Is the Confederate flag acceptable in Maryland?

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by Tom Lennox 70

I've seen the Confederate flag a few times here in Maryland and in a few neighboring states....at my friend's dorm room in College Park (she's originally from Frederick County), another friend's shot glass (he's originally from near Waldorf). I've also seen it here in Montgomery County (near Olney/Rockville), on the back of a car that actually read "Heritage not Hate" (the correct message IMO) and on a guy's shirt that read "Southern Pride".

I'm thinking of displaying a Confederate flag either as a bumper sticker or maybe in my campus apartment in Baltimore once I start pharmacy school there in August. I am originally from Louisiana and moved to Maryland when I was 7. I am proudly American and conservative but NOT racist. I am an Asian American with immigrant parents. But I am proud to be from the South, admire the Southern/Middle American lifestyle and values and recognize whether some transplants like it or not, Maryland is south of the Mason-Dixon Line.

For me the Confederate flag represents being anti-establishment, the way people on the left may use Che or Mumia as symbols, or the peace symbol as being anti-establishment. I think the Confederate represents a lifestyle that goes against the shallowness, materialism, etc of today's world. It represents a time and mentality that was more laid-back and where people knew what mattered most in life instead of just focusing on acquiring money, power and prestige or proving one's superiority. It means a relaxed lifestyle, family values, faith, and tradition. You might say its funny that I'm a minority and I say this, but I consider myself educated about this flag. Yes, some people who fly it do it for racist reasons but most don't. People wave the American flag at rallies and say "Mexicans Go Home". (Now I hate illegals and want illegals out of my country but I do not hate Mexicans or any race for that matter, I believe in treating people as individuals.) its my belief that whether the Confederate flag is acceptable should depend on the motives of the person waving it.

So I'm wondering if it is acceptable for the flag to be displayed in my car or window. If this was North Carolina or Pennsylvania I won't be asking this but MD IS a "border state". How would most people here, specifically in Montgomery and Baltimore Counties, Howard County, and Baltimore City view the flag? One thing that makes me hesitant to display it is that people will think I'm racist and have nothing to do with me, especially since I'm just going to be starting pharmacy school in August and meeting a lot of new people. Also I'm afraid of having my car vandalized, especially since Baltimore has a large African American population that might not understand the true meaning of the flag.

I also think that the Confederate flag is something that is classically American, along with John Deere baseball caps, NASCAR, apple pie, country music, county fairs and pickup trucks. Its part of that Americana image that I admire, part of a lifestyle I know I won't ever live, but one that I look up to. I hope its don't sound too weird, cause I know some white and black folks who are really intereseted in certain Asian or European cultures, so why can't I have a thing for middle American stuff you know

Should I fly this flag? Is is awkward for a non-white person to fly it? Will people automatically and falsely assume I'm racist?

Is there any place around Montgomery, Frederick, Howard, Baltimore that I can get a Confederate flag? I actually really love the one that said "Heritage Not Hate" which makes it clear why he had it on his car.

yes, i would consider you a racist if you bore a confederate flag. i was born and raised in texas. the flag represents the cruelties of slavery and the support of an entire economic system, based on slavery and what it did to an entire race of american ppl. to me, it is too closely identified with ppl who consider themselves superior b/c of their whiteness. about 25 years ago, i went to a kappa alpha fraternity (the ol south fraternity) rush. one of the guys said that occasionally blacks came over to play basketball at their house, but that they weren't members or something like that and they didn't like to invite them too much. if you want to be technical, the confed flag actually became popular for militant whites during the civil rights era. the flag used during the civil war was the "stars and bars" flag, a differerent flag altogether. if you're so proud of the south, get a peanut, cotton ball or nascar decal, but a confederate flag?

[7th generation]

Moderator note:
This topic isn't Maryland specific and belongs in the Politics and Other Controversies forum.
Thanks.