October 17, 2011 Due October 20, 2011
No symbol in American history have generated as much controversy as the Confederate Battle Flag. Read the articles at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flags_of_the_Confederate_States_of_America
http://www.elon.edu/e-web/pendulum/issues/2005/04_07/opinions/flag.xhtml
http://www.ashbrook.org/publicat/oped/owens/00/flag.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flags_of_the_Confederate_States_of_America
http://www.elon.edu/e-web/pendulum/issues/2005/04_07/opinions/flag.xhtml
http://www.ashbrook.org/publicat/oped/owens/00/flag.html
Be on the lookout for revisionist history in these articles.
Should this flag be considered southern heritage or banished to the trash heap of history? Use examples and support your opinion
- 42 comments
- Posted under Uncategorized
hussibhoa 
Permalink #
ravenwomic
said
“The Confederate flag has to go. There are many good qualities about the South, but there are other ways to glorify them than just this one.” (http://www.elon.edu/e-web/pendulum/issues/2005/04_07/opinions/flag.xhtml) …. The confedearate flag should obviously be banished to the trash heap of history due to its negative connotation. Even thought it wasn’t always looked upon as racist or oppressive…. nowadays it is. The confedearate flag is similar to your middle finger. Once upon a time it was just a finger but now if you stick it up someones going to be mad about it, even though its still just a finger. The confederate flag is no different than that … Yes it may represent southern heritage , but it also represents things that happened aroung that time period. We all know slavery was the primary cause of the civil war. The majority of people do find the confederate flag slightly offensive……. Doesn’t the majority win?..
Permalink #
ravenwomic
said
*Though
Permalink #
dasiaboo95
said
“I also came to college thinking the Confederate flag was and is an evil symbol of hate. (Obviously, I was in for a rude awakening when I came to Elon.) But to the Southerners I’ve met that identify with it, they think of the flag as a symbol of the joys and values of being Southern.” http://www.elon.edu/e-web/pendulum/issues/2005/04_07/opinions/flag.xhtml this is how I feel now like some people use it as a symbol of hatred like the KKK and on the other hand it’s like the symbol of the southern pride. I think it should be banished to the trash heap of history because you never know what it is used for some people might be showing pride but the other might be showing hate therefore it should just be banished. “The Confederate flag has to go. There are many good qualities about the South, but there are other ways to glorify them than just this one. Its meaning has not and will not change: even if Southerners consider it to be just a symbol, it is still entrenched in racism.” http://www.elon.edu/e-web/pendulum/issues/2005/04_07/opinions/flag.xhtml people might disagree with me but you have to look at it as if you don’t know what a certain person using the flag as a symbol for. If it’s okay to have the confederate flag I feel it’s okay to have the Nazi flag some people might look at that as a symbol of pride for the Germans….. Therefore if people feel like the Nazi flag should be banished so should the confederate.
Permalink #
fly4awhiteguy
said
My current belief of the confederate flag is one neither of prejudice nor support. I feel that, based on my experiences, the flag of confederacy is an over-used, never ending taunt to those who are ignorant enough to fall for the cheap racism shot. Yet, the so-called southern heritage, as mentioned in http://www.elon.edu/e-web/pendulum/issues/2005/04_07/opinions/flag.xhtml, is unconstitutional if we only allow certain flags to be presented in public. Just for a notable example, no one may have the Nazi Germany flag posted in broad daylight. I also do not support that same excuse of southern heritage especially, from my experience, when most of those “southerners” like to call themselves “rednecks” and “racists”, which after all, is not the definition of southern heritage by any means. A point I would like to raise to those “rebels” is just because you say yall’, doesn’t mean you have southern hospitality or the right to take shelter under a flag that obviously means more than just plain old heritage, just as it was one of our nation’s first flags. Also with the statement from http://www.ashbrook.org/publicat/oped/owens/00/flag.html, I also believe fighting either side of this battle is a lost cause.
Permalink #
jackrosemond
said
“The flap over the Confederate flag is not quite as simple as the nation’s race experts make it. They want us to believe the flag is a symbol of racism. Yes, racists have used the Confederate flag, but racists have also used the Bible and the U.S. flag. Should we get rid of the Bible and lower the U.S. flag? Black civil rights activists and their white liberal supporters who’re attacking the Confederate flag have committed a deep, despicable dishonor to our patriotic black ancestors who marched, fought and died to protect their homeland from what they saw as Northern aggression.”
-Walter E. Williams, Professor at George Mason University
I could not agree more. THe confederate flag, although tied to racialism, is just a piece of clothe. There are hundreds of items that you can tie to both good and racial. For example the cross, big pickup trucks, and my 4 year old putting a white sheet with eye holes on for halloween. Us Americans look for an excuse to argue. We see the double SS in the rocking roll band kiss and immediately think Nazi! we rewind a Zeppelin and here kill and think the devil posses it. We love to be trolls! I can fly a Vietnam flag and a person would not think twice about ignoring it, but the second i put put the confederacy, people go crazy! Yes 200 some years ago it represented a pro slavey “country.” WHO CARES!!! Its a mere piece of cloth!
Work Cited
-jack rosemond
http://www.confederatedigest.com/2010/01/quotes-about-confederate-flag.html
Permalink #
Shonee' Ferguson
said
“You can try to change its meaning, but outsiders will always view it as a sign of hatred and bigotry.” If peple see the view the flag this way then why have one that represents our country so foul. “But it should be noted that in 1996, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War voted overwhelmingly to oppose removal of the flag”. This Confederate flag was obviously fought for and the sons of veterans wanted to be over S.C then it must have meant something.
Permalink #
petercipriano
said
Even though i was raised in the north I belived the confederate flag that was flown in the civil war was a flag that showed valor and bravery. But, the confederate flag flown today means that your a rednec, racist, or a subsiquent nascar fan. I believe the true meaning of the flag has been bastardized… but it is the right of the people who live in the area to decide if it is flown.
“Ultimately, the question of whether or not the Confederate battle flag should fly over the South Carolina state house is one that must be decided by the good citizens of South Carolina themselves.”
For added feedback i ask my 3rd Period teacher Mrs. Kendrick. she had this to say ” to every Section there is a choice. I dont mind wether the flag is flown or not. But when it is presented in a hateful way that is when i have a problem. It is when people change the original meaning of the flag to suit thier own personal needs is when the problems begin.
I whole-heartedly agreed with her in my conversation and it is true when the original meaning is changed to diferent meanings is when problems do start… that is why people should learn about something before they glorify it.
Permalink #
huntercochran
said
“To its detractors, including many, if not most, African-Americans, the Confederate battle flag is a symbol of racism and oppression. To its defenders, the same flag is a symbol of valor against overwhelming odds on behalf of a noble but hopeless cause. In other words, the Confederate battle flag has become a mirror for America. Reflecting on this requires that we avoid the twin extremes of either romanticizing the South or demonizing it”. (http://www.ashbrook.org/publicat/oped/owens/00/flag.html) The way I see the Confederate battle flag is a way for the Southerners to say we are unified and will stand up for what we believe in, no matter what the North thinks about us. I agree with Raven that it’s just like the middle finger, once you stick it up someone’s going to get mad. “But the flag will never be an acceptable symbol, neither to Northerners, civil rights activists, or African-Americans. Sure, the flag no longer means the enforcement of slavery to most of the Southerners that associate with it, but some things will never change to those on the outside who view it”. (http://www.elon.edu/e-web/pendulum/issues/2005/04_07/opinions/flag.xhtml) Sure the flag will never change in some points of view but the fact of the matter is that the flag does not need to be shown anymore. If it offends some people then why would we show it anymore? This flag is just like the Nazi flag, who wants to see the Nazi symbol anymore. That flag represents the worst thing that has happened in Germany. Many people are still offended by the Nazi flag. The battle flag needs to be banished to the trash heap of history.
Permalink #
christianfralick
said
To me the whole thing is crazy and is blown out of proportion. Even though people wear flags as a symbol for something deeper, why would you get angered over it. I am not someone who cares to wear a confederate flag because that isn’t something i’m interested in, but i think people should have the right to wear it.My opinion on the whole thing is this: If you take away their right to wear it, they are still the same. Meaning if a racist wears a confederate flag one day and the next day he doesn’t, he is still a racist. therefore if he feels like it he will still provoke other races.
– ” The display of the Confederate flag remains a highly controversial and emotional topic, generally because of disagreement over its symbolism.
Supporters of the flag view it as a symbol of southern heritage and the independence of the distinct cultural tradition of the South from Northern government.”
The symbols to me are the same because looking back at southern heritage and their problems with the north, you see that slavery was their biggest problem, and eventually the cause of the civil war.
– “These results are alarming because they are essentially wrong. States’ rights was not the main cause of the Civil War—slavery was.”
even though i say that it does seem to be racist in most cases, while i personally am not a racist, i still support people’s rights to wear it.
Just to clarify my thoughts i am actually saying that noone should have to limit anything they wear because if it is what they are wearing that causes the problems rather than their actions, the offended party is the one to blame in a sense for taking such a large offense to it rather than ignoring it. If it were up to me there would be no limitation in freedom of speech anyway, We were given freedom of speech to talk about things that are controversial. if everyone agreed on everything we wouldn’t need a freedom of speech, So I don’t think anyone should stop showing what they believe in, should it be someone a wearing a swastika or even an american flag, the freedom of speech should protect anything that falls into it’s category.
Permalink #
lizadenicola5
said
I believe that the confederate flag shoud not be flown because now a days it is used as a racist symbol. and it offended people and is still offending people. Something so simple has been turned into something horrible. Sojust to save peace between races thatflag should not be flown!
“The Confederate flag has to go. There are many good qualities about the South, but there are other ways to glorify them than just this one. Its meaning has not and will not change: even if Southerners consider it to be just a symbol, it is still entrenched in racism.” http://www.elon.edu/e-web/pendulum/issues/2005/04_07/opinions/flag.xhtml people might disagree with me but you
Permalink #
sadierankin
said
“The Confederate flag is still a symbol of southern pride. Visiting Wal-Mart, you’ll find it on bumper stickers, hats and t-shirts of the local Elon and Burlington customers that shop there. Many Elon students also have Confederate flag bumper stickers and paraphernalia.”
http://www.elon.edu/e-web/pendulum/issues/2005/04_07/opinions/flag.xhtml
The Confederate flag is considered a symbol of pride my most southerners. This flag has absolutely no meaning to me but to most locals it dose. Just because something offends someone dose not mean it should be banned. There are many things that are racist that are not banned. No matter how hard you try there is always going to be someone that is offended. The confederate flag i feel has been abused though. It is sold in wallmart, on t-shirts, and bumper stickers. I feel that it is no longer used to symbolize what its should and many people that wear it cannot tell you what it actually symbolizes. Some people find it to be connected with racism “rednecks and white trash”. And in some cases it is. But this doesn’t mean that all people that wear it are racists or rednecks. “if a racist wears a confederate flag one day and the next day he doesn’t, he is still a racist. ” ( christian fralick ) “To its detractors, including many, if not most, African-Americans, the Confederate battle flag is a symbol of racism and oppression. To its defenders, the same flag is a symbol of valor against overwhelming odds on behalf of a noble but hopeless cause. In other words, the Confederate battle flag has become a mirror for America” http://www.ashbrook.org/publicat/oped/owens/00/flag.html if you ban it people are still going to wear it. They see it as pride of being a southerner. and pride is never something that should be taken from someone. I personally have no strong feelings towards or against the flag. I see it as a piece of cloth, to me that’s all it is. But to some people it brings strong feelings, some or pride and some of hate. But the bottom like is that just something offends someone doesn’t mean that it should be banned. not everyone can always be pleased, it just impossible.
Permalink #
giiirrrlll
said
I believe that the confederate flag should be banished because to start off it wasn’t completely part of history as it is clearly quoted it in article.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flags_of_the_Confederate_States_of_America
. … “A rectangular variant of the battle flag used by some Confederate Army Units, now called “The Confederate Flag” or “The Confederate Battle Flag”, despite its never having historically represented the CSA as a nation”. Also there are many other symbols that to some people don’t mean what most people tend to believe about them….like for example the swastika as mentioned in the http://www.elon.edu/e-web/pendulum/issues/2005/04_07/opinions/flag.xhtml and it used to have a peaceful meaning but now its seen very offensive by many which has led the Swastika to be banished. And its quoted “The Confederate flag, unfortunately, falls into the same category. You can try to change its meaning, but outsiders will always view it as a sign of hatred and bigotry.” I agree with this because maybe to some people it may be just a symbol for pride but to others it may be seen in a completely different way. Also as said in the article http://www.ashbrook.org/publicat/oped/owens/00/flag.html “To its detractors, including many, if not most, African-Americans, the Confederate battle flag is a symbol of racism and oppression. “if it is offensive to some people to a point of racism why risk getting things confused when we can just banish it and prevent future arguments and fights amongst northerners, African Americans, and we the southerners?
Permalink #
DeeDee Smith ♪♪ (@__DarkChocolate)
said
I think the confederate flag should just be banished! The Confederate flag, unfortunately, falls into the same category. You can try to change its meaning, but outsiders will always view it as a sign of hatred and bigotry.
http://www.elon.edu/e-web/pendulum/issues/2005/04_07/opinions/flag.xhtml
The Confederate flag has to go. There are many good qualities about the South, but there are other ways to glorify them than just this one. Its meaning has not and will not change: even if Southerners consider it to be just a symbol, it is still entrenched in racism.
http://www.elon.edu/e-web/pendulum/issues/2005/04_07/opinions/flag.xhtml
Permalink #
nikiafleshman
said
The confederate flag is only a flag to me, simply because everything that it may have represented in the past has been overcome.To others that lived during that era may see it as a symbol of southern heritage and a representation of the south when they seceded from the union. While others may look at it as a sign of hate and a flag that represents racial hate form the past. As I stated before my feelings are neutral speaking on the flag, but I can understand both sides of the argument. The flag in essence does represent “southern heritage” and the things that they accomplished and/or went through as a whole of rebelious states. While all of those accomplishments may not be good, not all of them were bad. The south wanted to stand as their own union and the confederate flag represents that. But, the other side of that argument is totally different. To others, mainly African Americans, see the flag as offensive and disrespectful to the people that got us to where we are today as a country. To those with that opinion, the flag represents the struggle of segregation, and of slavery; basically crimes against the “people of color”. The Klan also flew this flag which would make it even more of a symbol of hate knowing what the Klan done in the past. African Americans have good reason to see the confederate flag as that of a negative symbol, and I can definately see what their reasons behind that were. But everything that went on during that time that represented hate was overcome which would, like I said, make the flag just a flag. So in conclusion, there really shouldnt be a controversy behind the confederate flag, but its all in how you percieve the things behind the representation of the flag.Your opinion will be formed by either the negative or the positive, simple as that.
Permalink #
invitingodin
said
After the Holocaust, there was a movement in America to change the Swastika, once an aboriginal symbol of peace, back into its original meaning. The symbol, it was claimed, was once a good symbol and could be used for good again. The movement died when it became apparent that the world would forever associate Swastika’s with the Nazis, never again with anything to do with peace.
The Confederate flag, unfortunately, falls into the same category. You can try to change its meaning, but outsiders will always view it as a sign of hatred and bigotry.
http://www.elon.edu/e-web/pendulum/issues/2005/04_07/opinions/flag.xhtml
i believe the flag was used for hatred by the ku klux klan which in turn made it a symbol of hatred and forever changing the mind of “including many, if not most, African-Americans, the Confederate battle flag is a symbol of racism and oppression”http://www.ashbrook.org/publicat/oped/owens/00/flag.html
to the “people” who has ever been offend of the flag go to hell b/c it is not my fought your family wad brought here on a bought and sold into slavery. hell my family didn’t any own slaves. 2% of the south owned them.get the your thumb out your ass and get over it .
the flag should be a sign of rebellion not hatred.
Permalink #
car1995
said
using expletives just show a lack of intelligence
Permalink #
car1995
said
try using proper spelling the lack of this also shows a lack of intelligence
Permalink #
Brittany Bell
said
Listen. I know what you think your doing is cute, but it’s not. No one wants to hear your input on our blog posts. Mr. Noblitt will correct us if he feels it’s necessary. Until you have your teaching degree and can tell us what is not right about our blog then just stick to posting your stuff. Your not going to get a higher grade for making corrections on anyone else’s. This is still part of school, I guess since your at home you feel like you can sit here and criticize everyone else and no one can say anything to you. What your doing is not right and I don’t get on here to do my homework to see someone downing on all of our posts. If your going to get on here and do this work with us, you will respect our posts and read them and keep your comments to yourself. I hope my English was good enough for you to UNDERSTAND! Comprender?
Permalink #
petercipriano
said
John i understand your anger on this method, but we can act like adults on this matter… derogatory comments shouldn’t be used. It doesn’t show a lack of intelligence… your angry i understand that but if show your emotions in a hateful way your gonna end up with some unwanted attention… Reyes don’t you dare comment on this cause you know i will find you, and you know what i can do! O:<
Permalink #
car1995
said
im not disrespecting people and i know im not going to get a higher grade but its a class blog and we can correct each other.
if you find a factual problem with my posts feel free to correct me but i wont have mistakes because i do a lot of research for these posts. i cross reference to make sure my post is back by facts not just opinion.
Permalink #
caylaherscher42
said
“The Confederate flag is still a symbol of southern pride”
The Confederate flag is just a flag to me because back when the civil war was going on that flag was ment to repersent the south during the war. People that lived in that time of the civil war saw the flag as flag to the union or just “Southern Heritage”. People today don’t see it like that they see it as a sign of hate and racisim because they have slaves in the south and this flag was used in the south, well think about it they had slaves in the north i mean George Washington had slaves so did Thomas Jefferson but ya’ll didn’t consider them raciest i mean so why should the confederate flag affect so many people. But my thing is if you do away with it, it is taking away from the first amendment in our constitution. Either way it goes your gonna make people mad. Because white people will be mad bc their right were taking away and black see it as raciest but to me a flag is a flag it dont mean hate it truly just means the south and southern heritages so yes it both cases people are right it is haritage but then again it can be raciest it is all about how you present the flag and you will know that by reading these articals:
http://www.ashbrook.org/publicat/oped/owens/00/flag.html
http://www.elon.edu/e-web/pendulum/issues/2005/04_07/opinions/flag.xhtml
but honstly i go either way with the argument.
Permalink #
calebross
said
well i see the Confederate flag flown alot but i think people who flies it they just think its just a symbol of the south or a rednecj flag not anything racist but i can see where black people can se the hatred in it because it was flown by the south who was fighting to keep blacks as slaves “You can try to change its meaning, but outsiders will always view it as a sign of hatred and bigotry.” i believe this but it doesnt mean to me thats thats the reason you fly it
Permalink #
joshpickett
said
“Recently, the controversy of the Confederate flag, has led to racial tension with many supporters on both sides. However, for many southerners this flag represents their forefathers sacrifice. For some African-American’s it symbolizes their ancestors fight to end slavery and become free Americans. However, for many southerners, the flag has become a part of their family’s heritage. Many southerners proudly display the Confederate flag, as a symbol of heritage not hate.” (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/358484/confederate_battle_flag_heritage_or.html)
The confederate battle flag should not be thrown away in any manner, it is part of southern heritage and should be recognized and respected for the bravery of those who fought for their states rights. Some may say its racial but as you can see some African Americans respect it because its a symbol of their independence. i asked my aunt who lives in Georgia she and says “Its a piece of our history”
Permalink #
car1995
said
I think the confederate flag should be banished to the trash heap. one of my reason for this is that it represents a time in history when this country was at war with itself. not only that but the fact that racism has attached itself to this flag” outsiders will always view it as a sign of hatred and bigotry”. Stephens acknowledged slavery to be the cause of the sectional crisis besetting the nation, and claimed that the new Confederate constitution would solve the problem upon which the “old Union” had foundered. The “foundations [of our new Government] are laid, its cornerstone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery, subordination to the superior race, is his natural and moral condition…”
this was said to support the south and by extension became the meaning behind this flag.
Some may see it as a symbol of southern heritage” the battle flag symbolized the valor shown by Southerners, most of whom did not own slaves, on countless battlefields” but out of respect for others it shouldn’t be flown for some of us it just brings to mind the injustices our forefathers suffered.
the flag represents valor and bravery but for an unjust cause. the flag wouldn’t be as offensive if the flag hadn’t been used by the KKK. at the same time the flag should still be shown at museums and historical facilities because they will hang it for the true meaning and education”Barack Obama confirmed, when asked, that the Confederate Flag belonged in a museum and not flying above state buildings”. Also this flag still today promotes sectionalism which is what tore the country apart. The only reason the flag should be banned is to stop sectionalism and to have respect for the children of former slaves.
Permalink #
shannalynn18
said
I definitely do not think that the confederate flag should be banned; ITS JUST A FLAG! Who cares … I think its ignorant for people to view a flag as racist when flags are cleary made to represent where you’re from, not to say, “Hey, look at me in my confedreate flag, I’m racist.” People shouldn’t get mad & controversial over something they know nothing about. A majority of the people it offends they don’t know anything but “it’s racist.” Yes, it was used by the KKK, but just like Jack Rosemond said^^ the bible & American flag have been used by racist groups. But noooooooooo, we don’t want to ban those things. Why? Because the American flag represents where we’re from, our country that we love & the Bible is a book of our religious beliefs. So whats the confederate flag? A flag the Southerners used to represent themselves in battle.
“It cannot be denied that the Southern Confederacy was formed in order to perpetuate an evil institution. But it is also true that in this bad cause, Southerners fought with great bravery and perseverance against immense odds, long after prudence dictated that they should have given up. Defenders of the flag see themselves as honoring this bravery.”
“To its defenders, the same flag is a symbol of valor against overwhelming odds on behalf of a noble but hopeless cause. In other words, the Confederate battle flag has become a mirror for America. Reflecting on this requires that we avoid the twin extremes of either romanticizing the South or demonizing it.” – http://www.ashbrook.org/publicat/oped/owens/00/flag.html
But, I personally do believe that the way the confederate flag is portrayed today is all wrong. Now when I see it my first thought is “redneck.” When I first associated myself with it, it was because all the other country people, like myself, were wearing it. Using a confederate flag a lot of times is just bandwagon. You see someone else doing it, so you’re going to do it too if you want to include yourself in that group. So to me, its just to show people that I’m country. 🙂 I have no other symbol or statement I want to make with it other than that. Thats all the flag is to me. But like I said, its like a group thing. So when people see us wearing it, were automatically think “redneck … or racist.” When I’m niether! So its confusing.
“… the battle flag symbolized the valor shown by Southerners, most of whom did not own slaves, on countless battlefields.” – http://www.ashbrook.org/publicat/oped/owens/00/flag.html
The conferderate flag, American flag, Bible & lots of other things are all still used today in racists groups … they still exist & always will. You can’t change the way people want to symbolize their beliefs. People will always have different beilefs & opinions on something. Banning & getting rid of it will not change the fact.
Permalink #
BARBIIE* A'lea B. Pressley
said
SHOULD THE CONFEDERATE FLAG BE A BIG ISSUE??the confederate flag is thought/know to be a symbol of pride for the south, but to the northeners,civil rights activist, and or african americans the confederate flag is thought of as offensive http://www.elon.edu/e-web/pendulum/issues/2005/04_07/opinions/flag.xhtml. i persaonally think that the confederal flag should be that big of a problem simply because we SHOULD be past racism by now. i guess we’re not though.
Permalink #
Damaris Jimenez
said
I bias over this topic. I can argue both sides of this conflict. The confederate flag in view point symbolizes rebellion, slavery, and loss. Like Laura Bush, former First Lady of the United States said “The Confederate flag is not a symbol of racism … the flag does not offend me personally. I grew up in the South – in Texas. That flag doesn’t represent anything other than regional pride. It’s a time in our history that we just can’t erase.” http://www.confederatedigest.com/2010/01/quotes-about-confederate-flag.html
While others may look at it as a sign of hate and a flag that represents racial hate form the past. But there really shouldn’t be any controversy over this flag, but it’s all how people come forward to it. the flag should stands for freedom and democracy.The unity of America, our common cause, and the hope for a better tomorrow.
Permalink #
wendyburris2013
said
“The Confederate flag, unfortunately, falls into the same category. You can try to change its meaning, but outsiders will always view it as a sign of hatred and bigotry”. (http://WWW.ELON.EDU/E-WEB/PENDULUM/ISSUES/2005/04_07/OPINIONS/FLAG.XHTML)
I think the confederate flag should be banished to the trash heap of history simply because of all the negative thing people makes it out to be. Most of the people who fly it, fly it for there southern heritage, but most african americans view it as a racist symbol. I would never go around wearing it or flying it simply because of the negative around it and therefore, it should be banished.
Permalink #
calebbynum
said
I think that the Confederate flag should be seen as nothing more than a way for Southerners to express their heritage. As the author of this passage states,” I was raised in this tradition. My forebears were Texans and Marylanders who fought for the Confederacy. In our household, the battle flag symbolized the valor shown by Southerners, most of whom did not own slaves, on countless battlefields.” (http://www.ashbrook.org/publicat/oped/owens/00/flag.html)
I think that this passage shows that most of the people that fly the Confederate flag only see it as just a symbol of a pride for their heritage. The throwing away of this flag would be like throwing away a piece of the history of the South.
However, I would not fly this flag at my house because I do not connect it with a part of my history. I believe that everyone has the right to fly the flag as a memorial of their family’s past, and they will just have to accept the negative connotation that this flag carries. I believe this is a personal choice, and that the denial of this right would be unconstitutional.
Permalink #
Brittany Bell
said
The confederate flag that was flown in the civil war was a flag that showed bravery, courage and strength.
To me if you want to wear the flag then do it it’s your right first admendent ‘Freedom of speech,press,religon’.
I personally don’t care to much about it because in todays society people use it as a racist symbol and redneck symbol,in which to me who ever made that belief up deserves to be called redneck.My brother wears a confderate flag necklace not because he is racist but he likes to believe in the idea of the so called ”redneck.” “The Confederate flag, unfortunately, falls into the same category. You can try to change its meaning, but outsiders will always view it as a sign of hatred and bigotry” (http://WWW.ELON.EDU/EWEB/PENDULUM/ISSUES/2005/04_07/OPINIONS/FLAG.XHTML). The confederate battle flag should not be thrown away in any manner, it is part of southern heritage and should be acknowledged and respected for the courage and strength of those who fought and died for their states and their countries rights.
Permalink #
cojo249
said
I think that the confederate flag can just fly of the edge of the universe because it supports the southern people and back then the southern people supported slavery and tortured the blacks. “The Confederate battle flag has also been appropriated by the Ku Klux Klan and other racist hate groups. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, more than 500 extremist groups use the Southern Cross as one of their symbols.” (http://www.infoplease.com/spot/confederate1.html“. this shows you how the confederate flag was used with groups, such as the KKK’s. “They were angry because the Blacks had won their freedom from slavery and they had lost their slaves. No more slavery meant their lives had changed and they felt threatened.” (http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112391/ku_klux_klan.htm). Also the confederate flag was the flag of hate, which the KKK’s also had as a flag because the black people won there freedom back over slavery. So with all this being said the confederate flag should be banished.
Permalink #
EmilyKiser
said
Whether the Confederate Flag should be considered southern heritage or banished to the trash heap of history is completely based on what a person sees the Confederate flag symbolizing. “The Confederate Flag… has become a widely recognized symbol of the South.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flags_of_the_Confederate_States_of_America) If that is all it means to you when you see it, then you would not have a issue with it being part of southern heritage. “…even if Southerners consider it to be just a symbol, it is still entrenched in racism.” (http://www.elon.edu/e-web/pendulum/issues/2005/04_07/opinions/flag.xhtml) And of course, if it symbolized racism to you, then you would say that it needs to be banished to the trash heap. To me, there is no side to take. I don’t see it as a symbol of the greatness of the south or a symbol of racism. I only see it as a flag that holds different meanings to different people.
Permalink #
chelseaclark2013
said
“The Confederate flag has to go. There are many good qualities about the South, but there are other ways to glorify them than just this one. Its meaning has not and will not change: even if Southerners consider it to be just a symbol, it is still entrenched in racism.” (http://www.elon.edu/e-web/pendulum/issues/2005/04_07/opinions/flag.xhtml) To me i don’t see why people even bother with confederate flags. To me when i see one , i just think back to what the confederate army fought for ( Keeping their slaves , so that their plantations remain profitable thus making them rich) and it upsets me that some people just don’t understand why some people may get offended. I think that we can all show our pride for our southern heritage ,however, if it can be offensive towards some people , Why cant you just show it in a different way to avoid trouble ?
Permalink #
Jaelan
said
I think dat the flag needs to go bc it can be a bad thing to have dat flag out nd a northener see it there coul possibly be sum startd its really just a meanin of sum inda past that we have over come so dere is no need for the flag to me
Permalink #
Kiera K'mia Love
said
there are many different ways that u can view the confederate flag. most people think that the confederate flag mean racia tensions. in this articlehttp://www.elon.edu/e-web/pendulum/issues/2005/04_07/opinions/flag.xhtml i can see exactly what they are talking about when they say that most people think it is that the south were the bad guys and the north was the good guys trying to help abolish slavery. Most of the people that have the confederate flag believe that the flag was a symbol of southern pride. Blacks dont really consider it a southern pride mainly because southerners encouraged slavery; they also thought it was a good idea even though the north opposed it. in the next article http://www.tolerance.org/magazine/number-40-fall-2011/getting-civil-war-right, i totally agree with what they say, “To its detractors, including many, if not most, African-Americans, the Confederate battle flag is a symbol of racism and oppression. To its defenders, the same flag is a symbol of valor against overwhelming odds on behalf of a noble but hopeless cause. In other words, the Confederate battle flag has become a mirror for America. Reflecting on this requires that we avoid the twin extremes of either romanticizing the South or demonizing it.” this article is telling it just how people view it…..They are telling about how they believe that the meaning beyond the confederate flag is racism when its just the flags that the southerns had when they fought the in the war. The confederat flag is just a symbol of the south.
Permalink #
kenziekiser
said
I think the Confederate Battle Flag should be banished to the trash heap of history. The flag is said by southerners that it is just a symbol of just being a southerner. But it also is seen as a symbol of the southerners for slavery. ” the flag no longer means the enforcement of slavery to most of the Southerners that associate with it, but some things will never change to those on the outside who view it.”
(http://www.elon.edu/e-web/pendulum/issues/2005/04_07/opinions/flag.xhtml)
“To its detractors, including many, if not most, African-Americans, the Confederate battle flag is a symbol of racism and oppression. To its defenders, the same flag is a symbol of valor against overwhelming odds on behalf of a noble but hopeless cause.”
(http://www.ashbrook.org/publicat/oped/owens/00/flag.html)
It may be just the southern flag, but it is still affensive to northerners, and, especially African-Americans.
Permalink #
kelsieehrlich
said
From growing up, and living in the South all my life, I’ve learned that a big majority of the South represent the confederate flag for all the wrong reasons. Most people don’t represent it, or even aknowledge it what it really stands for. I’m not saying everyone does, because not all Southerners do, but a good bit do, and it’s pretty sad. The confederate flag doesn’t stand for “racism” or “redneck”. So many people look at it that way though. Northerners, and African American’s do especially. And that’s only because Southerners make it out to be that way. I actually feel bad for the people in the North, and the African American’s who feel the way they do because they get the “redneck and racism” vibe from the South whenever they represent the confederate flag.
“To its detractors, including many, if not most, African-Americans, the Confederate battle flag is a symbol of racism and oppression. To its defenders, the same flag is a symbol of valor against overwhelming odds on behalf of a noble but hopeless cause. In other words, the Confederate battle flag has become a mirror for America. Reflecting on this requires that we avoid the twin extremes of either romanticizing the South or demonizing it.” http://www.ashbrook.org/publicat/oped/owens/00/flag.html
I agree with Brittany, everyone has the right says the first amendment, it’s just devistating how the South doesn’t look that the flag, or even bother to care what the confederate flag really stands for.
Permalink #
kalebrostmeyer
said
I believe the constant squabbles over the Confederate Flag are between the ignorant and the intelligent. There are both intelligent people who support and hate it, as well as ignorant people who hate and support it. The flag is literally a symbol of pride. However, it does not mean “rebel” pride. There are so many redneck idiots who fly the Confederate Battle Flag, ignorantly calling it the “Stars and Bars”, trying to be racist. How incredibly stupid can someone be? The ACTUAL stars and bars were this…
Does this resemble anything of the Confederate Battle Flag? No. This is where ignorant hicks come into the situation. Now, if ANYTHING should be thrown into the trash pile of history, it should be the dumb rednecks who fly the Confederate Battle Flag, calling it the “Stars and Bars” and declaring themselves to have rebel pride. They try to make this flag a racial thing. How can it be racist when BOTH the North and South owned slaves? Sure, the North outlawed slavery, but that doesn’t mean the slave owners didn’t take their slaves to the South and sell them directly to their opposition.
“The Confederate flag, unfortunately, falls into the same category. You can try to change its meaning, but outsiders will always view it as a sign of hatred and bigotry.” (Second link)
This quote is very true. Sure, everyone naturally grows up thinking of this flag as rebel pride and a racial symbol. Even I did. However, the true meaning behind the flag must be taught to the children, and even adults of America. The flag has come to symbolize racial conflict, but that can be changed when people become properly educated.
“My forebears were Texans and Marylanders who fought for the Confederacy. In our household, the battle flag symbolized the valor shown by Southerners, most of whom did not own slaves, on countless battlefields.” (3rd link)
The intelligent people of this whole situation are the families in the South who fly this flag because their ancestors fought in the war, and fought for what they believed in with pride. The true “Southern Pride” means fighting for what they believed in and not yielding to the people who challenged them.
Permalink #
korilipscomb
said
I believe that the confederate flag should be banned. Yes, its just a flag but if you look at the places this flag was used it was there to symbolize something negative in history.“The Confederate flag has to go. There are many good qualities about the South, but there are other ways to glorify them than just this one. Its meaning has not and will not change: even if Southerners consider it to be just a symbol, it is still entrenched in racism.”(http://www.elon.edu/e-web/pendulum/issues/2005/04_07/opinions/flag.xhtml)”But the flag will never be an acceptable symbol, neither to Northerners, civil rights activists, or African-Americans. Sure, the flag no longer means the enforcement of slavery to most of the Southerners that associate with it, but some things will never change to those on the outside who view it.”(http://www.elon.edu/e-web/pendulum/issues/2005/04_07/opinions/flag.xhtml) If it is obvious that the confederate flag is offensive to people, why continue wear it? “Some groups use the Southern Cross as one of the symbols associated with their organizations, including racist groups such as the Neo-Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan. The flag is also sometimes used by separatist organizations such as the Aryan Nation. The Aryan Nation also uses the U.S. flag as well as the Christian flag displayed in some Protestant churches.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flags_of_the_Confederate_States_of_America) Yes, the christian flag may have been used at their meeting but I feel like they were used out of context.”After the Holocaust, there was a movement in America to change the Swastika, once an aboriginal symbol of peace, back into its original meaning. The symbol, it was claimed, was once a good symbol and could be used for good again. The movement died when it became apparent that the world would forever associate Swastika’s with the Nazis, never again with anything to do with peace.” (http://www.elon.edu/e-web/pendulum/issues/2005/04_07/opinions/flag.xhtml) No matter what they try to say about the Confederate flag being for heritage its offensive and should be banned. Of course, it never will because of freedom of expression but it should.
Permalink #
kristinacarpenter
said
I personally dont like the Confederate flag and think it should be banished into the trash heap of history. “The Confederate flag has to go. There are many good qualities about the South, but there are other ways to glorify them than just this one. Its meaning has not and will not change: even if Southerners consider it to be just a symbol, it is still entrenched in racism.” It didnt always symbolize racism but these days thats what some people see it as..It may represent the southern heritage but it also represents what happened in that time period.
“Sure, the flag no longer means the enforcement of slavery to most of the Southerners that associate with it, but some things will never change to those on the outside who view it.”
http://www.elon.edu/e-web/pendulum/issues/2005/04_07/opinions/flag.xhtml
Permalink #
dancan16
said
Im not a redneck and i dont agree with the idea of slavery or southern pride really.If your from the north or the south your still the same.The accents may vary, but just because we talk alittle differently than one another, doesnt mean that were two completely different types of people.But a flag is a flag in my opinion and I definitely dont think it should be be done away with.Yes, the flag is symbolic for the south and just because the south had that flag back during the civil war does not mean that it still stands for slavery today and the same beliefs as it did back then.Some people say that it does because they want to look at the negative side of things instead of the positive side.Many states still have flags that dated back to the civil war that the south used, and just because they do, doesnt mean that the states are trying to start up slavery again.I mean a state has to have a symbol or a flag for it at some point anyways, and a couple states just happened to keep there flags from back then because it’s a part of the states history.
Most southerners today wouldnt go off on a rant about slavery if you asked them what the confederate flag stood for.Jason Pressburg said ”I also came to college thinking the Confederate flag was and is an evil symbol of hate. (Obviously, I was in for a rude awakening when I came to Elon.) But to the Southerners I’ve met that identify with it, they think of the flag as a symbol of the joys and values of being Southern. Many of these qualities, like common courtesy, are some of the things that are so refreshing about the South compared to New York. It’s not that people aren’t nice in the North; they just don’t care to be. in http://www.elon.edu/e-web/pendulum/issues/2005/04_07/opinions/flag.xhtml.
Like I said,just because southern states still have the flags that the south waved during the civil war,doesnt mean that they stand for slavery today.I dont think that the flag should be done away with because it is a historic symbol for southern states and it helped shape the south into what it is today,which honestly is a great place to live.
Permalink #
southernbelle94
said
In my opinion I think that the confederate battle flag, or rebel flag should be looked at as southern heritages. Yes it has been used for racism in the past, but so have many other flags, yes the KKK rides with the rebel flag, but they also ride with the American flag, should that be banned to? No. Many northerners look at the flag as something terrible, a symbol of hatred, yet the southerners look at it as a part of their history and something most people in the south have been brought up knowing about. “But the flag will never be an acceptable symbol, neither to Northerners, civil rights activists, or African-Americans.” http://www.elon.edu/e-web/pendulum/issues/2005/04_07/opinions/flag.xhtml I disagree with this statement because I know African American people with confederate flag tattoos, and flags in there homes. They like many southerners look at it as heritage. Everyone interprets things in life differently from God to flags, and everyone is entitled to their own opinions, in mine I believe it is just southern heritage, to you, you might think of it as a hate symbol, although I don’t agree, I’m not saying kiss my butt, I’m saying be open to others opinions not just your own. and by the way its just a flag, its not a gun, its not a murderer or a rapist, its simply a flag. Just because you like the rebel flag and believe that it is southern heritage does not make you a racist in any way, unless of course you are using it in a racist way. Having it on shirts, bumper stickers, etc does not make it a symbol of hate, there are many people who are racist who don’t fly the confederate flag, and many that do its all how you interpret it.