What's your feelings on the Confederate Flag?
By meeoww
@meeoww (1174)
United States
November 1, 2006 3:41am CST
The Stars & Bars means alot of different things to different people. I used to hang out with alot of Southerners, so I did fly the flag before. That was until a friend told me about his friend that was found dead, wrapped in the flag. Out of respect for my friend, I no longer fly it beause that makes me sad. I have no problem, however, with others flying it because they have their own reasons. And although some do use it as a representation of racism and other not-so-humanitarian ideals, there are those who have relatives who bravely and valiantly fought under this flag during the civil war. It also represents the southern lifestyle, and I suppose also a bit of a rebelliousness (as were the Confederacy rebelling against the Union). There's a book that I need to get called "The Confederate Battle Flag: America's most embattled emblem" by John Coski. If anyone's read this, please give your take on it. Flying the Stars & Bars is also protected under Freedom of Speech. If Nascar does anything to disapprove it's flying in the infield (by their most loyal fans) then they're just succombing to the crybabies who are either ignorant or uneducated on the subject. The Nazis stole the benevolent swastika from ancient sanskrit and used it to represent evil. Does this make a swastika evil? Having freedom means everybody. And we don't always agree, now, do we? So, we'll always just have to take the good with the bad. By the way, I'm Japanese/Hawai'ian/Filipino and never lived in the South, so don't call me a racist. Thanks for reading. What's your take?
2 people like this
11 responses
@ladysun (635)
• United States
5 Nov 06
I am southern born and bred and proudly so. The Stars and Bars represents the southern way of life, our ideals, manners, etc.. Personally I do not fly the Stars and Bars because of the south's history with bigotry and the ugliness that was slavery..out of respect for others who could interpet the flag differently than I.
2 people like this
@lique12 (54)
• United States
7 Nov 06
I'm southern bred and proud of it. When I see the the flag I see Red White and Blue, not white fighting black. it was a part of our past and it should always be displayed, if for nothing more than a reminder that life has progressed beyond the events that happened during slavery. That flag didn't create Slavery, there is still slavery in other countries now including Africa.I hope it never happens here again.
@justkaren (107)
• United States
6 Nov 06
I always saw it as a symbol of Southern pride...nothing more, nothing less.
2 people like this
@Sunset50 (1397)
• United States
6 Nov 06
I see the Confederate Flag as a valued flag of the South. The same as the North, they took their stand and tried their hardest to win. I have no problem with seeing it flying anywhere. I have bought one before and mailed it to a friend in Canada as a gift.
It does have some hardship reminders for some, I can understand this. But look what it reminds us of. First, was the beginning of freedom for slaves, later the mark of civil rights for the children of those ancestors, the advancement of education leading many to be mayors, politicians, lawyers, doctors, the list goes on and on. The flag may stand as a time of suffering for many, but it is a reminder of the freedom enjoyed today because of the civil war.
It is history, and if a person wants to display a piece of history, why shouldn't they be allowed this. As far as a government facility, I feel only the U.S. flag should be raised and the state flag for each state.
History is just that, history. It is important to learn the history to keep moving forward as our needs as a country change daily.
We need to move on and not cling to the grudges of the past and use the history as a reminder of how we got to where we are today. We live in a country full of freedom and choice.
Fly the flag you want on your own property. If I don't like what I think you are telling me about yourself when I drive by, I can just keep going and continue to live my life as I choose hoping to be an asset to my state and country.
1 person likes this
@meeoww (1174)
• United States
6 Nov 06
I'm sorry, I'm not quite sure just when it first appeared, but apparently their state flag has been through several incarnations! But this has now become a quest for me! Here's a good website if you're interested. http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/flags/ga_flag.htm
Aloha!
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
5 Nov 06
The Confederate flag is part of our history. I thought it was really sad when some places were abolishing it. It is part of the heritage of a lot of people who can trace their families back to the confederate ranks. Why shouldn't they be allowed to show their pride in their own heritage just because it doesn't mean the same thing to other people. It may be offensive to black people who see it as a banner of slavery, but all of that is behind us now, and our history is our history.
2 people like this
@meeoww (1174)
• United States
6 Nov 06
And the flag never did represent that anyways, but just because it was prevalent in the region for an era it was "attached". That's just "how life was". That was then, this is now. What, like do they think that people are trying to bring it back? Realistically, since it IS attached, it should only serve as a reminder of how history must not repeat itself. But, of course since the crybabies are the loudest.... Thanks for replying. Aloha!
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
7 Nov 06
People have as much right to fly The Confederate Flag as I do to fly The Union Jack. Many regrettable injustices have been committed by people flying The Union Jack throughout history, but I do not identify those people with the true significance of the flag.
A flag of one's homeland represents the values and the pride that people have in their place of birth. This is a feeling that every inhabitant of planet possesses and a perfectly natural one.
Just because one person views the flag to represent something bad does not mean that the person flying the flag is trying to represent the same thing.
How can a person be criticised for being proud of their heritage.
1 person likes this
@meeoww (1174)
• United States
7 Nov 06
Very good! And speaking of the Jack, Is anyone aware that the Hawaii state flag has the Union Jack as part of it's design? I didn't want to get into that because it's a whole other story, but someone without knowledge of the history of that state might think it treasonous and offensive. To be honest, there are things that this represents that is not so pretty also, involving the united states. But the people who fly it are proud and very American. I am one of them. Thanks for the reply. Aloha!
@evil_little_bitch420 (1046)
• United States
7 Nov 06
To me it is just a flag. I see no meaning in it. It may have meaning to some but I wasnt around when all the bad things were happening. If I were then maybe it would have a different effect on me. Not just that, today it no longer stands for that in most peoples eyes. Now to most people, it just stands for the Southern region of the U.S.
1 person likes this
@fiyahcreation (2140)
• United States
6 Nov 06
It is HISTORY and should be HISTORY
1 person likes this
@meeoww (1174)
• United States
7 Nov 06
Thank you. And should we stop honoring our veterans? Should we abolish all symbolisms and organizations which pay homage to our history, for they create a gang-like environment? And maybe stop spending state monies to maintain historical sites. Then we will allow for history to repeat itself.
To most of those who still display the southern cross, I would bet that it represents decent moral values, virtues, and bravery which are just as current and important today as they were in the 1800's (and I wish more people had instilled whithin them). This flag is definitely PART of history, but being history..... my dear, this flag is as current as standing by our troops in the middle east.
But thank you for your reply. We all have different opinions and that's what's wonderful about myLot. Aloha!
@Jagosix (24)
• United States
6 Nov 06
Until I moved here to NC, I have never seen it flown so proudly. I see it in peoples front yards. I used to live in California but was raised by southerners that fly the Confederate flag. I have always believed it was about southern living but I also believe that it represents the original American Patriots that fought off british rule.
@magnet (2087)
• United States
16 May 08
People have their different views of the flag. I find it offensive. To me it represents hate. Everytime I see someone wearing that flag or displaying it the first thought that comes to my mind is racism. What's wrong with just using the United States of America flag? Think about it, have you ever seen a black person or any other person from any other race sporting the confederate flag? It represents pride alright. The pride of hatred. Call it history, the hate is still there. It's not as bad as it use to be but as long as I see that flag it reminds me of the hatred toward us. So I guess that the confederate flag is another form of your freedom of speech to say I hate you ____________! anyone in the world that's not white. That's offensive.
@Gargoyle0134 (1257)
• United States
2 Jun 08
I understand that the people that had ancestors that fought in the south are proud of their heritage and honor thier ancestors? That's a good thing.
At the same time..I know of a police officer that gets his kicks with a BIG confederate flag in his truck's back window and he rides through predominantly back areas just to make these people offended and then, if they say anything, HE (the officer) picks a fight and they find out he's a cop and he takes them to jail for assault. The guy is a JERK!
Look, you can be proud and fly your flag at home. No need to offend. By all means, tell your kids about their heritage and they should be proud of the ancestors that stood up for thier beliefs. But that's no call to be offensive.
In the end..the north won. They need to get over it. Honor the ancestor(s) privately and at home, as most of the rest of us do. I don't ride around with a union flag in my car's back window!
I feel...if you are proud, buy all means, tell the stories, fly the flag at HOME.
I find it as offensive to shove it in people's faces as..well, it's as offensive as those fanaticals that come to your door to shove their religion down your throat! Religion and family heritage, etc..belongs in the home, not in everyone else's faces! It is to be taught there and, in my opinion..kept there!
But the north DID win. SUCK IT UP!
@tap0991 (2766)
• United States
10 Jan 10
I dont really like the flag because it reminds me of where I am...in the south...the people here are the most annoying and difficult people ever. Some i do not even know if they could pass an iq test because i think they are so dumb.
Another reason I dont like it is because in some areas there are some pretty racist people down here...Like I had a roommate that said he wasnt being racist when he was calling an african american the n word while he was yelling at them...and he said he had done it all the time back at his families farm..
I dont have a problem with seeing the flag it is just what I have associated the flag with that bothers me.
