The Confederate Flag
My boyfriend thinks that it should be allowed and likes that South Carolina was fighting to keep it. I, on the other hand think we should be done with it. To many southerners it represents their southern history and a symbol to honor their last assessors that fought and died in the the civil war. I understand that. I know it's a battle flag and if I read one more post saying how ignorant everyone who supports getting rid of the flag is I will puke. The problem with this is, though I understand the want to show southern pride, it just isn't enough. The confederate flag should be in museums, no doubt, but it shouldn't still be hung. Not being able to hang a flag for the side that lost a war really isn't a big deal. And at this point it has also become a symbol for people who have warped views on what the war was about and what the flag represents. The flag doesn't mean, "Yay, racism, let's do this this whole slavery thing again." People, truly ignorant people, do often use this as a symbol to parade around the beliefs that other people are lesser for one reason or another. I know when I see the flag I only see what these people have turned it into. That’s a shame. The civil war wasn’t about slavery or racism. At its core it was a war about fiscal issues.
I just see no reason to have the flag hung. I also don’t see the need to hang other national flags either. If you’re a US citizen, support the US. It may be part of your background; love your background and keep it in your heart, but support your country.
I also don’t see why we need to hang a flag that reminds us of a failed rebellion against our own country. The Irish rebellion is a good example that shows some other reasons why many feel so negatively toward the confederate battle flag. Many Irish people still believe in their rebellion and wish they had won. They talk about the attempt with pride and still hold on to the reasons and beliefs that started the rebellion. And when many see the flag being hung we feel like those people still believe in the war and wished it had gone their way. And that’s why it is confusing to many. Some people do feel that way, others don’t. The general view is that is you’re hanging a flag that was from a rebellion, you support the rebellion and what it represented. And that gives many mixed messages.
I also think that in the times we’re in, it’s not good to have around a symbol that has become so painful for many. We’re in a time where racism is down and equality is on the rise. We’re gaining rights for homosexuals and equal for women. Looking forward is important. Sticking a flag that may mean good things to one, but happens to be the battle flag for a losing side in a war that did involve slavery isn’t really necessary and seeks to pull us back.
I just see no reason to have the flag hung. I also don’t see the need to hang other national flags either. If you’re a US citizen, support the US. It may be part of your background; love your background and keep it in your heart, but support your country.
I also don’t see why we need to hang a flag that reminds us of a failed rebellion against our own country. The Irish rebellion is a good example that shows some other reasons why many feel so negatively toward the confederate battle flag. Many Irish people still believe in their rebellion and wish they had won. They talk about the attempt with pride and still hold on to the reasons and beliefs that started the rebellion. And when many see the flag being hung we feel like those people still believe in the war and wished it had gone their way. And that’s why it is confusing to many. Some people do feel that way, others don’t. The general view is that is you’re hanging a flag that was from a rebellion, you support the rebellion and what it represented. And that gives many mixed messages.
I also think that in the times we’re in, it’s not good to have around a symbol that has become so painful for many. We’re in a time where racism is down and equality is on the rise. We’re gaining rights for homosexuals and equal for women. Looking forward is important. Sticking a flag that may mean good things to one, but happens to be the battle flag for a losing side in a war that did involve slavery isn’t really necessary and seeks to pull us back.