The battle flag as a symbol of heritage to me is nothing more than the fact that this emblem was contemporary with the existence of folks I would have loved had I known them, but certainly without whose input, I would not be typing these words. I don't go around waving a battle flag, or any other, though I do have a small 50-star flag on my toolbox. I helped replace the Confederate battle flag which flies constantly from Winstead Hill a couple of weekends ago. That's the proper place for such things, though there may well be other places just as proper. As Tommy stated, just because someone may have a different thought when they see that flag at Winstead Hill, that is more their problem than mine. They probably wouldn't understand nor appreciate my feelings, though I'd be happy to try and explain if they would just ask. If some idiot klansman carried a replica battle flag in Georgia in the 1920s (or later) and offended some folks, he should have been shot. My great great grandfathers who served in the Confederate Army used that symbol as a rallying point in their efforts to defeat what they perceived to be the enemy and to assist in their survival from a most horrible circumstance which was for the most part not of their choosing. I'll still salute the ridiculous vinyl likeness of Lt. General Nathan Bedford Forrest flanked by the flags of the Confederate States as I drive to work in the morning on I-65. North Carolina was waiting when I was looking for a place to be born, so I owe that flag at least an acknowledgement. I've found a quick salute to be safer than holding a cell-phone and it gives me a little boost for the day.
Last edited by larry_cockerham; 04-30-2005 at 11:49 AM.
Great post! Sure, there are many places that put any symbol of ones lineage in proper perspective. You are also correct. In context, such items are above reproach. Please, do not go to the Museum of the Confederacy unless you want to see the "real McCoy".
Last thing; Helping people understand the historical context of any symbol is extremely important. Part of my life involves asking questions about Judiasm and answering questions about Roman Catholics. We both benefit from the exchange of knowledge and appreciate each other at a higher level. That's another story.
1. What does it mean to be an "Unreconstructed Rebel"? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- It means I am not a puppet. A creation of what the government would like me to be. I am not a fawning conformist.
2. Why is the battle flag a symbol of heritage? I understoo it as an instrument of order on a field of honor. Isn't it just an historical artifact? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- I think Larry answered that one quite well. But a 'historical artifact' and 'symbol of heritage' are now and have always been basically the same thing. History is inherited.
3. Since you are responsible for your own feelings and it is perfectly acceptable for folks to impose their opinions on others, how do you react when someone impunes your mother's heritage? --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Impunes? You meant Impugns I assume. Well, if someone impugns my mother's heritage then being she is my mother, it is my heritage they impugn. It depends what they are treating as false. As well as the method of thier choosing.
My only point is, why would you purposefuly insult another person? If you realize waving your heritage around would offend a black person or a Jew, why would you offend someone you do not even know? The affect of such contact only breeds the very reaction you are trying to avoid. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Funny. I get offended by them being offended.But even so, I make it a point to not let the ill-informed dictate my life if I can help it. And surely not because of the thier attempts to instill fear in me or shame in my choice of imagery. I am just as offended by those who are offended as I am by the ill-use of the flag by groups I abhor. But as I have stated before, the US Stars and Stripes has been used far more for racist reasons and by bigoted people than the CBF ever has. Should I consider it a racist symbol because of that usage? Or is it acceptable because they won?
Preserving ones heritage is also composed of saving those precious items. The Museum of the Confederacy, the battlefields and other private museums that just get by while literally millions of dollars are squandered by the bickering.
----------------------------------------------------------------- I agree. Saving the Originals are of paramount importance. But since it is a shameful thing, there is no real motive to save them is there? Except the same way they save Hitler's memrobilia I guess.
Maybe some people see preserving heritage as parading down an avenue, waiving some bastardized form of the battle flag while dealing with media coverage that makes everyone involved look like a "bubba the bigot". I think there are more effective ways.
---------------------------------------------------------------- Well, I do not think hiding in shame and and worse, acting as if one should be ashamed of it, are more effective. We will just have to agree to disagree.
Yep, I am entitled to my opinion.
--------------------------------------------------------------- See, as least we agree on something eh? That's a start. My concern here is that it is quickly becoming that only the anti-cbf people, with their own agendas, are the ones with the right to an opinion. Much less the right to express it. See, I can objectively converse on the issue of heritage because my grandfather fought in the 28th Ky Vet-Vol Reg. Not for the South but on the side of the Y-Word (I have been censored from using the word) I have no real right to fly it as heritage. (Not counting Cousins and such that fought fot the South) Although I can, and do, fully respect that reasoning. I have my small CBF as a symbol of State's Rights. Of opposition to a centralized Federal Government and resistance of a brave, honorable people in the face of overwhelming odd for the cause of State's Rights and in defending their homeland from foriegn invaders. See? I get to choose what it means to me.
Tommy, you ought to see my face in the morning if you want a good laugh. I didn't know the term yankee had been censored. I'm in big trouble? Seems to me if we have rebels we can have ......? I also share both Union and Confederate ancestors who fought hard for what they believed or just to survive. Your point about the fact that folks are offended offends you caught my eye. It should perhaps offend us all. No reason to start a fight or another war, but your point should be remembered. That's freedom, the fight for which continues and has been going on for a time.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans, as best I can tell, are alive and well. The liberal press backed off just as they do with most stories, when it became obvious that sanity and common sense were still alive in a conservative mode. I don't think that pride in our southern (or northern) roots and collective heritage is in any danger of failing for a lack of support.
All fun aside, what has changed about the SCV that caused all of this fuss? My perception, mostly from the CV and websites, is that the SCV is moving away from the rememberance of our ancestors to a PAC promoting "Southern Heritage". There are differences between the two.
While not opining on one tact over the other, there is inuendo and confusion over what each faction is after. Can you point me to as objective a place as possible to understand?
Read back through some of the comments and post previously and take an average, for lack of a better way to express that notion. Much of the whoop-la from the press was simply that. Yes, there has always been some degree of difference of opinion of the proper role of the SUV as in any organization. At the present, many of the folks with more politically active notions have been eased back from the management of the organization. Hopefully we've gotten smarter as we've gotten older, and the local camps (the real level of life for the organization) are doing a better job of helping public awareness of the role and desires of the organization which is simply to honor the Confederate veteran (our ancestors) and to protect our right to do so without unduly ruffling any feathers. This past episode was uneeded press drawing some underserved perhaps misguided attention on a well meaning organizaton. Just an opinion.
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