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The Confederate flag does not have a defined or common meaning. Today.
This is in stark contrast to Germany where the meaning of the swastika as a symbol of Nazi's atrocities was, in essence, frozen in time along with other symbols of the Nazi past. It was first banned by the occupation forces with that restriction later codified by the West German government. That is in contrast to how the US treats the Confederate flag. Sure, you could argue that this "toleration" results from the First Amendment of the Constitution that protects free speech.
But it goes beyond that for, losers or not in the Civil War, the US has not renounced the South and Southern "culture" in a manner any way similar to the Nazi crimes of WW2. Like it or not, the reality is that generations of Southerners were able to redefine the meaning of the flag. And have. For themselves.
So, yes, here it's valid to argue that an individual sees the flag a certain way. But IF the flag is to be flown in public - which is certainly legal - what are the implications? Can or should the flag waver insist that *everyone* viewing it think as he does? Obviously not. Is the alternative, then, pretty much a statement that the flag waver cares *nothing* for the reactions of others to what they chose to do when out in public?
Sure, a quick and snappy response is to throw out - their problem. But is this really how most folks go through life? Or want to? I don't think so. Any action that the flag waver HAS to know can provoke strong reactions in others might warrant some thought.
You literally said you can assign your own meanings to symbols. History disagrees.
Nah. We can assign our own meaning to symbols. We can "take back" words and phrases and "reclaim" whatevers. It's what we do.
Maybe we are still to close to the situation. OR maybe too many people have all of a sudden decided to turn something they never gave a thought to before into THE BIGGEST DEAL EVER because everyone else is doing it to. I don't know and I don't care.
The Confederate flag does not have a defined or common meaning. Today.
This is in stark contrast to Germany where the meaning of the swastika as a symbol of Nazi's atrocities was, in essence, frozen in time along with other symbols of the Nazi past. It was first banned by the occupation forces with that restriction later codified by the West German government. That is in contrast to how the US treats the Confederate flag. Sure, you could argue that this "toleration" results from the First Amendment of the Constitution that protects free speech.
But it goes beyond that for, losers or not in the Civil War, the US has not renounced the South and Southern "culture" in a manner any way similar to the Nazi crimes of WW2. Like it or not, the reality is that generations of Southerners were able to redefine the meaning of the flag. And have. For themselves.
So, yes, here it's valid to argue that an individual sees the flag a certain way. But IF the flag is to be flown in public - which is certainly legal - what are the implications? Can or should the flag waver insist that *everyone* viewing it think as he does? Obviously not. Is the alternative, then, pretty much a statement that the flag waver cares *nothing* for the reactions of others to what they chose to do when out in public?
Sure, a quick and snappy response is to throw out - their problem. But is this really how most folks go through life? Or want to? I don't think so. Any action that the flag waver HAS to know can provoke strong reactions in others might warrant some thought.
Confederate Flag most definitely has a defined or common meaning. You would have to live under a rock not to know.
First, it was most definitely the symbol for the Confederate states during the Civil War. It came to represent all the states that wanted out of the United States.
SEcond, in the 40's it was most definitely adopted as a symbol of those fighting against civil rights. There is no question about that. It meant to keep minorities in their place. Their is no doubt. Their is no confusion.
At that time had the 'Confederate' states screamed out against the use of the historical flag for this purpose -- maybe it wouldn't have such a negative symbolic meaning for many. But they didn't -- they embraced it.
There is no confusion -- this is not a myth -- it's not maybe they did this or that with the flag. It was most definitely a symbol against segregation, civil rights.
I know in South Carolina the Confederate Flag was not raised at the Capitol in Columbia until the early 60's and again was a symbolic gesture against civil rights. NO QUESTION.
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