Posted on 04/27/2006 5:53:50 AM PDT by Guard Dog
And he was right to do so, although not for the reason he expects I think. If so many people were not utterly ignorant of history, this would have been a bigger news event, complete with screaming protests from the PC crowd. Ironicly what most consider the "Confederate Flag" or "Southern Cross" was never a national symbol of the CSA, but a version of the battle standard. The reason I found this article interesting is that the very cause of the civil war was the dispute over true "federalisim", state autonomy, and the role of the central government. That is a debate still being had today, especially with the potential overturn of Roe v Wade on the horizon.
Dixie ping
Keep it quiet though... Now they're gonna wanna ban this one too....
Prepare for the arrival of the 'secession is treason' trolls and their associates. A group that is as tiresome and even more self righteous than the 'Lincoln was a fascist' faction here at FR.
I just fly the Bonnie Blue or First National. That opens the door to conversation and education instead of anger and resistance.
Also, I know some black men who are historical reenactors. They fly the usual Confederate "battleflag," the naval jack, at educational occasions, which they call "living history". Then they explain why to the visitors, who I am told are shocked. This is in Maryland and northern Virginia.
The dolts probably thought it was a Cuban flag. Otherwise, they'd have been in high dudgeon.
There's just no reason to continue reading after the first sentence. Because the writer injects her opinion so early, any illusion of objectivity is shattered.
"Ironicly what most consider the "Confederate Flag" or "Southern Cross" was never a national symbol of the CSA, but a version of the battle standard."
Irony, indeed. Simply put, it's NOT "The Confederate Flag". As a Southerner, I care noting about flying the actual Confederate Flag because it is the flag of a defeated nation. The stars and bars more accurately represent the Southern culture which is why we call it the "Rebel Flag".
We take joy and pride in being Southern. We are proud of our little sub-cultural contribution to that larger culture which is America. Euorpe and some more northern areas of America will probably never understand. Being referred to as a "cowboy" is a compliment. You couldn't find a more rugged and individualistic symbol. We like being called "rednecks". It means we've been out doing hard work in the abundant sunshine to provide for our families. When evidence of an honest hard-day's work is fodder for ridicule, something is wrong.
We tend to be the first to come when our country calls. We do not think twice about fighting for those who would burn our symbolic flag and cast it into the garbage bin of history.
Essentially, I see the stars and bars as the southern version of "Don't Tread on Me". When you see someone flying the stars and bars, if you think more than, "There goes a southern boy", you have read too much into it.
One of the most divisive symbols of the country's racist past the Confederate flag
The author of this piece almost certaily buys into the notion that it was all about slavery. But that was just the spark in the powder keg. Also, if the government were to suspend all or part of the constitution at some point in the future, or impliment an extra constitutional policy such as mass seizure of private land, or property, would secession, and armed insurrection be considered treason then? I seriously doubt that would ever happen but it is worth discussing.
The confederate flag should be renamed as the "flag of fools and revisionists".
No argument there. But on Confederate Memorial day it's appropriate to fly the "real" confederate flag.
THE FIRST BATTLE FLAGS by Don Troiani
November 1861, a memorable moment for Southerners. On the field near the huts of their winter quarters in Centerville, Virginia, they are presented with new battle flags of the Confederate States Of America.
The War of Northern Aggression
How pleasant, gracious, and considerate you seem.
ping
"But some 260000 men thought otherwise and gave their very lives to that cause."
Well to historically accurate, a significant portion of those men were conscripted (drafted) and didn't have a whole lot of choice in the matter.
The Confederate States of America instituted military drafts in April 1862 and the United States followed suit about a year later.
On both sides, there were men in the armies who truly believed in what they were fighting for, but as someone who had read literally thousands of soldier's letters written during the war, the overwhelming sentiment of soldiers on both sides, particularly after 1862, was that they just wanted to go home.
Here's one I don't think you'll want to miss, FRiend...
I have the Stars and Bars on my car, and very rarely is it recognized for what it is (even here in the Commonwealth of Virginia!)
"But on Confederate Memorial day it's appropriate to fly the "real" confederate flag."
Agreed. It was my intention to include that in my post. Hadn't had coffee yet, then. :)
War of Southern Rebellion.
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