There's nothing wrong with a rebel flag. It's a symbol of a lifestyle and heritage that some people are proud of. No, it's slavery, or racist, or anything like that that. Listen to Hank Jr, in "A Country Boy Can Survive". That's what it means to 90% of the southern population. A sheet is just a sheet until it's wrapped around somebody, right? There's no one crying to ban white sheets....

 

Hope you're not including me in that one Hersh? :o

 

When I see a Rebel flag it reminds me of southern heritage, country living, self-reliant individuals and the GENERAL LEE ...yee haw baby.


and that war would be pretty bland...are you even allowed hand guns in those states?

 

I never saw you with a rebel flag EA...


Yeah-yeah, I've heard the whole rebel flag is a symbol of a lifestyle schtick.
Yet, that flag flew over a land that profited and grew off the backs of slavery. So, a number of people see it as offensive. But, I admit, my neighbor is a pretty cool guy; I honestly don't think he thinks anything is communicated with his flag. Me being a peaceful guy, I just let it slide...

Besides, I loved "The General Lee" on the Dukes of Hazzard too; before I got old enough to know what the flag represented. A fact that my art teacher kicked my **** about when a drew a picture of a soldier on a horse with a rebel flag. (I got my **** chewed out that day; and had to do a research paper about the rebel flag and slavery.)

Yeah, just because some people don't know what "else" it symbolized, (Oppression, forced slavery, etc..) doesn't make it cool. The Army made those guys take their's down when we were in Germany, so it seems a number of people find it distasteful, at the very least.

Next thing you know, people will have swasticka's in their blue oval, and chevy slot, because all it meant to them was a political party, not a symbol of oppression & attempted genocide.

Ignorance of what the rebel flag stood for didn't save me in art class; so, it shouldn't serve as an excuse for anyone else either.

 

If you're going to use the Lord's name (In vain, at that...), please give him the respect deserved... It's CAPITAL J and CAPITAL C!!!

 

I understand your feelings...but the American flag flew over slavery a lot longer than the Rebel flag did. For a 100 years prior to the Civil war Old Glory waved over the heads of slaves. The Dred Scott decision was handed down under our flag.

The Civil war wasn't really fought over slavery it was a secondary issue.

The Rebel flag has been smeared as a symbol of slavery yet its history stands for so much more. If supporting slavery means that the rebel flag is a symbol of hatred than our American flag must be much worse.

 

Here's the deal: Black people get offended when the rebel flag is present. OK, I can accept the reasoning behind that. But at least that is part of our country's history, and the South's heritage. I cannot understand Americans wearing an African flag. If you're African, got to Africa. If you're Jamaican, go to Jamaica. If you want to live in this country and enjoy it's perks, be American. I cannot understand what's so great about 'thugz'. I cannot understand why some people refuse to work for anything and think that they deserve everything handed to them. This has nothing to with race, however, some will think that it's racially motivated because of the people that it characterizes. I've seen too many people, white and black, lift themselves up from the slums of their upbringing and make decent people of them selves. I do feel bad for those who were born into bad situations, but they can claw their way out of it and become better. They choose not to, and claim that they were doomed from the start. That's the epitamy of lazy. Some people do have more of an advantage due to birth. However, when I look back, I can say "This is where I came from and this is what I did to get here." I'm proud of what my wife and I have worked for and earned.
Besides, aren't there a lot more relevant issues in the world today than fighting ever a 150 year old flag?

 

Once again....Vader makes some excellent points.....

 

I don't have a problem with people flying flags from their native lands. It is important to remember and keep your heritage. However it comes second to your new home and culture. I love the Rebel Flag....but I'd die for the American one. I'm not offended by people supporting and flying their native flags providing it flies lower and in a subordinate position to our Star Spangled Banner.

The Rebel flag should always fly lower than Old Glory.

 

Sadly, it is.... Ask any Native American Indian you happen to see... Oops, that's right... There aren't very many around to ask. No doubt about the fact that our stars and stripes presided over some pretty effed up things over the last 230 years; but, I'm proud of what Ol' Glory stands for today- and has stood for... since 1965 anyway.

I've fought for Ol' Glory, and would do it again, if called.

Yes, I knew the Civil war wasn't fought to free the slaves; and I knew Abe didn't care much about my people; no news there. But, the other truth is, the Union was still in it's infancy (85 years old) back then, and there were only so many states, 34 or so if I remember correctly... But, Ol' ABe did have a plan, as told under the banner for which he ran for office: "Abraham Lincoln declared, "Government cannot endure permanently half slave, half free..." was elected and became the first republican president." (Historyplace)

Furthermore, slavery was largely a southern deal (pic)as many runaway slaves ran north to escape slavery. The north didn't profit off of slavery nearly as much as the south did, that's why in so many eyes, the union, even though it didn't car a lot about black people (slaves) either, was at the very least, the lesser of two evils. That's probably why the American flag, as we know it today, does not conjure up any feelings of disdain in the eyes of those who were once looked down upon from under it.

 

I understand why it doesnt conjur up the same harsh feelings but the fact remains that our flag flew over slavery for much longer. Slavery was a key component to the south's economy and not the North's. If the North depended upon slavery like the south, slavery would never have been part of the equation.

Like I said, I understand your stance...I just think the Rebel flag gets a bad rep...its labeled and stereotyped unfairly. Those boys running into battle carring that flag werent doing it to keep blacks enslaved...they were protecting their land and their way of life and slavery was just a part of it.

 

So, what do you suggest?

 

about what?

 

About how we (black folks) should view the rebel flag?

 

I suggest getting over it. The South did not fight for slavery, they fought for Freedom, States Rights, and their way of life. There is nothing more noble than that. No I don't agree with slavery, but its a part of our hstory. Plus it pizzes me off when people cry about the white man keeping people down. Some white guy didn't just go over to Africa and herd a bunch of people onto a boat and cruize them on over to the New World to be sold at auction.

In fact the first slave owner in America (Jamestown) was himself black. Greed is not confined to the color of ones skin.