Let’s keep this respectful. Do you agree with the Marine Corps Commandant banning Confederate flags on base?

Cpl Peter Martuneac — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 08:12:48 -0400

Personally I think the only two flags that should be on any USMC base are the Stars and Stripes and the Marine Corps flag anyway.

Response by COL John McClellan made Jul 2 at 2020 8:58 AM

COL John McClellan — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 08:58:25 -0400

Yes.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2020 9:24 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 09:24:26 -0400

If you are going to ban something because it is offense to one group then you need to ban anything that is offensive to any group. Otherwise it's discrimination.

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Jul 2 at 2020 9:39 AM

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 09:39:32 -0400

Did he just ban the Naval Ensign, Army of NVA and Tenn flags (St Georges Cross) or all National Flags and the Bonnie Blue flag?

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Jul 2 at 2020 9:43 AM

LTC Kevin B. — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 09:43:35 -0400

I have no issue with that decision, and I support it.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2020 10:24 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 10:24:15 -0400

I personally don't care. The sight of the flag does not bother me. I guess that is the "white privilege" in me. But, banning the Stars and Bars because it's offensive....so be it. The caveat is that if the Confederate Flag is considered offensive, then remove any flag and/or Standard that is considered offensive. The rub is that if someone is LOOKING for something offensive, they will always find it. In what ever twisted sense they see something as offensive. You can't tell me that someone out there doesn't find the Pride Flag offensive. Or someone not finding a flag of Malcolm X offensive.

The Germans had outlawed anything Nazi. Pins, uniforms, flags, etc.. But guess what, they can still be found. You can outlaw offensive/racist stuff all day long....but you can still find those things. Plus, outlawing the items does not erase the memories.

If the military really wants to be an EO friendly environment....then ban it all except the State Flag, the US Flag, and the Branch Colors/Standards. Again, that still won't erase the memories. That won't erase the history.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jul 2 at 2020 12:06 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 12:06:10 -0400

Look, I was born in South- all my folks fought for the Union, our new family home in TN was taken illegally be the Union. I have researched for years on the hows and why's and KNOW that slavery was Not the bottom line for the war. Respect the hard decisions folks made. Bottom Line- Commanders can ban many things, they want to ban this one, that is their right, troops must go along with it. Have never been happy with idiots using it or the KKK to hide their ignorance behind it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2020 12:22 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 12:22:37 -0400

I think it’s one of the more forward thinking moves of the USMC. Not because I have any opinion on it - I don’t. But, I know that the writing is on the wall and that 20 years from now Congress will have banned them on federal property, or else they will be a huge political hot button. Neither of those is something a military commander wants to be in the middle of.

I’m also not surprised because of all the branches, the USMC is the best at branding and defending their trademark. For the Marine Corps propaganda machine if you aren’t helping, you’re hurting, especially if it possibly causes any division amongst the troops.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2020 1:29 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 13:29:17 -0400

Personally don't care and most who fly that flag don't even understand where that flag even came from.

Response by LCDR Joshua Gillespie made Jul 2 at 2020 1:31 PM

LCDR Joshua Gillespie — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 13:31:13 -0400

No disrespect, but what am I supposed to say? That I welcome this new era of simplistic and myopic guilt-mongering... or that I'd dare try to defend a lost cause based on similarly simplistic and myopic false teachings? Personally, I think it's as radical and dangerous to start "banning" everything that someone takes offense at... as it is to twist science, faith, and economics to relegate an entire race of human beings to subservient status. I'll never know why in the world some otherwise truly admirable people on both sides could not have sat down around a large table sometime around 1859... and sorted it out like gentlemen-they could've saved a great many lives, white and black. For the love of Pete and all that's holy... most of 'em fought alongside each other in the previous war! Maybe it was because just like today... for every two people willing to talk, there are two-thousand ready to fight.

To answer your question.. I suppose there's not much else the Commandant could do. At this point, no sensible, rational person is going to fly that flag unless they're trying to make a point... and we cannot have that in the Armed Forces.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2020 2:10 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 14:10:03 -0400

It boggles my mind that people want to honor those who were traitors. That flag represents nothing but bigotry and hatred to people of color. That's facts. That's what it's been used for. The Confederacy existed solely because certain states wanted the "right" to own other humans. It's in all their documentation.

I have no issue with any branch banning that flag at all.

People who say banning that or taking down monuments "erases" history - how? It absolutely doesn't erase anything and those Confederate monuments were only put up LONG after the Civil War to intimidate black people. Facts.

I just don't understand people who want to celebrate losers and traitors. They belonged literally to a foreign nation...that lost. If people don't like it they can go back to their country - oh wait it doesn't exist anymore.

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Jul 2 at 2020 2:15 PM

SSgt Dan Montague — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 14:15:53 -0400

I never thought much about it if I saw them in the barracks. Since it has become more of a controversy, I have heard both sides opinions. The flag was an enemy flag of the day, and did stand for slavery. Maybe it is time to recognize that fact and lock the flag away in museums. It is our American history for sure, but not one to be celebrated.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2020 2:52 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 14:52:11 -0400

Personally I don't care one way or the other. But I think they are banning them for the wrong reason. If they are banning them it should be because they are a flag of an enemy to our Union.

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 5 at 2020 12:10 AM

MCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jul 2020 00:10:54 -0400

Personally, this is about 140 years late and should have been done a LONG time ago.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 5 at 2020 11:25 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jul 2020 11:25:58 -0400

Like I said before, you ban that flag, you’d better ban a hundred more!!!

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Jul 5 at 2020 11:38 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Sun, 05 Jul 2020 11:38:00 -0400

The Government should fly (as a nation/federal entities) only those standards that are sanctioned by local municipalities, states and the nation. What individuals choose to fly is their right. When we live on military property we should be obliged to operate under their rules.

Response by SrA James Cannon made Jul 6 at 2020 11:35 AM

SrA James Cannon — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 11:35:58 -0400

I absolutely do not agree. From what I understand, it is not a complete ban. It is still allowed inside of personal quarters of base housing, and school and museum educational purposes, and on vehicle license plates that are state issued (SCV plates, etc.). The Mississippi state flag was also an exception until this week when it got changed.