Can someone explain to me why some people are so attached the the Confederate flag?

Question

It just seems like a big "f*** you" to me, but what do I know...I'm just a dumb bloke from Connecticut.

I guess it seems like some of what it might stand for is: ugliness and hatred.

Does it just mean, "I love the South?" Does it mean, "I hate black people"? Does it mean, "I have no identity, so I will latch on to an antiquated symbal that bothers many people"? Does it mean, "I'm in love with the transvestite that lives down the steet, but I can't let my NASCAR buddies know, so I fly the flag as a 'secret' symbol of my love"? Does it mean, "I love biscuits and gravy with grits on the side, even though I know it will eventually cause vascular complications and probably kill me via massive heart failure"? What is the attachment to a stupid flag?

Again, pardon my ignorance, I have just never understood...

Answer 1

This is a tough one. You already have some pretty strong preconceptions about those of us who cherish the Confederate Flag.

I'm a Virginian and my ancestors fought for that flag with honor and dignity for Virginia at a time in our history when that was indeed their country. I had a great great grandfather riding with Mosby in the Valley, another was in a hosptital in Richmond when the city fell and yet another surrendered at Appomattox.

Growing up in the '60 and '70's displays of the Confederate Flag were very routine in the South of my childhood. It was a flag that defined that portion of the nation that still thinks of itself as Dixie.

And yes in those very same years, rascists took that symbol and wed it to the vile symbols of white supremacy and Nazism.

This flag that was carried nobly into so many battles by young Southern Men deserves a better fate than to be hoisted by men wearing white hoods or Nazi armbands.

But I challenge you to "really" study the American Civil War and read the diaries of Southern soldiers to get past the white wash of the black and white history you have always been taught and get to know the real men who carried the Battle Flag of the Confederacy.

Images are powerful things and few are as powerful as flags. The feelings you have when you see the Stars and Stripes flying boldly are shared by those of us who feel a similar stirring for the flag of the Confederacy.

And it's important to remember that no slave ship ever flew the flag of the Confederacy...only the American flag. And also keep in mind that Confederate soldiers proudly carried their state flags into battle as well. The current Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Alabama flags were all of them carried into battle by Southern soldiers and yet no one calls for their removal.

You are a New Englander and as such I doubt seriously that I could ever convince you to respect the views of those of us who are not fans of Nascar or living in a double-wide, or drive a pick-up truck (I do like grits and biscuits and gravy), but instead are white collar, educated, Liberal Democrat professionals who know there is so much more behind the Confederate flag than the baseness of rascism.

When you have the chance make a trip to Lexington, VA and to the Chapel of Washington and Lee College. There you will find the grave of Robert E. Lee and I think the answer to this question.

Answer 2

The confederate flag was not about involuntary servitude my friend--the confederacy itself was about states rights versus federalism. Federalism won out. There is nothing inherently evil in the stars and bars-there is much inherent evil in the Nazi flag. Before you get to uppity--the american flag until the civil war was also a flag which supported slavery--during the civil war--if you read the emancipation proclamation--the slaves were emancipated in areas controlled by the south--wasn't a loving act--it was a calculated political act designed to further cripple the south. Am I a racist or a bigot--no I am not--I am a southerner--and that flag stood for states rights--I have no problem with seeing it waved.

Answer 3

It just a symbol like any other it has different meanings to different people.

Main thing I think it says, is I'm free. I also think it represents defiance of authority. Primarily the Federal government.

Just because the clan used it doesn't mean it's intended as a racial attack. The Klan also used crosses should we band them as well? The Nazi's used the eagle as a symbol as should we be offended by the eagle as a national symbol?

Finally I think people should be more concerned about substance and less concerned about symbols.

Answer 4

Our country is made up of different cultures. In the South it's a symbol for many Caucausians of the Confederate nation of Rebels who fought the North in the Civil War.
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Answer 5

The dukes of hazards--daisy duke
the duke boys of course!!!!
As far as a stupid flag well it did have a part in history (note I did say history) but now we have an American Flag to represent all states and colonies, so question for u is the American flag stupid tooo because it's a part of history ( not being a smarty pants just a simple question)!!!!

Answer 6

It represents a way of life that is a part of our nation's history. Why does it upset you so much? It doesn't represent slavery or racism or hatred, except to the people who label it such out of fear and (you said it) ignorance. For the same reasons Americans proudly claim their European or Asian or Hispanic ancestry. Get over it. It's people like you who promote hate and ugliness. Not a flag.

Answer 7

Hundreds of thousands of Americans died in the civil war.
The Confederate flag was carried into battle and those Americans still have relatives.
Perhaps they have something called pride, heritage.
Most causes seem noble at the time, if you lived in the south
you fought in the war.

Answer 8

well most people i know who wear it or whatever don't understand it's original meaning themselves they just think its cool,nothin wrong w/ that i spose. its like grits, a southern thing. its alright not to understand but if you use something for a reason other than its original intention that seems wrong to me.

Answer 9

sorry, im not really answering your question...im just agreeing(sp) with you...i dont really understand it either. i think it can mean all those things you mentioned to all kinds of people.....i think the whole thing is pretty dumb.

Answer 10

my dad told me that someone at his work (who is black) told him that for the longest time he didn't know that it was meant to be racist and whatever
he said that everytime he saw it on the back of a truck he thought it was cool and he would be like "WOOO-------- HOOOOOOOO........Dukes of Hazzard!"