confederate flag: offensive or historical?

mcgruff10
mcgruff10 New Jersey Posts: 29,145
edited May 2013 in A Moving Train
I'm an 8th grade teacher in New Jersey and my class saw a segment today about a kid being suspended for wearing a shirt with the confederate flag on it. What do you guys think, is the flag offensive or is it historical? Just looking for everyone's opinion. Thanks.

Mike
I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments

  • JimmyV
    JimmyV Boston's MetroWest Posts: 19,604
    If the flag is preserved in a museum or on display as part of an exhibit, then it is historical. If someone is wearing it as a shirt or displaying it outside their home it is not historical. I wouldn't be offended by it but it is not a historical display. It is a political display.
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  • BinauralJam
    BinauralJam Posts: 14,158
    It's Both for some people.

    It's Offensive to some people.

    It's historical for some people.

    Getting suspended for wearing it is ridiculous.
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,674
    Every now and then I see this ratty old pick up with this huge confederate flag flying from it. What do I think? Well, like Carlin once said, that kind of thing is for the symbol minded.
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    -Roberto Benigni

  • ryph raph
    ryph raph Posts: 887
    Losers of conflicts are not allowed to fly the banner under which their army was defeated.You don't see people displaying the Nazi flag of Germany or the rising sun of Japan. Nothing good will ever come out of the south. :mrgreen:
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  • kw18
    kw18 Posts: 3,909
    I don't see it as an "either/or" question -- something historical can be offensive.

    Offense is subjective. Like BJ said, it will depend on the person.
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  • kw18
    kw18 Posts: 3,909
    ryph raph wrote:
    Losers of conflicts are not allowed to fly the banner under which their army was defeated.You don't see people displaying the Nazi flag of Germany or the rising sun of Japan. Nothing good will ever come out of the south. :mrgreen:

    re: the Nazi flag, the swastika is illegal in Germany, and many other countries.
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  • Kevinman
    Kevinman Atlanta, GA USA Posts: 1,921
    My opinion: offensive.
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  • mikepegg44
    mikepegg44 Posts: 3,353
    historically offensive?

    I am only offended when I see someone with that in their window here in MN and I know the reasons they have it and it has nothing to do with Southern Heritage.

    Offended probably isn't the right word...angered is more like it...
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  • Kevinman
    Kevinman Atlanta, GA USA Posts: 1,921
    mikepegg44 wrote:
    historically offensive?

    I am only offended when I see someone with that in their window here in MN and I know the reasons they have it and it has nothing to do with Southern Heritage.

    Offended probably isn't the right word...angered is more like it...


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  • Godfather.
    Godfather. Posts: 12,504
    historical.

    Godfather.
  • Jason P
    Jason P Posts: 19,327
    historical, offensive, and awesome. depends on what prism it is viewed from.

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  • josevolution
    josevolution Posts: 31,800
    Historical till the KKK got a hold of it then it became a symbol of bigotry & hate .....So when i see it that is what comes to mind ...
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  • pandora
    pandora Posts: 21,855
    The Confederate Flag represents all kinds of feelings. My little town the site
    of battles and much history.

    I have actually known more prejudice people in the North than I have in
    my time here in the South. Far more segregated living too.
    I don't assume someone displaying this historic flag to be doing so out of hate.
  • Jason P
    Jason P Posts: 19,327
    This mountain carving in Georgia which features Confederate Generals is getting some debate on whether it should be eliminated.

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRshADuy1piyEq8n-MsnuLpDlsdOvQo02uCnOqnnVgu7dW5d55C

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQNShTP2Snjx--1Q9fyEeFu1J8rHqNr2bpBs0uLU7LiTW4e4PpR

    It's huge! I can't believe I had never heard of it before.

    It started carving in 1928 and finished in 1972. It measures 90 feet by 200 feet.
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  • Who Princess
    Who Princess out here in the fields Posts: 7,305
    I'm a Texan (and therefore Southern even tho not the deep South) and my dad belonged to the Sons of the Confederacy. I think the flag is offensive because of the way it's been misused. There are better ways to remember history than to display a flag that's been associated with groups who use it to show hate.
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  • JTH
    JTH Chicago Posts: 3,238
    http://youtu.be/6PgybnWsbJM

    Look, here comes another one, 4-wheel-drive.
    Look there in the window, man. Sakes alive.
    That good old boy's waving the stars and bars.
    It's a red, white and blue flag, but it ain't ours.

    Wave that flag, hoss. Wave it high.
    Do you know what it means? Do you know why?
    Maybe being a rebel ain't no big deal
    But if somebody owned your ass, how would ya feel?

    I'm a different kind, but I'm a rebel, too.
    Like to do my own thing, man. How 'bout you?
    You can whistle "Dixie" all day long.
    If the tables turned, wouldn't you hate that song?

    Wave that flag, hoss. Wave it high.
    Do you know what it means? Do you know why?
    Maybe being a rebel ain't no big deal
    But if somebody owned your ass, how would ya feel?

    Wave that flag, hoss. Wave it high.
    Do you know what it means? Do you know why?
    Maybe being a rebel ain't no big deal
    But if somebody owned your ass, how would you feel?

    How would ya feel?
    How would ya feel?
    How would ya feel?

    Look, here comes another one, 4-wheel-drive.
    Look there in the window, man. Sakes alive.
    That good old boy's waving the stars and bars.
    It's a red, white and blue flag, but it ain't ours.
  • riotgrl
    riotgrl LOUISVILLE Posts: 1,895
    The Confederate flag was created in 1861 as the flag of the seceded Confederate States. Why did they secede? Over states rights. Which state right was under debate? Oh yeah, slavery. This is NOT a symbol of southern heritage unless you still want to secede from the union which the Supreme Court ruled was unconstitutional. As someone said before, I am not offended I am angered by the fact that people not only continue to display the flag but that people still defend its use.
    Are we getting something out of this all-encompassing trip?

    Seems my preconceptions are what should have been burned...

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  • Jeanwah
    Jeanwah Posts: 6,363
    edited May 2013
    It depends on how it's used, but in people waving the flag at the homes or out of the trucks? The first thing I think of is that someone still refuses to accept that the North won the Civil War, and that we're all still one country.
    Post edited by Jeanwah on
  • JonnyPistachio
    JonnyPistachio Florida Posts: 10,219
    The boys with the confederate flags in Florida... we know where they're coming from.
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  • pandora
    pandora Posts: 21,855
    riotgrl wrote:
    The Confederate flag was created in 1861 as the flag of the seceded Confederate States. Why did they secede? Over states rights. Which state right was under debate? Oh yeah, slavery. This is NOT a symbol of southern heritage unless you still want to secede from the union which the Supreme Court ruled was unconstitutional. As someone said before, I am not offended I am angered by the fact that people not only continue to display the flag but that people still defend its use.
    It is a symbol to some who lost family in the fight. Whether they agree it was a good fight or not
    they will defend the memory of those lost. It is a matter of family, pride and courage,
    worthy things to defend.
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