if your from the south and had family in that battle I understand it's a battle flag. but unfortunately another type group claimed that flag.so that puts in a category that it should not be flying in or on a military institution. you and I and others have family members that fought battles in other other countries and we should respect thier flags . different situations smaller concept if I was from Texas and proud of my flag and wanted it on my uniform ? military installations and military uniforms have same rules and vfc respects.
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I’m not a fan of flags on trucks at all, I’ve never done but. I feel it would be a safety or a distraction, like I said I’ve never done it.
I like looking at flags, especially civil war flags. I really wish states would not change the state flags, such as Georgia, that state has had way to many flags. Luckily Florida still holds its confederate history in the flag.
As for the flag in the picture that’s not even a real flag.
As far as flying the battle flag of Virginia (what everyone knows as the confederate flag) it’s hard to say I feel it should be ok. However most people don’t know the history and say it’s the confederate flag. Which leads me into saying that no one should be flying the stars and bars or any Confederate National flag (there is 8 in total). I could also no flag from the confederacy to include the Battle flag of Virginia. I say this only because that flag was a square. The flag most of America knows as “the Confederate Flag” is actually The Second Confederate Navy Jack and should be seen nowadays as someone saying I’m from the South, not necessarily the Confederacy.
This is where leaders need to pay attention to see if other signs are shown towards a negative value, then revoke that person’s ability to fly it and remove them from the Army.
I like looking at flags, especially civil war flags. I really wish states would not change the state flags, such as Georgia, that state has had way to many flags. Luckily Florida still holds its confederate history in the flag.
As for the flag in the picture that’s not even a real flag.
As far as flying the battle flag of Virginia (what everyone knows as the confederate flag) it’s hard to say I feel it should be ok. However most people don’t know the history and say it’s the confederate flag. Which leads me into saying that no one should be flying the stars and bars or any Confederate National flag (there is 8 in total). I could also no flag from the confederacy to include the Battle flag of Virginia. I say this only because that flag was a square. The flag most of America knows as “the Confederate Flag” is actually The Second Confederate Navy Jack and should be seen nowadays as someone saying I’m from the South, not necessarily the Confederacy.
This is where leaders need to pay attention to see if other signs are shown towards a negative value, then revoke that person’s ability to fly it and remove them from the Army.
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You can not display the Stars and Bars, except for certain occasions by federal law.
Everyone displays the Southern Cross (Dixie), GEN Robert E. Lee's personal battle flag for the Army of Virginia.
He did not formally own slaves, he was against them. The only reason he fought for the South was Virginia seceded, read history.
(There is a belief that he gave up his final battle plans to save the Republic?)
Everyone displays the Southern Cross (Dixie), GEN Robert E. Lee's personal battle flag for the Army of Virginia.
He did not formally own slaves, he was against them. The only reason he fought for the South was Virginia seceded, read history.
(There is a belief that he gave up his final battle plans to save the Republic?)
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The Confederate Battle Flag (aka the Southern Cross) is and has always been a symbol of armed rebellion against the established order and should be TOTALLY banned except in specific historical contexts. And as much as possible, in such contexts one of the actual National Flags of the Confederacy (there were three) should be used instead of the Battle Flag.
(One such context is in the Confederate section of the Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA, where they fly the Third National.)
(One such context is in the Confederate section of the Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA, where they fly the Third National.)
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I think, as long as you're in the military, whether Active, Reserves, or the National Guard of any branch of service, you're subject to UCMJ and should follow suit. If Veterans are back home and don't involve themselves in criminal mischief, it's a freedom of expression and have the right to do so, as long as it doesn't step on other people's toes, e.g. Nationalist of any race intentionally going to cities and causing trouble.
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