Posted on Dec 14, 2016
The Complicated Political History Of The Confederate Flag
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This is a bit of an older article.
I have always been divided over the Confederate Flag (Stars and Bars) commonly used and viewed as "Southern Pride", a Symbol of Slavery and Racism/Hatred, Military History, American History, Etc, Etc.
I tried looking at it from the angle of how the Nazi Flag was banned because of its use and meaning ,not because of the history of the symbol itself.
I tried looking at it from a historical and heritage aspect as it is an intregal part of American History and I believe no history should be whitewashed away, but looked at and always examined.
I still cannot reconcile if I think the it should be banned outright: i do believe that if it is used in a hate crime or a racist/hateful manner then it should be viewed as such with a ban as needed and at the same time if used to recognize the History behind it and Pride which comes along with such history, then it should not be banned outright.
I would entertain discussion from any and all on the subject and ask for an open mind in regards to the discussion.
What say you my fellow RP'ers?
I have always been divided over the Confederate Flag (Stars and Bars) commonly used and viewed as "Southern Pride", a Symbol of Slavery and Racism/Hatred, Military History, American History, Etc, Etc.
I tried looking at it from the angle of how the Nazi Flag was banned because of its use and meaning ,not because of the history of the symbol itself.
I tried looking at it from a historical and heritage aspect as it is an intregal part of American History and I believe no history should be whitewashed away, but looked at and always examined.
I still cannot reconcile if I think the it should be banned outright: i do believe that if it is used in a hate crime or a racist/hateful manner then it should be viewed as such with a ban as needed and at the same time if used to recognize the History behind it and Pride which comes along with such history, then it should not be banned outright.
I would entertain discussion from any and all on the subject and ask for an open mind in regards to the discussion.
What say you my fellow RP'ers?
The Complicated Political History Of The Confederate Flag
Posted from npr.org
Confederate Flag
American History
Racism
Heritage
Military History
Posted 8 y ago
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I don't own one or fly one but I would never be in favor of banning an historical symbol of the country. What's next, the Gadsen Flag? The Confederacy is part of our history. Remembering that is important to us. Trying to expunge images or stories or history is a bad idea.
You might recall that Congress passed an act that made conferred veteran status to all confederate soldiers in 1900. The are viewed and treated as their Union counterparts.
You might recall that Congress passed an act that made conferred veteran status to all confederate soldiers in 1900. The are viewed and treated as their Union counterparts.
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SGT (Join to see)
Like I wrote from a historical standpoint it should not be.... for some its as easy and black and white/ cut and dry and for others not so.
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SrA Edward Vong
Cpl Jeff N. -
I agree with you, flag shouldn't be banned, but I do feel it doesn't belong in government buildings, I think it's a fair compromise to those who support it. Just a hypothetical thought though, let's say if the Confederate Flag was indeed the same flag as the Nazi Swatzika, meaning it indeed stood for an evil part of our history, would you say it should be banned like the Nazi flag in Germany? That flag is a part of the country's history.
I agree with you, flag shouldn't be banned, but I do feel it doesn't belong in government buildings, I think it's a fair compromise to those who support it. Just a hypothetical thought though, let's say if the Confederate Flag was indeed the same flag as the Nazi Swatzika, meaning it indeed stood for an evil part of our history, would you say it should be banned like the Nazi flag in Germany? That flag is a part of the country's history.
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If the Confederate Flag is flown by someone on their car, private office, house, farm or any other privately owned venue then I have no issue with it. This is what America is all about...freedom. Nobody is forcing them to fly it just like nobody of forcing others to not fly it. However, I do not believe it should be part of any official government entity...not only for the hate that it has become known to be associated with but because of what it initially stood for. It was a flag of a rebellion against the United States that lost the rebellion...therefore, it shouldn't be part of anything in a government that it stood against. I am a southerner and I believe in history and heritage. I don't own a rebel flag because I just don't like what it has become but I do agree and understand that for many it is a sense of pride of where they are from. Many people fought and died under that flag for reasons none other than they thought their very livelihood depended on it...that and their daddy told them to drop the plow and take up arms or go to the woodshed and be disowned by the family. It is part of history and no history (good or bad) should be swepped under the rug...period. I do believe that our political correctness has gone too far when we, the government, are reaching into people’s personal beliefs and trying to change that. When we do that, we lose our identity as a nation and forget where we came from get into group think mentality and that to me is extremely dangerous. I don't think it should be banned because if that happens it will open a slippery slope of what's next and that can get out of hand real quick.
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Austin Larsen
I personally agree with you Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth and I do believe that the confederate flag can be flown on one's vehicle or in a civilians home.
People don't understand what the confederate flag actually stands for, all I ever hear at school is "slavery" and yes that was one thing the south was fighting for but that was ONE, there were other reasons.
One day at my high school, almost the entire school left the building and stood outside the american flag and paid their respects to the 18 students that lost their lives in a school shooting.
Soon thereafter there was a walk-out to support the 2nd amendment, when only a few students walked outside, other students were; yelling, chanting, cursing, and more just because I brought my confederate flag to school.
Everyone says that the confederate flag hurts their feelings and that it offends them, and yet they turn around at us and curse and swear up a storm?
I do not believe that's how it goes, people can't have it both ways ("stop offending people" and then when there don't like what they are saying- they are rude and disrespectful to those that and standing up for what they believe in and not breaking any laws)
I even saw a woman that served in the navy come and support us and she didn't care about students yelling at her until a student asked her "Why is a black woman like you supporting something that once made your ancestors slaves?"
That is when she calmly explained the true meaning of confederate flag.
People kept crying and saying how that flag was cruel and should be banned and how it offended them.
personally I don't mind who see's this or what they say, Ill stand for the confederate flag but people need to grow thicker skin, if you don't like something keep going, the world doesn't depend on how someone feels or what offends them.
and God bless America
Thank you - Austin Larsen (High-school student that is interested in the history of the U.S.A.)
People don't understand what the confederate flag actually stands for, all I ever hear at school is "slavery" and yes that was one thing the south was fighting for but that was ONE, there were other reasons.
One day at my high school, almost the entire school left the building and stood outside the american flag and paid their respects to the 18 students that lost their lives in a school shooting.
Soon thereafter there was a walk-out to support the 2nd amendment, when only a few students walked outside, other students were; yelling, chanting, cursing, and more just because I brought my confederate flag to school.
Everyone says that the confederate flag hurts their feelings and that it offends them, and yet they turn around at us and curse and swear up a storm?
I do not believe that's how it goes, people can't have it both ways ("stop offending people" and then when there don't like what they are saying- they are rude and disrespectful to those that and standing up for what they believe in and not breaking any laws)
I even saw a woman that served in the navy come and support us and she didn't care about students yelling at her until a student asked her "Why is a black woman like you supporting something that once made your ancestors slaves?"
That is when she calmly explained the true meaning of confederate flag.
People kept crying and saying how that flag was cruel and should be banned and how it offended them.
personally I don't mind who see's this or what they say, Ill stand for the confederate flag but people need to grow thicker skin, if you don't like something keep going, the world doesn't depend on how someone feels or what offends them.
and God bless America
Thank you - Austin Larsen (High-school student that is interested in the history of the U.S.A.)
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I applaud your effort to be objective, and I find nothing wrong with your confliction. Personally, I think how it's used should determine how it's viewed. Someone who takes pride in being from, say, Georgia is cool with me. Someone using it to perpetuate hate and racism isn't. So I don't really think there's a solid line.
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