Confederate Flag Ban: At last after 150 years in the path for the civil rights fight?

The Peace of God to all that belong to the light,
Dear Readers,

We all have seen when an era of Tyranny ends in History, how the symbols of it are for ever banned or even destroyed.

That happened at the siege of Berlin in 1945 in the ending the Third Reich in Germany, when all the Swastikas were removed from public buildings or destroyed, or when the Red flag of the Soviet union was removed from the Kremlin in 1991, and many giant monuments to Lenin, Marx and Stalin were removed from public spaces, as well as when the Berlin wall was demolished in 1990 by the crowds, or when the infamous Francoist Eagle was removed from Spain Flag in 1977 or the Stalinist Coat of Arms from the Romanian one in 1989.

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Well, perhaps this can be surprising by many but it seems that the moment to turn its back to a horrible page of the national past definitively has arrived for America, that for what we are seeing it looks is ready to decide to move a so dark page of History for ever and in a definitive closure of the long fight against Slavery, discrimination, harassment of minorities , of segregation of all kind.

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This week a genocide in a Church in South Carolina, by a fanatic racist, triggered the debate for the definitive ending of the use of a flag that symbolizes certainly a regional identity, as well as the worst tyranny ever existed in America: The Slavery and discrimination supported in racial supremacy.

If this political momentum prevails it took 150 years since the civil war to understand that the Confederate flag does not have anymore place in the public life of America. Ironically it was precisely in South Carolina on December 24, 1860 that this flag started be used as a symbol of secession to support racial supremacy.

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The confederate flag has been in use commonly in public buildings as a symbol of Southern pride, it is even part of the flags of various States of the South, and it was curiously present among the people that was in the Dallas Airport on the infamous November 22nd of 1963 when President John F. Kennedy arrived to his date with death.

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This flag was used not only a symbol of cultural identity for an entire region of the country but also by the extreme right wing in the 1960s, as it was for instance in Dallas just few weeks before of the day in which America lost its innocence, during the tremendous humiliation to the US ambassador in UN Mr. Al Stevenson when he was attacked by fanatic crooks trying to boycott a public event organized to support Kennedy reelection.

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What ever happened with this flag, anyway this week we are witnessed a Historic occasion when the second American Revolution, the one of the civil rights we are living, has moved a Southern governor, of the State where the civil war began, to request the definitive ban of this flag and even changed the mentality of who profited a lot of to maintain alive these symbols of hatred and segregation.

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Of course if this change finally become reality it would not arrive without needing a last and ultimate battle to remove for ever the symbolism that was behind segregation in the country, since there are sectors that resist it , and have decided to conspire against a change that now appears as unavoidable , in the name of a southern cultural identity, that they claim needs to use these kind of symbols, to maintain a cultural control over the population.

The League of the South, for instance, which is pushing for secession, is also planning a protest in Columbia this weekend, though it has not announced details.

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at 52 Years of Kennedy Assassination it is difficult to avoid to think in his so famous Secret societies speech while listening these fundamentalist leaders, or can we also say sectarianism advocates, that are accused to be secessionists by some, to try to defend their right to continue using their beloved symbols.

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This thread of course is open for the free discussion of this Historic moment in the American life, naturally within the boundaries of the
norms of decorum and mutual respect in the replies.

What do you think? is America ready to bury for ever the Confederate flag, as symbol of hatred or segregation, giving a definitive Yes to the Civil rights National identity over a culture of regionalism that resist to disappear or Not?

Thanks for your attention,

the Angel of Lightness

You seem sweet....hope this goes how you wish.

Anyway, if the flag really meant anything to those who support it then they would be out in the streets now looting and rioting. There is ample justification for it, at least in there minds, but it's obvious only a very vocal minority cares about this issue at all.

Say what you want about black america, at least they act and give voice to their anger. The worst parts of White America just simmers until its time to shoot a dozen unarmed strangers. Hence why they complain the most about gun control, many of its most vigorous supporters want it to remain an option for when "# hits the fan"

There is definitely a wave moving across the country regarding this. There is now discussions about changing park names, street names, schools, mascots, etc....anything with the name Robert E. Lee or Jefferson Davis.

Confederate president Jefferson Davis is memorialized in the South through myriad monuments and statues. He's inside the Capitol's marbled Statuary Hall. His "White House" is open to tourists in Richmond. And there's a highway in South Carolina named for him.

But at a press conference on Tuesday, in the midst of a national debate over the propriety of Confederate images, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell identified one place where Davis shouldn't be: the Capitol building in his home state of Kentucky.

A statue of Davis stands alongside former President Abraham Lincoln—his Civil War adversary—and other Kentucky-born leaders. After last week's deadly shooting at a historically black church in Charleston, South Carolina, images emerged of the suspected gunman's affinity for the Confederate flag, spurring debate over whether the Confederate symbol should be represented on state property.

According to reporters at the news conference, McConnell said that a "more appropriate" location for the Davis statue would be a state museum.

www.nationaljournal.com...

Also Tuesday, Minority Leader Harry Reid said the mascot and nickname of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas—the Runnin' Rebels—should be reconsidered by the school's Board of Regents. The school is well aware of its branding's ties to the Confederacy.

Now if we can get "the people" behind taking down the National Flag and all state flags. Don't forget about the big genocide the US/Europe executed (Native Americans). How do you think we feel looking at the National Flag (no one cares)? All that American portrays of that time is "Thanksgiving" (pilgrims/natives hand in hand). D.C wont even change their football teams name! How is that for civil rights.
See how far this could go? There is an agenda driving this, I think it's to spur more division between blacks and whites.

a reply to: queenofswords

Seriously, as a long time resident of Vegas I am totally cool with us changing the name of the Rebels. They suck anyway.

I say we just call em the Tarkanians.......that would be awesome.

a reply to: The angel of light

A star and flag is deserved for this thread.

We all like to think that the major positive changes in how society operates happened in the 1940's. But truth be be known, we are still to this very day just a primitive form of life, without a clue on how to run a truly fair & just society.

I don't agree with fully banning the confederate flag, because that would be a violation to freedom of speech. But it would be a very positive move for government not to recognizes it, as a significant symbol.

a reply to: The angel of light

Do we, at last, still get to keep the history books? Or do those get banned as well.

I mean, I get it, you want to ban the flag, everyone wants to ban the flag. But what will "they" want to ban next?

What'll be on the list?

Gadsden Flag? The Tea Party co-opted that one.
Rainbow Flag? I'm sure there are some anti-gay folks love to see that gone.
The Skull and Crossbones? Pirates? We want to glorify pirates?


I'll say it here as well, my next prediction is that MSNBC will blur the image of the Confederate Flag.

a reply to: beezzer

I hope they don't ban my avatar (rebel flag from Star Wars).

originally posted by: AmericanZombie
a reply to: beezzer

I hope they don't ban my avatar (rebel flag from Star Wars).

Sorry, it offends me.

It gottsa go!

originally posted by: queenofswords
There is definitely a wave moving across the country regarding this. There is now discussions about changing park names, street names, schools, mascots, etc....anything with the name Robert E. Lee or Jefferson Davis.

Confederate president Jefferson Davis is memorialized in the South through myriad monuments and statues. He's inside the Capitol's marbled Statuary Hall. His "White House" is open to tourists in Richmond. And there's a highway in South Carolina named for him.

But at a press conference on Tuesday, in the midst of a national debate over the propriety of Confederate images, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell identified one place where Davis shouldn't be: the Capitol building in his home state of Kentucky.

A statue of Davis stands alongside former President Abraham Lincoln—his Civil War adversary—and other Kentucky-born leaders. After last week's deadly shooting at a historically black church in Charleston, South Carolina, images emerged of the suspected gunman's affinity for the Confederate flag, spurring debate over whether the Confederate symbol should be represented on state property.

According to reporters at the news conference, McConnell said that a "more appropriate" location for the Davis statue would be a state museum.

www.nationaljournal.com...

Also Tuesday, Minority Leader Harry Reid said the mascot and nickname of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas—the Runnin' Rebels—should be reconsidered by the school's Board of Regents. The school is well aware of its branding's ties to the Confederacy.

Besides the above and retailers, there's calls to remove busts, memorials, etc also.

How about Stone Mountain, GA?

a reply to: dreamingawake

A park in Portland Oregon with confederate symbols is being changed now.

a reply to: The angel of light

Are they trying to erase history for future generations ?

originally posted by: scubagravy
a reply to: The angel of light

Are they trying to erase history for future generations ?

Nope.

They're "white-washing" it.

a reply to: beezzer

No need to ban the history books when they can be rewritten to suit the needs of the times

originally posted by: beezzer
a reply to: The angel of light

Do we, at last, still get to keep the history books? Or do those get banned as well.

.

I don't want to ban the flag...But the designer of said flag should have his words included in all history books.

His words....

As a people, we are fighting to maintain the Heaven-ordained supremacy of the white man over the inferior or colored race; a white flag would thus be emblematical of our cause… Such a flag…would soon take rank among the proudest ensigns of the nations, and be hailed by the civilized world as THE WHITE MAN'S FLAG... As a national emblem, it is significant of our higher cause, the cause of a superior race.

- William T Thompson

I can see how some folks might be offended.

This is turning in to a historical witch hunt mentality is what's going on. America was based on freedoms, which includes the right to use words and symbols. Perhaps to you the Confederate flag represents slavery and oppression but my ancestors who fought for the South didn't own any slaves. They fought under that flag and if I were to fly it, it would be to honor their memory. As an American I have those rights. Public buildings are a different matter so far as the flag goes but this is getting too carried away.

If some people had their way every last public vestige of the Confederacy would be wiped away - is this really how we should treat our history? Just destroy it all because someone says they're offended? The Native Americans could demand the same of just about everything under the sun since White man came and imposed his will on over 400 different tribes that once inhabited this vast North American continent. Maybe they should remove every public trace of both White and Black people since they displaced their tribes?

It's not a question of right or wrong here. We cannot sit here in moral judgment over 9 million people who lived 150 years ago and smear all their memories because 50,000 White Southerners and a few hundred Black Southerners who owned slaves. It is the equivalent of blaming all of us for the war in Iraq an Afghanistan.

I have a feeling this is going to get way out hand and many people will resent it highly.

a reply to: olaru12

What? The truth? Actual history?

It's the only thing I'd find acceptable.

a reply to: Asktheanimals

Keep it in the history books, fly it on your car, where a shirt and get the sweet tattoo.

Just let's keep it off our government buildings.

If we want to talk about the dirty history of the american flag we can.

But last time I checked that makes you a no good commie who hates the military, cops, puppies and apple pie.

a reply to: olaru12

I don't want to ban the flag either.

I doubt some of Lincoln's more racist verbiage will ever see a history book either though.

Should the Union flag be lowered and burned as well?