The Rebel Flag...

[Fan of old shows]

What does it symbolize to you? i dont know about anywhere else, but where im from in Florida it seems like a big racist thing, and im just curious what does it mean to anyone else?

[Crimson and Clover]

i live in a little redneck town so almost everyone has a rebel flag hanging on there house. we dont, i think it is a racist thing, and i am definitly not racist.

[Ags2000]

Originally posted by Fan of old shows
What does it symbolize to you? i dont know about anywhere else, but where im from in Florida it seems like a big racist thing, and im just curious what does it mean to anyone else?

Well, for me, it represents my heritage. I'm proud to be from the south. The rebel flag doesn't stand for racism in anyway shape or form. Some people have just tried to turn it around to mean racism. The thing that gets me, is that most people associate the rebel flag with the civil war. Yes it was a battle flag, but it wasn't the flag of the south. I've never understood that. Oh well, I guess I never will.

To get back to the original question, it reminds me fo who I am, and of my Dixie pride! But most of all, it reminds me of The General Lee!

[Krystal Lake]

It's just the battle flag of the Confederate states in the Civil War. It means nothing more to me. I guess it's seen as racist since it was the symbol of the slave-owning side.

Funny thing is in the South there are tons of old Civil War memorials and very few, if any, in the North. You'd think that they'd want to forget they lost...

[JoJoJoJoJoJoJoJoJo]

If a bunch of white redneck drives around in their blue ford truck waving it around screaming "N AA CP.. ******s always causing trouble" then yea.. there using it for racist reasons

But as far as flying the SOUTHERN CONFEDERATE FLAG on the SOUTH carolina state house... or at least letting it be inside it.. I think it should be aiight...cause it just represents what side we were in the civil war

[ks]

I don't think the Confederate flag is a symbol of racism. I'm with D in that I take it as a symbol or my southern heritage. I see nothing wrong with flying it. Heck, you see it everywhere around here. I think it's cool and I'm kinda proud to have a 'southern flag.'
It sets the South apart in a way...







ks

[DJM77]

A lot of people will argue that its a sign of heritage but it seems like more of a public endorsement for racism to me. I'll never buy anything with the confederate flag on it unless its toilet paper.

[Bootsy Whoosh]

It doesn't really mean anything to me. Being from the north, I will say that when I see a Northerner with it on their car or on their house, it usually means they are racist (I speak from experience...the racists I went to high school with all had rebel flag stickers on their trucks).

If I traveled to the south and saw it flying, I would not automatically assume the household was racist.

I do think that in alot of ways the flag stands for racism. I know many people disagree with that.

The way I look at it is the same way I feel about using Indian mascots for athletic teams (which I am adamantly against): it is not up to us, the non-aggreived people, to tell others that what we are doing is not offensive to them. We cannot and should not tell others how to feel.

Therefore, I believe that if large segments of society feel it is offensive to them, then others should respect that. I don't feel the flag should have to be abdandoned altogether. If you feel it represents your heritage and want to display it in your home, that is your right. But I am not so sure it is right to be displayed on public buildings.

That said, I do not feel the flag itself is inherently evil or anything. In fact I own a small rebel flag, a memeto I bought along with an American flag when I went to Gettysburg. I do think it is unfortunate for people like Dannie that some use it as a symbol of racism. Kind of like a few bad apples spoiling it for the whole bunch. However, I have to wonder when she says "some people just try to turn it around to mean racism", is she admitting that some people do in fact use it in that way, or is she implying that it's just some sort of PC conspiracy?

The thing is, over time, the original meanings of things change. At one time swatikas were simply crosses...they even had holy connotations. Times change though, and the definition of what a swastika stands for has forever changed. I think that the rebel flag started out as nothing more than a flag, definitely a symbol of pride for the South, but that over time what it is perceived to stand for has changed forever.

Good topic, by the way! Nice to have something to have a good conversation about again!

[Titania]

Originally posted by Ags2000

But most of all, it reminds me of The General Lee!

lets not forget General Beaureguard!! (he was my great x3 uncle!)

I wouldnt say it "symbolizes racism" It symbolizes a heritage just as if someone flew a certain countries flag, tartan, or shield. We shouldnt make any more out of it than that. Not everything has evil undertones.

Oh, and for the sake of saying it: it also makes me think of that scene in gone with the wind where scarletts walking through the street filled with wounded soldiers and you see the torn confederate flag in the forground....

[Lynn]

Originally posted by Ags2000
Well, for me, it represents my heritage. I'm proud to be from the south. The rebel flag doesn't stand for racism in anyway shape or form. Some people have just tried to turn it around to mean racism. The thing that gets me, is that most people associate the rebel flag with the civil war. Yes it was a battle flag, but it wasn't the flag of the south. I've never understood that. Oh well, I guess I never will.

Let me start by saying I'm not from the south and I am not up with my civil war history. But I have to admit that when I see the flag I think of the civil war and the side that defended slavery, probably because that's the only exposure I've ever had to the flag. Truthfully I don't know what else the flag stands for. Maybe you or the other southerners here can enlighten me on what part of your heritage the flag represents.

So I may be misinformed but to me the flag makes me think of slavery and racism, and I think it's wrong to still display it as if it doesn't carry that meaning at least in part.

[¤I Love Clay Aiken¤]

Im a northener (Southern New Hampshire), and very rarely see Confederate Flags (I never heard the term "Rebel Flag" before, and I was gonna ask what it was until someone got more detailed lol ), but when I do- Im distgusted. Im sure though, if I were to go to the South and see those flags all around I wouldnt think anything of it, because thats THEIR history. Yea, the north was part of history, but for different reasons which is why I feel the way I do. IMO.

[Jersey Girl]

Originally posted by .:MilKnPepSi:.
Im a northener (Southern New Hampshire), and very rarely see Confederate Flags (I never heard the term "Rebel Flag" before, and I was gonna ask what it was until someone got more detailed lol ), but when I do- Im distgusted. Im sure though, if I were to go to the South and see those flags all around I wouldnt think anything of it, because thats THEIR history. Yea, the north was part of history, but for different reasons which is why I feel the way I do. IMO.

Yeah, I agree. I have never seen them flown at homes before. I'm too damn sheltered...(dude, I saw my first trailer park when I was 11..before that I thought it was where you bought motor homes....thats OT though...)

I don't really know what to think of them, becuase I don't see them every day, I just see them in history books and such

[Penny Lane]

Well to be honest the first thing I think about when I see it is "The Dukes Of Hazzard" Which was a very unracist show in my opinion! But I guess flying the confederate flag could be considered kind of unpatriotic, it is really the symbol of a defeated nation or faction or whatever you want to call it! So it is really in the eye of the beholder! Personally I don't find it offensive at all.

[Fan of old shows]

Originally posted by Penny Lane
Well to be honest the first thing I think about when I see it is "The Dukes Of Hazzard" Which was a very unracist show in my opinion! But I guess flying the confederate flag could be considered kind of unpatriotic, it is really the symbol of a defeated nation or faction or whatever you want to call it! So it is really in the eye of the beholder! Personally I don't find it offensive at all.

thats part of the reason i made it was cuz when they made the 90s movie black people protested the flag because of its symbol.

[Ags2000]

Originally posted by Bootsy Whoosh

That said, I do not feel the flag itself is inherently evil or anything. In fact I own a small rebel flag, a memeto I bought along with an American flag when I went to Gettysburg. I do think it is unfortunate for people like Dannie that some use it as a symbol of racism. Kind of like a few bad apples spoiling it for the whole bunch. However, I have to wonder when she says "some people just try to turn it around to mean racism", is she admitting that some people do in fact use it in that way, or is she implying that it's just some sort of PC conspiracy?

I kinda meant it in 2 ways. I meant it first off as that alot of these white supremists groups have taken it up as their symbol for racism. It's because of THAT that groups such as the NAACP, have started trying to get rid of the battleflag in the south by saying it only represents racism. It doesn't, these white supremists groups have soiled it to try to make it that way, and as a southerner it disgusts me to see them use MY flag that way!

Originally posted by Bootsy Whoosh
Good topic, by the way! Nice to have something to have a good conversation about again!

I agree!

Originally posted by Lynn
Let me start by saying I'm not from the south and I am not up with my civil war history. But I have to admit that when I see the flag I think of the civil war and the side that defended slavery, probably because that's the only exposure I've ever had to the flag. Truthfully I don't know what else the flag stands for. Maybe you or the other southerners here can enlighten me on what part of your heritage the flag represents.

For most people, the image of the Confederate Flag conjures up the "blue cross with white stars on a red background" which is more properly known as the most famous Confederate battle flag. The actual confederate flag looked similar to the American flag. (The attached picture is the original REAL confederate flag.) It also had a similar nick-name. It was called the stars and bars. The Stars and Bars was used as the official flag of the Confederacy from March 1861 to May of 1863.

Not more then a year after the adoption of the Stars and Bars the issue of designing a new flag for the Confederate States was raised with the intention to create a flag that was in no way similar to the Union's Stars and Stripes. Adopted on May 1, 1863 this flag displayed the Battle Flag in the canton on a field of pure white, giving it it's name the "Stainless Banner". The specs were not very strickly adhered to and in many cases the canton was rectangular. The white field is symbolic for the purity of the Cause which it represented. When this flag was flown, it was mistaken as a flag of surrender alot of the times especially on days with no wind because if the fact that it was all white except for the top left corner (the canton) were a small battle flag was.

Because it could be mistaken for a flag of truce, the Stainless Banner was modifed to include a red bar on the fly (the far right side). It was to be 1/4 of the area of the flag beyond the now rectangular canton. The width was to be 2/3 of length. The canton was to be 3/5 of width and 1/3 of length. This was signed into law on March 4, 1865. For the last several months of the war it was modified by the addition of a red vertical stripe on the hoist. This was called the Third Confederate Flag or Last Confederate Flag. Few flags of this version were issued and few survived.

Originally posted by Lynn
So I may be misinformed but to me the flag makes me think of slavery and racism, and I think it's wrong to still display it as if it doesn't carry that meaning at least in part.

This has been one fact that has been fought over for years and will probably continue to be fought over for years to come. It is necessary to disclaim any connection of the confederate flag, as well as all of the battle flags, to neo-nazis, skin-heads and the like. These groups have adopted this flag and desecrated it by their acts. They have no right to use this flag - it is a flag of honor, designed by the confederacy as a banner representing state's rights and still revered by the South to this day. The South denies any relation to these hate groups and denies them the right to use the flags of the confederacy for any purpose. The crimes committed by these groups under the stolen banner of the conderacy only exacerbate the mistaken views which link the seccesion to slavery interests when, from a Southerner's view, the cause was state's rights.


D