I just watched this documentary film from beginning to end. I found it quite informative, as I was not especially familiar with the topic -- not myself being a Southerner.
After viewing the film, I have an even greater difficulty understanding how it is that so many Southerners do not see the Confederate battle flag as a symbol of racism. I also wonder how the flag can be understood as anything other than a profession of the belief that the South should have won the war and sustained a racist slavery system.
Well, Bruce T., it appears upon investigation that a good many Southerners are as perplexed as I am by the notion that racism and the Confederate Battle Flag can be ... shall we say, segregated from one another. For further comments from me on this, see my comment here.:
Well I can't play this video right now since I am using this in a non-private setting, where others are viewing and playing the TV, Radio, Internet, etc. I am in a multi-media room without headphones.
I saw the headliner and I'll just say that, unless a person is writing a period piece about the Civil War, this flag has NO PLACE in the USA. None, period, end of my sentence.
I'm with you, Kara Shalee . There is simply no way to pretend that that flag does not represent white supremacy.
Some perfectly and honestly innocent people (folks who are not white s upremacists) have proffered at best halfway (or just short) convincing arguments to the contrary, but by the end of the day (so to speak) this flag is clearly seen to be a pro-white-supremacist flag. And those who are not white supremacists (and there are some) who figure otherwise just have not weighed the available evidence carefully. In other words, they have been sucked in to a story in which this flag is merely a signal of the cultural uniqueness which is The South. It is supposed to represent ALL SOUTHERNERS equally, regardless of race. Or, some say, it represents the war dead in the Civil War (War Between The States). ... as if it could be stripped of its original emblematic and semiotic meaning. As if it was never a sign of war against those who would end slavery and the associated racism.
Agreed, James. It is just racist, and unnecessary. It needs to go down ALL flagpoles on a permanent basis, and be displayed in a museum, or plural, some museums, that it once had a history. But, that history is no more. We need to get rid of it from public displays. It is inflammatory, and the only thing I can think of with this flag is that young white boy who went on the killing spree while waving it. It is the only memory I will ever hold of it now. It's usefulness, if it ever had one (and I agree, it might have, but that is historical in context) is OVER. BYE!!
It flies proudly at my house, and is displayed proudly on my truck. It's a symbol of the heritage of who I am, a son of the South, and a son of Confederate Veterans. I fly it to honor their memory, and their sacrafice in a stuggle that none of us know, except what we read in sanctioned history books. Unless you were there, unless you know exactly what these men fought for, from their mouths, you only know what someone wants you to know.
Were the Confederate States of America formed for a central purpose other than to defend the practice of slavery, along with the white supremacy which underlies that practice?
If you can persuade us that they were, then you may have a valid argument to the effect that African Americans should not be offended by your flying of your Confederate flag at your home and upon your truck, Bruce T.
I should tell you that I do not display the American flag (a.k.a., stars and stripes) for the same reason I would not fly a Confederate flag. That reason is that the USA has still not formally apologized to all African and African American people of the world for its practice of slavery, nor to the Native Americans (Indians) who were victims of genocide under the same flag. A formal apology is the least the USA could offer to these people. And the USA continues to very often mistreat both African Americans and Native Americans (Indians), which I suppose we should expect of a country which has yet to offer such a formal apology.
I call upon the Senate and Congress and the President of the United States to offer a formal apology, and a redress of continuing grievances against African Americans and Native Americans (Indians). Should these conditions be met, I may consider proudly displaying an American Flag -- but only if this country were to eliminate certain anti-democratic policies, such as the continued anti-democratic election process, including the dealings of the Commission on Presidential Debates.
"Insulting reminders don't do any of us any good, to say the least."
The Nazi flag is indeed packed with a lot of charge. And the analogy is not a perfect fit. But I have no doubt that a good many African Americans have a similar feeling about the Confederate battle flag -- which was my point.
I just watched this documentary film from beginning to end. I found it quite informative, as I was not especially familiar with the topic -- not myself being a Southerner.
After viewing the film, I have an even greater difficulty understanding how it is that so many Southerners do not see the Confederate battle flag as a symbol of racism. I also wonder how the flag can be understood as anything other than a profession of the belief that the South should have won the war and sustained a racist slavery system.
Probably because of this statement right here:
Well, Bruce T., it appears upon investigation that a good many Southerners are as perplexed as I am by the notion that racism and the Confederate Battle Flag can be ... shall we say, segregated from one another. For further comments from me on this, see my comment here.:
Comment by XXJefferson#51 :
Well I can't play this video right now since I am using this in a non-private setting, where others are viewing and playing the TV, Radio, Internet, etc. I am in a multi-media room without headphones.
I saw the headliner and I'll just say that, unless a person is writing a period piece about the Civil War, this flag has NO PLACE in the USA. None, period, end of my sentence.
XXJefferson, if you feel that another person has stolen elements of your own blog, then I "get it". But, that is probably a mgmt. issue.
I'm with you, Kara Shalee . There is simply no way to pretend that that flag does not represent white supremacy.
Some perfectly and honestly innocent people (folks who are not white s upremacists) have proffered at best halfway (or just short) convincing arguments to the contrary, but by the end of the day (so to speak) this flag is clearly seen to be a pro-white-supremacist flag. And those who are not white supremacists (and there are some) who figure otherwise just have not weighed the available evidence carefully. In other words, they have been sucked in to a story in which this flag is merely a signal of the cultural uniqueness which is The South. It is supposed to represent ALL SOUTHERNERS equally, regardless of race. Or, some say, it represents the war dead in the Civil War (War Between The States). ... as if it could be stripped of its original emblematic and semiotic meaning. As if it was never a sign of war against those who would end slavery and the associated racism.
Agreed, James. It is just racist, and unnecessary. It needs to go down ALL flagpoles on a permanent basis, and be displayed in a museum, or plural, some museums, that it once had a history. But, that history is no more. We need to get rid of it from public displays. It is inflammatory, and the only thing I can think of with this flag is that young white boy who went on the killing spree while waving it. It is the only memory I will ever hold of it now. It's usefulness, if it ever had one (and I agree, it might have, but that is historical in context) is OVER. BYE!!
It flies proudly at my house, and is displayed proudly on my truck. It's a symbol of the heritage of who I am, a son of the South, and a son of Confederate Veterans. I fly it to honor their memory, and their sacrafice in a stuggle that none of us know, except what we read in sanctioned history books. Unless you were there, unless you know exactly what these men fought for, from their mouths, you only know what someone wants you to know.
Were the Confederate States of America formed for a central purpose other than to defend the practice of slavery, along with the white supremacy which underlies that practice?
If you can persuade us that they were, then you may have a valid argument to the effect that African Americans should not be offended by your flying of your Confederate flag at your home and upon your truck, Bruce T.
I should tell you that I do not display the American flag (a.k.a., stars and stripes) for the same reason I would not fly a Confederate flag. That reason is that the USA has still not formally apologized to all African and African American people of the world for its practice of slavery, nor to the Native Americans (Indians) who were victims of genocide under the same flag. A formal apology is the least the USA could offer to these people. And the USA continues to very often mistreat both African Americans and Native Americans (Indians), which I suppose we should expect of a country which has yet to offer such a formal apology.
I call upon the Senate and Congress and the President of the United States to offer a formal apology, and a redress of continuing grievances against African Americans and Native Americans (Indians). Should these conditions be met, I may consider proudly displaying an American Flag -- but only if this country were to eliminate certain anti-democratic policies, such as the continued anti-democratic election process, including the dealings of the Commission on Presidential Debates.
Five myths about why the South seceded - Washington Post
Suppose you are a German Jew soon after WWII concluded, and this flag were hoisted everywhere as a "symbol of our war dead"?
It is a picture worth a thousand words, James. Insulting reminders don't do any of us any good, to say the least.
"Insulting reminders don't do any of us any good, to say the least."
The Nazi flag is indeed packed with a lot of charge. And the analogy is not a perfect fit. But I have no doubt that a good many African Americans have a similar feeling about the Confederate battle flag -- which was my point.
WHY ITS OK TO COMPARE CONFEDERATE FLAGS TO THE NAZI FLAG