The Confederate flag (Parker, Union, Jackson: credit, contractor, university)

[mcevoy34]

Originally Posted by Akhenaton06

You CAN'T be serious. I don't care what side of the debate you're on, there's no way you can honestly and intelligently say that the flag doesn't mean anything and is nothing more than a piece of cloth with three colors and a pattern on it. Is that how you feel about the U.S. flag as well? It doesn't represent what we Americans believe and stand for as a people, that it's nothing more than a cheap piece of cloth?

could not agree more!

[BostonMedic]

Again I think its a symbol. You fight for what you believe in whether its freedom from a tyrant, King, oppression or your country. What makes things a country is people. People who band together for a common good or achievement.Under that banding you have a symbol. Pirates did it 400 years ago, the crusades did it 1500 years ago. It doesnt make people act a certain way. It's a symbol that bands people together.

[mcevoy34]

Originally Posted by Akhenaton06

Don't you think the CAUSE for what someone is fighting for is the important thing? Hell, extremist Islamic fundamentalists have no problems blowing up a bunch of people, including themselves, for their cause. Let's celebrate their bravery too, because I doubt that you or I could ever be as valiant as they.

your idea of bravery and mine are much different,:eek :

[BostonMedic]

I do believe thats a religious thing,and a terrorist thing. Nothing about pride or country. I might be wrong but they dont even have a flag do they?

[Akhenaton06]

Originally Posted by mcevoy34

your idea of bravery and mine are much different,:eek :

Your post insinuated that we should simply commend people for fighting what they believe in without even considering exactly WHAT it is they believe in. Countless people have inflicted great harm upon others by fighting for what they believed was right.

[Akhenaton06]

Originally Posted by BostonMedic

Again I think its a symbol. You fight for what you believe in whether its freedom from a tyrant, King, oppression or your country. What makes things a country is people. People who band together for a common good or achievement.Under that banding you have a symbol. Pirates did it 400 years ago, the crusades did it 1500 years ago. It doesnt make people act a certain way. It's a symbol that bands people together.

You severely underestimate the power of symbols.

[BostonMedic]

I dont think I underestimate the power of anything. If people are banded together for a common good or evil they need a symbol that brings them together.All I am saying is that a flag is a symbol,just like a street sign,neon sign,mascot. People either decide to make that symbol reflect evil or good.It's the power of the people that you should fear.

[theary11]

I don't have a problem with the Confederate Battle Flag at all and I'm from Pennslyvania. I see it as a part of our nations heritage whether you're from the north or south or California. Southerner's fought unbelievably bravely, with more limited resources and smaller population. That same courage has been passed down into our nations military to this day. I know some use it as a symbol of racism, and that is unfortunate, but we need to move past that and realize that it is part of our history. It shouldn't be thrown away because of that.

[mcevoy34]

Late last night, I replayed the HBO special "Taking Chance". Anyone that does not believe a flag is a powereful symbol is (IMHO) sadly mistaken.

Highly recommend viewing BTW!!!!!

[mcevoy34]

Francis Scott Key, might argue it is more than a symbol.

Key and Skinner were transferred to the frigate "Surprise," commanded by the admiral's son, Sir Thomas Cockburn, and soon afterward returned under guard of British sailors to their own vessel, whence they witnessed the engagement. Owing to their position the flag at Fort McHenry was distinctly seen through the night by the glare of the battle, but before dawn the firing ceased, and the prisoners anxiously watched to see which colors floated on the ram­parts. Key's feelings when he found that the stars and stripes had not been hauled down found expression in "The Star-Spangled Banner," which gained for him a lasting reputation.


I found this to be pretty interesting, again, making points for both opinions. I would point out that the Confederate Flag did not see it's last battle in the civil war. But, has seen action in battle up to present day.

The Confederate Flag

The "Confederate Flag", a 20th century combination of the Battle Flag's colors with the Second Navy Jack's design. Actual historical flags of the CSA have become more obscure.


What is now often called "The Confederate Flag" or "The Confederate Battle Flag" (actually a combination of the battle flag's colors with the Second Navy Jack's design), despite its never having historically represented the CSA as a nation, has become a widely recognized symbol of the South. It is also called the "rebel" or "Dixie" flag, and is often incorrectly referred to as the "Stars and Bars" (the actual "Stars and Bars" is the First National Flag, which used an entirely different design).
During the first half of the 20th century the Confederate flag enjoyed renewed popularity. During World War II some U.S. military units with Southern nicknames, or made up largely of Southerners, made the flag their unofficial emblem. The USS Columbia (CL-56) flew a Confederate Navy Ensign as a battle flag throughout combat in the South Pacific in World War II. This was done in honor of the ship's namesake, the capital city of South Carolina, the first state to secede from the Union. Some soldiers carried Confederate flags into battle. After the Battle of Okinawa a Confederate flag was raised over Shuri Castle by a soldier from the self-styled "Rebel Company" (Company A of the 5th Marine Regiment). It was visible for miles and was taken down after three days on the orders of General Simon B. Buckner, Jr. (son of Confederate General Simon Buckner), who stated that it was inappropriate as "Americans from all over are involved in this battle". It was replaced with the flag of the United States.[15]
The use of the flag by soldiers came under investigation after some African-American soldiers filed complaints. By the end of World War II, the use of the Confederate flag in the military was rare.[16] However, the Confederate flag continues to be flown in an unofficial manner by many soldiers. It was seen many times in Korea, Vietnam, and in the Middle East.[citation needed]


not trying to prove any point outside of the fact, that the Confederate Flag is more a battle flag, with recent
relevant military history.



as Paul Harvey might have said, the link below is "the rest of the story". and it supports both opinions (except that the flag means nothing).


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederate_flag