i have a problem with a confederate flag

Roll ModelRoll Model Posts: 70
edited August 2008 in A Moving Train
ok, so i live in a trailer park. i've come to peace with the idea a while ago.

i have a neighbor, across the street who has been flying a confederate flag this summer. i have called and complained to the park office 3 times, and she'll take it down for a couple days, then on fridays and for the weekend (when the office is closed) she' ll put it up again. so it's tues now and it's still up. of i knew how to upload pics here i would to show you all.

ok, i'm not black, but am equally offended by it. plus the neighbor right next door has a toddler that is obviously half black, and 2 doors down from me a lady has a grandson that stays with her alot is also half black. these people don't seem to mind at all, and actually make small talk with flag lady.

i would burn it in the night if i was sure her trailer wouldn't go up with it.
any advice??
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments

  • mammasanmammasan Posts: 5,656
    Leave her be. She has every right to fly that flag regardless of how it may make you feel.
    "When one gets in bed with government, one must expect the diseases it spreads." - Ron Paul
  • DerrickDerrick Posts: 475
    Could she fly a swastika too?
  • mammasanmammasan Posts: 5,656
    Derrick wrote:
    Could she fly a swastika too?

    Freedom of speech. It would definitely be offensive but we can't limit someone's freedom simply because we take offensive to what they are saying.
    "When one gets in bed with government, one must expect the diseases it spreads." - Ron Paul
  • kcherubkcherub Posts: 961
    Derrick wrote:
    Could she fly a swastika too?

    yes, I think she could.
    I still want you all to "take care"--I am just damn tired of typing it.

    http://www.youtube.com/user/kcherub#p/a/u/0/N-UQprRqSwo
  • angelm20angelm20 Posts: 142
    mammasan wrote:
    Freedom of speech. It would definitely be offensive but we can't limit someone's freedom simply because we take offensive to what they are saying.

    Well put! Amen~let it be.

    BUT~If it really bothers you that much~ YOU should make peace with it and talk to her. Some people dont see it representing racism. I just asked my black co-worker who agrees with me.
    She may not have even taken that in consideration. If you simply kindly say hi and inquire you may find that she doesnt intend it to be taken in that text. Just as being a rebel in general. Thats how I take it.
    Dont ever destroy property. Communication is the answer. If you find she is racist~then so be it~ at least your conscious/karma will be clear.
  • fuckfuck Posts: 4,069
    there are more serious problems than this. if you wanna make a difference, go volunteer somewhere.
  • slightofjeffslightofjeff Posts: 7,762
    She should take it down because it offends you? Are you listening to yourself?
    everybody wants the most they can possibly get
    for the least they could possibly do
  • pateljampateljam Posts: 340
    Roll Model wrote:
    ok, so i live in a trailer park. i've come to peace with the idea a while ago.

    i have a neighbor, across the street who has been flying a confederate flag this summer. i have called and complained to the park office 3 times, and she'll take it down for a couple days, then on fridays and for the weekend (when the office is closed) she' ll put it up again. so it's tues now and it's still up. of i knew how to upload pics here i would to show you all.

    ok, i'm not black, but am equally offended by it. plus the neighbor right next door has a toddler that is obviously half black, and 2 doors down from me a lady has a grandson that stays with her alot is also half black. these people don't seem to mind at all, and actually make small talk with flag lady.

    i would burn it in the night if i was sure her trailer wouldn't go up with it.
    any advice??

    You should fly a rainbow flag, that would hit a few nerves
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  • g under pg under p Surfing The far side of THE Sombrero Galaxy Posts: 18,209
    How large is this flag?

    In Palm Beach, Florida Donald Trump had a fight with the city about 25x30 or ft flag. I think he eventually won by paying a $100 or $10,000 fine either way that's chump change for him.

    That person has a right to fly that flag as long as it's not blocking out the sun. You can fly your own flag maybe one that symbolizes the Black Panther Party.

    Peace
    *We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti

    *MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
    .....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti

    *The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)


  • g under pg under p Surfing The far side of THE Sombrero Galaxy Posts: 18,209
    pateljam wrote:
    You should fly a rainbow flag, that would hit a few nerves

    Ain't that the truth. Just a few years ago I figured out what that flag meant, I had one on the back of my truck. My sister told you do know that's a gay community flag, I had no idea Iliked it cause it had all those colors in it. No wonder I was getting so many funny looks. :)

    Peace
    *We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti

    *MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
    .....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti

    *The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)


  • __ Posts: 6,651
    angelm19 wrote:
    Well put! Amen~let it be.

    BUT~If it really bothers you that much~ YOU should make peace with it and talk to her. Some people dont see it representing racism. I just asked my black co-worker who agrees with me.
    She may not have even taken that in consideration. If you simply kindly say hi and inquire you may find that she doesnt intend it to be taken in that text. Just as being a rebel in general. Thats how I take it.
    Dont ever destroy property. Communication is the answer. If you find she is racist~then so be it~ at least your conscious/karma will be clear.

    I agree with this. Being raised in the South, I was not taught that the confederate flag represented racism at all, but only that it represented southern pride. I've known black people to fly this flag.

    Of course, I understand why it would be considered a symbol of racism and, given that it is offensive, I wouldn't fly it. But maybe your neighbor doesn't see it that way at all. Why not ask her (in a non-confrontational, non-condescending kind of way)? Either way, she has a right to fly it.
  • peacegirlpeacegirl Posts: 841
    I agree with most of the posts here
    Although it may offend you, she has every right to fly that flag
    and I don't think destroying her property, or anyone's property, is ever a good idea
  • _outlaw wrote:
    there are more serious problems than this. if you wanna make a difference, go volunteer somewhere.

    Big problems start small.
  • fuckfuck Posts: 4,069
    Big problems start small.
    I'm not asking him to dismantle a bomb, I suggested he volunteer somewhere...
  • meisteredermeistereder Posts: 1,577
    It's sort of a free speech issue, but not really. I don't know if there is any state action trying to stop this lady from flying her flag. If not, it's not a free speech issue.

    The issue is whether the OP is offended by the flag. He says he is. Does the lady have the right to fly it? Probably. There are actually a lot of cases on the confederate flag and also swastika flags. The gyst of them is you can fly them, but you can't cross the line to "hate speech." Of course, many argue that just by flying those flags, you are engaging in hate speech. The counter-argument is that the flag does not represent hate, but rather southern pride or whatever. That argument is harder to make with the swastika, but even that, the courts have generally held, can be an offensive but protected form of speech.

    Again, all of that is only relevant if there is some sort of state action in play.

    On a final note, the flag of West Hollywood is a rainbow flag, and here no one finds that remotely offensive. It's interesting that some parts of the country are so offended by gay rights. I mean, I am a straight guy, but what do I care if someone is flying a gay pride flag?
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  • g under p wrote:
    Ain't that the truth. Just a few years ago I figured out what that flag meant, I had one on the back of my truck. My sister told you do know that's a gay community flag, I had no idea Iliked it cause it had all those colors in it. No wonder I was getting so many funny looks. :)

    Peace
    ha thats funny.
    it took me awhile to figure out why all those rainbow flags were flying outside of the bars on the end of Bourbon street when i was young.
  • confederate flags are as common as american flags where i'm from. many white southerners dont see it as racist, many do. many outside of the south seem to see this as a lie, but its really not. a lot just see it as a symbol of rebellion, and the more outsiders bitch about it, the more they cling to it.

    i think a lot of people tried to "take it back" and make it a more positive symbol, but its just too tainted by dumbass rednecks to even bother with. its pretty stupid to me.
  • Approach her in a friendly neighborly manner and insist that the flag be hung properly.

    Tell her there are specific ways to properly display her confederate flag and that she is not following thesouthern pride codes for proper display.

    Tell her it needs to be hung from a pole no shorter than 15 feet in length.

    Then tell her it needs to be properly planted...








































    ...up her racist ass :D
    the Minions
  • Uncle LeoUncle Leo Posts: 1,059
    Did the park make her take it down? It is possible that there is a homeowner association type of situation that when you buy there, you have to abide by the rules--not government enforced, but "neighbor" or "association" enforced. If the association (or trailer park or whatever) has that rule, then I guess you are within your rights to complain and get it down. I wonder what the rule would be. Using "offensive" is a very difficult line to draw.

    Most places have zoning rules (that may prohibit commercial signage, for example, so you can't put a Coca Cola billboard in your front yard. Most here would disagree with those rules, but they do exist), but it would be very hard to prevent this. The reason is that content based rules generally get struck down in court. Your city would have an easier time banning all flags then "some" flags. And since lots of people like to put up American flags, they are not going to do that.

    I know this. I would not want to look at the confederate flag all day. Thankfully not too many fly in Minnesota. I would figure out what flag may offend this person most (French, UN, or something) and fly it.

    It's tough to prevent this because of the slippery slope. Someone on this board once said "people think they have a right to not be offended." We have no such right.
    I cannot come up with a new sig till I get this egg off my face.
  • put an Obama 08 sign in your yard....
    the Minions
  • CosmoCosmo Posts: 12,225
    Roll Model wrote:
    ok, so i live in a trailer park. i've come to peace with the idea a while ago.

    i have a neighbor, across the street who has been flying a confederate flag this summer. i have called and complained to the park office 3 times, and she'll take it down for a couple days, then on fridays and for the weekend (when the office is closed) she' ll put it up again. so it's tues now and it's still up. of i knew how to upload pics here i would to show you all.

    ok, i'm not black, but am equally offended by it. plus the neighbor right next door has a toddler that is obviously half black, and 2 doors down from me a lady has a grandson that stays with her alot is also half black. these people don't seem to mind at all, and actually make small talk with flag lady.

    i would burn it in the night if i was sure her trailer wouldn't go up with it.
    any advice??
    ...
    I'm on the 'Let It Go' side.
    This is still America and Freedom of Speech applies.
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  • Stone Is GodStone Is God Posts: 1,331
    Funny how certain things mean different thing to different people.

    The Confederate flag is a sign of Southern pride not racism. It has been adopted by racist idiots because the South supported slavery and not giving black people rights. This, just as the Rainbow flag has been adopted by the gay/lesbian community when in my mind it stands more for diversity and it has had numerous meanings in the past.

    One of the major problems with the country that we live in is that everyone gets offended by every, little, tiny thing. If you live long enough you're eventually going to get offended by something. Just suck it up and deal with it. Life is too short to cry about what someone else is doing.
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me.
  • How would you feel if someone told you you couldn't freely express your opinion? I mean, look Roll Model, you called me a retard in another thread. You have every right to, even though it's an erroneous claim and you're simply angry that you can't retort a point made that offended you.

    People can say what they want.
  • fanch75fanch75 Posts: 3,734
    MrSmith wrote:
    confederate flags are as common as american flags where i'm from. many white southerners dont see it as racist, many do. many outside of the south seem to see this as a lie, but its really not. a lot just see it as a symbol of rebellion, and the more outsiders bitch about it, the more they cling to it.

    i think a lot of people tried to "take it back" and make it a more positive symbol, but its just too tainted by dumbass rednecks to even bother with. its pretty stupid to me.

    There you go.

    White person topics covered in this thread:

    - Being offended on the behalf of another race
    - Having black friends
    - Having gay friends
    Do you remember Rock & Roll Radio?
  • LizardkingLizardking Posts: 936
    Derrick wrote:
    Could she fly a swastika too?


    Yes, both flags might get your there mobile burned to the ground, but many people died so we can say what we want and fly what ever flag we want. Your freedom is getting to tell the guy he is an asshole!!!
    Lizardking

    http://www.myspace.com/lizardkings1

    (This Post May Have Been Edited By AT&T)
  • puremagicpuremagic Posts: 1,907
    Roll Model wrote:
    ok, so i live in a trailer park. i've come to peace with the idea a while ago.

    i have a neighbor, across the street who has been flying a confederate flag this summer. i have called and complained to the park office 3 times, and she'll take it down for a couple days, then on fridays and for the weekend (when the office is closed) she' ll put it up again. so it's tues now and it's still up. of i knew how to upload pics here i would to show you all.

    ok, i'm not black, but am equally offended by it. plus the neighbor right next door has a toddler that is obviously half black, and 2 doors down from me a lady has a grandson that stays with her alot is also half black. these people don't seem to mind at all, and actually make small talk with flag lady.

    i would burn it in the night if i was sure her trailer wouldn't go up with it.
    any advice??


    Tell everyone her flag was made in China and rip it down because no true Southern flies a Confederate flag made in commy China. Then start a bon fire and burn the fake flag; then make her walk the punch line while singing Nobody Knows the Troubles I've Seen.

    Better yet, get over it. It seems your the only one stirring up problems where there seems to be none.
    SIN EATERS--We take the moral excrement we find in this equation and we bury it down deep inside of us so that the rest of our case can stay pure. That is the job. We are morally indefensible and absolutely necessary.
  • tybirdtybird Posts: 17,388
    Freedom of speech.....just watch what you say. :p
    All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
  • I think you should go out and buy a confederate flag and put it up on yer trailer. Show some community spirit!

    The confederate flag represents a significant historical movement in our nation. Leftists often claim that all the stars and bars stands for is racism and slavery, but that's not the case. Abraham Lincoln produced the emancipation proclamation only for the South, not the North. Though there were slaves in border states such as Maryland (where Frederick Douglass lived). And they weren't freed until the 13th amendment (I believe) was ratified.

    The Southerners who fought for their beliefs were not rebels - they believed they were fighting for the cause that the original founders believed in. The founders believed they were fighting a foreign government that sought to impose its will on the people. Southern states viewed Lincoln as an aggressor who sent troops into his own country and against his own people.

    There is far more complexity to the confederate flag than meets the eye, and most people who fly it are not racists, as you clearly stated: the lady who owns it speaks to the mixed-race family nearby.
    All I know is that to see, and not to speak, would be the great betrayal.
    -Enoch Powell
  • g under pg under p Surfing The far side of THE Sombrero Galaxy Posts: 18,209
    puremagic wrote:
    Tell everyone her flag was made in China and rip it down because no true Southern flies a Confederate flag made in commy China. Then start a bon fire and burn the fake flag; then make her walk the punch line while singing Nobody Knows the Troubles I've Seen.

    Better yet, get over it. It seems your the only one stirring up problems where there seems to be none.

    :D Funny :D

    Peace
    *We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti

    *MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
    .....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti

    *The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)


  • a confederate flag in a trailer park? i cant believe that.
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