Since the US can no longer offend anyone...

a reply to: icewater
Ice, let me take you a step further, Anthony Johnson was the first slave owner in America, and he was black.
It wasn't until almost 60 years later that whites were granted the ok to have black indentured servants, because they all had been treating US IRISH people so bad as slaves, and had heard how well the blacks were treated, they did away with owning us.
Now 1 step further, there were more black slave owners than white ones, the Democratic party fought tooth and nail to continue slavery and segregation(I just found this one out) and overturned laws Republicans laid down to end segregation.
Apparently Lincoln was not the good person everyone wants to dream him to be, he first wanted nothing to do with passing legislation to end slavery and was talked in to it. He set up also an opportunity to send them back, or work out their contracts and stay, the people that are here today are decendants(mostly) from ancestors that made the decision for them to stay here and be free. They wanted nothing to do with going back.
Last thing, I will get reparitions long before they will. It was their own that enslaved me first, so if they want to keep bringing up the subject, it will hurt them worse in the end. Many members of my family were brutally killed from torture and beatings at the hands of black slave owners. We have never uttered a word, but if they keep it up, we will. Their imaginary history lesson they have been trying to teach is coming to an end. If we can get past it, so can they.

I agree we can go overboard with trying to avoid offending people, but do you not think a flag that stands for the southern use of slavery might not legitimately offend black Americans and others? It was created specifically to represent those states that wanted to break away because of slavery.

No one has made it illegal, it's just not flying in state grounds.

Would you say that *offends* you?

Is the irony of using a WHITE flag in order to not offend largely Afro-American black people really that lost on people at ATS...? =/

originally posted by: paradoxious
I propose the US adopt a new flag: totally white without fringe, borders or any other adornments.

yeah i agree, it's not like your going to beat ISIS with your current state of thought, maybe back in the 80's we would have had a chance, but now, pfft. man we wouldnt want to offend anyone.
The greatest empire in the world hobbled by it's own political systems corruptnes, citizens ability to free speach.
If only the Romans or the Persians could see us now, they would belly laugh at our stupidity, so much fire power and to scared to use it. Empires that would march accross continents and quell uprisings without mercy to secure thier way of life and we, we are subject to this.
we will be ridiculed by historians for our ineptidute.

a reply to: paradoxious

I'm wondering whose talking point the "can't offend anyone" is. The term/phrase/idea is sure coming up a lot lately, even though you're free to offend as much as you want. As a matter of fact, it seems the people parroting the imaginary inability to offend are themselves more offended than a church lady in an S&M shop. So fragile & sensitive!

originally posted by: paradoxious
I propose the US adopt a new flag: totally white without fringe, borders or any other adornments.

Obama's already got that covered with his apology tour.

originally posted by: AlexJowls
Is the irony of using a WHITE flag in order to not offend largely Afro-American black people really that lost on people at ATS...? =/

Only to people who try to find racism in everything. A white flag is a traditional symbol of surrender.

This flag is a good idea.

a reply to: reldra

He sounds offended.

I'm a white male, born in a state that didn't even exist at the time of the Civil War. I watched Dukes of Hazzard as a kid. I don't personally care one way or another, but I get that my friends of color are upset about the flag, because of its history since civil rights forward, just like my Jewish friends are offended by the Swastika. For that reason alone, I am pro-let-it-go to a museum, and be done with it.

That said, the level of absolute butthurt on the pro-flag side has been astounding to me. Especially here in Colorado, which I have never previously associated with a big rebel / redneck presence. They just can't stop talking about how offended the "anti-flag" crowd is.

So I posted a cartoon of the Oatmeal this morning which basically describes the rebel flag on the back of a pick-up truck as an advertisement for "sister-lovin'."

Man, talk about offended. Lol.

a reply to: Peekingsquatch

Great point Squach. Lincoln was not that opposed to slavery but capitulated through the politics of ending the war. Of course it was the right thing to do....Even Great Britain had outlawed slavery by then. I have lived in several southern states and while I have seen guys still fly the confederate flag, not once have I heard of anyone regretting they couldn't own slaves or reminiscing about the good ol' days of slave ownership. That flag has always been a symbol of rebellion to those folks. Nothing more. As I posted previously, if the Civil War had been fought over slavery alone it would have been a very different war. Very Different.

But the notion of the U. S. being the evil slave country is a fallacy. Slavery was brought to us by Europeans and black slave marketers in Africa. They all get a pass. It is only the white folks who had nothing to do with slavery that are getting dragged into the controversy and being held responsible because of the color of their skin. Ironic isn't it?

originally posted by: icewater
a reply to: soekvg

Are you kidding? It practically is everywhere, particularly on the liberal west coast. Again the question is not, am I offended? Rather, it is "Do I have a right to be offended"?

What's the saying? "Your rights end where my feelings begin". Sad really.

And.....happy festivus!

Everyone is against the confederate battle flag - but that wasn't the flag of the confederacy - there were, in fact, 44 different confederate flags.

Since everyone wants to purge all record of slavery - and flags are part of that purge, we need to purge the country of the current US flag and the British Union Jack.

originally posted by: whyamIhere
For God sake not White...We are privileged enough.

Just make it Rainbow...

It means more than just a white flag.
It means you'll give up everything.

originally posted by: whyamIhere
For God sake not White...We are privileged enough.

Just make it Rainbow...

Well then change the color of the White House then.

It's RACIST!.

I take offense on the basis that I'm offended by the color white. Why does it have to be white?

You'd also be surrendering.

originally posted by: Darth_Prime
a reply to: TheLotLizard

When did we claim yellow?

It looks like you guys took all the colors.

A totally white flag would be racist because white people. We need one a flag with white, black, brown and yellow. The flag must have all colors on it in equal amount and no one color can be on top more than the others. It's the only way.

originally posted by: chuck258
A totally white flag would be racist because white people. We need one a flag with white, black, brown and yellow. The flag must have all colors on it in equal amount and no one color can be on top more than the others. It's the only way.

That sounds like a Karate class.

originally posted by: paradoxious
I propose the US adopt a new flag: totally white without fringe, borders or any other adornments.

The U.S. has invaded 69 countries since World War 2. The color of the flag means squat. Actions speak louder than flags.