I have ancestors dating back to the Revoluntionary war, and many who fought in the Civil War, this flag is a part of history and a part of my heritage, I say display it proudly!!
I have to chuckle whenever someone talks about Confederate "heritage." After all, the Confederacy was only around barely five years and most people who fought in the War of Northern Aggression identified with their state. General Lee fought for the Confederacy because the land he considered his country—Virginia---was being invaded.
I would seriously question whether Lee would have considered the Confederacy his "heritage."
I have an ancestor who was a Cherokee. Her father was forcibly relocated west during the Trail of Tears, one of the many ways native Americans were oppressed and persecuted by the US government. In an effort to honor my heritage, I might get up in arms about seeing the Stars & Stripes, which could be taken as a hate symbol and a reminder to me of the American Holocaust.
But I let it go.
If my next door neighbor decided to fly a big Confederate battle flag on his front lawn, I can't say I'd be terrifically pleased. But it is his private property, and it is his right. In the larger scheme of things, I'm much more concerned about the guy down the street who has a sofa on his porch and various old kitchen appliances sitting around his yard. The latter make excellent homes for all types of pests and varmints.
"There's no doubt in my mind that the overwhelming majority of Alabamians, black and white, understand that the Civil War is over, and the time has come to move on. "
Should this statement not apply to ALL? Slavery is brought to my attention daily by the press or through my son's school work, but when will we move on? None of my friends, black or white, have ever been personally affected by slavery, meaning they or anyone in there families, that they know of, have been or ever owned a slave. Why do we have the topic of slavery brought to our attention everyday? Is it to bring up pain and hurt to the black or guilt to the white? All are negative emotions and we will never "move on" as long as we have to re-hash the issue daily.
Of course, before someone takes offense to my statement and wants me banished from the forum, this is my OPINION and I have a right to it. If I have to endure the constant reminders of slavery, I have a right to fly a flag that means something to me and my family.
But let's look at this from a different perspective. In America, and I guess the whole world, perception is everything. What people perceive about a group of people is their reality, true or not.
If we're walking down the sidewalk and pass a young girl wearing hardly any clothes but lots of makeup and a cigarette dangling out of the corner of her mouth, what will most people think about her? They'll think she's a slut or a hooker. They will not say to themselves, I'll bet she's an honor roll student who only dresses that way because she's quirky. What if in the next block we pass a black man, walking with similar-looking friends, high-fiving, saying MF this and MF that, with teardrop tattoos on his face? Are we going to assume he's a stockbroker?
The young man I saw down at Dauphin Island recently with a Confederate flag that covered up the window of his pickup truck MIGHT be studying for his real estate license and spending his free time volunteering at a homeless center, but the likelihood is that he is instead a redneck who thinks black people are beneath him.
That is the perception of people who proudly flaunt the Confederate flag in public. If one does not mind others thinking of them in that way, then certainly, let the flag fly. It is your right to do so. But the fact that one would not mind bearing that label, even if it's innacurate, says something about them just the same.
The young man I saw down at Dauphin Island recently with a Confederate flag that covered up the window of his pickup truck MIGHT be studying for his real estate license and spending his free time volunteering at a homeless center, but the likelihood is that he is instead a redneck who thinks black people are beneath him.
whoa now, you seem to be judging this young man because he is driving a pickup and waving "the flag". I thought you were above that. This is southern heritage to me nothing more nothing less. Sorry if it causes so much pain for everyone who did not live 100 or so years ago. This is America, freedom of speech and religion are part of the reason this country is so great. If you folks don't like the images the flag seems to bring up for some folks from the south....leave. Some people just look for reasons to play the race card to get special attention from the government. Have 10 more kids, so the tax-payers can support them.
I think we are getting a little off track here. Regardless, you can't have one side without the other.
If you are going to put the white man down for something that happened well beyond their years, you will have to allow him his right to express himself. I don't think it would be an issue one way or the other if everyone would let it go, but as long as you are allowed to celebrate your history your way, let others do the same. If I make a comment about the way a black person dresses, I'm racist. If I dress a certain way I'm racist. As a matter of fact, because I am very pale, blond, and have green eyes, I am labeled racist no matter what I say or how I act or dress.
I guess the point I am trying to make is that maybe some people feel the need to express pride in their heritage because others heritage is shoved down their throat every time they turn around.
"If you folks don't like the images the flag seems to bring up for some folks from the south....leave."
See, that statement right there is so typical. How many lemmings in Sound Off have said exactly the same thing? People who can't deal with others' opinions about the south always repeat what's been said a thousand times before: "If you don't like it here, leave."
I DO like it here, and that's why it hurts to see unfair stereotypes perpetuated about the south. You obviously don't care if people from other parts of the United States think we're all a bunch of ignorant racist rednecks, but I do and most other thinking people do too. And THAT'S why the Confederate Flag issue is volatile.
And when you say "Have ten more kids so the tax-payers can support them" that is racist through and through. As though we don't have white folks doing exactly the same thing just to cash in on the public dole.
Northcountygirl, I've read your reply several times and I just don't understand what you're trying to say. If you dress a certain way, you're racist? You're pale and blonde so you're labeled a racist? What does that even mean?
I could continue this rebuttal but why? People who want to hold onto things from the past, regardless of whether or not they're good or bad or hurtful to others are not going to change their mind because some anonymous person on a message board offers a differing opinion. I'm reminded of the guy we all knew in high school, the jock, football hero, self-important and worshipped when he was a teenager. Graduated but couldn't forget his glory on the field. Never tried to find something else worthwhile to do, something else that would make new memories to be proud of, just lived in the past, reveling in his memories of how great things were when he was eighteen. And every year that passed he got further and further away from that time...he didn't want to forget it - it was so great. He was so proud of who he was back then. Those were the days. And now twenty years later he's selling mobil homes, but every chance he gets he sits around looking at his trophies and remembering all that pride but nobody else wants to remember it with him because, well, it was twenty years ago and everybody else has moved on.
And when you say "Have ten more kids so the tax-payers can support them" that is racist through and through. As though we don't have white folks doing exactly the same thing just to cash in on the public dole.
I was just stating the truth, you made it racist. You assumed because a person of my southern background said it, it was racist. I don't live in the past, but I am not going to forget it either. I don't fly the flag or anything like that, but if somebody wants to it's their business. I don't live my life based on what other people think of me. They will not be judging me in the end. It was just an opinion. I have done a little bit of traveling, I have noticed when people hear that slow southern drawl, they automatically assume slow and stupid. But, I kinda like that, it gives me the advantage!!
"Northcountygirl, I've read your reply several times and I just don't understand what you're trying to say. If you dress a certain way, you're racist? You're pale and blonde so you're labeled a racist? What does that even mean?"
Are you not the one that assumed that the guy wearing the flag shirt was racist? I was just repeating what you said. If I dress a certain way I am racist. Because I am white I am racist because I am judged by everything I wear and say. You have confirmed that with your statements. If I say "you people" at work it is assumed that I am talking about the blacks that I work with. If I wear a confederate flag I am trying to anger the blacks or cause pain and hurt. That's bull and you know it. It's just another way for some people to say "poor me. The white man is still trying to oppress the black man."
I agree with atbman. I do not concern myself with what people up north think about me and my southern heritage and you shouldn't either. If someone is walking down the street and sees a group of young black men and assume that the men are looking for trouble, does that bother you? Do you agree with the person that is presuming to know what the men are doing?
Unless you are God, do not try to read me or assume that you know what I am all about. I know what's in my heart and so does God, and what others presume to know is their problem.
I cant believe you people. It is ok for blacks to celebrate MLKJ. It aint ok for a white to display a flag. You dont see them walking down main street with it. come on people grow up. i have never in my life have seen more racist stuff then i have sense i moved to Alabama. If people dont like it dont look. i dont think they care i you like it or not. oh a black person can say it is a race thing but did you see any white people saying race stuff yesterday. NOPE. So let the peson fly i and just shut up about it. it is a flag of the south. Just like the american flag was for the north. or did ya forget about that. if i wan to fly that flag i will and if noboby likes it then the **** with ya. I will fly my bra if i want. this race stuff is going a little far. it is stupid. if blacks want a appologie let them go backin time and get one. cause in this day and age there is no race problem. except what people bring on themselves. maybe us whites should be asking for one to. haveing to put up with the race stuf. that is how stupid this suff sounds about a flag. MY advise is for everyone to GROW UP AND ACT LIKE HUMANS AND IT IS THIER RIGHT TO FLY THAT FLAG SO SHUT UP
