Is the Confederate flag acceptable in Maryland? (Baltimore, Columbia: transplants, apartment)

[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.

[Tom Lennox 70]

Also on a side note and an interesting tidbit, Rockville, according to a city published brochure, is the site of the northernmost Confederate monument that is not part of a battlefield, memorial or cemetery. Its located in downtown Rockville about a block from the Montgomery County courthouse. There are signs about it but its not very conspicuous despite its location in a very busy part of town. Honestly I think parts of Maryland dont' really feel Southern anymore and that is quite a shame.

Oh yeah we're coming on July 1-3, the anniversary for Gettysburg. The Confederates actually marched through Rockville and Frederick on the way to Pennsylvania in 1863 and were greeted very warmly. That city brochure also said that the majority of people in Montgomery County wanted to secede and join the Confederacy but were not allowed to because Maryland was under occupation throughout the entire war.

[Gabrielle]

You asked whether people would view you as a racist if you displayed the Confederate flag...I can only speak for myself, but yes, I would assume that you are a racist if you fly the Confederate flag. You choose to ignore the fact that the Confederacy supported slavery and many people associate the Confederate flag with supporting that position to varying degrees. I proudly participated in the King Day at the Dome in Columbia, SC when we marched to have the Confederate flag taken down from the State House dome. I saw a great sign there that provides another perspective on the Confederate flag "Your History is Our Slavery". Just some thoughts.

[cory81]

The DC area, Montgomery County, has a liberal, northeastern mentality. So yes, the confederate flag would be seen as symbol of white trash racism and low education. I highly recommend avoiding the entire state of Maryland if you plan to present that symbol anywhere where you live. I personally have nothing against your rationale for the symbol, but being a person who went through 6th grade up until my first job in Maryland, I know how the people are. It's not a southern state by any means, it's basically an elite Boston/New York mindset which is quite the opposite. Unfortunately the confederate flag has a stigma beyond simply representing "southern pride."

[doubbltunman]

I belong to the "sons of confederate veterans" in which their is a confederate flag on our Maryland license plates.
This is my view, I'm speaking for myself, and not for the above organization, or any other, or any other Marylander.
I have read many books on the Civil War, I will say first and foremost that slavery was a evil thing, it should have never happened. My forefathers in Tennessee, and southeastern Virginia were against it, and would have never fought for the Confederacy if that was the reason. I have read that only 2% of southerners actually owned slaves, and common sense tells me that all those men would not have died for fear of it ending. So, It really makes me irritated when I hear or read that the Confederate flag stands for slavery racism,etc.,etc. Now it is true that some organizations of Hate do use the flag in their marches, symbols. Can't help that, that's them, but knowing the truth about what the flag means to those who display and honor it for Heritage should be known, and therefore it is fruitless to believe that all who display the flag are racist or wanted slavery to continue. For those who think the war was about slavery, Lincoln didn't announce Emancipation Proclamation until the middle of the war, he used it as a threat to get the south to stop the war.

The war was about States rights, the U.S. gov. was reaching too far and meddling too much-becoming too powerful. The south were not being treated fairly, and the northern states were getting everything they wanted. Each state signed on to the "Corporation" The United States of America. The south decided they didn't sign on to a treaty that was unjust or unfair to them, so they seceded. Formally ending their contract. Some may say Lincoln had no jurisdiction or authority to make war with the seceded states, it was their right. ???

So that's what the flag means to me-that the states should hold their power, and we should have a smaller centralized gov., with "we the people" of each state governing ourselves-without a tyrannical federal beast with it's fingers in everything. As we have today. Also to honor all the brave souls who fought for these states rights. Many historians believe slavery would've ended soon after even if the confederacy would've won. So do I.

So wave that flag in honor, and if anyone asks why? let them know. Some will just believe what they will, that's their right.

[Stripes17]

I think the problem is that while you're displaying the flag for what it means, some others see the flag as a symbol of what they think it represents. Unfortunately, perception tends to outweigh reality, so your display of the flag will most likely be frowned upon for that reason. But, do what you feel is best. This is America!

[terp88]

I see very few Confederate flags in Maryland. I don't think I've ever seen one flying out on someone's lawn...I know I haven't here in Howard County. I agree with cory81 - the state is more culturally and politically aligned with the northeast than the south. The mindset in southern MD (Charles County, etc.) and the Eastern Shore may be different, though.

[Giantone]

Originally Posted by Gabrielle

You asked whether people would view you as a racist if you displayed the Confederate flag...I can only speak for myself, but yes, I would assume that you are a racist if you fly the Confederate flag. You choose to ignore the fact that the Confederacy supported slavery and many people associate the Confederate flag with supporting that position to varying degrees. I proudly participated in the King Day at the Dome in Columbia, SC when we marched to have the Confederate flag taken down from the State House dome. I saw a great sign there that provides another perspective on the Confederate flag "Your History is Our Slavery". Just some thoughts.

History 101 ,do you know it was Blacks that sold other Blacks into slavery?Don't display the flag just to get people mad ..........some people in Maryland anyway have history in there backgrounds and like to display it becuase they believe there forefathers were fighting for something they believed in.Slavery was part of the Civil war but if you think that was all it was about you need to go back and learn your history.

[Zippy7fo]

So what that blacks sold other blacks. Arabs sold blacks and so did Jews. It still doesn't justify it. The confederate flag represents more than just state rights. It was hung to warn blacks of restaurants and business that didn't want them present. It was hung at KKK rallies and it was found near lynchings and fire bombings. Now some want to romanticize it, speaking truth to northern power but thats insignificant when WE ALL KNOW it was about North dictating abolition on southern white slave owners. Its just silly and I have yet to hear one rational reason for doing it other than southern whites just wanting to annoy people. Its funny how southerns brag about american/conservative values and yet willfully hang another flag that goes against everything that we today find american. As far as I'm concerned if you hang a confederate flag your a traitor....

[childofaaco]

IMHO many people from Maryland do not have an issue with the Confederate flag as long as they believe the person flying it is flying it in tribute to their ancestors who fought for states' rights or flying it as a symbol of Southern Pride (not of racism, but of an agrarian way of life). Also, many people in Maryland do have problems with the flag because of the racial ties to the era, the war, and some groups' usage. If you're looking for a flag to show southern pride and anti-federalism without racial connotations, may I suggest the Bonnie Blue Flag, it will probably invite conversation as well.