The Confederate flag was used symbolically during the Civil War. To southerner’s, the flag represented a source of southern pride as well as a way of remembering the fallen Confederates. As the Civil War proceeded, the meaning of the flag began to change. Currently, the flag is being used as a symbol for racism. Due to this change in meaning, controversy over the flag has been exponentially growing. Although many would argue the original meaning behind the flag and that it is a symbol of historical culture that should not be forgotten, the flag should be banned due to its representation of racism and the seceding of the states. The Civil War was a battle between the northern states and the southern states. The southern states wanted to secede The Civil War was partly about slavery. Therefore, many use the flag as a symbol of hatred towards people of different descent, especially African Americans. The idea that “negro is not equal to the white man,” or white supremacy, has caused many racist attacks (Coates, 2015). Most of these attacks have involved the presence of a Confederate flag. Recently, Dylann Roof committed a gruesome attack on nine African American congregants at their local church during a bible study (Henderson, 2015). He claimed to have been motivated by the Confederate flag. Sadly, this violent attack provides a perfect example of the racism symbolically presented by the Confederate flag. However, some southerners would argue that the initial meaning of the Confederate flag had little association to anything (Prince, n.d.). The flag initially was viewed by many southern natives as a symbol of southern heritage and pride (World Book Student, 2016). As mentioned above, the flag was flown during the Civil War when southern states were attempting to secede from the northern states. For this reason, the flag is symbolic to southern natives because it symbolizes the beliefs of their ancestors; beliefs that many lost their lives for. Therefor, the flag presents a symbol of southern pride and With that being said, all Americans should be allowed to live in a country where they feel safe and free of hatred. If a historical symbol fuels hatred, violence, and fear then the display of such a symbol would only misinterpret the meaning of the land of the free. Although there are many pros and cons to the confederate flag, it is only just to ban the flag. One may argue that banning the flag would deny free expression, but hanging the flag also says that racism is acceptable and the pain, suffering and cruelty endured by the African Americans has no importance. The color of a person 's skins should not be an issue, just like how religion and gender should not be an issue. The flag is a silent way of saying that one agrees with racism and the seceding of our country. Consequently, the flag should be banned. The controversy of the confederate flag has been an issue for many years. Whether one believes in the historical importance of the flag or the negative symbolism of the flag, it is merely an opinion. However, even though there are many pros to the confederate flag, the cons seem to outweigh the
...more overpowering and overwhelming than any general feeling of Southern pride. America has obtained a reputation to be an accepting and open minded country, welcoming all of any race, couture and religion. The Preamble states clearly that America will establish justice and insure domestic tranquility for all. Neither of these entities are accomplished in America as long as the Confederate flag remains raised. Our nation is furthermore divided by racism through a flag that is possibly being used as a degradation tool. This battle with racism has become far too large for American citizens and anything that is viewed as racist in such a manner as the Confederate flag is, should be censored from society, in only a helpful practice. A state flag should be capable of uniting its citizens, instead of dividing them. The Confederate flag should be lowered immediately.
Although many corporations have contributed large sums of money to campaign for a new Mississippi flag, that would replace the existing 1894 Confederate flag and improve economic and racial relations throughout the state, chances are slim that a change will occur. Many Mississippians are simply not ready for change and few African-Americans are actually pushing for a change. Many Mississippians view the original flag as part of the state’s heritage and do not want to replace it with a new one. However, I believe it is in the best interest of the state of Mississippi to change the flag, not only to ease racial tensions, but also to boost economic conditions.
It only took one sentence to show how this “heritage” that many wish to preserve and hold dear was never harmless. The history that the Nazi flag holds is well known to be racist and is responsible for the deaths of millions of innocent people. When someone looks at the Nazi flag, they remember the concentration camps, the gas chambers, and the starving and diseased people. When someone looks at the Klu Klux Klan’s hood and cloak, they remember the lynchings, the murders, and the place that it still holds in today’s society. With the Confederate flag being coupled with a member of the KKK, it is hard to deny that the history that the flag holds is undoubtedly
The confederate battle flag, also known as the old Dixie flag strikes as a controversial topic. The flag sparks many ideas as to what it represents, symbolizes, and is viewed as by the general public. Given the the history behind the flag one should have a chance to see an explanation of the true meaning and history of the flag before choosing a stance. It will show the true meaning of America and history. The Dixie flag should not be banned or made illegal in any county, city or state. During the civil war the flag was created for the confederate states of the civil war to identify the soldiers of the south. Today many people view it as racist or as a white supremacist symbol. The true meaning of the war and why it was fought was not about
While the Civil War ended around one-hundred-and-fifty years ago, there are still remnants of the Confederacy today. The recent debate over the harm caused by the Confederate flag has sparked arguments by adamant advocates both for and against the display of the flag. Advocates for the flag, such as Christopher A. Cooper and H. Gibbs Knotts, argue that the flag is an innocent display of heritage for many people. Opponents of the flag, such as Joyce Ehrlinger et al., claim the flag is a blatant symbol of racism that incites hateful conduct toward blacks. To find a solution to this dilemma, these two sides must decide whether the Confederate flag is merely a symbol of southern heritage or if the flag is a subliminal message calling for a return
The removal of the flag supports the idea that citizens should forget the bloodiest battle on American soil. History is used to aid in the understanding of a complex nation. However, flying the flag as an emblem of white supremacy is undoubtedly wrong and inappropriate. Toleration should only be granted when the flag is flown for historical purposes. The flying of the Confederate flag reminds individuals that the soldiers’ lives then, just as soldiers’ lives from battles today, were not lost in vain.
(Costa-Roberts) Throughout the debate on banning the Confederate flag, the people still defending the Confederate flag are considered racist. The majority of the people flying the Confederate flag is not flying it for any form of racism. They are flying it because they are proud of their state's heritage. (Simon) Why would people be so protective of a flag? The flag has been in their life for so long. Imagine growing up watching The Dukes of Hazard with your family, or walking out the door every day on the way to school and seeing it flying on your front porch. “You grow fond of the image, it’s an attachment based on an affiliation with things they love. It’s easy to associate an image with feelings of happiness and therefore form a protective affinity for objects and symbols.”
The article begins with some background on the shooting in South Carolina and the domino effect it had. The South Carolina State House has the Confederate flag flying on its grounds and many people called for its removal. Store began to refuse to sell the flag in their stores and Alabama took the flag off of its capitol grounds. The Confederate flag was being removed from many different places in a haste. The author decided to follow a story in
Even after that talk of the flag died down until now. Recent events have been bringing the Confederate flag back up into questioning. The main event that has recently taken place is the shooting that took place at a church in South Carolina. A white man went to a “black” church, he sat down with them the whole service. he sat in the back quietly and waited until the end. After the service ended he then fired his gun. Nine people died(Eversley). The same thing happened two years ago, except it was a little worse. A black man came into a “white” church. Just like the white man, he sat down, went through the service with the people and at the end fired and killed people. In that situation only four people died. After he killed the people at the church he kidnapped his wife and then killed her(Cowbell). There is not much difference between the two scenarios. The only story that made the news was The first story. An anonymous person quoted this after one of the shootings. “The only reason someone could walk into a church and shoot people praying is out of pure hate.”(Eversley) That quote says it all. It said nothing about race or color or anything. But only the first story made the news because it was a white boy in a black church. After the story was on the news is when everyone said he did it to start a race war.
In conclusion, people should not take down confederate memorials as they are part of the history. They remind us of the cost of freedom and equality; they force us to remember the ignominious truth of the past; they serve as a mighty tool to educate the racists. We need them to avoid recommitting the same
Some people suggest that wearing the confederate flag in schools is offensive and racist also represents slavery. "It's a symbol of hate that's offensive to people," Crady said. They think this because of the history that is affiliated with it. This is not what they actually represent it represents heritage and tradition now a days. So People now get it confused with what it meant back then and now. The people who do not agree are worried and afraid of the old meaning and do not understand why it is worn
The former Georgia flag was a symbol of racism and bigotry. It was composed of the state's coat of arms and the cross of St Andrew. In the Civil War, the St. Andrew Cross was the battle flag of the provisional Army of the Confederate States of America's. It represented the Confederate State's willingness to fight and die for the continuance of the enslavement of fellow human beings. Knowing that a flag is highly symbolic and reflective of ourselves, we should not wish to contain such an emblem in our own flag; we should erase "...the last remaining vestige of days that are not only gone but also days that we have no right to be proud of" (Opdyke F1).
Due to these groups misusing the Confederate flag, it is causing people to think the flag is more racist than it is history. KKK used the Confederate flag as part of symbolize, but never actually used it in their rituals. White Supremacy like Dylan Roof often poses with the Confederate flag and cause a lot of mischief too many other Americans. November 2016, a policeman in Michigan actually had to quit because he was flying a Confederate flag on the back of his trucks. Dylan Roof posed with a Confederate flag before shooting up a church, and that caused the show Dukes of Hazzard because of the flag on the roof. (Allen) Groups like Neo-Nazi’s often use the Confederate flag displayed alongside swastikas and many other race hate motifs. No one actually knows why they use the Confederate flag to symbolize their hate crimes, but it is giving the flag a bad reputation and could cause us to repeat
content. A student cannot be stopped from displaying the flag in their own homes, but they can be reasonably limited in the context of a public school to protect other students from discrimination. In fact, they must be. If the flag can even be construed as a symbol of racist ideology, it should be banned in schools. Its racist message is not consistent with the ideology that schools represent and want to teach; moreover, it is the obligation of schools, both morally and legally, to protect minority students from anything that might hurt their well-being or distract from their educations. By allowing these flags in public places, government is allowing, if not endorsing, a deplorable and racist dogma, and forcing black students to face discrimination in an environment that should nurture and teach
“The defense of the Confederate flag as a mere historical object tells the black community that they are outside of society, and should fear attempts to be part of it.” The black community feels as though they are not fully apart of society, because there will always be something or someone that prevents it. The fact that this is a true is what we should pay attention to, not the fact that it is someone’s opinion. There needs to be a change but the flag is not the problem, the people are. The Confederate flag is not the only symbol used for hatred “ those hateful folks also commonly display the Christian cross and the American flag. Do those symbols also inspire