Posted on Aug 24, 2014
Is the confederate flag considered offensive by the majority of America?
62.3K
752
311
12
12
0
Im doing this pole in reference to another question since it can't be added to it after the fact. No response is necessary if you don't want to, just trying to take the survey. If you'd like to comment you can go to this thread as well. https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/displaying-the-confederate-flag-on-your-pov-or-person-while-on-a-military-installation
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 109
SSG (Join to see)
Traitors how? They were trying to secede from the union who were violating the constitution. Over taxing the south sometimes up to 500%. This is documented and factual.
(4)
(0)
CPT Ahmed Faried
So you are saying that when one is in an oppressive environment, they have the right to try and break free from it. I wonder what other group of people that bill will fit. A group that were considered property. It escapes me at the moment..no not servant but something else.
(0)
(0)
SGT Stephen Thurman, in my view it is a historical artifact that was taken to represent white sheet terrorism. This is my perspective.
I was not born (born in 1969) during the height of the Jim Crow Laws and am blessed not to have to harbor the strong hatred for what the flag represented.
You have to understand the emotions attachment the flag represents to many minorities.
Look at it this way. If the black panthers flag was raised next to a state flag lets say in Texas. I would guarantee the Texas Legislature would not only demand to take it down but would introduce a law or two to never allow it to be put up on a Texas government pole.
The black panthers are a group that is obviously anti government. The only thing they have in common with groups like the Knights of Columbus or the KKK is they recruit the poor and disenfranchised filling them with the garbage propaganda that the government is evil and should be fought.
You as a young man, you need to understand the emotional history behind the flag to many minorities. It just cannot be dismissed away for historical claims which are accurate in the contexts of their statement. Try taking an al quada black flag and flying it next to the Stars and Stripes on the 9/11 memorial. How would that sit with the survivors of the attack? Grant it the al quada flag is a national flag that is indigenous to the organization.
the question of whether the Confederate Flag is Racism or heritage which it is both. The question is what emotions does it evoke in the people who see it flying.
It boils down to perspective. Take a person raised in the Jim Crow Laws where they could be beat up by police or framed for crimes without any protections in the name of keeping true to whatever segregation or white purity or just plain old intimidation to keep those "people" in their place. If you were not exposed to such realities then I can understand why you would think that minorities are taking the meaning out of context of your point of view on the flag.
It is about perspective. I think it is both.
I was not born (born in 1969) during the height of the Jim Crow Laws and am blessed not to have to harbor the strong hatred for what the flag represented.
You have to understand the emotions attachment the flag represents to many minorities.
Look at it this way. If the black panthers flag was raised next to a state flag lets say in Texas. I would guarantee the Texas Legislature would not only demand to take it down but would introduce a law or two to never allow it to be put up on a Texas government pole.
The black panthers are a group that is obviously anti government. The only thing they have in common with groups like the Knights of Columbus or the KKK is they recruit the poor and disenfranchised filling them with the garbage propaganda that the government is evil and should be fought.
You as a young man, you need to understand the emotional history behind the flag to many minorities. It just cannot be dismissed away for historical claims which are accurate in the contexts of their statement. Try taking an al quada black flag and flying it next to the Stars and Stripes on the 9/11 memorial. How would that sit with the survivors of the attack? Grant it the al quada flag is a national flag that is indigenous to the organization.
the question of whether the Confederate Flag is Racism or heritage which it is both. The question is what emotions does it evoke in the people who see it flying.
It boils down to perspective. Take a person raised in the Jim Crow Laws where they could be beat up by police or framed for crimes without any protections in the name of keeping true to whatever segregation or white purity or just plain old intimidation to keep those "people" in their place. If you were not exposed to such realities then I can understand why you would think that minorities are taking the meaning out of context of your point of view on the flag.
It is about perspective. I think it is both.
(4)
(0)
SGT (Join to see)
SSG Dwight Amey this honostly might be the best response I have read on here. You are absolutely right about my question. The question i should have asked was What emotions does it evoke in the people who see it flying! This is the type of answers I love seeing on RP!
(1)
(0)
SSG Dwight Amey MSA, MSL, BS, AS
SGT Stephen Thurman, thanks. I want to express what is not expressed on network news about race relations in our country. We live in a divided society and are so close to a civil war now it scares me. We need to teach our children how to relate with others not just by our words, but our actions. When this happens we will see a united states again. At this time, our media has too much power and influence and they are pushing division more and more. This is why I no longer listen or watch news agencies ALL of them. They are in the entertainment business. Bring back the days of Walter Cronkite and get rid of the fools on television today. It is a joke.
(0)
(0)
Had two roommates back in the early 90's. One was black from Florida. The other was white from Arkansas. As we were decorating our rooms, the Arkie pulled out a Confederate flag. The Floridian bluntly said, "Really?" The Arkie went on the explain about how it represented his heritage and ties to the south. However, the Arkie simply folded up and stowed it away. In this exchange, I learned that this symbol has entirely different meanings for different people. The friendship and mutual respect prevailed.
(4)
(0)
SFC (Join to see)
How was it mutual respect? The guy with the flag caved to the sensitivities of his roommate.
(0)
(0)
SGT (Join to see)
Did he really cave? Or did he realize the flag could mean something else to him? I think that was a good move on the roommates part.
(1)
(0)
SSG Dwight Amey MSA, MSL, BS, AS
SFC Paul P. can you explain what you mean by it was not mutual respect. Personally, if I was in the room I would not have asked that the flag be put away. I would simply find out if the individual has it up as a sign to the good old days of when blacks were not where they are today. Depending on his reaction would depend on mine.
(0)
(0)
There is only one appropriate place to display the confederate flag.... on the roof of a '69 hemi-orange Dodge Charger.
(4)
(0)
MSgt (Join to see)
I respectfully disagree:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Lee_(car)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Lee_(car)
General Lee (car) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The General Lee (sometimes referred to as simply "the General") is the name given to a 1969 Dodge Charger driven by the Duke cousins Bo and Luke; along with cousins Coy and Vance (in season 5) in the television series The Dukes of Hazzard. It is known for its signature horn, its police chases, stunts — especially its long jumps — and for having its doors welded shut, leaving the Dukes to climb in and out through the windows. The car appears in...
(0)
(0)
CPT Christopher Webb
To my dismay, as a diehard Dukes of Hazard fan with an enduring crush on Daisy, the last model of the General Lee I purchased did not come with the Confederate Flag decal to put on the roof. Good Grief.
(0)
(0)
You're argument is less than valid. If you think that flag should be displayed proudly because of heritage than so should the swastica and several other symbols. Yes, they are all the same.
(4)
(0)
MSG Morgan Fiszel, CPCM, CFCM
PFC Jeremy Plow, that word isn't an appropriate one for this conversation.
(0)
(0)
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
And nothing makes me Angrier 1LT (P) Steve Philpot that the Reich Wing Hate Groups have Appropriated the Navy Battle Flag.
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)
Only in America does the losing side in a war get to display their flag. Â Not to mention the losing side fought to continue enslaving people for personal economic gain.Â
(4)
(0)
SGT (Join to see)
I know my great-grandparents, bless their share-cropper hearts, did get a mule in the deal. They lost a couple of sons, but that was a damn fine mule, outworked both those good-for-nothing boys.
Do you seriously believe that the average southern soldier fought to keep slaves? What slaves? The average southern family could barely afford to keep their children in rags.
"Personal economic gain"...not even close, Sir.
Do you seriously believe that the average southern soldier fought to keep slaves? What slaves? The average southern family could barely afford to keep their children in rags.
"Personal economic gain"...not even close, Sir.
(1)
(0)
SSG (Join to see)
Civil war was about the right to secede from the union and unfair taxing. Sometimes up to 500%.
The winning side occupied the south for almost 50 years and still looted the homes of hardworking southern civilians. Up to and including "land grabbing"
During this time Lincoln tried to send all blacks West or to New Liberia. This is documented and factual.
The winning side occupied the south for almost 50 years and still looted the homes of hardworking southern civilians. Up to and including "land grabbing"
During this time Lincoln tried to send all blacks West or to New Liberia. This is documented and factual.
(1)
(0)
While I respect the Confederacy (they were warriors after all and I would salute that flag at their gravesites), it is offensive to be on a military garrison because we are not the Confederacy of America.
(4)
(0)
The flag doesn't bother me from the perspective that it was the Flag of Northern Virginia, General Lee's unit. It's historical and serves as a reminder of where this country was and how far it's progressed over 150 years. However, I hate seeing it as a rallying symbol for hate groups. Quite frankly, it irritates me that such a notable symbol from a tumultuous tine in our nation's history is being used to promote hate towards everyone who didn't look like members of a hate group or share their ideology. I lived in South Carolina during the controversy surrounding the Confederate flag being displayed atop the capital building which occurred in the 1990s. What struck me was how many supporters of different races were in favor of the flag staying in place. That told me that it really came down to the individual and how they viewed the flag and what it meant to them. At the end of the day, the only flag that matters is the one to which we pledge our allegiance. We can never forget our history and flags can serve as that reminder.
(3)
(0)
Historical.
Just because a select few use it to promote their racist agenda doesn't make it racist.
Just because a select few use it to promote their racist agenda doesn't make it racist.
(3)
(0)
It's both. For some it's just pride in the south and the southern heritage and for others it's a symbol of hate. All depends on who's looking at it
(3)
(0)
Read This Next