The issue of the confederate flag has been an important cultural discussion point for some years now, but has recently taken on even greater importance in light of recent hate crimes in South Carolina, as well as rampant police brutality and shootings across the country. Much of the discussion has been an argument between the two schools of thought being that either the flag is a symbol of cultural heritage and nothing more, and the other being that it is a symbol of systematic and violent racism that has no right being in a place of honor and reverence in today’s society. In a way both schools are correct. The Confederate flag is a symbol of southern cultural history; it also happens that that history is a history of systematic and violent racism, starting from the flag’s creation and on to its popular resurgence in the south at the time of desegregation and the civil-rights movement. …show more content…
A war which was started by southern slave-holding states in an attempt to cede from the Union because of northern meddling trying to take away their human property- enslaved people. Because without their human chattel southern plantation owners would take severely wound their personal finances. And so these people decided that their own prospects were more important than the human beings they presumed to own. I have tried to emphasize the fact of human slavery here because there are many who would deny it, saying that either slaves were not the reason for the cessation, or that the buying and selling and commodifying of human beings was “not that bad”. That is what the Confederate battle flag, the “Rebel Cross”, stood for in its days of
People have been fighting over a flag for far too long. It is cloth stained with dye on a pole. Why does something made with cloth and stitches have to separate a country based on freedom? Some people argue the Confederate flag is an item of racism, and should be banned from being flown. Others believe it is “just culture” and “heritage”, nothing more than an item of history that can be used for learning purposes and historical Reenactments.
Confederate Symbols—the subject of the white supremacists rally in Charlottesville, VA, and a counter protest in Durham, NC—should be banned in the United States. Many people argue that banning Confederate symbols would be considered a violation of the First Amendment; however, the author refutes this claim by saying that Confederate monuments are not a form of free speech and thus is not protected by the First Amendment. On why the Confederate symbols are very disturbing, the author says, “the racist ideologies behind [the Confederate flags] still pervade and control American society today, and the very existence of the flags and statutes is a slap in the face to all the progress American claims to have made where race is concerned.” This
The Confederate flag has been one the most controversial and divisive symbol in American history. Recently, in the wake of the Charleston church shooting, the country has been in an uproar of the confederate flag. The shooting sparked discussion on whether the flag is hateful or represents the south’s history and wanted the removal of the Confederate flag from the South Carolina state house. Many people believe that the confederate flag represents southern pride and southern history but in the mind of many others the flag represents slavery and the years and years of the oppression of African-Americans and other minorities. One of the reasons the confederate represents represents hate is that many hate-groups use it.
Recently, our country has been under scrutiny for racial discrimination. From police brutality to shootings at a church, America’s racial problems that were swept under the rug for so long have come back out into the light. After the raciallymotivated shooting of nine people in South Carolina, many petitions were made regarding the removal of Confederate flags and monuments, including the removal of the historic carving on the side of Stone Mountain, but I believe this would be a terrible mistake. The largest high relief sculpture in the world, the Confederate Memorial Carving, depicts three Confederate heroes of the Civil War, President Jefferson Davis and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson.
There was a move by the legislature in 1956 to incorporate a similar Confederate battle flag into the state flag. These legislators, who supported the segregation plans in defiance of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Brown V. Board of Education decision, also gave their support to changing the state flag to incorporate the Confederate battle flag (Cobb 111). , it’s simply ahistorical to deny the flags principal use in the 1960s was a segregationist symbol- and black Southerners haven’t
Even though it is supposed to be used as a memorial to fallen Civil war heroes, it is more commonly used as a hatred symbol in today’s society. This flag has caused many social issues throughout the country. On June 17th, 2015, Dylann Roof shot and killed nine people at a church in Charleston, South Carolina. When he was convicted, he admitted to only serving the Confederate flag. Of course this terrible thing sparked numerous debates about the confederate flag being waved at public places.
On Friday morning, July 10, 2015, the Confederate battle flag which was home to South Carolina 's Capitol grounds was cast down after 54 years. The flag was taken to South Carolina 's Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum. To many the flag was a banner of racial subjugation, and withheld a deeply painful meaning. The Confederate battle flag was designed to stick out, but it was never intended to be the political flag of the confederate states, although it was integrated into it over the course of the civil war. Today the battle flag consists of a blue St. Andrew 's cross with white stars on a red flag which was designed by politician William Porcher Miles, however it wasn 't always this way.
The Confederate Flag should not be able to fly anymore because it stands for racism and slavery, the flag displayed today never was the flag, and that flags are strong symbols. Many people, even today, display the Confederate flag. But why? And what does the flag even stand for?
A growing problem in the United States has been the removal of Confederate Civil War Memorials. When posed with the question “What should the United States do with/about Confederate Civil War memorials and statues?” I would side with those opposed to the removal. Today I will share with you my three main reasons why these Confederate Civil War memorials should not be removed. First, history repeats itself and if future generations cannot learn from the past we will be no better off in the future.
Confederate Monuments and flags are now causing alot of controversy on whether or not they should be taken down as they symbolize servitude and bigotry to many Americans. This entire issue can be seen from two different prespective. Many people want the the statues and flags to be removed because a monument by definition is a structure, statue or a building that's built to grant homage to someone notable or an event. That is to say these monuments are honoring men who fought a war to maintain slavery which stands againts the values of the American nation.
and it’s common to see the Confederate flag, from bumpers stickers, to belt buckles and even on many front porches. From my experience, the flag is very offensive because of the hate that it was used to symbolize. Others feel that Confederate flag represents southern
The confederate flag is immediately recognizable in the back window of a pickup truck or portrayed on the t-shirt for Lynrd Skynrd and Credence Clearwater, but has come under stark criticism. The argument is a multi-faceted assault, by, both restricting first amendment rights of free speech, restricting a symbol of southern heritage, and a person ’s right not to feel threatened by an assumed racist epithet. It is a simple piece of fabric, the red and blue Southern Cross, which divides a nation much as it did 150 years ago when it symbolized the fight against oppressive laws. Many believe that the Confederate Flag is representative of the patriots who were willing to sacrifice their lives to protect the nation and individual rights the founding fathers envisioned, however today, liberals and minorities have made the claim, the confederate flag is racist rather than a simple symbol of southern pride.
In the southern part of the United States, national news is being made by the removal of the Confederate statues. Some communities believe these statues are representing “white supremacy” and they should be removed. Other places think that these monuments are history and it provides learning for a better future. Monuments were not established just for honoring slavery. Some heroes that are displayed achieved other feats than just being a Confederate.
The Confederate flag is a contentious topic, creating a great amount of controversy. Recently, especially, over the course of this year, the question on whether U.S. citizens should be allowed to display the Confederate flag has been addressed throughout our society. Individuals who are in favor and defend the battle of the Confederate flag, state that this is only a symbol that represents their heritage and early America. However, this flag can additionally be as a symbol of hate. For instance, with reason, numerous American citizens believe this flag represents white supremacy and is extremely offensive.
In the news today, a continual debate can be found about the significance of Confederate monuments and if they should remain or be removed. Confederate monuments that have been erected throughout the U.S. should be kept because of the preservation of America’s history. For instance, in the article, The Unbearable Lightness of Confederate-Statue Removal, the author lists how slaveholder monuments aren’t the only statues being vandalized, but the Lincoln Memorial and Mount Rushmore are other symbols of U.S. history that some believe need to “blow up” (Murdock). Every historical symbol can have both people who appreciate it and who oppose it. That doesn’t mean that we should tear down all symbols, but