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Celtic Radio Community > Politics & Current Events > The Confererate Flag |
Posted by: Nova Scotian 25-May-2007, 09:02 AM |
Growing up in the North, I use to think it was about racism. I thought the South was backward and hated everyone who wasn't white. I was very wrong. Actually, I saw and heard more racism in New Jersey then in the South. I know a lot of Black/African Americans who actually have no problem with the Confederate flag. The county that I live in in the early 90s had to change the whole County Seal because there was a confederate flag on it. I find it interesting that most of the black folks I know either didn't care or were mad that they were taking it away. I personally don't think it represents racism. Yes, racist groups use it. I don't personally know any KKK members. That is I don't think I do. The confederate flag is about Southern Pride in my eye no matter what color you are. It's too bad raciest groups use it to promote their cause. I see blacks and white living in harmony down here more so then I did growing up in the North East. So my personal opinion of the confederate flag is just leave it alone. It's sad that whenever I go visit where I grew up, friends, even family ask me, "how do I put up with living around such backward, simple headed people?" Refering to southerners in general. Just what kind of statement is that now! If the North is soooooo perfect. |
Posted by: John Clements 25-May-2007, 11:11 AM |
To me, a flag is only as good as the actions of the person holding it. |
Posted by: Nova Scotian 25-May-2007, 12:03 PM | ||
That's a good point JC. |
Posted by: Aaediwen 25-May-2007, 04:13 PM |
The Confederate flag is and was a symbol of a society and of a cause (arguably I guess one would have to call the CSA a proper nation as well). It is a proud and honorable symbol just the same as the Stars and Stripes. As such, it is a proud part of our history. I choose not to fly it simply because I have no desire to. If I did want to, I'd fly it just as I would say an Irish or Scottish flag (proudly, but below Old Glory, as would be proper in the US). Anyone who has a problem with that needs a major history lesson. If you're offended by a flag, then go back to school! And while you're at it, you might study the very REAL history of the Holocaust, and not repeat Hitler's mistake. |
Posted by: Sekhmet 25-May-2007, 04:44 PM |
Unfortunately, the "rebel flag" has been hijacked by people whose morals and um...distinct world view...have little to do with the symbolism and emotional attachment that it originally (and rightfully) had at its creation and still does today. And that is what makes it into pop culture, and many people look no further and hop on the bandwagon. Don't get me ranting... |
Posted by: macdufftaylor 25-May-2007, 08:53 PM |
the flag to me is the flag my great grandfather and his 4 brothers fought for to keep from having unfair taxes and tariffs place upon his crops . there were no slaves on the macduff farm just scotts that wanted to be free to farm .that war cost my family very dearly. 1st my great great grand mother murdered .2nd every head of livestock killed .the yankees did not even use the meat they just left all the cows pigs sheep to rot.and 3rd the loss of my name .because after the war the five boys took my great great grand mothers maiden name of Taylor another Scottish name . to keep from being hung for not surrendering to the north the old saying the victors aways write the history books.and the idiots who just want to hate just because it is easy to be stupid you have to work to be smart.i guess it is easy to ban the flag of honorable hard working farmers .than to go after a bunch of stupid drug dealing wimps that cant not fight unless it 20 to1 odds thank you macduff taylor ps the 5 lads rest on a hill on my land uder the stars and bars and the flag of scotland |
Posted by: parkers1 25-May-2007, 11:23 PM |
A flag is a symbol of a people coming together for a common cause.Living in Texas the flying of the Confederate flag or symbol is always being challeneged and I for one don't understand why! For some it is their history, who are we to judge what was for some a very just and worthy cause. Word is the family originally comes from Ireland, I have southern blood in my viens and I was born and raised up north so go figure....... |
Posted by: maisky 26-May-2007, 05:05 AM |
The south lost the civil war. Get over it. The confederate flag has, unfortunatlely become a symbol of racism and hatred in the US....so sad. |
Posted by: Nova Scotian 26-May-2007, 05:23 AM |
It's a sad story. Yes the South did lose the war. I don't have any direct relatives that fought in it. But seeing both sides, it's easy to say the South lost get over it. History is history. It's funny. In Nova Scotia, I've seen the Rebel flag flying. I usually laugh when I see it but there were those in NS that were sympathetic to the Souths cause. However, if a Canadian ever comes to the South, don't ever make the mistake of calling a Southerner a "Yank". I still say let the flag fly. |
Posted by: Nova Scotian 26-May-2007, 05:30 AM | ||
To reply to your remark for the record. I'll quote Mr. John Clements . "To me, a flag is only as good as the actions of the person holding it." Most of the people holding it, that I know, are anything but racist. I even know a few Black folks who have it in their houses or wear it on a pin. |
Posted by: Swanny 26-May-2007, 08:30 AM | ||
Save your Dixie cups, the south WILL rise again!!!! Now, which Confederate flag are we discussing again? I can't keep track of them all. or is it this one? The arguments over the Confederate Battle Flag, the union of the third confederate national flag (NOT "the Confederate flag") is much like the arguments over Native American names and images associated with sports teams. It's a lot of hot air and manure spread around by liberal white people that means very little to the minority people they allege to represent. It's all smoke and mirrors. |
Posted by: Shadows 26-May-2007, 10:54 AM |
Huzzah again Swanny! The voice of reason again rises up... A flag is a flag and what one associates with that flag changes like some of us change our drawers. Be certain of your challenges and have the facts straight. |
Posted by: stevenpd 26-May-2007, 11:06 AM |
I thought it was this one. or it could be this one too. Go ahead and pick one. To be politically incorrect, it has been hijacked and perverted to today's relative standards. Historically, it is a symbol of a dark period in America's constant struggle for freedom for all, internally in this case. "To me, a flag is only as good as the actions of the person holding it." Well said. |
Posted by: TheCarolinaScotsman 26-May-2007, 07:34 PM |
Most of the Confederate soldiers neither owned slaves nor were they fighting to uphold slavery. They were fighting what they saw as interference in their own states and what they perceived as an attack on their homeland. As an example, NC planned to remain neutral, but when the federal governemnt demanded they send troops to the Union or else, they seceded. I had two gggrandfathers , four ggrandfathers and numerous gg uncles who fought. Some died, some were wounded, some captured. All of them fought to protect their homes. None were slave owners. I am proud to honor their memory and I hold those who would sully their memory, their cause and their honor with racist bulls**t in utter contempt. My father was raised by his grandfather who was a Confederate veteran. He was wounded January 15, 1865 in the final Union assault on Fort Fisher, NC. But he raised my father to become a minister who preached for equal rights and integration in the the 1950s from his pulpit in the rural south. My father was threatened by the KKK. But he did not bend. Because he was raised with honor by a Confederate veteran. |
Posted by: Nova Scotian 26-May-2007, 08:00 PM | ||
Excellent bit of history there! |
Posted by: John Clements 27-May-2007, 11:28 AM | ||
There always two sides to a story. It’s only too bad that the wrong side often becomes more prevalent. A proud man you are CS, and rightfully so. I know I would be… if I were you. JC |
Posted by: Sekhmet 27-May-2007, 10:00 PM |
Yes, there is a lot of emotion that goes with this topic. And I can feel the rumblings already. Just a wee reminder... Keep it cordial, gentlemen. |
Posted by: Roberto Phoenix 27-May-2007, 11:23 PM |
Thank you for the education gentlemen. As a far northerner I didn't even realize there was more than one confederate flag. But then again U.S. history was never my strong point. I think the only one that everyone up here is familar with is the one on the top of the General Lee. See, ya learn something new everyday. |
Posted by: TheCarolinaScotsman 27-May-2007, 11:45 PM | ||
Proud of myself? No, I've led a very mediocre life and have many failures to my credit (debit?). Proud of my father and my family? Yes! He was a very mild mannered and soft spoken man, a gentle person. But he had an inner core of steel that withstood the most difficult times and circumstances. His mother died of TB when he was two and he was raised by his maternal grandparents on a one mule farm until they became too ill to care for him. He went to college with a quarter in his pocket and worked his way through. Graduated magna cum laude (double major: English and philosophy) and then graduated from seminary suma cum laude. He always stood up for what he believed to be right. Equal rights, social justice and simply loving his fellow humans. He was a minister, a teacher, a poet, founded my clan's society in the US and was loved and respected by many, many people. |
Posted by: Nova Scotian 28-May-2007, 05:38 AM | ||
Yes. The old General Lee. That was one of my favorite shows back in the day. I actually made a model of that car once. I recently saw the same model in a hobby shop however it was minus the Flag for the top in the kit. That I thought took political correctness too far. I mean that show was anything but raciest. |
Posted by: Mailagnas maqqas Dunaidonas 29-May-2007, 09:55 AM | ||||
Well stated--and consistent with the following statement from the Anti-Defamation League:
http://www.adl.org/hate_symbols/default.asp I find it more than a little ironic (and mystifying) that those who succeeded in removing the Battle Flag from the Georgia State Flag seem to have no problem with the fact that the new Georgia State Flag is explicitly based on the Confederate 1st National Flag. |
Posted by: Sekhmet 29-May-2007, 07:28 PM |
They're reacting to a symbol in its modern form, not its historical one. Classic example. |
Posted by: gwenlee 05-Jul-2007, 03:28 PM |
There is little that I can add. Shadow, and the CarolinaScotsman said it so well. I am an Army brat and having lived in various parts of the United States I saw racism everywhere. But what amazed me was the attitude of people towards people from the south. People use to say, oh you're from the south you must be prejudice. It use to baffle me. But as I have gotten older I have come to the conclusion that it is the lack of knowledge about history that people have. I'm proud to be southern. We have a pride about our country that I think is unmatched by any other part of the USA. Slavery was a blight on our country, and I think the debt has been paid. WE southerns are a proud bunch (I guess it is the Scot/Irish that is in most of us) and I guess our ways can seem backwards, and the Southern accent can make us sound uneducated ( no I don't have a southern accent, I sound like I came from the Northwest). The folks I know that fly the cross bars and stars are educated, hard working people. And never would dream of participating in any racist activities. The flag is just a piece of cloth. I have a problem with people who come to the south and want to change it. I like the saying Delta is ready when you are and you can leave anytime you want. And as I tell my children so often you are southern born and southern breed. And nothing is going to change that. Oh by the way it really wasn't a Civil War, it was a war of succession. The south wasn't trying to take over the government, they were trying to to form their own country. I'm glad it didn't succeed. Because we are a great nation because we are one. |
Posted by: Gwynhwyvar 16-Jul-2007, 08:25 PM |
Amen y'all!!! |