The Confederate flag should be taken down and burned.

The Vice President of the Confederacy said that the South had seceded because of Slavery. The States themselves announced that they left because of slavery. The meetings that led to the votes within each State mentioned slavery. Every historian worth their salt has always said that the Civil War was because of slavery. Yes, your average Southerner did not own slaves but can I remind you all that there were large areas of the South that wanted nothing to do with the Confederacy - Eastern Tennessee and West Virginia are the best examples of this. The reason? Slavery.
The flag flying over South Carolina's state capital is a) the battle flag used by the Army of North Virginia, which enslaved free blacks whenever it went North into the Union and b) padlocked into place, which gives you a very good idea about the mindset of the revolting specimen of humanity that proposed putting it up. Tear it down and give it a decent burial somewhere. It represents a state that was built on slavery, that fought to defend slavery and which is now seen with sepia-tinted glasses.

a reply to: Kali74

Wait, sorry, would you please clarify who the 'southern dixiecrats' were? Thanks.

a reply to: pfishy

The States' Rights Democratic Party (usually called the Dixiecrats) was a short-lived segregationist political party in the United States in 1948. It originated as a breakaway faction of the Democratic Party in 1948, determined to protect what they portrayed as the southern way of life beset by an oppressive federal government,[1] and supporters assumed control of the state Democratic parties in part or in full in several Southern states. The States' Rights Democratic Party opposed racial integration and wanted to retain Jim Crow laws and white supremacy in the face of possible federal intervention. Members were called Dixiecrats. (The term Dixiecrat is a portmanteau of Dixie, referring to the Southern United States, and Democrat.)

The party did not run local or state candidates, and after the 1948 election its leaders generally returned to the Democratic Party.[2] The Dixiecrats had little short-run impact on politics. However, they did have a long-term impact. The Dixiecrats began the weakening of the "Solid South" (the Democratic Party's total control of presidential elections in the South).[3]

The term "Dixiecrat" is sometimes used by Northern Democrats to refer to conservative Southern Democrats from the 1940s to the 1990s, regardless of where they stood in 1948.[4]

Wikipedia

originally posted by: NthOther

originally posted by: Kali74

What does leaving it up accomplish?

Taking it down is one thing. Burning it in a childish fit is something else.

Interestingly enough...not to burn the flag would be a sign of disrespect. Even the Stars and Stripes...if it is taken down to be disposed of, should be burned. Flag etiquette, dontcha know?

a reply to: Sublimecraft

Everyone has their own interpretation of what these symbols mean.
I can see their side to it as well.
Slavery was legal under the United States flag until 1863.
Isn't that just as offensive as a Confederate flag?
How oppressive is the Federal government today?
I have the sinking feeling that is going to get much, much worse.

Here is a thought. Stop assigning meaning to things that are not depicted on the flag. The 13 stars represent the 13 colonies. the blue X is a message saying CROSS US OUT of your UNION not anything else. AT THE TIME the constitution DID not PROTECT SLAVES and TECHNICALLY the SOUTH was right in its SECESSION Because in their eyes they had become another king george. the Government was not supossed to tell states what to do EXCEPT in matters of NATIONAL SECURITY.

Yeah Slavery sucked BUT Lincoln was over stepping his power. Like when he silenced free speech against him was a good example. Here is a link to the flags true meaning.(yes yes make sure to ignore the reasons for the war being just about slavery that was a part of the reason that he gets)

Confederate flag meaning

The flag isnt even the true confed flag which is a small virginia one in a field of white with a red vertical stripe on the rear btw.

originally posted by: Wookiep
a reply to: Khaleesi

Although the Benny Hill theme surely gave an odd perspective to those who enjoy "raving" (I lol'ed, although I once loved going to raves), would you mind adding a bit more to the point of your post? Funny post tho, I'm still laughing, just want to hear more from you about it. Thanks!

It's all about perspective. Take a scene and change the music and it's totally different. My perspective and the perspective of the guys in the video are not the same. While we laugh at the video, in reality we tend to forget that we see other people's lives through our own perspective. Some one once told me "perspective is reality" so while even if what I perceive is altered, it is reality for me.

Besides, the video is funny as hell.

I'll just leave this here.

a reply to: yuppa

No, slavery did not 'suck'. That word does not even come close to summarising the kind of life that a slave led. They could be beaten on a whim, killed at the drop of a hat, sold at a moment's notice, worked to death over time, have to put up with having their spouse or children dragged away and sold.... the list is endless. When people try to equate modern life and federal overreach with the kind of slavery that existed before the Civil War they have no idea what they are talking about.

originally posted by: Rocker2013
You can't have it both ways. You can't preach about your freedoms and liberties while also suggesting that everyone else doesn't deserve freedoms and liberties. THAT is the ultimate hypocrisy.

That's interesting, because that seems to be exactly what you are proposing be done, by removing that flag; it may mean one thing to you, but it means something entirely different to many others.

originally posted by: ProfessorChaos

originally posted by: Rocker2013
You can't have it both ways. You can't preach about your freedoms and liberties while also suggesting that everyone else doesn't deserve freedoms and liberties. THAT is the ultimate hypocrisy.

That's interesting, because that seems to be exactly what you are proposing be done, by removing that flag; it may mean one thing to you, but it means something entirely different to many others.

so, if the confederate flag means something wonderful to white people, then it's fine....you just don't give a crap what it symbolizes to black people....got it, thanks for clearing that up

originally posted by: AmericanZombie
a reply to: Kali74

I just bought two today, I even have one on the front bumper of my truck.

flags or slaves?

originally posted by: jimmyx

originally posted by: ProfessorChaos

originally posted by: Rocker2013
You can't have it both ways. You can't preach about your freedoms and liberties while also suggesting that everyone else doesn't deserve freedoms and liberties. THAT is the ultimate hypocrisy.

That's interesting, because that seems to be exactly what you are proposing be done, by removing that flag; it may mean one thing to you, but it means something entirely different to many others.

so, if the confederate flag means something wonderful to white people, then it's fine....you just don't give a crap what it symbolizes to black people....got it, thanks for clearing that up

The symbolism is something that has me shaking my head in disgust. That flag was flown by the Confederate Army of North Virginia, which fought for slavery. It represents a government of States that seceded to safeguard slavery in the wake of the election of Abraham Lincoln. No-one can possibly deny that fact. So it doesn't mean anything 'wonderful', unless you're a died-in-the-wool supporter of the 'ideals' behind the Confederacy. Which was based on slavery.

originally posted by: Darkmind

originally posted by: jimmyx

originally posted by: ProfessorChaos

originally posted by: Rocker2013
You can't have it both ways. You can't preach about your freedoms and liberties while also suggesting that everyone else doesn't deserve freedoms and liberties. THAT is the ultimate hypocrisy.

That's interesting, because that seems to be exactly what you are proposing be done, by removing that flag; it may mean one thing to you, but it means something entirely different to many others.

so, if the confederate flag means something wonderful to white people, then it's fine....you just don't give a crap what it symbolizes to black people....got it, thanks for clearing that up

The symbolism is something that has me shaking my head in disgust. That flag was flown by the Confederate Army of North Virginia, which fought for slavery. It represents a government of States that seceded to safeguard slavery in the wake of the election of Abraham Lincoln. No-one can possibly deny that fact. So it doesn't mean anything 'wonderful', unless you're a died-in-the-wool supporter of the 'ideals' behind the Confederacy. Which was based on slavery.

uhmm, ok, then we agree...my apologies to you, I interpreted something different from your post.

a reply to: muse7

If the civil war had actually been about slavery that might mean something.
It was about economics and states rights.
Most southerners didn't own slaves . Many northerners did own slaves and lastly there were even quite a few blacks who also owned slaves.
Slaves weren't the issue at all.
At the height of the war slaves were considered contraband of war. They were taken in by union troops in the southern most union stronghold Fort Monroe Virginia. The thought was that after the war they would be returned to their owners.
No one planned that slavery would be abolished.in the end Lincoln did it to remove slaves from the access of southern states turning them out to fight. Lincoln decided he wanted that supply of bodies for the north.

Let's just ban flags altogether... and coleslaw... I hate coleslaw.

That should solve all of our problems. Maybe then white guys with bowl cuts will stop mass murdering people and inner city black folks will stop mass murdering each other.

originally posted by: Greathouse

originally posted by: JohnnyCanuck

originally posted by: Greathouse
I'm going to keep saying it until anybody listens. Everything that is being complained about now is not original it all has its place in history if you choose to look for it .

True...and the swastika has been in use since ancient times. It was co-opted by evil, and become representational of that evil. I see a parallel here. And yes...when Lincoln first freed the slaves, it was only those over which he had no authority. Slavery remained in the North for some time afterwards.

Nobody can deny that the Civil War was about much more than just slavery...but the Stars and Bars became a symbol of that institution, and it's best-before date was reached a long time ago.

You brought up an interesting fact thank you . The Emancipation Proclamation only covered slaves in the south . It amazes me sometimes how posters that never believe history or the story written by the victors. Tend to side with either source if it agrees with their opinion.

In addition, and this is an interesting tidbit, it did not free slaves in Northern held territory in the south and those slaves were used by the Northern Army for slave labor to get supplies off of ships, build roads and fortifications, etc.

The Proclamation applied only to slaves in Confederate-held lands; it did not apply to those in the four slave states that were not in rebellion (Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware, and Missouri, which were unnamed), nor to Tennessee (unnamed but occupied by Union troops since 1862) and lower Louisiana (also under occupation), and specifically excluded those counties of Virginia soon to form the state of West Virginia. Also specifically excluded (by name) were some regions already controlled by the Union army

The Union army used slave labor in attempt to dig canals around Vicksburg.
www.thepineywoods.com...

An interesting piece of history, one that is given short shrift by idealistic sound-bites.

...And liberals should pay fur their own lives.

But I don't see either happening soon mostly for the same reason.

a reply to: NavyDoc

Most idealist fall under the fourth unspoken rule of liberalism .

4) The past is always inferior to the present: Liberals tend to view traditions, policies, and morals of past generations as arbitrary designs put in place by less enlightened people. Because of this, liberals don't pay much attention to why traditions developed or wonder about possible ramifications of their social engineering. It’s like an architect ripping out the foundation of a house without questioning the consequences and if the living room falls in on itself as a result, he concludes that means he needs to make even more changes.

12 unspoken rules of liberalism

Doc give that link to read I think you'll like it .

a reply to: Greathouse

You've been corrected on that list many times.