The Confederate flag (Columbia, Charleston, Jefferson: mobile home, construction, taxation)

[mcevoy34]

Alright, did a quick search and found nothing really on this subject. All you South Carolina relo's and wanta be-s. Were do you stand on the Confederate flag?

And to the born/raised SC folks chime in as well.

I'll post after, just want to see the opinions of the masses from the north.

hint: I'm pro

[Techgeek]

I'm a native and I don't have a problem with it. The flag was not representative of racism or any other ism you might be able to come up with.

It represents an ideal that goes back to Washington and Jefferson and Franklin. The ideal is that when a government becomes oppressive it is the duty of the people to do whatever is necessary to rid themselves of the oppression.

There is a bridge in Vilnius Lithuania. It is called the Green Bridge (it's green it's a bridge you get the idea), it used to be known as Zaliasis Bridge for a Soviet general but was painted and had it's name changed after the fall. On this bridge are Soviet statues, the only ones in the city center. Here's the story:

Communism fell and all over eastern Europe the people rejoiced. They demonstrated their joy by tearing down statues, pictures and pretty much anything else that would remind them of their time as citizens of the USSR (I believe there was also looting). The Lithuanians were no different, they tore down statue after statue of Stalin, Lenin etc. Then they got to this bridge and someone said something to the effect of "this may not be a happy memory but it IS part of our history" and the statues stand to this day.

I think a similar attitude should be taken regarding the flag. The Civil War was the darkest period in American history. Families were divided and Americans killed Americans. Reconstruction was for the most part a disaster for the south. While most people would like to forget about it and move on, we can't. It happened. It IS part of our history as a nation and should be treated as such.

In the end, it's only a symbol. What it is symbolic of is completely up to the viewer and should serve as a commentary on that persons character.

I personally don't see hate when I see the Confederate Battle Flag, but then again I don't hate people unless they do something to me to deserve it.

[CarolinaWoman]

Born and raised here in South Carolina ... the flag doesn't bother me ... people cannot change history ... it was a chapter, although a bloody one in the life of a great nation ... the State House in Columbia has six bronze stars to mark hits from Sherman's cannons ... newcomers here will find some people are still fighting the Civil War ... those famous words 'you ain't from 'round 'ere are ya"!

I don't own a Confederate Flag ... we fly the Stars & Stripes in our yard ... you will receive all kinds of arguments regarding the cause of the Civil War and what the Confederate Flag represents to this one or that one ... but after the dust settled and the war was over was really when the real hell started in the South ... reconstruction ... KKK ... carpetbaggers.

[PawleysDude]

I'm a native. Lived within the Carolinas most of my life. The Confederate flag is a part of our history. To deny the flag's role in SC would be revisionist history in its worst form, attempting to ignore both the good and the bad this flag represented.

At the same time, it's undeniable that this flag will aways be a symbol of suffering and oppression to a large portion of our state's population. IMO, it's time this flag departed from state grounds that are supposed to be welcoming of all state citizens, and moved to museums.

I'll also confess that I am bothered by the numerous times I drive through small SC towns, only to see Confederate flags flying, most often associated with mobile homes and junk-filled yards, with no US flag in sight. Regardless of what we like to pretend when in polite conversation, racism remains a strong force in our state, particularly in areas offering little in the way of opportunity. In these areas, "heritage" is just another word for hatred, and the Confederate flag is its most visible symbol.

[KarynO]

I've seen symbols of the confederate flag up north from time to time...to some up here it is just a symbol of rebellion...being a rule breaker etc...not really associated with the south or race.

[fqtravlr]

To me, it just means I'm from the South.
No BS. No race. No controversy.
I'm proud of where I was born and raised, and the Confederate Flag is part of it.

[Geechie North]

Originally Posted by PawleysDude

I'm a native. Lived within the Carolinas most of my life. The Confederate flag is a part of our history. To deny the flag's role in SC would be revisionist history in its worst form, attempting to ignore both the good and the bad this flag represented.

At the same time, it's undeniable that this flag will aways be a symbol of suffering and oppression to a large portion of our state's population. IMO, it's time this flag departed from state grounds that are supposed to be welcoming of all state citizens, and moved to museums.

I'll also confess that I am bothered by the numerous times I drive through small SC towns, only to see Confederate flags flying, most often associated with mobile homes and junk-filled yards, with no US flag in sight. Regardless of what we like to pretend when in polite conversation, racism remains a strong force in our state, particularly in areas offering little in the way of opportunity. In these areas, "heritage" is just another word for hatred, and the Confederate flag is its most visible symbol.

.

Very much in agreement. Thank you for saying it better than I.

[BostonMedic]

As a person born and bred from Boston and eventually moving to Charleston I think its very important to show where we as a nation have evolved from.It is an important part of our history and we shouldnt loose sight of that. It was and I'm sure still a sore spot for some (reconstruction) but to me it doesnt represent anything negative. It' s a symbol. You either embrace it as a symbol of hate and prejudice or as a symbol of great pride and history. Its almost like waving the union Jack in Boston....sure it was the King and taxation and injustice.But it was just a symbol. We won the revolutionary war. It's a part of our history,not what we as a nation are made of.

[RiWrites]

We are in a new century and need to put all this behind us. It was a flag that represented the Confederate states during the Civil War. That is it. For a number of people it is part of their heritage.

People that this flag equals racism have other issues they need to address. People of all races are moving past the past. We now have an African American President. This country needs to move forward and quit wallowing in the past. The people who used the flag to represent them have long died and been judged by God.

[Sour.Amaretto]

I agree that its a part of heritage but there are ALOT of people that can take it the wrong way. My husband has two different confederate flag tattoos on him & he used to have it on his truck, we fly the stars and stripes in our yard but the confederate flag is also apart of our history and we aren't about to forget it just because people take a offense to it. But we also dont use it as a symbol of racism. I think as with any other part of history its not something we should just forget; its a situation that has to be handled with respect and dignity to not offend any person or history and that can be a very fine line.