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Discussion Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: ktheodos on June 24, 2015, 10:23:38 pm

Title: Confederate Flag
Post by: ktheodos on June 24, 2015, 10:23:38 pm
I don't understand why this discussion and debate is just coming into play now....
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: vg7405 on June 25, 2015, 02:51:26 am
I agree with you, ktheodos. I also find it very tragic that the United States only rallies around attempts to enact positive change when there is a tragedy. For instance, after 9/11, airport security was increased. It should have been this way the entire time; it should not have taken the lives of nearly 3,000 people to actually come to this realization. Similarly, the Confederate Flag has symbolized overt racism and intolerance since the beginning of the Civil War. But we are only galvanizing around its ridding of it at the expense of the lives of nine innocent people? WTH?
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: mgint on June 25, 2015, 04:50:56 am
its the pc thing to do
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: jcalexis on June 25, 2015, 05:50:46 am
To me the existence of the confederate  flag means that racism is still in power and the government allows it to exist.
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: countrygirl12 on June 25, 2015, 06:53:07 am
The confederate flag is a part of our history.  People are just looking for a reason to be offended.  I know people who have items with the CF on them and they have good friends that are black and those friends have no issues with it.  It's irritating how they want to silence someone's freedom of speech and stop them from flying a confederate flag but have no issues with foreigners burning and stomping on the American flag.  They say oh well that is their right.  It's their freedom of speech.  Something is def wrong with this.

Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: michele2042 on June 25, 2015, 07:07:04 am
I live in SC.  The confederate flag issue in this state has been being debated for years.   The tragedy in Charleston brought the debate to a national level but here, we've been begging for it to be taken down for years.   
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: michele2042 on June 25, 2015, 07:10:53 am
The confederate flag is a part of our history.  People are just looking for a reason to be offended.  I know people who have items with the CF on them and they have good friends that are black and those friends have no issues with it.  It's irritating how they want to silence someone's freedom of speech and stop them from flying a confederate flag but have no issues with foreigners burning and stomping on the American flag.  They say oh well that is their right.  It's their freedom of speech.  Something is def wrong with this.

Citizens are still allowed to fly the confederate flag on their property, they are still allowed to wear clothing with the symbol.  We are simply asking for it to be removed from the State Capitol grounds, which belong to all the citizens of South Carolina. 
 Nikki Haley said:  “This flag has become too divisive and too hurtful for too many of our fellow Americans. While some say it represents different things to different people, there is no denying that it also represents serious divisions that must be mended in our society.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/nikki-haley-confederate-flag-capitol-south-carolina-remove-119297.html#ixzz3e5CwybEJ

People can choose to fly it on their private property.  No one is trying to stop that expression of personal choice.
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: appy9104 on June 25, 2015, 07:21:36 am
As a Northerner who moved South 30+ years ago,  I have never understood the Southern love of the confederate flag.  As a early teen I didn't see it as a racial divide but as a divide with the rest of the country.  I do agree it is a part of history and there is no reason that is shouldn't be displayed at Confederate soldiers memorials. grave sites, museums or any such related to the civil war.  As for display at state capitals, no way (otherwise with the same mentality we should be flying British or Spanish flags, ie: Mass was a British colony and Florida was Spanish).   
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: ghunter on June 25, 2015, 07:33:05 am
I don't Understand either
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: countrygirl12 on June 25, 2015, 07:43:34 am
The confederate flag is a part of our history.  People are just looking for a reason to be offended.  I know people who have items with the CF on them and they have good friends that are black and those friends have no issues with it.  It's irritating how they want to silence someone's freedom of speech and stop them from flying a confederate flag but have no issues with foreigners burning and stomping on the American flag.  They say oh well that is their right.  It's their freedom of speech.  Something is def wrong with this.

Citizens are still allowed to fly the confederate flag on their property, they are still allowed to wear clothing with the symbol.  We are simply asking for it to be removed from the State Capitol grounds, which belong to all the citizens of South Carolina. 
 Nikki Haley said:  “This flag has become too divisive and too hurtful for too many of our fellow Americans. While some say it represents different things to different people, there is no denying that it also represents serious divisions that must be mended in our society.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/nikki-haley-confederate-flag-capitol-south-carolina-remove-119297.html#ixzz3e5CwybEJ

People can choose to fly it on their private property.  No one is trying to stop that expression of personal choice.

Actually they are.  They have already pulled the flag and anything with the symbol of the flag from shelves from places like Walmart.  People are trying to get it so that it cannot be sold or anything with the symbol cannot be sold.  To me that is censorship.  It just irritates me when people want to be able to express their opinion but want to stop someone else from expressing their because they find it offensive.  Idk.  I don't have some deep love for the flag I just personally don't see what the big deal is.  But that's just me.  : )
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: linderlizzie on June 25, 2015, 07:48:02 am
I feel that this is just another way of diverting attention from more important matters in our country. The government enjoys making everything that happens be about some "thing" rather than what is in people's hearts and minds. I still cannot fathom why "things" should be taken as the reason for any terrorism.  ???

There are so many other issues that should be being addressed that are not, while this "flag issue" is at the forefront of attention by the candidates and the media. It's something easy they can confront, address, and be applauded for while skirting other more important concerns that they avoid completely.
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: gsdoss on June 25, 2015, 08:14:20 am
I agree that the flag is part of history. Not our brightess moment but still part of our history.
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: alice44 on June 25, 2015, 09:22:01 am
I grew up in the north so the flag only meant "south" to me.  I do feel though that it should be in a museum instead of displayed on the capital pole.  It seems to cause a lot of hurt to a lot of people.
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: moon29 on June 25, 2015, 09:57:04 am
I am in no way racist nor from the south but i feel that alot of the media lately has been geared towards making us feel divided rather then the united state of america.  instead of the saying black lives matter why isnt it all lives matter why does whenever i turn on my tv feel like its a pissing contest to see which race is better all races should matter and should strive to do better.
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: rghvac69 on June 25, 2015, 10:24:53 am
I can think of more pressing issues to worry about than a flag.
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: catchow on June 25, 2015, 10:41:45 am
I dont know all the facts this is true, so i cant really have an opinion on this, I just feel that now days its so easy for someone to say Im offended, ok so if some people are offended by this flag, what next, someone saying they are offended by the US flag too? As Im sure probably some are
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: bowrunner on June 25, 2015, 10:52:14 am
The Confederate flag did not cause anybody to do anything.  This whole thing is just ridiculous.  Unfortunately the next plan is to eliminate the American flag.  Excuses, excuses for everything.  I wish these fools would find something else to do, like work for instance.
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: BlackSheepNY on June 25, 2015, 11:02:39 am
There's a lot of ignorance of what the true meaning of the Confederate Flag stood for/stands for.  It had nothing at all to do with racism or slavery.  This flag was a "Battle Flag" that was carried in to war by several different armies and was also used as a Naval Jack by the Confederate Navy.  Never did this flag represent slavery or racism.  This flag is a part of American History that no one can wipe out.  History is a fact and no matter how much some people may not like some parts of this country's history, it still happened.

The sad part today is that our kids are not learning true American History.  What they're teaching now is a twisted version so that it falls in line with an agenda of "change."  Just as there are some countries who claim that there was no Holocaust, there are some that want you and your children to believe that the Confederate Flag stands for slavery and racism.  Please educate yourselves.

PS:  I'm what a Southerner would consider a "Yankee."

Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: countrygirl12 on June 25, 2015, 11:11:00 am
I feel that this is just another way of diverting attention from more important matters in our country. The government enjoys making everything that happens be about some "thing" rather than what is in people's hearts and minds. I still cannot fathom why "things" should be taken as the reason for any terrorism.  ???

There are so many other issues that should be being addressed that are not, while this "flag issue" is at the forefront of attention by the candidates and the media. It's something easy they can confront, address, and be applauded for while skirting other more important concerns that they avoid completely.


The thing is the "flag" didn't have anything to do with this.  Did you hear about the black man who shot a white cop and killed him about 4 days ago?  Of course you didn't.  Why?  Because apparently "white lives" don't matter.  See the media as well as the government are doing exactly what they intended.  They are making everything about race and keeping racial tensions stirred up.  The idiot who went into that church and shot those people would have been shot whether the Confederate Flag was still around or not.

 
I can think of more pressing issues to worry about than a flag.

The media is a part of the government.  If the media and the government keeps this at the forefront of everything and has everyone distracted with this then people don't see something else that is going on.  Kind of like 2 kids and one distracts mom with silly questions while the other snatches the cookies from the cookie jar.  She is busy answering questions so she doesn't see what is going on right in her own kitchen.

days its so easy for someone to say Im offended, ok so if some people are offended by this flag, what next, someone saying they are offended by the US flag too? As Im sure probably some are
[/quote]

Where the heck have you been?  So many hispanics have started trouble because they are "offended" by the American flag.  Even so far as getting flags removed from the classroom.  If you are offended by OUR flag then get out of OUR country!

 
The Confederate flag did not cause anybody to do anything.  This whole thing is just ridiculous.  Unfortunately the next plan is to eliminate the American flag.  Excuses, excuses for everything.  I wish these fools would find something else to do, like work for instance.

It's a control thing.  I agree.  Maybe if these people had jobs they would have less time for protesting and causing problems.  And it's not the victims of the crimes that are causing the problems.  People want to be free to express themselves and do what they want but then want to control what others can do.  If you don't like the Confederate Flag then don't look at it.  Obviously these idiots do not have too much respect for anything anyway.  They did not have any problems spray painting "black lives matter" on the capitol building.  And then are too big of a wuss to accept responsibility for their actions.  They do it at night under the cover of darkness when no one will see them.
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: hawkeye3210 on June 25, 2015, 02:39:41 pm
As a Northerner who moved South 30+ years ago,  I have never understood the Southern love of the confederate flag.  As a early teen I didn't see it as a racial divide but as a divide with the rest of the country.  I do agree it is a part of history and there is no reason that is shouldn't be displayed at Confederate soldiers memorials. grave sites, museums or any such related to the civil war.  As for display at state capitals, no way (otherwise with the same mentality we should be flying British or Spanish flags, ie: Mass was a British colony and Florida was Spanish).   

The flag is next to the Confederate Monument which serves as a memorial to the fallen Confederate soldiers.
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: hawkeye3210 on June 25, 2015, 03:02:50 pm
Similarly, the Confederate Flag has symbolized overt racism and intolerance since the beginning of the Civil War.

Not true. For starters, the Confederate Battle Flag wasn't even in use when the war started. The first flag of the Confederacy was the "Stars and Bars" flag.

Second, the goal of the war was to preserve the Union, not end slavery. The Emancipation Proclamation was originally a threat to the South to get them to surrender and end the war. When it went into effect, it only ended slavery in the Confederate. It did not free the slaves in the slave states that were still part of the Union. So why aren't people offended about the flag of the Union?

It seems like only a matter of time before people start demanding we rename Washington DC, switch the 1 dollar bill, tear down the Washington monument, etc. because George Washington was a slave owner, and people love pretend to be offended.
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: hitch0403 on June 25, 2015, 09:58:07 pm
You can argue this till the cows come home.You can remain neutral and be a law abiding citizen as well.

There will always be prejudice in this world.

Maybe you should realize who we all owe our existence to.
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: marciaenglish on June 26, 2015, 12:43:42 am
Being from the south; I know the confederate flag has nothing to do with racism!  It is about not being pushed around!
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: lvstephanie on June 26, 2015, 08:24:49 am
The confederate flag is a part of our history.  People are just looking for a reason to be offended.  I know people who have items with the CF on them and they have good friends that are black and those friends have no issues with it.  It's irritating how they want to silence someone's freedom of speech and stop them from flying a confederate flag but have no issues with foreigners burning and stomping on the American flag.  They say oh well that is their right.  It's their freedom of speech.  Something is def wrong with this.

Citizens are still allowed to fly the confederate flag on their property, they are still allowed to wear clothing with the symbol.  We are simply asking for it to be removed from the State Capitol grounds, which belong to all the citizens of South Carolina. 
 Nikki Haley said:  “This flag has become too divisive and too hurtful for too many of our fellow Americans. While some say it represents different things to different people, there is no denying that it also represents serious divisions that must be mended in our society.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/nikki-haley-confederate-flag-capitol-south-carolina-remove-119297.html#ixzz3e5CwybEJ

People can choose to fly it on their private property.  No one is trying to stop that expression of personal choice.

Actually they are.  They have already pulled the flag and anything with the symbol of the flag from shelves from places like Walmart.  People are trying to get it so that it cannot be sold or anything with the symbol cannot be sold.  To me that is censorship.  It just irritates me when people want to be able to express their opinion but want to stop someone else from expressing their because they find it offensive.  Idk.  I don't have some deep love for the flag I just personally don't see what the big deal is.  But that's just me.  : )
Actually, since you are talking about Walmart deciding to pull the flag from their own shelves, and not the government forcing them to, this is not really about Freedom of Speech as understood trough the constitution. Those Bill of Rights were observed as what the citizens had that the government couldn't take away. But if Walmart feels that in this current climate that the flag will hurt their sales (oh the evil of profit *sarcasm*) they decided on their own to pull that product. Just like several years ago there was a huge push by retailers to welcome people with "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" in order not to offend some of their customers; however that started to backfire on some businesses as they learned that by doing so, they were actually offending more Christians with the change, so some reverted back to allowing their employees to welcome the customers any way they wished. Similarly, if there is a market for the confederate flag, other stores may decide to start selling them, esp. if a major retailer like Walmart decides to pull that product making a "vacuum" for that product.

The problem will come when people start to petition the government to prohibit people from showing the confederate flag. If the government decides to get involved in telling what others can do, it is then that we have a Freedom of Speech issue.
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: miltonarmitage on June 26, 2015, 09:22:08 am
What disappoints me is that Dukes of Hazzard memorabilia is feeling the brunt of this debate. I used to watch the show when it was new back in the day and recently bought some of the vintage toys I had as a kid for a small collection which brings back happy memories. Good thing I bought them when I did since no merchant will sell them now due to the tragedy! Not everyone who displays a rebel flag is a racist. I can understand taking down the flag from government buildings but isn't a violation of self expression and free speech to ban it all together? Isn't that why the KKK and Neo Nazis are allowed to do what they do? Besides, if you attempt to erase history, are we not doomed to repeat it?       
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: countrygirl12 on June 26, 2015, 01:52:42 pm


Walmart may have made a decision on their own to pull the items but it was only before they were forced to.  I have heard that states that have a tag that features the flag on it will be banning that particular tag.  That is something that is being forced.  Not people making a choice as to whether or not they purchase that particular specialty tag.

Things are changing for the worse so quickly it is unreal.  And people are too stupid and too lazy to see what is going on.  As far as Walmart they are after the almighty dollar.  That is all they care about.  They do not care about offending a black person.  Or any other person.  And as for the Happy Holidays - yeah they said that where I worked as well.  I did not.  I said Merry Christmas.  Got a problem with it - kiss my behind.  Get over.  Deal with it.

It's funny because the people who are yelling the loudest about how other people need to keep their opinions to themselves refuse to do the same.

I guess I need to disconnect for a while because the comments online are making me very angry at the moment.  *Not on this site* but just in general.  The fact is everyone has an opinion and usually not everyone will agree.  And people want to voice their opinion but do not want to listen to the other person's if it differs from their own.
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: monnee on June 26, 2015, 02:14:24 pm
CF should have been taken down a long time ago and the Stars and Stripes should be flying in every state.  That's why we had the American Civil War for.
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: hawkeye3210 on June 26, 2015, 03:21:52 pm
CF should have been taken down a long time ago and the Stars and Stripes should be flying in every state.  That's why we had the American Civil War for.

The stars and stripes are flying in every state.

This Confederate flag is by a memorial to the fallen Confederate soldiers.
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: ladavia89 on June 26, 2015, 03:58:19 pm
As a Northerner who moved South 30+ years ago,  I have never understood the Southern love of the confederate flag.  As a early teen I didn't see it as a racial divide but as a divide with the rest of the country.  I do agree it is a part of history and there is no reason that is shouldn't be displayed at Confederate soldiers memorials. grave sites, museums or any such related to the civil war.  As for display at state capitals, no way (otherwise with the same mentality we should be flying British or Spanish flags, ie: Mass was a British colony and Florida was Spanish).   

Where I live is known as the city of 5 flags so they've been flying the flags of Spain, France, Britain, Confederacy and United States. People here have been fighting to get the Confederate Flag removed from government buildings for a long time. I'm honestly not surprised that it took this to get it removed here when there were flyers being passed out for the KKK within the last year
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: vp44 on June 26, 2015, 07:59:47 pm
I understand what it stands for but how it is used to stand for in today times by some is racism.
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: countrygirl12 on June 28, 2015, 08:39:12 am
CF should have been taken down a long time ago and the Stars and Stripes should be flying in every state.  That's why we had the American Civil War for.

If you don't like the Confederate Flag then don't look at it.  As it has already been explained the Civil War was not about the Confederate Flag.  By what you are saying if another country comes in and invades the United States and God forbid were to ever take over the US then we should just take our flags and burn them and fly their flag and accept that is the way it is.

If people are that offended then they need to build a block wall with no windows and no access to the outside world and stay inside their little prison.  It is totally insane that someone can be offended by what is on my own personal property, my shirt, or whatever and can try to ban me from having it.   
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: countrygirl12 on June 28, 2015, 08:43:53 am
As a Northerner who moved South 30+ years ago,  I have never understood the Southern love of the confederate flag.  As a early teen I didn't see it as a racial divide but as a divide with the rest of the country.  I do agree it is a part of history and there is no reason that is shouldn't be displayed at Confederate soldiers memorials. grave sites, museums or any such related to the civil war.  As for display at state capitals, no way (otherwise with the same mentality we should be flying British or Spanish flags, ie: Mass was a British colony and Florida was Spanish).   

Where I live is known as the city of 5 flags so they've been flying the flags of Spain, France, Britain, Confederacy and United States. People here have been fighting to get the Confederate Flag removed from government buildings for a long time. I'm honestly not surprised that it took this to get it removed here when there were flyers being passed out for the KKK within the last year

Why is it such a huge deal that the KKK passes out flyers spewing hate for blacks when the Black Panthers pass out their crap spewing hate for whites?  Whites are just suppose to get over it or let them have their opinion.  What's the difference.

The more people try to ban the flag the more you will see it.  There are racist people of every color and every race.  Just seems certain races get more attention or make more noise.  I have been disrespected by other races more than once.  I am sure it will happen again.  Am I going to try to start a war with them?  No.  I don't care.
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: BMaston12 on June 28, 2015, 08:57:14 am
I don't understand why this discussion and debate is just coming into play now....
I believe that we Southerners have been the brunt of many Yankee jokes among other things. And that has nothing to do with race. We seem to have forgotten that we are all people of the same country. It should not matter what state you were born in or what country for that matter. Lets stop rewriting history and learn from t he past. We have a right to our heritage just like all people. BMaston12
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: patti4me on June 28, 2015, 12:17:58 pm
I agree rghvac69!  There are plenty of much more serious issues, but anything the race-baiters can throw out there, they will.  I'm from S.C. and I know not everyone agrees with michele2042 that the Confederate flag should be removed and it is not a racist issue that makes people want to keep the flag in place.
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: sfreeman8 on June 28, 2015, 12:38:43 pm
As a Northerner who moved South 30+ years ago,  I have never understood the Southern love of the confederate flag.  As a early teen I didn't see it as a racial divide but as a divide with the rest of the country.  I do agree it is a part of history and there is no reason that is shouldn't be displayed at Confederate soldiers memorials. grave sites, museums or any such related to the civil war.  As for display at state capitals, no way (otherwise with the same mentality we should be flying British or Spanish flags, ie: Mass was a British colony and Florida was Spanish).   

Where I live is known as the city of 5 flags so they've been flying the flags of Spain, France, Britain, Confederacy and United States. People here have been fighting to get the Confederate Flag removed from government buildings for a long time. I'm honestly not surprised that it took this to get it removed here when there were flyers being passed out for the KKK within the last year

Why is it such a huge deal that the KKK passes out flyers spewing hate for blacks when the Black Panthers pass out their crap spewing hate for whites?  Whites are just suppose to get over it or let them have their opinion.  What's the difference.

The more people try to ban the flag the more you will see it.  There are racist people of every color and every race.  Just seems certain races get more attention or make more noise.  I have been disrespected by other races more than once.  I am sure it will happen again.  Am I going to try to start a war with them?  No.  I don't care.

The difference between KKK and Panthers is color. A lot of blacks have a need to make other races (not only whites) feel guilt for past behavior of their black ancestors (who were the slave traders to being with). There were more free blacks than slaves in the South but the most people only heard the stories about the slaves (because that was a history) and thus, the hatred began, spread by generation after generation. 

As for the American flag, I've already heard calls for the American flag to be taken down, too, because it offends different races. Protesters are already allowed to spit on it, stomp on it, burn it, and even wipe their butss, urinate or do a BM on it because that's considered freedom of speech by our wonderful SCOTUS, but the Confederate flag has to come down because it offends someone. Isn't that considered freedom of speech? Which is it?

Amazon and eBay sell flags for the Black Panther Party, Che Guevara, Japanese battle flag, Germany, Mexico, Iran, Russia, Syria, Libya, national flags,and only books of Confederate history which has the stars and bars on the cover.  Didn't we go to war with Japan and Germany? Should I call for a ban on their flags?

BTW, the Confederate flag was not flying on the state capital as some insinuate. It was only on the grounds...and either yesterday or today, a 30-year-old black woman shimmied up the pole and took the flag down after which she was promptly arrested.

There will be no peace until there is another civil war due to the media and the government keeping us divided. 
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: ladavia89 on June 28, 2015, 05:30:26 pm
As a Northerner who moved South 30+ years ago,  I have never understood the Southern love of the confederate flag.  As a early teen I didn't see it as a racial divide but as a divide with the rest of the country.  I do agree it is a part of history and there is no reason that is shouldn't be displayed at Confederate soldiers memorials. grave sites, museums or any such related to the civil war.  As for display at state capitals, no way (otherwise with the same mentality we should be flying British or Spanish flags, ie: Mass was a British colony and Florida was Spanish).   

Where I live is known as the city of 5 flags so they've been flying the flags of Spain, France, Britain, Confederacy and United States. People here have been fighting to get the Confederate Flag removed from government buildings for a long time. I'm honestly not surprised that it took this to get it removed here when there were flyers being passed out for the KKK within the last year

Why is it such a huge deal that the KKK passes out flyers spewing hate for blacks when the Black Panthers pass out their crap spewing hate for whites?  Whites are just suppose to get over it or let them have their opinion.  What's the difference.

The more people try to ban the flag the more you will see it.  There are racist people of every color and every race.  Just seems certain races get more attention or make more noise.  I have been disrespected by other races more than once.  I am sure it will happen again.  Am I going to try to start a war with them?  No.  I don't care.

The difference between KKK and Panthers is color. A lot of blacks have a need to make other races (not only whites) feel guilt for past behavior of their black ancestors (who were the slave traders to being with). There were more free blacks than slaves in the South but the most people only heard the stories about the slaves (because that was a history) and thus, the hatred began, spread by generation after generation. 

As for the American flag, I've already heard calls for the American flag to be taken down, too, because it offends different races. Protesters are already allowed to spit on it, stomp on it, burn it, and even wipe their butss, urinate or do a BM on it because that's considered freedom of speech by our wonderful SCOTUS, but the Confederate flag has to come down because it offends someone. Isn't that considered freedom of speech? Which is it?

Amazon and eBay sell flags for the Black Panther Party, Che Guevara, Japanese battle flag, Germany, Mexico, Iran, Russia, Syria, Libya, national flags,and only books of Confederate history which has the stars and bars on the cover.  Didn't we go to war with Japan and Germany? Should I call for a ban on their flags?

BTW, the Confederate flag was not flying on the state capital as some insinuate. It was only on the grounds...and either yesterday or today, a 30-year-old black woman shimmied up the pole and took the flag down after which she was promptly arrested.

There will be no peace until there is another civil war due to the media and the government keeping us divided. 


Are you comparing a group that is against everyone that isn't Caucasian Christians to a group that formed to protest brutality against one race ?

There should be no hate groups period. One group spewing hate doesn't justify another doing it. It's wrong regardless of what the people look like. 

I've been disrespected by many people of a variety of backgrounds. Some people are just rude. The problem occurs when people are specifically rude and disrespectful to a specific group whether that be based on race, religion, sexual identity or gender. Were people mean to you because of what you look like or because that person was just rude in general? Have you ever been followed around the store because of your race? Have you ever been followed in certain areas because you don't look like everyone else? Have you ever been denied an opportunity based solely on how you look or even your name?

There actually weren't more free Blacks than slaves. Only about 10% were free before the Civil War/13th amendment being ratified. Even though these people were supposedly "free" they still didn't have the same rights of their White counterparts. There are many people still alive that grew up not being able to vote, be guaranteed equal wages or be able to actually choose where they could live, eat, sit, work and shop. There surely sounds like so much freedom to me.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Bigots can think and feel whatever they like but it shouldn't be forced on other people.  Germany has the right idea. They've banned a symbol that many see as a sign of hatred. I guess that's too much like right for this country to do though.

Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: lynnc35 on June 29, 2015, 04:33:38 am
Because of the kid that went into the church and shot colored people. He posted pictures of him with the confederate flag, so now everyone is jumping up and down and scared they are going to lose business over it and pulling it off of shelves. This bares resemblance to duck dynasty and the comment about gay people. They did the same thing. It is a money making thing. They are scared they will lose money. I don't think it has to do with a cause at all, but greed.
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: countrygirl12 on June 29, 2015, 08:17:20 am
@ladavia89- YES, I have been judged solely because of my race.  See, racism goes in every direction but most people can't see that.  White folks are judged because of their race by people of other races.  Just like every other race.  Some people are like that.  If a person as a different skin color then they don't like them.  I don't care what color your skin is.  I care how you act toward me.   
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: lvstephanie on June 29, 2015, 09:20:44 am
Because of the kid that went into the church and shot colored people. He posted pictures of him with the confederate flag, so now everyone is jumping up and down and scared they are going to lose business over it and pulling it off of shelves. This bares resemblance to duck dynasty and the comment about gay people. They did the same thing. It is a money making thing. They are scared they will lose money. I don't think it has to do with a cause at all, but greed.
Exactly... When it comes to Walmart, Amazon, etc. deciding to pull the CF from their product offerings, no one is forcing the company to do so. The only "force" involved is Adam Smith's Invisible Hand causing companies to do some unintended social benefit via their own profit motive. Since the government isn't forcing the private businesses' activities, this isn't necessarily a Free Speech issue.

Quote from: ladavia89
There should be no hate groups period. One group spewing hate doesn't justify another doing it. It's wrong regardless of what the people look like.
[....]
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Bigots can think and feel whatever they like but it shouldn't be forced on other people.  Germany has the right idea. They've banned a symbol that many see as a sign of hatred. I guess that's too much like right for this country to do though.

I'm more concerned with this sentiment... As you rightly stated, "everyone is entitled to their own opinion" no matter how hateful, bigoted, irrational that opinion is. This includes allowing hate groups to spew whatever hatred they have (as opposed to your first idea of getting rid of any hate group). The problem is that the law has no emotions, and thus cannot distinguish between a "hate" group vs. some other group that just has a difference of opinion. If the law cannot distinguish between these two types of groups, then in a free society, we must allow all groups, even those that we'd consider to be a "hate" group.

One of the main reasons why the US was established was because people were being prosecuted for speaking out against their government and its ideals. This is why the constitution ensured that the people's speech is protected. When Germany (as a country) outlaws the swastika, they are in fact suppressing free speech in their country. So it isn't that the US is so bigoted that they have decided to allow the CF but rather it is because unlike Germany, the US values free speech moreso. Thus I disagree that "Germany has the right idea" to have the government start dictating what speech is valid (and therefore allowed) vs. speech that may be considered "hate speech". I'd much rather have Adam Smith's invisible hands slowly moving the economy (and thus for the most part the country's collective opinions and beliefs) towards more tolerance than having a country / government dictate what can be done.
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: phoenixashesrises702 on June 29, 2015, 01:11:33 pm
The confederate flag was nothing to do with racism. It was A BATTLE FLAG when used in the civil war. If your history teacher told you otherwise they need a new history lesson. What ignorance!
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: JediJohnnie on July 03, 2015, 03:01:04 pm
As a "Yankee" I never really knew much about the Confederate Flag (it's origins and so forth). I guess I always wondered why southerners still flew it. Not because it had ties to slavery or what have you, but because it's the sign of the losing side. Y'all wanted to secede from the Union and fought and lost the war. Why you wanna celebrate the losing side of a Civil War, where brother fought brother?

But, to me it should be a States issue. If you wanna fly it, go ahead. The Gov shouldn't tell you you can't. If they don't want to fly it at schools & courthouses as to not offend people, I can see that. But it is a free country after all. If you want to fly the Confederate Flag in your own backyard,you should have the right.
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: ljrjess69 on July 04, 2015, 08:45:16 am
i think its crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :peace:
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: southernhorizons on July 04, 2015, 09:11:52 am
Censorship of the Confederate flag is directly against the American spirit of freedom, and it's a shame that it was done so close to Independence Day. It certainly hows how far we've gotten from a spirit of liberty. Banning a flag because of wrong use by a few stupid people, validates the claims of those people. Rather than giving in and banning it, they should be ignored. Instead, we have our rights to free expression, and the ability to buy what we want, destroyed. It's really ironic that the same people who call for Confederate flag bans, are the ones who condemn Christian bakeries for refusing to cater to gay weddings. If they can't refuse service when they so choose, why can companies like Walmart, Zazzle, Ebay, etc. refuse service to those who want to buy Confederate merchandise?
Title: Re: Confederate Flag
Post by: bretay on July 04, 2015, 09:16:57 am
i think they should leave the flag alone..it has nothing to do with slavery..its heritage from the war