Is the Confederate flag a symbol of racism?

Well, for what it's worth I feel like giving my personal opinion to this issue. On the one hand, the confederate flag has been taken over by true racists, the kkk and white power types who use it to support their agenda. This is exactly what happened with the swastika, it didn't represent an "evil" symbol until Hitler adopted it.

One the other hand, the flag actually represented the best thing about america, which is states having certain rights and the citizens of the country having the freedom to choose. Saying the flag represents hating our country is a little absurd, and it definitely originally was NOT about just preserving slavery. How many of you that have posted here believe in gun control? No? Well, what are you going to do if the Obamanians decide to tell all 50 states that nobody can own a gun? Will you sit back and accept it? In this day and age, I think that most everybody WOULD just accept it. I really think our country has lost the fire it had that allowed people to stand up for their rights and freedom.

 

Lost Humanity:
That was some fine posting!

Kingston73: I made the gun relation earlier and no one picked up on it. I'll stand until I can't anymore. I think people lose site of why the US was formed. They didn't like their previous rule. Same reason the confederacy was formed, to get away from corrupt rule.

 

im guessing its like rocking the rising sun of japan.....

 

That's what I was going to say. I don't believe the flag itself stands for racism...it's merely a flag from our nation's past. I do also believe that some people fly it as a symbol of racism. Just like everything in our society objects/symbols only take on the value/meaning that we as people give to them...just my two cents on the subject...not worth much more than that.

 

You can make personal attacks all you want. It just shows you're a real winner! I have not made one personal attack to others peoples opinions. My posts have only been answered with questions that don't do anything to support your position of the Civil War was not fought about slavery. Most historians views it as I do and have supported my position with actual verbage from the seceeding documents that was presented to the states assembly. I know there were other things that went into the fight to seceed, but never said it was only about slavery, but did not discount the huge fact about the central fight about the states right to own slaves. I repeat it is still your burden to show that most, if not all, historians have it wrong. So pony up! Show me your credible links becasue what you think it means, means nothing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederate_States_of_America

 

In this instance, kinda looks like both of you have been attacking each other.
I would tend to believe there are truths and falsehoods to any piece of history written by the winner of that war. We teach our children exactly what we want them to believe. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects why don't you find some common ground.
I think most would agree that slavery was one reason for this war. Another would be control by a ruling majority.
In the end, largely depending of where you were born, raised, educated and even your race will determine each persons opinion of what the Confederate flag stands for.
There are those who believe (as I do) that the flag represents a great group of people who are extremely proud of their heritage. In turn there are those who see the negative connotations of this same flag and only see it as a racists thing.
I don't see any one of us changing the others mind. I will say though, that this was a great post as I actually did some online research on the Civil War.
Just my thoughts. Ken

 

Anyone who thinks the confederate flag is racist come see me ill show you racism

 

The flag represents our herritage, dating way back to the pre civil war era. Simply pu

 

1861 was the beginning of the civil war and the beginning of the confederate flag. What need did the south have before then to identify themselves..??

 

Pre-Civil War Americans regarded Southerners as a distinct people, who possessed their own values and ways of life. It was widely mistakenly believed, however, that the North and South had originally been settled by two distinct groups of immigrants, each with its own ethos. Northerners were said to be the descendants of 17th century English Puritans, while Southerners were the descendants of England's country gentry.
In the eyes of many pre-Civil War Americans this contributed to the evolution of two distinct kinds of Americans: the aggressive, individualistic, money-grubbing Yankee and the southern cavalier. According to the popular stereotype, the cavalier, unlike the Yankee, was violently sensitive to insult, indifferent to money, and preoccupied with honor.

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=653

Beginning in the 1830s, the South developed a new and aggressive sense of “nationalism” that was rooted in its sense of distinctiveness and its perception that it was ringed by enemies. The South began to conceive of itself more and more as the true custodian of America’s revolutionary heritage. Southern travelers who ventured into the North regarded it as a “strange and distant land” and expressed disgust about its vice-ridden cities and its grasping materialism.

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=655

To answer your question, I would say they didn't need a flag of their own prior to the Civil War.
It does appear though that they didn't think very much of the North's ways, didn't care for their rule and distanced themselves by an alliance of like minded States and the Confederate flag. Similar in many ways to what the settlers did with England.

 

refer to the first post, and this site http://www.usflag.org/history/confederatestarsandbars.html
I grew up in Georgia and understand the heritage very well. I was pointing out his error.

 

I fly it proudly and as often as possible. I don't see it as racism. I was upset when they took it off the Georgia flag. We have a gas station in town that flies it all the time. Everyone here loves it. Its the people from out of town that don't care for it...but we really don't care what they think. Its a pride thing for me...not so much a racist thing

 

Uneducated people think the confederate flag is racist period! Thats it end of story if you actually do your homework you will see its not racist yes it is the flag of the south and they were for slavery but the flag itself doesnt stand for sh#t except for the south, not slavery or anything else its just the flag of the south just like the american flag is the flag of America.

 

To the truely educated they would understand that not all symbols continue there intended meanings and that symbols carry many meanings to many people but none-the-less still can have a negative connotation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika

 

wikipedia is THE source to refer to, your point is made though..lol

 

OK, here is some more.
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007453

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4183467.stm

http://www.collectorsguide.com/fa/fa086.shtml

 

Hahahahahaha! Yeah thats when Vern, the gas station pumper looks at you with his crossed eyes, and dirty ripped overalls and says.... "you aint from 'round these parts, is ya?"

Ever see that movie.... deliverance? Thats what I think of when I see that flag.

 

well, it took a while but it looks like this thread has officially turned to shit

ibtl

 

yep!

a heritage of slavery and oppression. just ask the native americans.