The Confederate Flag

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by the article

A year ago, dozens marched to protest the Confederate flag a white woman flew from her porch in a historically black Southern neighborhood. After someone threw a rock at her porch, she put up a wooden lattice. That was just the start of the building.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44667234...ife/?GT1=43001

[DrPhil]

This is all so cliche`.

I see Ms. Caddell's point. There is a rich history and those who display the flag (including Blacks) are not automatically racist. However, she knows that she now lives in an historically and predominantly Black neighborhood. Respect the environment and the overarching culture of this environment. The fact that she refuses to do so, as far as I'm concerned, is a display of white privilege.

Many Blacks who see the Confederate Flag do a double-take at least to see who is displaying the flag. Most Blacks, who live in areas where people still display the flag, have learned to ignore it. This is not a matter of a misunderstanding. The Confederate Flag does represent the negative despite its rich history and how proud some people are of it.

The neighbor who threw a rock at her porch is a complete dumbass.

[preciousjeni]

This line

Local officials have said she has the right to fly the flag, while her neighbors have the right to protest. And build fences.

made me lol. The wording of it, I mean.

Anyway, I cosign all of this:

Originally Posted by DrPhil

This is all so cliche`.

I see Ms. Caddell's point. There is a rich history and those who display the flag (including Blacks) are not automatically racist. However, she knows that she now lives in an historically and predominantly Black neighborhood. Respect the environment and the overarching culture of this environment. The fact that she refuses to do so, as far as I'm concerned, is a display of white privilege.

Many Blacks who see the Confederate Flag do a double-take at least to see who is displaying the flag. Most Blacks, who live in areas where people still display the flag, have learned to ignore it. This is not a matter of a misunderstanding. The Confederate Flag does represent the negative despite its rich history and how proud some people are of it.

The neighbor who threw a rock at her porch is a complete dumbass.

and would further say that this issue stopped being about her right to fly a flag on her property when she antagonistically elevated it over the fence line. She needs her white privilege bubble burst.

[thetaj]

It's incredibly common in the south, and usually denotes something more along the lines of "southern pride" than blatant racism. I still think it's absurd. Anyone else seen the truly immense one flying on I-75 just north of the Florida state line? It's freakin HUGE

[Optimus Prime]

Sure, she has a right to fly it. I wouldn't. It's always nice to be respectful of your neighbors and compromise. They built the fence, leave the flag where it is; no need to raise it higher.

[joliebelle]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44667234...ife/?GT1=43001

I just knew that this was in SC before I even clicked on the article

Originally Posted by DrPhil

This is all so cliche`.

I see Ms. Caddell's point. There is a rich history and those who display the flag (including Blacks) are not automatically racist. However, she knows that she now lives in an historically and predominantly Black neighborhood. Respect the environment and the overarching culture of this environment. The fact that she refuses to do so, as far as I'm concerned, is a display of white privilege.

Many Blacks who see the Confederate Flag do a double-take at least to see who is displaying the flag. Most Blacks, who live in areas where people still display the flag, have learned to ignore it. This is not a matter of a misunderstanding. The Confederate Flag does represent the negative despite its rich history and how proud some people are of it.

The neighbor who threw a rock at her porch is a complete dumbass.

You've said everything that I would have said...only better

[*winter*]

Meh. Whenever I see a Confederate flag, my first thought is, "get over it." But then again, I live up North, and people here primarily use them to alert others that they are a huge racist and if a black person steps foot on their property, they are going to put their machine gun on "burst."

I work in a rural area, and the whole racism thing is an undercurrent in life there. I'm white, but I've never had a positive encounter with someone who was, in any way, sporting a Confederate flag. Those site visits usually don't end well, because such people don't usually have enlightened views about anything- the government, women, the list just goes on.

I can understand the whole Southern Pride thing...to a point. I'm proud that I'm a German-American, but I also understand flying a Nazi flag probably wouldn't be the best way to go about expressing this pride. I just think that the Confederate flag is something that offends or bothers so many people (black and white), so find another emblem.

Most people in this part of the country understand the difficult history and choose something else. Others keep it around, perhaps even BECAUSE it offends people- like "screw you, I don't care if you are offended, here is my flag!" Basically sounds like the lady in this article fits this category...That's what I have a problem with, knowing it offends someone based on a very traumatic history, and still blazing on and insiting on sticking it in everyone's faces...

I'd like to see her try that little stunt in a city up North.

[33girl]

^This entire post is pretty much spot on.

If you fly a Confederate flag above the Mason-Dixon, you'd better be able to whip out your great great great grandpa's commendation from the Confederate army - i.e. show me that it really is an honoring history thing - or I'm just going to assume you're a racist dickhead. And I'll usually be assuming right.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by *winter*

I'd like to see her try that little stunt in a city up North.

Are you saying the outcome would be different?

[MysticCat]

Co-sign this:

Originally Posted by DrPhil

This is all so cliche`.

I see Ms. Caddell's point. There is a rich history and those who display the flag (including Blacks) are not automatically racist. However, she knows that she now lives in an historically and predominantly Black neighborhood. Respect the environment and the overarching culture of this environment. The fact that she refuses to do so, as far as I'm concerned, is a display of white privilege.

Many Blacks who see the Confederate Flag do a double-take at least to see who is displaying the flag. Most Blacks, who live in areas where people still display the flag, have learned to ignore it. This is not a matter of a misunderstanding. The Confederate Flag does represent the negative despite its rich history and how proud some people are of it.

The neighbor who threw a rock at her porch is a complete dumbass.

But I feel the need to point out -- there is no such thing as the Confederate flag. There were three national flags of the Confederate States of America before the war was over. There was also the flag of the Army of Northern Virginia, which became known as the Confederate Battle Flag. This seems to be the one that can be seen in the picture, and it is similar but not identical to the flag typically called "the Confederate flag" (or the Rebel flag) -- which ironically was never a national flag of the CSA, though it did serve as a naval jack for a few years. It was this flag that the KKK and other groups latched onto.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Co-sign this:

But I feel the need to point out -- there is no such thing as the Confederate flag. There were three national flags of the Confederate States of America before the war was over. There was also the flag of the Army of Northern Virginia, which became known as the Confederate Battle Flag. This seems to be the one that can be seen in the picture, and it is similar but not identical to the flag typically called "the Confederate flag" (or the Rebel flag) -- which ironically was never a national flag of the CSA, though it did serve as a naval jack for a few years. It was this flag that the KKK and other groups latched onto.

Thanks, nerd.

Thank you, SWTXBelle. Very well said. I do not like the use of "all" for such things. There are people (nonracists and racists) who display one of ( @ MysticCat) the Confederate Flags above the Mason-Dixon line with outcomes that do not differ from what would happen below the Mason-Dixon line.

News stories will only cover the controvery when people are around those who disagree with them. News stories will not cover the day-to-day of people displaying flags across the country with little to no backlash.

With that said, this particular woman was being an asshole and doing it to prove she has the right to do it.

[Cen1aur 1963]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Are you saying the outcome would be different?

That all depends on where it's being flown, or who it's being flown next to.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Cen1aur 1963

That all depends on where it's being flown, or who it's being flown next to.

DUH. That also goes for the south.

Originally Posted by Cen1aur 1963

But the culture that they are celebrating had me oppressed, without rights, and as property. That's some bullshit. I know it, you know it, and everybody else on here knows it.

And you are alive to tell about it?

As the redundancy of this thread proves, everyone without a head up their ass knows what happened. That is not the point of contention.

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by *winter*

I can understand the whole Southern Pride thing...to a point. I'm proud that I'm a German-American, but I also understand flying a Nazi flag probably wouldn't be the best way to go about expressing this pride. I just think that the Confederate flag is something that offends or bothers so many people (black and white), so find another emblem.

I myself have never had any strong opinions about this topic but comparing the Nazi Flag to the Confederate flag is just out there. Germany has a beautiful flag...fly that to show your ethnic pride. Only a neo-nazi skinhead would fly the swastika.

I know I'm wired differently than most of you here, but I'd rather see people sporting their nazi, gang, bpp, racist, anti-government, greek, etc, para than try to hide who they really are. It's all about the situational awareness. I had a couple move into the apt above mine recently and the guy has a symbol on his truck that is commonly used by a local gang. Doesn't bother me because now I know to watch my back around this guy. I understand how people can be offended if they see an offensive (to them) symbol everytime they look out their window but if some guy has confederate flag or gang symbol on his bumper....who cares? The guy just did you a favor by broadcasting to you that he's trouble.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

Only a neo-nazi skinhead would fly the swastika.

For clarity's sake:

This form of the swastika



Not this form of the swastika




/turning into MysticCat

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

I know I'm wired differently than most of you here, but I'd rather see people sporting their nazi, gang, bpp, racist, anti-government, greek, etc, para than try to hide who they really are. It's all about the situational awareness. I had a couple move into the apt above mine recently and the guy has a symbol on his truck that is commonly used by a local gang. Doesn't bother me because now I know to watch my back around this guy. I understand how people can be offended if they see an offensive (to them) symbol everytime they look out their window but if some guy has confederate flag or gang symbol on his bumper....who cares? The guy just did you a favor by broadcasting to you that he's trouble.

You do not know how we are wired.

Someone who sports the Confederate Flag is not automatically "trouble." Such labeling of people is problematic because it is above and beyond the labeling of the items themselves. It is different than a gang symbol and a Nazi symbol.

And only an idiot would sport a gang symbol on his bumper, if that's true. The police better be watching him.