What does the confederate flag mean to you? (1 Viewer)

[cstu]

I could be wrong, but I think a lot of folks fly the flag as a symbol of counter-culture - the anti-PC crowd. some people deeply resent being told what to do/say/think by the media or the government. I know this thought is prevailant in the rural South, I know it is in the rural West, and I presume it is in the rural North as well.

They don't see it as a symbol or racism...it's more of a symbol of the right to do/be/say/think what ever you want, including (but not limited to) racism.

There was some poster in this thread previously from Wisconsin (I think) who was bragging about flying his flag. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he wanted to do so not because he hates black people, but because he hates the "Social Justice Warriors" suddenly determining that the flag had to go.

Why not fly the Nazi flag as well?

 

[jonessed]

I could be wrong, but I think a lot of folks fly the flag as a symbol of counter-culture - the anti-PC crowd. some people deeply resent being told what to do/say/think by the media or the government. I know this thought is prevailant in the rural South, I know it is in the rural West, and I presume it is in the rural North as well.

They don't see it as a symbol or racism...it's more of a symbol of the right to do/be/say/think what ever you want, including (but not limited to) racism.

There was some poster in this thread previously from Wisconsin (I think) who was bragging about flying his flag. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he wanted to do so not because he hates black people, but because he hates the "Social Justice Warriors" suddenly determining that the flag had to go.

Why not fly the Nazi flag as well?

You should ask them.

 

[Ditka Butkus]

Wonder how Ole Miss fans are going to respond

 

[Christo]

I could be wrong, but I think a lot of folks fly the flag as a symbol of counter-culture - the anti-PC crowd. some people deeply resent being told what to do/say/think by the media or the government. I know this thought is prevailant in the rural South, I know it is in the rural West, and I presume it is in the rural North as well.

They don't see it as a symbol or racism...it's more of a symbol of the right to do/be/say/think what ever you want, including (but not limited to) racism.

There was some poster in this thread previously from Wisconsin (I think) who was bragging about flying his flag. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he wanted to do so not because he hates black people, but because he hates the "Social Justice Warriors" suddenly determining that the flag had to go.

"Social Justice Warriors" like Jeb Bush, Nikki Haley and NASCAR? Those bastions of liberal PC propaganda?

Would those three be acting without the SJW?

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Looks like the SC Senate has voted something like 37-3 to remove it from the grounds, the House is next. Btw in 2000 the vote in the Senate was very similar, but the House vote was a majority but under 2/3s to move it from the dome to the grounds. I have no idea why 2/3s is needed now as opposed to a majority like last time.

 

[Amused to Death]

I could be wrong, but I think a lot of folks fly the flag as a symbol of counter-culture - the anti-PC crowd. some people deeply resent being told what to do/say/think by the media or the government. I know this thought is prevailant in the rural South, I know it is in the rural West, and I presume it is in the rural North as well.

They don't see it as a symbol or racism...it's more of a symbol of the right to do/be/say/think what ever you want, including (but not limited to) racism.

There was some poster in this thread previously from Wisconsin (I think) who was bragging about flying his flag. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he wanted to do so not because he hates black people, but because he hates the "Social Justice Warriors" suddenly determining that the flag had to go.

"Social Justice Warriors" like Jeb Bush, Nikki Haley and NASCAR? Those bastions of liberal PC propaganda?

Would those three be acting without the SJW?

Jeb left office in 2007. How much of an outcry was there at that time? And Georgia was considering it at that time as well. And I'm pretty sure NASCAR Nation is pretty upset with their decision. I think they're facing more pressure to allow it than they did to remove it.

 

[TobiasFunke]

I could be wrong, but I think a lot of folks fly the flag as a symbol of counter-culture - the anti-PC crowd. some people deeply resent being told what to do/say/think by the media or the government. I know this thought is prevailant in the rural South, I know it is in the rural West, and I presume it is in the rural North as well.

They don't see it as a symbol or racism...it's more of a symbol of the right to do/be/say/think what ever you want, including (but not limited to) racism.

There was some poster in this thread previously from Wisconsin (I think) who was bragging about flying his flag. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he wanted to do so not because he hates black people, but because he hates the "Social Justice Warriors" suddenly determining that the flag had to go.

"Social Justice Warriors" like Jeb Bush, Nikki Haley and NASCAR? Those bastions of liberal PC propaganda?

Would those three be acting without the SJW?

SJWs have opposed the flag for decades. The difference now is that a racially motivated mass killing has forced the rest of the population to remove their heads from their ###es and join those SJWs in the 21st century.

 

[roadkill1292]

I could be wrong, but I think a lot of folks fly the flag as a symbol of counter-culture - the anti-PC crowd. some people deeply resent being told what to do/say/think by the media or the government. I know this thought is prevailant in the rural South, I know it is in the rural West, and I presume it is in the rural North as well.

They don't see it as a symbol or racism...it's more of a symbol of the right to do/be/say/think what ever you want, including (but not limited to) racism.

There was some poster in this thread previously from Wisconsin (I think) who was bragging about flying his flag. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he wanted to do so not because he hates black people, but because he hates the "Social Justice Warriors" suddenly determining that the flag had to go.

I think there's something to this theory. After all, there are a lot of us who are anti-authoritarian and we've done things to express our dislike of the status quo as imposed upon us by institutions and, previously, societal norms.

But the flag flyers are fighting the wrong enemies.

 

[moleculo]

I could be wrong, but I think a lot of folks fly the flag as a symbol of counter-culture - the anti-PC crowd. some people deeply resent being told what to do/say/think by the media or the government. I know this thought is prevailant in the rural South, I know it is in the rural West, and I presume it is in the rural North as well.

They don't see it as a symbol or racism...it's more of a symbol of the right to do/be/say/think what ever you want, including (but not limited to) racism.

There was some poster in this thread previously from Wisconsin (I think) who was bragging about flying his flag. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he wanted to do so not because he hates black people, but because he hates the "Social Justice Warriors" suddenly determining that the flag had to go.

I growing attitude around me is that they want to take the meaning back from groups like the KKK etc. They want people talking about it so they can explain what it means to them and more importantly, why. There's a sad commentary going on in this area, maybe you saw it on the news moleculo. People were shown the actual Confederate Flag and they had no idea what it was. I was sort of in shock given SC's attachment to it's history. I didn't see that one coming.

I actually don't watch a whole lot of local news, but I would not be shocked on people not being able to recognize the ***official*** confederate flag. I probably couldn't identify it either.

 

[Kal El]

I could be wrong, but I think a lot of folks fly the flag as a symbol of counter-culture - the anti-PC crowd. some people deeply resent being told what to do/say/think by the media or the government. I know this thought is prevailant in the rural South, I know it is in the rural West, and I presume it is in the rural North as well.

They don't see it as a symbol or racism...it's more of a symbol of the right to do/be/say/think what ever you want, including (but not limited to) racism.

There was some poster in this thread previously from Wisconsin (I think) who was bragging about flying his flag. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he wanted to do so not because he hates black people, but because he hates the "Social Justice Warriors" suddenly determining that the flag had to go.

I growing attitude around me is that they want to take the meaning back from groups like the KKK etc. They want people talking about it so they can explain what it means to them and more importantly, why. There's a sad commentary going on in this area, maybe you saw it on the news moleculo. People were shown the actual Confederate Flag and they had no idea what it was. I was sort of in shock given SC's attachment to it's history. I didn't see that one coming.

I actually don't watch a whole lot of local news, but I would not be shocked on people not being able to recognize the ***official*** confederate flag. I probably couldn't identify it either.

I probably couldn't recognize it at first glance, but if people are flying that flag, they're probably legitimately racist.

 

[TobiasFunke]

I could be wrong, but I think a lot of folks fly the flag as a symbol of counter-culture - the anti-PC crowd. some people deeply resent being told what to do/say/think by the media or the government. I know this thought is prevailant in the rural South, I know it is in the rural West, and I presume it is in the rural North as well.

They don't see it as a symbol or racism...it's more of a symbol of the right to do/be/say/think what ever you want, including (but not limited to) racism.

There was some poster in this thread previously from Wisconsin (I think) who was bragging about flying his flag. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he wanted to do so not because he hates black people, but because he hates the "Social Justice Warriors" suddenly determining that the flag had to go.

I growing attitude around me is that they want to take the meaning back from groups like the KKK etc. They want people talking about it so they can explain what it means to them and more importantly, why. There's a sad commentary going on in this area, maybe you saw it on the news moleculo. People were shown the actual Confederate Flag and they had no idea what it was. I was sort of in shock given SC's attachment to it's history. I didn't see that one coming.

I actually don't watch a whole lot of local news, but I would not be shocked on people not being able to recognize the ***official*** confederate flag. I probably couldn't identify it either.

Yeah, I don't know why this is a "sad commentary." The flag has been basically irrelevant for 150 years. The sad commentary is that the battle flag counterpart isn't also irrelevant.

 

[timschochet]

I think moleculo has a point, but I also think there's a certain amount of frustration and resentment among white conservatives, not only in the South but all over the country. They're losing every battle. Obamacare, gay marriage, political correctness, illegal immigration, etc. They're seeing themselves for the first time as a minority in America.

 

[Kal El]

I think moleculo has a point, but I also think there's a certain amount of frustration and resentment among white conservatives, not only in the South but all over the country. They're losing every battle. Obamacare, gay marriage, political correctness, illegal immigration, etc. They're seeing themselves for the first time as a minority in America.

I'm a white conservative, and while I think the flag is cool looking, it's time to put it in a museum.

 

[cstu]

I think moleculo has a point, but I also think there's a certain amount of frustration and resentment among white conservatives, not only in the South but all over the country. They're losing every battle. Obamacare, gay marriage, political correctness, illegal immigration, etc. They're seeing themselves for the first time as a minority in America.

So along with guns and religion they are clinging to the Confederate flag?

 

[Amused to Death]

I think moleculo has a point, but I also think there's a certain amount of frustration and resentment among white conservatives, not only in the South but all over the country. They're losing every battle. Obamacare, gay marriage, political correctness, illegal immigration, etc. They're seeing themselves for the first time as a minority in America.

After a while it's a lot easier to just accept you've lost and move on. Let people live their lives. To continue harping on it makes you look like a nutjob. Where do they go from here? Secede? Militia insurgence? Or just live lives of quiet bitterness? Get over it...gays and Mexicans aren't coming to eat your children. Have a beer.

Or smoke a joint. Thankfully those dominoes are falling as well.

Face it, throughout the course of our history the one constant has been change. We evolve and move on from one generation to the next.

 

[timschochet]

I think moleculo has a point, but I also think there's a certain amount of frustration and resentment among white conservatives, not only in the South but all over the country. They're losing every battle. Obamacare, gay marriage, political correctness, illegal immigration, etc. They're seeing themselves for the first time as a minority in America.

So along with guns and religion they are clinging to the Confederate flag?

Guns yes. Flag yes. Religion no.

 

[Stinger Ray]

I think moleculo has a point, but I also think there's a certain amount of frustration and resentment among white conservatives, not only in the South but all over the country. They're losing every battle. Obamacare, gay marriage, political correctness, illegal immigration, etc. They're seeing themselves for the first time as a minority in America.

So along with guns and religion they are clinging to the Confederate flag?

Guns yes. Flag yes. Religion no.

Another one of your broad generalizations. So now you think white conservatives ACROSS the country and clinging to the Confederate flag?

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

I could be wrong, but I think a lot of folks fly the flag as a symbol of counter-culture - the anti-PC crowd. some people deeply resent being told what to do/say/think by the media or the government. I know this thought is prevailant in the rural South, I know it is in the rural West, and I presume it is in the rural North as well.

They don't see it as a symbol or racism...it's more of a symbol of the right to do/be/say/think what ever you want, including (but not limited to) racism.

There was some poster in this thread previously from Wisconsin (I think) who was bragging about flying his flag. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he wanted to do so not because he hates black people, but because he hates the "Social Justice Warriors" suddenly determining that the flag had to go.

Why not fly the Nazi flag as well?

I'll throw a wild dart and say they don't view the nazi flag that way and also don't agree with what it or its party stood for.

 

[Mjolnirs]

Looks like the SC Senate has voted something like 37-3 to remove it from the grounds, the House is next. Btw in 2000 the vote in the Senate was very similar, but the House vote was a majority but under 2/3s to move it from the dome to the grounds. I have no idea why 2/3s is needed now as opposed to a majority like last time.

The law that was the Compromise of 2000 set the required number to a super majority.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Looks like the SC Senate has voted something like 37-3 to remove it from the grounds, the House is next. Btw in 2000 the vote in the Senate was very similar, but the House vote was a majority but under 2/3s to move it from the dome to the grounds. I have no idea why 2/3s is needed now as opposed to a majority like last time.

The law that was the Compromise of 2000 set the required number to a super majority.

Wow, thanks, I have been trying to figure that out.

 

[timschochet]

I think moleculo has a point, but I also think there's a certain amount of frustration and resentment among white conservatives, not only in the South but all over the country. They're losing every battle. Obamacare, gay marriage, political correctness, illegal immigration, etc. They're seeing themselves for the first time as a minority in America.

So along with guns and religion they are clinging to the Confederate flag?

Guns yes. Flag yes. Religion no.

Another one of your broad generalizations. So now you think white conservatives ACROSS the country and clinging to the Confederate flag?

Some are. But I suspect most don't care about this issue except that it's liberals and minorities "winning" and they're sick of that outcome.

 

[matttyl]

I think moleculo has a point, but I also think there's a certain amount of frustration and resentment among white conservatives, not only in the South but all over the country. They're losing every battle. Obamacare, gay marriage, political correctness, illegal immigration, etc. They're seeing themselves for the first time as a minority in America.

Are you calling all white conservatives (or even white conservatives in general) bigots?

 

[timschochet]

I think moleculo has a point, but I also think there's a certain amount of frustration and resentment among white conservatives, not only in the South but all over the country. They're losing every battle. Obamacare, gay marriage, political correctness, illegal immigration, etc. They're seeing themselves for the first time as a minority in America.

Are you calling all white conservatives (or even white conservatives in general) bigots?

Hardly. I don't even believe that most white conservatives are bigots much less "all". What I am suggesting is that part of the resistance I read in this thread and elsewhere to getting rid of the flag is based on a larger issue than the flag: it's a frustration of losing every battle to liberals, minorities, etc.

 

[Stinger Ray]

I think moleculo has a point, but I also think there's a certain amount of frustration and resentment among white conservatives, not only in the South but all over the country. They're losing every battle. Obamacare, gay marriage, political correctness, illegal immigration, etc. They're seeing themselves for the first time as a minority in America.

So along with guns and religion they are clinging to the Confederate flag?

Guns yes. Flag yes. Religion no.

Another one of your broad generalizations. So now you think white conservatives ACROSS the country and clinging to the Confederate flag?

Some are. But I suspect most don't care about this issue except that it's liberals and minorities "winning" and they're sick of that outcome.

Seems to me the Republicans did just fine the last elections. It was the Democrats that lost.

 

[Mjolnirs]

Looks like the SC Senate has voted something like 37-3 to remove it from the grounds, the House is next. Btw in 2000 the vote in the Senate was very similar, but the House vote was a majority but under 2/3s to move it from the dome to the grounds. I have no idea why 2/3s is needed now as opposed to a majority like last time.

The law that was the Compromise of 2000 set the required number to a super majority.

Wow, thanks, I have been trying to figure that out.

the actual legislation

 

[moleculo]

I think the flag is nothing more than a symbol of southern pride for the vast majority of people who support displaying it. I think all the hubbub about it is really stupid and a waste of time, and I'm ambivalent about what should be done. I can see the argument that it's a symbol of slavery and it should be abolished as equally as I can understand it being seen as a benign symbol of pride in a culture.

Ultimately it seems like the battle has been fought and lost already, so it's best to throw your confederate license plates and fridge magnets in the trash lest you look like a bigot. If you're an enlightened and compassionate person and you know it is a symbol of oppression for a large number of people in your community, this doesn't seem like a difficult calculation to make. My preferred solution would be education, mutual understanding and chilling out, but I'm not naive enough to think that has a chance of working in today's climate.

Taking Dukes of Hazzard off the air over this is one of the dumbest things I've heard in a long time though.

education and mutual understanding of what?

 

[timschochet]

I think moleculo has a point, but I also think there's a certain amount of frustration and resentment among white conservatives, not only in the South but all over the country. They're losing every battle. Obamacare, gay marriage, political correctness, illegal immigration, etc. They're seeing themselves for the first time as a minority in America.

So along with guns and religion they are clinging to the Confederate flag?

Guns yes. Flag yes. Religion no.

Another one of your broad generalizations. So now you think white conservatives ACROSS the country and clinging to the Confederate flag?

Some are. But I suspect most don't care about this issue except that it's liberals and minorities "winning" and they're sick of that outcome.

Seems to me the Republicans did just fine the last elections. It was the Democrats that lost.

Thats true. But I was referring to issues. Republicans continue to win elections, but conservatives continue to lose issues.

 

[matttyl]

I think the flag is nothing more than a symbol of southern pride for the vast majority of people who support displaying it. I think all the hubbub about it is really stupid and a waste of time, and I'm ambivalent about what should be done. I can see the argument that it's a symbol of slavery and it should be abolished as equally as I can understand it being seen as a benign symbol of pride in a culture.

Ultimately it seems like the battle has been fought and lost already, so it's best to throw your confederate license plates and fridge magnets in the trash lest you look like a bigot. If you're an enlightened and compassionate person and you know it is a symbol of oppression for a large number of people in your community, this doesn't seem like a difficult calculation to make. My preferred solution would be education, mutual understanding and chilling out, but I'm not naive enough to think that has a chance of working in today's climate.

Taking Dukes of Hazzard off the air over this is one of the dumbest things I've heard in a long time though.

education and mutual understanding of what?

That people can have different views and that's ok - and that doesn't have to mean they hate each other?

 

[TheIronSheik]

I think the flag is nothing more than a symbol of southern pride for the vast majority of people who support displaying it. I think all the hubbub about it is really stupid and a waste of time, and I'm ambivalent about what should be done. I can see the argument that it's a symbol of slavery and it should be abolished as equally as I can understand it being seen as a benign symbol of pride in a culture.

Ultimately it seems like the battle has been fought and lost already, so it's best to throw your confederate license plates and fridge magnets in the trash lest you look like a bigot. If you're an enlightened and compassionate person and you know it is a symbol of oppression for a large number of people in your community, this doesn't seem like a difficult calculation to make. My preferred solution would be education, mutual understanding and chilling out, but I'm not naive enough to think that has a chance of working in today's climate.

Taking Dukes of Hazzard off the air over this is one of the dumbest things I've heard in a long time though.

education and mutual understanding of what?

That people can have different views and that's ok - and that doesn't have to mean they hate each other?

I disagree, you jerk.

 

[jonessed]

I think the flag is nothing more than a symbol of southern pride for the vast majority of people who support displaying it. I think all the hubbub about it is really stupid and a waste of time, and I'm ambivalent about what should be done. I can see the argument that it's a symbol of slavery and it should be abolished as equally as I can understand it being seen as a benign symbol of pride in a culture.

Ultimately it seems like the battle has been fought and lost already, so it's best to throw your confederate license plates and fridge magnets in the trash lest you look like a bigot. If you're an enlightened and compassionate person and you know it is a symbol of oppression for a large number of people in your community, this doesn't seem like a difficult calculation to make. My preferred solution would be education, mutual understanding and chilling out, but I'm not naive enough to think that has a chance of working in today's climate.

Taking Dukes of Hazzard off the air over this is one of the dumbest things I've heard in a long time though.

education and mutual understanding of what?

That people can have different views and that's ok - and that doesn't have to mean they hate each other?

Everything is melodramatic now. Social networking has created a million tiny group-think bubbles where people can avoid anyone that thinks differently. It's not hard to see why the art of compromise is fading.It's just the way it is. Get used to it. Find a faux outrage group and join in!

 

[BigSteelThrill]

I think the flag is nothing more than a symbol of southern pride for the vast majority of people who support displaying it. I think all the hubbub about it is really stupid and a waste of time, and I'm ambivalent about what should be done. I can see the argument that it's a symbol of slavery and it should be abolished as equally as I can understand it being seen as a benign symbol of pride in a culture.

Ultimately it seems like the battle has been fought and lost already, so it's best to throw your confederate license plates and fridge magnets in the trash lest you look like a bigot. If you're an enlightened and compassionate person and you know it is a symbol of oppression for a large number of people in your community, this doesn't seem like a difficult calculation to make. My preferred solution would be education, mutual understanding and chilling out, but I'm not naive enough to think that has a chance of working in today's climate.

Taking Dukes of Hazzard off the air over this is one of the dumbest things I've heard in a long time though.

education and mutual understanding of what?

That people can have different views and that's ok - and that doesn't have to mean they hate each other?

But it doesn't mean they don't hate the other person. Or that they aren't supporting/enabling hate even if unintended or ignorantly.

 

[jonessed]

I think the flag is nothing more than a symbol of southern pride for the vast majority of people who support displaying it. I think all the hubbub about it is really stupid and a waste of time, and I'm ambivalent about what should be done. I can see the argument that it's a symbol of slavery and it should be abolished as equally as I can understand it being seen as a benign symbol of pride in a culture.

Ultimately it seems like the battle has been fought and lost already, so it's best to throw your confederate license plates and fridge magnets in the trash lest you look like a bigot. If you're an enlightened and compassionate person and you know it is a symbol of oppression for a large number of people in your community, this doesn't seem like a difficult calculation to make. My preferred solution would be education, mutual understanding and chilling out, but I'm not naive enough to think that has a chance of working in today's climate.

Taking Dukes of Hazzard off the air over this is one of the dumbest things I've heard in a long time though.

education and mutual understanding of what?

That people can have different views and that's ok - and that doesn't have to mean they hate each other?

But it doesn't mean they don't hate the other person. Or that they aren't supporting/enabling hate even if unintended or ignorantly.

 

[Stinger Ray]

I think the flag is nothing more than a symbol of southern pride for the vast majority of people who support displaying it. I think all the hubbub about it is really stupid and a waste of time, and I'm ambivalent about what should be done. I can see the argument that it's a symbol of slavery and it should be abolished as equally as I can understand it being seen as a benign symbol of pride in a culture.

Ultimately it seems like the battle has been fought and lost already, so it's best to throw your confederate license plates and fridge magnets in the trash lest you look like a bigot. If you're an enlightened and compassionate person and you know it is a symbol of oppression for a large number of people in your community, this doesn't seem like a difficult calculation to make. My preferred solution would be education, mutual understanding and chilling out, but I'm not naive enough to think that has a chance of working in today's climate.

Taking Dukes of Hazzard off the air over this is one of the dumbest things I've heard in a long time though.

education and mutual understanding of what?

That people can have different views and that's ok - and that doesn't have to mean they hate each other?

But it doesn't mean they don't hate the other person. Or that they aren't supporting/enabling hate even if unintended or ignorantly.

WTF?

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Our new (Confederate) Government is founded upon exactly the opposite ideas; its foundations 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 normal condition.

Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens

 

[Christo]

Our new (Confederate) Government is founded upon exactly the opposite ideas; its foundations 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 normal condition.

Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens

One can believe another is subordinate without hating him. I don't hate you.

 

[timschochet]

Our new (Confederate) Government is founded upon exactly the opposite ideas; its foundations 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 normal condition.

Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens

One can believe another is subordinate without hating him. I don't hate you.

And I don't hate you.

 

[TobiasFunke]

I think the flag is nothing more than a symbol of southern pride for the vast majority of people who support displaying it. I think all the hubbub about it is really stupid and a waste of time, and I'm ambivalent about what should be done. I can see the argument that it's a symbol of slavery and it should be abolished as equally as I can understand it being seen as a benign symbol of pride in a culture.

Ultimately it seems like the battle has been fought and lost already, so it's best to throw your confederate license plates and fridge magnets in the trash lest you look like a bigot. If you're an enlightened and compassionate person and you know it is a symbol of oppression for a large number of people in your community, this doesn't seem like a difficult calculation to make. My preferred solution would be education, mutual understanding and chilling out, but I'm not naive enough to think that has a chance of working in today's climate.

Taking Dukes of Hazzard off the air over this is one of the dumbest things I've heard in a long time though.

I kind of agree with this, but people complaining about it being taken off the air might be a close second. It's not like they were airing new episodes or doing gangbuster ratings. Most people probably didn't know Dukes of Hazzard reruns were being aired and can't name any other TV Land programming. It's possible that TV Land actually made a savvy PR move to raise awareness of the fact that it exists and shows old TV shows.

 

[Ditka Butkus]

I think moleculo has a point, but I also think there's a certain amount of frustration and resentment among white conservatives, not only in the South but all over the country. They're losing every battle. Obamacare, gay marriage, political correctness, illegal immigration, etc. They're seeing themselves for the first time as a minority in America.

After a while it's a lot easier to just accept you've lost and move on. Let people live their lives. To continue harping on it makes you look like a nutjob. Where do they go from here? Secede? Militia insurgence? Or just live lives of quiet bitterness? Get over it...gays and Mexicans aren't coming to eat your children. Have a beer.

Or smoke a joint. Thankfully those dominoes are falling as well.

Face it, throughout the course of our history the one constant has been change. We evolve and move on from one generation to the next.

Racist!

 

[TheIronSheik]

I think the flag is nothing more than a symbol of southern pride for the vast majority of people who support displaying it. I think all the hubbub about it is really stupid and a waste of time, and I'm ambivalent about what should be done. I can see the argument that it's a symbol of slavery and it should be abolished as equally as I can understand it being seen as a benign symbol of pride in a culture.

Ultimately it seems like the battle has been fought and lost already, so it's best to throw your confederate license plates and fridge magnets in the trash lest you look like a bigot. If you're an enlightened and compassionate person and you know it is a symbol of oppression for a large number of people in your community, this doesn't seem like a difficult calculation to make. My preferred solution would be education, mutual understanding and chilling out, but I'm not naive enough to think that has a chance of working in today's climate.

Taking Dukes of Hazzard off the air over this is one of the dumbest things I've heard in a long time though.

I kind of agree with this, but people complaining about it being taken off the air might be a close second. It's not like they were airing new episodes or doing gangbuster ratings. Most people probably didn't know Dukes of Hazzard reruns were being aired and can't name any other TV Land programming. It's possible that TV Land actually made a savvy PR move to raise awareness of the fact that it exists and shows old TV shows.

 

[matttyl]

Our new (Confederate) Government is founded upon exactly the opposite ideas; its foundations 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 normal condition.

Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens

So having a t-shirt or a hat or the flag (symbol) or something means you have to believe everything about that group or culture? Can I wear a star of David and not be Jewish? Can I fly (or even own) a flag with a crescent moon and a single star and not be Islamic? Up until yesterday I drove a Mini Cooper and put a Union Jack symbol on it (to show the car's heritage), but I'm not British and the car itself was made in Germany.

Looking at your avatar, do you believe in everything that the Dark Side stands for, and thus against the Jedi?

 

[Thunderlips]

Shouldn't have been so nice to them after the war. Should have done to them what was done to the Nazis post WWII.

 

[Insomniac]

I grew up in authentic redneck coal mining country (western PA). Moved to the west coast when I was 10. Its a different world. I haven't been back there in 25 years. Well, just spent a week in my old hometown. Its still the same world in many ways. I saw plenty of confederate flags, and one night I saw so many I couldn't count them. That was at the racetrack.

My wife couldn't seem to grasp that there were so many at the track. For her the confederate flag has one meaning, and that's institutionalized bigotry. Making it worse we're in a northern state. Why would so many people in the north being wanting to sport a confederate flag? I get it to a small degree. The confederate flag represents an old traditional feeling that doesn't have anything to do with race. We had them around when I was a kid and we didn't have any black folk around. When I say none, I mean NONE. There was no diversity in the small town I grew up in. 100% white anglo saxon protestant. No exceptions. This said, I think they're silly. There may be some folks clinging to some sense of good-ole-times, but the confederate flag is a symbol of institutionalized bigotry IMO.

At the racetrack last Saturday night I lost count of the bumper stickers, t-shirts, and random confederate flags all over the place. Dissappointing in some ways. Not sure how to react to all of them. I just tried to ignore it as much as I could. This said, I think the vast majority of people there didn't embrace it. Not sure. Just a hunch. Its not like I could read their minds. Perhaps just wishful thinking on my part.

Planning on hitting the races in two weeks back here in WA state. Miss my 410 sprint car action. Wondering how many of those flags I'll see here. Hoping not near as many.

Most (if not all) of the people who fly the Confederate flag profess to be most patriotic/America lovin'/military supporting people. And yet this flag that they care so deeply about was the battle flag used against our county. A Confederacy that hated America so much, they took up arms against our government and wanted to secede. That's who our most patriotic Americans want to celebrate? The cause to secede from the Union?

Just goes to show you that the flag may have had it's meaning changed from what it stood for during the Confederacy.

For some. Just understand that for many that flag still represents the hate for America it was intended for. Soldiers took up arms and rallied around that banner to kill Americans. Not everyone got the memo of the changed meaning. But that's cool. Maybe 150 years from now we'll all be waving ISIS flags. That'd be cool.

Hey, let's not forget that the flag faded from public view for decades but was resurrected in opposition of integration and the civil rights movement.

Maybe that's what he's referring to when he says the flag has changed its meaning? Maybe the people who are flying it aren't saying they want to enslave black people and kill Americans who oppose their right to do so. Maybe they just don't want black people going to their schools and using their bathrooms and drinking from their water fountains!

Those people made a lot of progress over the decades. I remember when they wouldn't even let blacks play on their college football teams.

 

[Ditka Butkus]

I want the Puerto Ricans to stop hanging their flag from their rearview mirrors.

 

[TobiasFunke]

I grew up in authentic redneck coal mining country (western PA). Moved to the west coast when I was 10. Its a different world. I haven't been back there in 25 years. Well, just spent a week in my old hometown. Its still the same world in many ways. I saw plenty of confederate flags, and one night I saw so many I couldn't count them. That was at the racetrack.

My wife couldn't seem to grasp that there were so many at the track. For her the confederate flag has one meaning, and that's institutionalized bigotry. Making it worse we're in a northern state. Why would so many people in the north being wanting to sport a confederate flag? I get it to a small degree. The confederate flag represents an old traditional feeling that doesn't have anything to do with race. We had them around when I was a kid and we didn't have any black folk around. When I say none, I mean NONE. There was no diversity in the small town I grew up in. 100% white anglo saxon protestant. No exceptions. This said, I think they're silly. There may be some folks clinging to some sense of good-ole-times, but the confederate flag is a symbol of institutionalized bigotry IMO.

At the racetrack last Saturday night I lost count of the bumper stickers, t-shirts, and random confederate flags all over the place. Dissappointing in some ways. Not sure how to react to all of them. I just tried to ignore it as much as I could. This said, I think the vast majority of people there didn't embrace it. Not sure. Just a hunch. Its not like I could read their minds. Perhaps just wishful thinking on my part.

Planning on hitting the races in two weeks back here in WA state. Miss my 410 sprint car action. Wondering how many of those flags I'll see here. Hoping not near as many.

Most (if not all) of the people who fly the Confederate flag profess to be most patriotic/America lovin'/military supporting people. And yet this flag that they care so deeply about was the battle flag used against our county. A Confederacy that hated America so much, they took up arms against our government and wanted to secede. That's who our most patriotic Americans want to celebrate? The cause to secede from the Union?

Just goes to show you that the flag may have had it's meaning changed from what it stood for during the Confederacy.

For some. Just understand that for many that flag still represents the hate for America it was intended for. Soldiers took up arms and rallied around that banner to kill Americans. Not everyone got the memo of the changed meaning. But that's cool. Maybe 150 years from now we'll all be waving ISIS flags. That'd be cool.

Hey, let's not forget that the flag faded from public view for decades but was resurrected in opposition of integration and the civil rights movement.

Maybe that's what he's referring to when he says the flag has changed its meaning? Maybe the people who are flying it aren't saying they want to enslave black people and kill Americans who oppose their right to do so. Maybe they just don't want black people going to their schools and using their bathrooms and drinking from their water fountains!

Those people made a lot of progress over the decades. I remember when they wouldn't even let blacks play on their college football teams.

And now they let them play on their college football teams even if they beat and rape women! Truly the south has become a beacon of progress and harmony.

 

[The Commish]

I could be wrong, but I think a lot of folks fly the flag as a symbol of counter-culture - the anti-PC crowd. some people deeply resent being told what to do/say/think by the media or the government. I know this thought is prevailant in the rural South, I know it is in the rural West, and I presume it is in the rural North as well.

They don't see it as a symbol or racism...it's more of a symbol of the right to do/be/say/think what ever you want, including (but not limited to) racism.

There was some poster in this thread previously from Wisconsin (I think) who was bragging about flying his flag. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he wanted to do so not because he hates black people, but because he hates the "Social Justice Warriors" suddenly determining that the flag had to go.

I growing attitude around me is that they want to take the meaning back from groups like the KKK etc. They want people talking about it so they can explain what it means to them and more importantly, why. There's a sad commentary going on in this area, maybe you saw it on the news moleculo. People were shown the actual Confederate Flag and they had no idea what it was. I was sort of in shock given SC's attachment to it's history. I didn't see that one coming.

I actually don't watch a whole lot of local news, but I would not be shocked on people not being able to recognize the ***official*** confederate flag. I probably couldn't identify it either.

Yeah, I don't know why this is a "sad commentary." The flag has been basically irrelevant for 150 years. The sad commentary is that the battle flag counterpart isn't also irrelevant.

This is actually something I agree with you on. It should be irrelevant at this point, but lots of people still get worked up over it defending it and attacking it.

 

[roadkill1292]

I grew up in authentic redneck coal mining country (western PA). Moved to the west coast when I was 10. Its a different world. I haven't been back there in 25 years. Well, just spent a week in my old hometown. Its still the same world in many ways. I saw plenty of confederate flags, and one night I saw so many I couldn't count them. That was at the racetrack.

My wife couldn't seem to grasp that there were so many at the track. For her the confederate flag has one meaning, and that's institutionalized bigotry. Making it worse we're in a northern state. Why would so many people in the north being wanting to sport a confederate flag? I get it to a small degree. The confederate flag represents an old traditional feeling that doesn't have anything to do with race. We had them around when I was a kid and we didn't have any black folk around. When I say none, I mean NONE. There was no diversity in the small town I grew up in. 100% white anglo saxon protestant. No exceptions. This said, I think they're silly. There may be some folks clinging to some sense of good-ole-times, but the confederate flag is a symbol of institutionalized bigotry IMO.

At the racetrack last Saturday night I lost count of the bumper stickers, t-shirts, and random confederate flags all over the place. Dissappointing in some ways. Not sure how to react to all of them. I just tried to ignore it as much as I could. This said, I think the vast majority of people there didn't embrace it. Not sure. Just a hunch. Its not like I could read their minds. Perhaps just wishful thinking on my part.

Planning on hitting the races in two weeks back here in WA state. Miss my 410 sprint car action. Wondering how many of those flags I'll see here. Hoping not near as many.

Most (if not all) of the people who fly the Confederate flag profess to be most patriotic/America lovin'/military supporting people. And yet this flag that they care so deeply about was the battle flag used against our county. A Confederacy that hated America so much, they took up arms against our government and wanted to secede. That's who our most patriotic Americans want to celebrate? The cause to secede from the Union?

Just goes to show you that the flag may have had it's meaning changed from what it stood for during the Confederacy.

For some. Just understand that for many that flag still represents the hate for America it was intended for. Soldiers took up arms and rallied around that banner to kill Americans. Not everyone got the memo of the changed meaning. But that's cool. Maybe 150 years from now we'll all be waving ISIS flags. That'd be cool.

Hey, let's not forget that the flag faded from public view for decades but was resurrected in opposition of integration and the civil rights movement.

Maybe that's what he's referring to when he says the flag has changed its meaning? Maybe the people who are flying it aren't saying they want to enslave black people and kill Americans who oppose their right to do so. Maybe they just don't want black people going to their schools and using their bathrooms and drinking from their water fountains!

Those people made a lot of progress over the decades. I remember when they wouldn't even let blacks play on their college football teams.

And now they let them play on their college football teams even if they beat and rape women! Truly the south has become a beacon of progress and harmony.

As awareness of the dangers continues to increase, it may not be long until ONLY blacks will be allowed to play on SEC football teams.

 

[Christo]

I think the flag is nothing more than a symbol of southern pride for the vast majority of people who support displaying it. I think all the hubbub about it is really stupid and a waste of time, and I'm ambivalent about what should be done. I can see the argument that it's a symbol of slavery and it should be abolished as equally as I can understand it being seen as a benign symbol of pride in a culture.

Ultimately it seems like the battle has been fought and lost already, so it's best to throw your confederate license plates and fridge magnets in the trash lest you look like a bigot. If you're an enlightened and compassionate person and you know it is a symbol of oppression for a large number of people in your community, this doesn't seem like a difficult calculation to make. My preferred solution would be education, mutual understanding and chilling out, but I'm not naive enough to think that has a chance of working in today's climate.Taking Dukes of Hazzard off the air over this is one of the dumbest things I've heard in a long time though.

I kind of agree with this, but people complaining about it being taken off the air might be a close second. It's not like they were airing new episodes or doing gangbuster ratings. Most people probably didn't know Dukes of Hazzard reruns were being aired and can't name any other TV Land programming. It's possible that TV Land actually made a savvy PR move to raise awareness of the fact that it exists and shows old TV shows.

LOL yeah if there are die-hard Duke rerun fans losing their minds over this, I agree with you. I was obsessed with that show in the second or third grade, and when I saw the reruns were on TV maybe ten years ago I got all excited to watch...and it was the most corny and inane crap ever. So that's why to me, banning the show is just comical and absurd. It's like banning Mickey Mouse because rodents transmit disease. It's one of those stories that you simultaneously laugh at but worry that human intelligence is plummeting out of control.

http://m.cdn.blog.hu/la/latlelet/image/mickey%20mouse%20nazi.jpg

 

[Bottomfeeder Sports]

As awareness of the dangers continues to increase, it may not be long until ONLY blacks will be allowed to play on SEC football teams.

Well major college athletics is about as close as we can still get to slavery.

 

[Bottomfeeder Sports]

So that's why to me, banning the show is just comical and absurd.

How was it banned?

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Our new (Confederate) Government is founded upon exactly the opposite ideas; its foundations 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 normal condition.

Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens

So having a t-shirt or a hat or the flag (symbol) or something means you have to believe everything about that group or culture? Can I wear a star of David and not be Jewish? Can I fly (or even own) a flag with a crescent moon and a single star and not be Islamic? Up until yesterday I drove a Mini Cooper and put a Union Jack symbol on it (to show the car's heritage), but I'm not British and the car itself was made in Germany.

Looking at your avatar, do you believe in everything that the Dark Side stands for, and thus against the Jedi?

Cornerstone. Its singular cornerstone. Now a person may be (or pretend to be) ignorant of that fact.