It is clear from the actions of the African-American community, specifically the NAACP, that the Confederate Battle Flag does not represent the African-American community. The NAACP has encouraged boycotts against states for continuing to use the flag on public buildings.
Notwithstanding, it is still extremely simplistic to state that the actions of the NAACP represent the views and beliefs of all Southern African-Americans.
The largest problem that the Confederate Battle Flag faces is its continued use by neo-Nazi / KKK / and other white supremacist groups. To a certain extent this is analogous to the usurption of the Swastika as a Native American symbol into a symbol of pure evil.
To a certain extent its a shame because it is a nice looking flag. Second nicest to be precise! ;-)
It is clear from the actions of the African-American community, specifically the NAACP, that the Confederate Battle Flag does not represent the African-American community. The NAACP has encouraged boycotts against states for continuing to use the flag on public buildings.
Notwithstanding, it is still extremely simplistic to state that the actions of the NAACP represent the views and beliefs of all Southern African-Americans.
The Mississippi State Flag referendum of several years ago showed that a significant number of blacks...either did not care about the issue (by not voting) or quite surprisingly voted for the flag with the Confederate emblem.
__________________ POWER & MONEY
"Your New-York bankers and merchants are shrewd people, but I never gave them credit for so much sagacity as when they took the Government Loan. It was not merely patriotism, it was a high stroke of policy. It has saved the Government, and what they will regard as equally important, saved them from a great financial disaster."
I ain't a Black Southerner. I reckon most blacks are more Southern, certainly moreso than the Carpetbagger White Trash that moved in afterwards.
It frustrates me to hear people say the KKK and the neo-NAZI's co-opted the CBF. I reckon if you count flags around them people you'll see as many or more Old Glory banners wavin' in the wind as you do copies of the CBF or the Swastika. I ain't for preachin' hate. I don't think there's any need for it. I fly the Bonnie Blue Flag and the Missouri Battle Flag becuase I reckon its more about heritage.
The Mississippi State Flag referendum of several years ago showed that a significant number of blacks...either did not care about the issue (by not voting) or quite surprisingly voted for the flag with the Confederate emblem.
I generally figure that the folks doing most of the complaining have too much time on their hands, or they're trying to justify their salaries in really, really useless pot-stirring organizations.
Read a book some time ago that made sense. Anybody else read "Your Erroneous Zone"? The point made is that if you are offended, the fault for that offense lies with you. You choose to be offended. You can choose to not be offended.
Try it. It works. (Had to edit this, Battalion. This is not aimed at you, but to all of us.)
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
It is clear from the actions of the African-American community, specifically the NAACP, that the Confederate Battle Flag does not represent the African-American community. The NAACP has encouraged boycotts against states for continuing to use the flag on public buildings.
Notwithstanding, it is still extremely simplistic to state that the actions of the NAACP represent the views and beliefs of all Southern African-Americans.
The largest problem that the Confederate Battle Flag faces is its continued use by neo-Nazi / KKK / and other white supremacist groups. To a certain extent this is analogous to the usurption of the Swastika as a Native American symbol into a symbol of pure evil.
To a certain extent its a shame because it is a nice looking flag. Second nicest to be precise! ;-)
All the Confederate flag ever was and still is was a means to distinguish Confederate forces in the field from the Stars and Stripes carried by federal forces. The first national flag was obvious inadequate for that purpose, so Albert Sidney Johnston and Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard after the battle of Manassas requested the new flag. The St. Andrews cross and the Scotish/British crosses were simply a part of the heritage of the folks in the Confederate army. The rest of the "meaning" is hogwash.
__________________
Ancestors in US Army: 13th TN Cav; 10th TN Cav; 3rd NC Inf
Ancestors in CSA Army: 48th VA; 63rd VA, 5th NC Cav; 37th NC
Wife and Grandson's CSA: 15th AL, 51st GA, 41st TN; 36th TN; GA Mil 1197 Dist
I generally figure that the folks doing most of the complaining have too much time on their hands, or they're trying to justify their salaries in really, really useless pot-stirring organizations.
Read a book some time ago that made sense. Anybody else read "Your Erroneous Zone"? The point made is that if you are offended, the fault for that offense lies with you. You choose to be offended. You can choose to not be offended.
Try it. It works. (Had to edit this, Battalion. This is not aimed at you, but to all of us.)
ole
You yanks probably will not believe this, but many southern folks who happen to be black look at that flag as part of their heritage just as I do. (I feel much the same way about old glory, for what that's worth - and to me quite a bit.)
__________________
Ancestors in US Army: 13th TN Cav; 10th TN Cav; 3rd NC Inf
Ancestors in CSA Army: 48th VA; 63rd VA, 5th NC Cav; 37th NC
Wife and Grandson's CSA: 15th AL, 51st GA, 41st TN; 36th TN; GA Mil 1197 Dist
I have a very good friend here in Nashville who happens to be black and who was raised in Chicago. I asked him a few months ago if he was offended by the Confederate flag. He said he was. His reasoning was that because it offended other blacks, it must offend him. Other than that, he didn't know why. I suspect too many people jump on something just because it's there (just barely) without attempting to understand the facts behind the item?
Out of respect for him, his family and others, I don't go around waving my battle flag in the air or making a nuisance of myself. When it comes time to commemorate the slaughter at Franklin, you can bet a few hundred battle flags will be present, not to create a disturbance, but to simply remember the 7,000 brave souls who fought and died under that banner here in our neighborhood.
__________________
Ancestors in US Army: 13th TN Cav; 10th TN Cav; 3rd NC Inf
Ancestors in CSA Army: 48th VA; 63rd VA, 5th NC Cav; 37th NC
Wife and Grandson's CSA: 15th AL, 51st GA, 41st TN; 36th TN; GA Mil 1197 Dist
Last edited by larry_cockerham : 09-12-2007 at 08:28 PM.
All the Confederate flag ever was and still is was a means to distinguish Confederate forces in the field from the Stars and Stripes carried by federal forces.
Then explain why the Dixiecrats used it as their symbol of resistance to racial desegregation and why anti-Civil Rights protestors used it to protest against blacks having equal rights.
It frustrates me to hear people say the KKK and the neo-NAZI's co-opted the CBF. I reckon if you count flags around them people you'll see as many or more Old Glory banners wavin' in the wind as you do copies of the CBF or the Swastika.
I don't attend these rallies, but the ones I've seen pictures of in the paper in my lifetime have all had the CBF plastered all over the place.
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