Posted on Jun 27, 2015
Millions of Americans still embrace the Confederate flag. Should we dismiss them all as racists?
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After the horrific, racially motivated massacre last week of nine black Bible study participants at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, there has been a righteous rush to remove the Confederate flag from government property and the goods of many national retailers. And it seems we've reached a landmark tipping point: After decades of defending the Confederate flag, many conservative lawmakers have publicly and aggressively joined the fight against this longtime symbol of the South.
However, there are still millions of Americans in the South who (probably quietly, these days) remain deeply invested in the Confederate flag. I am not one of them. But I do believe their concerns and beliefs are worth considering without dismissing them wholesale as a bunch of backwards racists, as much of the American left seems eager to do.
Some defenders of the flag worry about a slippery slope. They oppose its removal from state capitols and insignias because they think there's no logical stopping point.
First came the calls to take down the Confederate flags flying over state property. Then Virginia moved to scrap a small license plate program for the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Before long, private companies said they would discontinue selling Confederate-themed products. Now everything from roads to statutes commemorating Confederate figures could wind up on the chopping block.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/millions-of-americans-still-embrace-the-confederate-flag-dont-dismiss-them-all-as-racists/ar-AAc9zqW
However, there are still millions of Americans in the South who (probably quietly, these days) remain deeply invested in the Confederate flag. I am not one of them. But I do believe their concerns and beliefs are worth considering without dismissing them wholesale as a bunch of backwards racists, as much of the American left seems eager to do.
Some defenders of the flag worry about a slippery slope. They oppose its removal from state capitols and insignias because they think there's no logical stopping point.
First came the calls to take down the Confederate flags flying over state property. Then Virginia moved to scrap a small license plate program for the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Before long, private companies said they would discontinue selling Confederate-themed products. Now everything from roads to statutes commemorating Confederate figures could wind up on the chopping block.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/millions-of-americans-still-embrace-the-confederate-flag-dont-dismiss-them-all-as-racists/ar-AAc9zqW
Confederate Flag
Political Correctness
Military History
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 89
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This article starts with this: "After the horrific, racially motivated massacre last week of nine black Bible study participants at a church in Charleston, South Carolina"
I saw a news segment the other night where they were interviewing several people who knew the kid that perpetrated this act. One of them was an African-American teen, who claimed to be a close friend of this kid and states that he "still loves him". After hearing him talk, now I wonder what is really up. Listen and see what you think:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11688181/Dylann-Roofs-friend-Charleston-church-wasnt-primary-target.html
I saw a news segment the other night where they were interviewing several people who knew the kid that perpetrated this act. One of them was an African-American teen, who claimed to be a close friend of this kid and states that he "still loves him". After hearing him talk, now I wonder what is really up. Listen and see what you think:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11688181/Dylann-Roofs-friend-Charleston-church-wasnt-primary-target.html
Dylann Roof's friend: Charleston church 'wasn't primary target'
Friend of the man suspected of shooting nine people inside a historic black church in Charleston, said he told him that the University of Charleston was the original target
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Trying to erase our history is troubling. I don’t agree with removing the Confederate Flag, will in some way stop racism. Those who do not learn from histories mistakes, are doomed to repeat them. The events that occurred in South Carolina are horrific, but they are not the results of that flag. A slippery slope when we start dictating how we are think, speak and express ourselves. Our constitution gives us the right to Free Speech, and if you are a racists, you have that right to say so. Only when you act upon those beliefs in an illegal manor [those] step over bounders of our laws.
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GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
I mean for real... You will never be able to erase history. What's funny is that that it is the very own Democrats that fought under that flag that want to take it away. I mean, history states it. They were the ones that wanted the ability to keep the slaves, they are the ones that formed the KKK. I mean, I get that it symbolizes something that happened, oh 150 years ago, but come on! Are we that America now that will take everything away or down because it hurts one's feelings? I mean, where are our rights going? Are we going to become like Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who denied the Holocaust didn't happen? Are we going to stop teaching kids at school the history of the Civil War? I am not grasping all of this. I know the Anger. I Feel the Anger. America feels the anger. What that idiot scumbag did, was awful. But like I have said and will continue to repeat...
Racism is NOT one-sided.
I mean, where are we going with this? Believe when I say that I in no way shape or form agree with what the idiot did. I hate, despise that it was done. BUT, I am just astonished how our 1st amendment is just being trampled on.
I mean for real... You will never be able to erase history. What's funny is that that it is the very own Democrats that fought under that flag that want to take it away. I mean, history states it. They were the ones that wanted the ability to keep the slaves, they are the ones that formed the KKK. I mean, I get that it symbolizes something that happened, oh 150 years ago, but come on! Are we that America now that will take everything away or down because it hurts one's feelings? I mean, where are our rights going? Are we going to become like Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who denied the Holocaust didn't happen? Are we going to stop teaching kids at school the history of the Civil War? I am not grasping all of this. I know the Anger. I Feel the Anger. America feels the anger. What that idiot scumbag did, was awful. But like I have said and will continue to repeat...
Racism is NOT one-sided.
I mean, where are we going with this? Believe when I say that I in no way shape or form agree with what the idiot did. I hate, despise that it was done. BUT, I am just astonished how our 1st amendment is just being trampled on.
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1SG Joe Messier
Racist, not racist? A symbol of hate? All these things are debatable to some. What cannot be ignored is that the Confederate flag is divisive. A symbol of a state should create a unifying banner for all its citizens to be proud of. The Confederate flag is a lightning rod that splits people's allegiances. It should not be on a state's flag. A unifying symbol should.
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SGT (Join to see)
Well, I really don't think it's the state flag. I think they just fly it. Why, IDK?? But you are absolutely correct!!
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Some may argue that Forrest was to African Americans what Himmler and the Einsatzgruppen der Sicherheitspolizei (SD mobile killing machines) were to Eastern European Jews. I am not sure what I think, but I would certainly consider this.
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Since so many people have a problem with the Army of Northern Virginia flag, which is wrongly believed to be the Confederate flag I cannot fly this flag. However, using this logic I should be able to fly the second flag which is the Confederate flag.
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In the photo above you see the CSA flag on graves of Confederate soldiers. If Families of these soldiers were told that they were no longer able to put the CSA flag on the graves many of them would be highly offended and likely do it anyway. The emotional connection to fallen soldiers is powerful and a very personal matter to families.
The thing about free speech is that it can work for you or against you depending on your point of view. I do not see how one can legally ban the the CSA flag for individuals. I do not like what the flag stands for but I am not going to try and tell some one what they can put on the grave of a family member.
The thing about free speech is that it can work for you or against you depending on your point of view. I do not see how one can legally ban the the CSA flag for individuals. I do not like what the flag stands for but I am not going to try and tell some one what they can put on the grave of a family member.
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Absolutely not. Anytime you lump a group together it is you judging the person by the group. Just because a person likes the flag does not mean that they are a racist just like because someone is a political party mean that they agree with everything that the members of their party voted or said, etc.
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It is a part of our history. I take pride in knowing it as to not repeat it and avoid fighting fellow Americans in the future
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