Hmmm.... Majority sees Confederate flag as Southern pride symbol, not racist

COL Charles Williams — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 09:43:22 -0400

At 0800 CNN was leading with this... and Fox was leading with Washington Navy Yard Lock Down....

Yes, I understand statistics can be manipulated, (and all media is biased) but this seems to be contrary to what I am hearing and have been seeing/reading. Knowing what I know about inferential statistics, and skeptical a sample of 2000 is indicative of the entire US... I am becoming more and skeptical of news based surveys. They seem to align with the their views and bias, not the truth.

This survey seems like a counter response to other such stories... and it was an odd lead/headline story, with all that is going on...

http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/02/politics/confederate-flag-poll-racism-southern-pride/index.html

Poll: Majority sees Confederate flag as Southern pride - CNNPolitics.com

Public opinion on the Confederate flag remains about where it was 15 years ago, with most describing the flag as a symbol of Southern pride.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Jul 2 at 2015 9:49 AM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 09:49:48 -0400

COL Charles Williams I have a tough time with news and their surveys. What was the sample size, etc? I believe there is a lot of pride in the confederate flag in the south due to relatives that died in the civil war and that heritage passed down. For that reason, they should be able to display that heritage. It’s the groups like the KKK that have put a bad spin on the flag and what they represent. I think it is time to let this issue rest and move onto more pressing issues, but the news just can't seem to get enough of it.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2015 9:50 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 09:50:23 -0400

Sir, while I don't think this should be their lead story, maybe the survey is correct. Most of the people I talked to said exactly that, that it was a symbol of Southern Pride and that it wasn't the Confederate flag. Some referred to it as the Dixie flag.

It would be nice to know what the demographics are for this survey and how the questions were written.

Response by SFC Chad Sowash made Jul 2 at 2015 10:16 AM

SFC Chad Sowash — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 10:16:48 -0400

Many identify with the "Rebel" association of the flag, which I totally understand. What about treason, slavery and other associations we simply, as leaders, cannot tolerate? It is our job to better understand the diverse culture in which we lead, because we are leaders. As a retired NCO and a leader in the corporate community I ask everyone to understand the gravity these types of issues play on battlefield focus in our incredibly diverse military and civilian communities. This issue is more than a CNN headline, it's understanding the impact on the minds of those fighting to the left and right of us. I appreciate and understand this discussion and thank you for reading my concerns with regard to "just moving on" and I ask we think about the whole, because the 40%+, concerning this poll, do matter.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2015 10:21 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 10:21:21 -0400

CNN is typically the mouth piece for Liberals. So, I think this might hold some validity. Normally, they are trying to help provoke issues and hide the real news (just like all of the other news out lets).
What I think is more telling is they ignored what was going on in hte Navy Yard this morning. So, this could be their way of keeping this garbage relevent all while still ignoring the real news.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jul 2 at 2015 10:23 AM

LTC Paul Labrador — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 10:23:22 -0400

Who did they poll? Since CNN is based in Atlanta, did they do a local poll?

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2015 10:28 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 10:28:08 -0400

Can we honestly file this in the OMGWC folder? My opinion of it sets race/slavery aside, but still, no one really cares. As for the naval yard non-event... well, there's a reason why it's not being feverishly covered... Literally nothing happened. Someone heard a loud noise and freaked. Understandably, but about as much an event as blackhawks rolling over at Rucker because of micro bursts. Fox has developed a habit of jumping the gun this last year, and they're starting to look as stupid as CNN historically has been.

Response by SFC Joseph Bosley made Jul 2 at 2015 10:35 AM

SFC Joseph Bosley — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 10:35:39 -0400

That's the problem with news outlets now days. They are concerned more with ratings than the truth. Because of this they sensationalize everything and use inflammatory words on purpose to get you to read their version of the truth. Only the majority of the time its not the real truth but what their management wants you to see.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2015 11:19 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 11:19:41 -0400

I usually don't put stock in anything CNN reports.....why start with this.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2015 12:11 PM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 12:11:28 -0400

I work in the vicinity of Navy Yard, but thankfully was teleworking today. Many of us Feds are on a heightened alert due to bulletins and such coming out raising threat levels and warning us of possible situations this coming holiday. Many of us Feds are as a result of past events, really paranoid which can be both a good and a bad thing. We've had Active Shooter and terrorist threat training drilled into us recently. My work alert system went off twice warning me this morning. I'm just glad everyone is okay and nothing bad actually happened. The response was amazing..kudos to Capitol Police, DC Metro Police, Federal Protective Service, NCIS, and all of the other police agencies involved. They did their jobs well and responded appropriately.

With respect to the question at hand, I have learned that regardless of your political affiliation, that news outlets will skew stories and polls to make ratings. It's rather sadly really as I grew up in the era of Walter Cronkike and other news anchors who took the factual reporting of the news seriously instead of the media sensational crap like it is now.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Jul 2 at 2015 2:13 PM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 14:13:35 -0400

I have no more energy left to take on yet another debate about the Confederate flag. I think it is much ado about nothing.

My feeling is that the flag represents Southern heritage and pride, although I recognize it has been hijacked by groups that use it as a symbol of hate and racism.

I am offended by the Gay Pride flag much more than the Confederate flag because, like the Confederate flag, it has been hijacked by the liberal left and LGBT Gaystopo to shove the gay lifestyle down our throats (no pun intended .... or maybe it is).

It is too bad folks are not as incensed about the economy, ISIS, a corrupt administration, law-making by 5 members of a 9 member unelected body, and on and on, and on....

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Jul 2 at 2015 2:18 PM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 14:18:22 -0400

The question, of course, is how much that should actually matter. The current knee jerk ban everything reaction is overwrought but the fact that the flag was largely forgotten until the 50's white supremacy surge cannot be downplayed as irrelevant either.

The swastika is a positive symbol of hope and good luck for much of the world still and has been for thousands of years. I don't think I'm going to be flying one any time soon though.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2015 2:37 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 14:37:29 -0400

I am still surprised people are against a flag. They are not really battling racism really at all. They are not trying to unify with an opposing view but they are attacking anything that they don't see as in their interest. I for one support the display of the confederate flag. My current unit that I am was a confederate unit in the Civil War. We were the 1st North Carolina Volunteer (CSA), then the 11th North Carolina (CSA). A few of the southern National Guard units have roots in the Confederacy. We have Confederate campaign credit streamers. But that is our history. It is nothing to be ashamed of. Not everyone in the CSA was a slave owner. The soldiers weren't fighting for racism. I don't display the CSA flag. I don't see a need too but we do have a Confederate War Memorial in our state Capital. The only flag that flys there is the the US flag. I don't think we should fly a any flag of CSA unless it is at a memorial.

What is funny is how people really don't know history I could wave this flag and ease. I am sure I could hand them out and just say that this was the North Carolina unity flag and they would believe. But in all reality it is the North Carolina Flag of the CSA. But they are so focused on one icon they aren't even tackling the concept of what it means.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2015 4:02 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 16:02:35 -0400

COL Charles Williams, for those of us who grew up and can remember seeing this flag so indelibly connected with the racial strife in the South during and immediately following the Civil Rights struggle, I think it is difficult to disassociate the flag with the violence of that era. However, there are now an entire couple of generations who's only association with this flag is that it was painted on the roof of the car in the Dukes of Hazard! Because racial tension in America has largely been localized and/or pushed under ground for most of the past 30 years, in the eyes of these two younger generations, the Confederate Flag has largely been marketed to symbolize Southern Pride. Stores like Dixie Outfitters have fueled this romanticization with the white, rural youth, and their stores in places like Branson, Panama City, and Myrtle Beach reap the rewards. I know you've mentioned being perplexed by this phenomena in your school, Sir, and I believe this explains the results of this survey. Combined with the fact that we gloss over the Civil Rights era in U.S. history classes, is it any wonder?

Response by SSG William Jones made Apr 17 at 2017 9:46 PM

SSG William Jones — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 21:46:32 -0400

Check this out...
https://youtu.be/zDH5o1gUamU

The Truth Concerning the Confederate Battle Flag

For 224 years America was a country of slavery under the stars and stripes of the American flag. Why then should a person feel hate toward a flag that flew b...

Response by SSG John Butts made Jan 4 at 2019 12:31 AM

SSG John Butts — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 00:31:11 -0500

The majority of white people sees the confederate flag as southern pride. I see it as purely racist...

Response by SFC Herve Abrams made Dec 8 at 2019 11:37 PM

SFC Herve Abrams — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 23:37:42 -0500

There are several Confederate flags. Regardless of which is displayed, this is what those flags represent according to the words of the Vice President of the Confederate StatesOf America:

In what’s now known as the “Cornerstone Speech,” Stephens told a Savannah, Ga., crowd in 1861 that “our new government is founded upon exactly the opposite ideas [as those of slavery foes]; its foundations are laid, its cornerstone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery, subordination to the superior race, is his natural and normal condition. This, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth.”
He went further: the battle over slavery “was the immediate cause of the late rupture and present revolution.”

It’s my opinion Confederate flags should only be displayed in museums and pictured in history books. They deserve no place of honor and should be considered symbols of hate. Alexander Stephens made it abundantly clear the Confederacy was established to support white supremacy and the subjugation of people of color. The same sentiments are expressed in the Articles if Secession of many of the Confederate States.

Response by 1SG James Kelly made Dec 27 at 2020 10:25 AM

1SG James Kelly — Sun, 27 Dec 2020 10:25:46 -0500

Betcha that poll didn't go the way they planed.

Response by PO3 Paula Fialkoff made Jul 15 at 2021 6:39 AM

PO3 Paula Fialkoff — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 06:39:58 -0400

They lost. Celebrate positives.