By the way, what they call the Confed Battle Flag, ISN"T.

[Tyler Durden]

I've heard so much "heritage, history, pride" BULLSHIT surrounding the version of "Stars and Bars" commonly called "The Confederate Flag."

Some have even TRIED to legitimize it by calling it "The Confed BATTLE FLAG."

Let me completely demolish your illusions.

THIS:



Is the Confederate Army Battle Ensign.

THIS:



Is the CONFEDERATE NAVAL JACK. It was used IDENTICALLY to the UNION NAVAL JACK:



and ONLY flown on the bow Jackstaff of a Naval vessel.

The reason it was chosen for the ensign of the racist movements in the United States, predominantly in the South, is because of its rectangular shape similar to the flag of the United States. The SQUARE shape of the Battle Ensign was SMALLER than the US flag and therefore unacceptable as a symbol.

NOW can anyone who wants to defend the "Confederate Flag" as a "heritage" defend THIS ONE:



as supported and directed not only by the United Confederate Veterans
New Orleans, Louisiana June 03, 1906, but by "Committee on a Proper Flag for the Confederate States of America," appointed by the Provisional Congress, in its report of March 4th, 1861.

OR shut up.


http://www.pointsouth.com/csanet/flagregs.htm

[DrGonzoLives]

1. Feel better now?

Let me ask you and others who hate any flag related to the Confederacy - I assume you all support the ability of an American to burn a flag as a free-speech issue (which is correct). The general vibe I get from people on that side of the argument is that a flag is really just a piece of cloth, and what rellay matters are the actual freedoms we have, not some symbol, etc.

So, then, is not the Confederate flag the same thing? A piece of cloth? And that what is more important is the sentiment behind those who use it for racist purposes?

To answer the flames that will arise from this: no, I'm not from the South, I'm not racist. Hopefully someone can engage this topic intelligently, though I do realize I'm in GD.

[Tyler Durden]

2. I DO NOT hate the flags of the confederacy.

What I DO hate is historical opinion being passed off as historical FACT.

You can BELIEVE all day long that Washington threw a silver dollar across the Patomac (contrary to the FACT that not only is it physically IMPOSSIBLE, but that a Silver Dollar did not exist when Washington was the tender age this supposedly happened), but YOU CANNOT PUBLISH IT AS FACT AND EXPECT ME TO RESPECT IT.

What WAS is what WAS, and if you romanitcize it, then you might as well revive the "Horst Wessel Song" just because one might think it has a catchy tune.

[Tyler Durden]

4. Didn't mean to push your button, Gonz...

Insisting on historical FACTS is one of the drawbacks in having been a History Minor.

[DaveinMD]

3. people can fly whatever flag they want

the issue is state's sanctioning the flying of a racist flag. Confederate flags came back in to play during the civil rights era as southern states opposed desegregation.

[comsymp]

5. As did the cross

/just sayin'
//not that either had entirely gone away prior to desegregation

[Tyler Durden]

6. Like every other amatuer historian....

IT'S ALWAYS THE SEMANTICS that drive me nuts.

But if you don't call something by it's proper name, NEWSPEAK is right around the corner...no?

[Rainbowreflect]

7. I look at it this way. Anyone has the right to fly the confederate flag.

And I have the right to find them disgusting for it.
That said I do not believe that any government building should ever fly a flag that represents such racism.

[Tyler Durden]

8. I don't want to look PICKY here....

But I don't pick up the pennant of the 7th Cavalry and DEMAND that it be called the United States Flag.

Similarly, what is displayed as "The Confederate Flag" is NOT THAT ITEM.

I only insist clubs be called clubs and spades be called spades.

So to speak.

[Bridget Burke]

9. You'd think the folks into "history" & "tradition"....

Could at least get their facts straight.

[leftofthedial]

10. I got your jackstaff right here, pal!

the south will rise again dood

and we'll kick your yankee ass.

NASCAR and Lee Greenwod ROOL!

Gawd bless the USA and the confederate battle thingy.