What does the Confederate Flag mean to you?

[MissCatholic]

The Confederate battle flag, called the "Southern Cross" or the cross of St. Andrew, has been described variously as a proud emblem of Southern heritage and as a shameful reminder of slavery and segregation.

In the past, several Southern states flew the Confederate battle flag along with the U.S. and state flags over their statehouses.

Others incorporated the controversial symbol into the design of their state flags. The Confederate battle flag has also been appropriated by the Ku Klux Klan and other racist hate groups. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, more than 500 extremist groups use the Southern Cross as one of their symbols.

[John Dibble]

To me? Nothing. It's a flag, nothing else. It has historical relevance, but I don't really care that much about it.

[bullmoose88]

Rebellion.

[TheresNoMoney]

It doesn't really mean anything to, except it does make me think of the Dukes of Hazzard.

I can understand why many black people might be offended by it, though.

[MODU]

History.  That, and Dukes of Hazzard.  hahaha

edit: Scoonie, I just saw that you put the same thing.  hahaha

[A18]

Something that irritates certain people, and is therefore good

[Speed of Sound]

i would say option 1

[Giant Saguaro]

In the modern culture, it is a sign that indicates rebellion, I think. Southern heritage is debatable because of the cultural upsurge that accompanied the Confederate flag. Which is all surely okay, since so many say it's okay under the 1st amendment to burn an American flag. Whoever and whichever organization would argue that the first amendment protects flag burning certainly shouldn't be opposed to the Confederate flag - anywhere.

[??????????]

Option 1, obviously.

[Jake]

It's a symbol of Southern Heritage and a symbol of the brave men that flew it in battle.

[Richard]

A beautiful flag of the true Americans, not the tretcherous north.

[Gabu]

A beautiful flag of the true Americans, not the tretcherous north.

You know, I think this is the first time I've seen someone who isn't even an American, much less someone not from the South, who gets bent out of shape over the Civil War and curses the North.

It's an odd sight, to say the least.

[Richard]

I have 5 flags in my room.  A Canadian one, American, Confederate, Israeli, and Afrikaner.

Of those, the two most valued flags are the Confederate and Afrikaner.  Two oppressed peoples.

[dazzleman]

I voted something else.  It means little to me.

I think too much is made of the supposedly oppressive symbolism behind the confederate flag.  The reality is that slavery took place under the stars and stripes as well as the stars and bars.  Should we get rid of the stars and stripes?

I also think that people that obsess over the confederate flag are wrong for two reasons.  First, practically speaking, they are avoiding the reality of today's problems by focusing on symbols of the past.  If they spend half the energy trying to fix today's problems as they did worrying about what happened 150 years ago, or even 50 years ago, they'd be in much better shape than they are.  The "civil rights" movement is so bankrupt at this point; they are devoid of any ideas for dealing with today's problems, other than blaming other people for all their problems and obsessing on things like the confederate flag.

Second, the attack on the confederate flag is ultimately an attack on the whole legitimacy of our society.  Does anybody really believe that if we appease these people by getting rid of the confederate flag, they'll actually be satisfied?  The truth is that they will never be satisfied; they consider our entire society corrupt and don't really see redeeming qualities in it.  Their issue is not really with the confederate flag or white southerners; it is with all of us.

[phk]

It should be banned.

The only legit flag should be the regular Stars and Bars.

[Speed of Sound]

It should be banned.

The only legit flag should be the regular Stars and Bars.

Why limit freedom of speech? Its just a flag.

[AkSaber]

Uh..... the Civil War... >_>

[jokerman]

Option 1

[Gabu]

Regarding the question at hand, option 4 - I don't give a damn about the Confederate flag, because I am normal, and I don't regularly pay attention to what the great-great-grandfathers of people I don't know may have done.

I think too much is made of the supposedly oppressive symbolism behind the confederate flag.  The reality is that slavery took place under the stars and stripes as well as the stars and bars.  Should we get rid of the stars and stripes?

I also think that people that obsess over the confederate flag are wrong for two reasons.  First, practically speaking, they are avoiding the reality of today's problems by focusing on symbols of the past.  If they spend half the energy trying to fix today's problems as they did worrying about what happened 150 years ago, or even 50 years ago, they'd be in much better shape than they are.  The "civil rights" movement is so bankrupt at this point; they are devoid of any ideas for dealing with today's problems, other than blaming other people for all their problems and obsessing on things like the confederate flag.

Second, the attack on the confederate flag is ultimately an attack on the whole legitimacy of our society.  Does anybody really believe that if we appease these people by getting rid of the confederate flag, they'll actually be satisfied?  The truth is that they will never be satisfied; they consider our entire society corrupt and don't really see redeeming qualities in it.  Their issue is not really with the confederate flag or white southerners; it is with all of us.

I mostly agree with you, but I think it should be noted that the opponents of the Confederate flag are not the only ones who use what happened 150 years ago against other people - those who go around asserting that Lincoln was a tyrant and that the North is evil, etc., are just as guilty of this.

[tarheel-leftist85]

Opt. 3:  Apparent sufficient numbers of people incl. (non-Southerners like George Allen) have found it incumbent upon themselves to display the thing even though they have no relatives that fought so valiantly under said flag (what some might call heritage).

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

A symbol that some traitors who got their asses kicked flew more than a hundred years ago, and that some rednecks fly today because they can't get over those traitors getting their asses kicked.

[dazzleman]

I mostly agree with you, but I think it should be noted that the opponents of the Confederate flag are not the only ones who use what happened 150 years ago against other people - those who go around asserting that Lincoln was a tyrant and that the North is evil, etc., are just as guilty of this.

I'd have to say I think you're right.  I don't agree with southern extremism just as I don't agree with a blanket indictment of the south.

I think at this point we should just forget the civil war.  I can't understand why so many people still seem to be so obsessed with it.

[Gabu]

I think at this point we should just forget the civil war.  I can't understand why so many people still seem to be so obsessed with it.

As a Canadian, I can't claim to understand American feelings regarding the civil war, so I have to say that I'm glad to hear an American say that.  These endless debates over who was right in the civil war never really seem to do much of anything, other than to pit Northerners against Southerners in a contest to see who can accuse the other of the most crimes against humanity.

[AuH2O]

A symbol of pure clarity

[Max Power]

Something else. I plan on starting a business that sells toilet paper with confederate flags on it, so you can wipe your shitty ass on it.