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What's REALLY behind the debate about the Confederate Flag?
Perhaps the bigger questions are:
1. ) Can people ever fully let go of their pride of white supremacy?
2.) Can people have a larger concept of themselves to draw their identity from?
I wish I could say that most of the comments were interesting, but it's sad to read how badly people .. "think" about this thing.
I'm sorry, but it doesn't sound like very many people have thought about this at all... besides just writing what somebody told them in the past.
How can we get past this if we're trying to excuse 300 or 400 years of horror by saying... "Other folks did it too!"
(I really think American slavery was one of the worst in history.)
But comparing is ... something children and criminals do.
Perhaps the answer IS in there. Perhaps people feel that we CAN NOT ever find higher goals and concepts to identify with. Sad. Real sad.
It's also sad that the schools have been doing such a bad, bad job on teaching what happened during that era. Sad. I almost wish I hadn't asked the question now.
I live in Illinois, for the next two weeks anyway, and have all my life. So I have no attachment to the confederate flag, but you do see them more often than you would think in downstate Illinois (anywhere outside of Chicago).
My personal feelings: I agree with removing the flag from any position of "officiality". In 2015 I do not believe it has any place flying over a statehouse in South Carolina, or as a component of a state flag like in Mississippi, representing the overall state and by association, everyone living under that flag.
However, I do not agree with stores pulling or banning the sale or availability of the flag for individual citizens. Some people may fly that flag for terrible reasons, but just as many if not more fly it for legitimate or even honorable reasons.
States and official institutions that have a reputation and responsibility to all groups they serve, be they white black, green, gray, or purple, should not utilize such a divisive symbol. But those same states and institutions should not infringe on the rights of individuals to purchase or own an item that is not inherently dangerous to others.
My Yankee perspective, probably more libertarian than anything I suppose.
I wish I could say that most of the comments were interesting, but it's sad to read how badly people .. "think" about this thing.
I'm sorry, but it doesn't sound like very many people have thought about this at all... besides just writing what somebody told them in the past.
How can we get past this if we're trying to excuse 300 or 400 years of horror by saying... "Other folks did it too!"
(I really think American slavery was one of the worst in history.)
But comparing is ... something children and criminals do.
Perhaps the answer IS in there. Perhaps people feel that we CAN NOT ever find higher goals and concepts to identify with. Sad. Real sad.
It's also sad that the schools have been doing such a bad, bad job on teaching what happened during that era. Sad. I almost wish I hadn't asked the question now.
I'm not sure who you're directing your comments at...everyone who who responded, I suppose. So, since I responded, I'll respond again. First, you should ease up on the sanctimonious, self congratulatory attitude. Your opinion isn't the capital "T" truth.
Second, I didn't see anyone attempting to excuse anything, but to simply provide some context. Despite what you apparently think about yourself, no one is all good, nor all bad. No group of people are all bad, nor all good. The north wasn't all good, and the south wasn't all bad. In order to truly understand history, one must be willing to accept shades of gray. Reality is nuanced.
I think its sad that you are simply looking to demonize one group, and beatify another. That's truly a lack of critical thought.
I also think, as I've said before, that there are far more real issues that the damn Battle Flag of the Army of Northern Virginia. Wiping it off the face of the earth will change nothing. But of course, you, the great thinker, don't even seem to want to acknowledge those issues.
I'm not sure who you're directing your comments at...everyone who who responded, I suppose. So, since I responded, I'll respond again. First, you should ease up on the sanctimonious, self congratulatory attitude. Your opinion isn't the capital "T" truth.
Second, I didn't see anyone attempting to excuse anything, but to simply provide some context. Despite what you apparently think about yourself, no one is all good, nor all bad. No group of people are all bad, nor all good. The north wasn't all good, and the south wasn't all bad. In order to truly understand history, one must be willing to accept shades of gray. Reality is nuanced.
I think its sad that you are simply looking to demonize one group, and beatify another. That's truly a lack of critical thought.
I also think, as I've said before, that there are far more real issues that the damn Battle Flag of the Army of Northern Virginia. Wiping it off the face of the earth will change nothing. But of course, you, the great thinker, don't even seem to want to acknowledge those issues.
No, it won't fix everything. And no, no one is completely good or completely bad. But I see no problem with being intolerant of intolerance in all of its paradoxical glory.
The battle flag is not the final seal whose destruction will bring about the end of bigotry in the United States, but removing it from public grounds and limiting its glorification can only be a step in the right direction. If you want to wage a broader campaign against the deeper causes of racism, have at it, but the two are not mutually exclusive. At the end of the day that flag represents a country that split from the United States in order to safeguard the institution of slavery. If we as a country are to ever be truly inclusive, we have to get past symbols with those types of associations, even if they aren't the real problem.
I will say, in regards to Truckin' Sam's remarks regarding the education of these topics: the facts don't bear out your conclusions. I have taught for years now, and I can tell you the state standards don't equivocate on the Confederacy and most teachers, including those whose family supported the Confederacy, typically teach that the Confederacy was defending an antiquated agrarian system built on systematic exploitation.
Don't assume that Jethro is in the schoolhouse screaming rebel yells and leading the class in a rousing rendition of Dixie.
No, it won't fix everything. And no, no one is completely good or completely bad. But I see no problem with being intolerant of intolerance in all of its paradoxical glory.
The battle flag is not the final seal whose destruction will bring about the end of bigotry in the United States, but removing it from public grounds and limiting its glorification can only be a step in the right direction.
I never advocated against this. I merely pointed out that its way down the list of real problems.
honestly I see confederate flags flying everywhere I don't really pay attention to it and it doesn't bother anyone here. just that some people want to I guess tear apart the souths culture. the confederate flag really to most people only symbolizes being southern not anti black or whatever. frankly this extremely liberal agenda is crazy in my opinion.
Yes. And I'm not responsible for their actions. Nor they for mine. Nor me for yours, etc.
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Most didn't answer the questions
Sad. Real sad.
