The SCV and its supporters say it is not about racism, but more of a source of historical pride and heritage and an attempt paying homage to the veterans of the Confederacy and making it about racial hatred is unwarranted and undeserving.
I tend to strongly disagree with this assertion, even as I agree, it would be shortsighted of me to overlook the history of the star and bars as a rallying symbol of the Confederate States in their ill conceived quest for autonomy. But it is also shortsighted and an extremely callous, for individuals to overlook the long and violent history that it represents to many Americans and people in general. It is definitely about hate and the symbols of hate, you can't remove or overlook the long history of hate and racism that is attached to the Confederate flag, than you can remove the history of evil that is attached to the Swastika.
Perhaps not being a Southerner, I can't really see anything other than racism and hate, when I see the Confederate flying. Perhaps, the fact that the first thing that comes to my mind, when I see the Stars and Bars, is a picture of a group of hood wearing hate mongers marching down a city street, is a little racists in itself. But in either case, for the Sons of Confederate Veterans, to elect to fly this symbol of intolerance, whether perceived or real, in such a bold manner is wrong and without merit and the citizens of Tampa, Florida and the rest of the country, should stand up as say so and should do everything possible to dissuade them from doing so.
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Comments: 35
Learn from the mistakes of history, but do not flaunt them.
:-)
Enjoy !
From what I understand, the swastika was also an image positively used by Native Americans. Now it will forever associated with hatred.
Nyota, it is sad how many people don't/can't seem to understand how the anti-white racism being preached in Obama's former??? church of hate do not seem to understand it's negative connotation. The swatiska probably flies some where at the nation of islam with louie f.
LOL!! The swastica at times flies side by side with Confederate flag.
I would like to add this: To many people in many countries around the world, they see the American flag and what immediately comes to mind is capitalist pigs, the promiscuity of Hollywood, the plague of crime and immorality (did you know we have the highest percentage of our population behind bars in the world?) and a feeling of hatred for the US of A.
To many Americans, particularly Northernors, seeing the Confederate flag is like seeing a blonde-haired blue-eyed guy walking down the street with a swastika on his shirt. We immediately think of all of the negative emotions and memories associated with it. But what we fail to understand and grasp is that many Southernors (and I am not actually one btw) feel a sense of patriotrism and pride, not that they want to part with the old Union or that they want to re-enslave all African-Americans, but that it is a symbol of the region, just as we have state flags.
But then the South, the land of my upbringing and 65 of my 66 years did a terrible thing. They allowed that symbol to be dragged in the mud. They allowed people of no character and no morals to use that flag to support causes of which men like Robert E. Lee would have been ashamed.
The South trashed and demeaned their own history. They converted what should have been a source of pride and strength into a symbol of intolerance, greed, hatred, and cruelty. They allowed the symbol of their greatness to be destroyed. Now to fly the Stars and Bars is a source of humiliation to those whose ancestors died to protect their homes. It shames the South. Southerners who have pride in their heritage should tear down that flag and refuse to let it be flown in public.
???
I live close to Gettysburg PA. Before moving here, the confederate flag to me was just another symbol of racism. Having talked to some people in the area who fly the flag, I have found that there are quite a few who are racist, but there are others who are just passionate about their right to fly it.
I did drive by a house today that had a confederate flag; the neighbors had a barack 08' sign in their yard. I wonder how that friendship is?
Who is the "they" Larry M?
Everyone:
Hate groups adopted the flag as their symbol. That is not what it stood for. They have no right to use the flag as they do. The stars and bars was the battle flag of the south. It flew with honor and represented the men who served under it.
Should we rewrite history so that you or others are not offended by it? Will that change what happened or just make you feel better about yourself?
My ancestors fought under that flag and I see it as a piece of my heritage whether you like it or not. Those people in Florida do not need your approval in order to fly that flag. Just as you can fly whatever flag you wish.
I see a lot of you people here spewing rhetoric about "tolerance". Where is yours? Or is it only other people who must be tolerant of you.
Get a life.
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People say and do racist things without the slightest clue that they're being offensive at all. I try to forgive them and hope they really do 'know not what they do'.
Sometimes, however, people are being deliberately insulting. Those are the people I would not like to be on judgment day!