do u think the NAACP is crossing the line?

Question

now lets get one thing strait i am not or never will be a racist!! but I'm sure I'll get called one for this question. but oh well here it goes the NAACP has started a new crusade attacking any thing that has to do with confederate. this means monuments in cemetery's or any where else. they even wanted Richmond to take down the portrait of Robert e lee even though he was champion of equal rights after the war. i was all for taking the confederate flag off the dome in SC . but this is going to far in my book most of the men that the memorials represent couldn't even afford to own slaves so why do they feel they need to remove stuff honoring the brave boys that died fighting for what they believed in AND IT WASN'T SLAVERY

Answer 1

I agree with you almost completely but what in the world could you have against a flag that represented southern people and their heritage. If you say that the confederate flag is racist then why not the flag of the United States that also allowed slavery and practicly every nation on earth. Blacks do not own slavery many people of many races have been slaves and most governments at one time or another have allowed slavery Including African tribes that sold black slaves oops black people sold slaves??? Yes brainwashed people they did.

Answer 2

All they are trying to do is get attention. If they really cared, they would learn their history.

First of all, Robert E. Lee was in the process of freeing slaves he inherited from his father-in-law when the war broke out. Lee was opposed to slavery. The document from the following website is proof: http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/Lee%20on%20Slavery.htm.

There were many like him, both officers and privates from all walks of life, who did not own slaves or believe it was okay. And you are absolutely correct when you say that most Confederate soldiers couldn't and didn't own slaves. They, along with Lee, were fighting to keep their homes and land safe.

Yes, the cause of the war was slavery. One can argue all day that it was over state's rights, and even though it was over state's rights, it was over a state's right to decided whether or not they would be slave or free. But, just because the war was over slavery, does not, by any means, mean that every man fighting was fighting for slavery. They were fighting because the south was their home and they had to defend it.

The NAACP also forgets about the African-American troops that fought FOR the south. Many free blacks and slaves remained faithful to the south throughout the war for the same reasons most whites did -- it was their home.

Now, I don't subscribe to the theory that there were hundreds of thousands of black soldiers in the Confederate Army but there were quite a few and they were often disguised under headings like "servant", "cook", "bodyguard", etc. For proof, google "Richmond Howitzers" and see what you find. Also, this story is interesting as well as it tells of a 90 year old black woman who is proud to be called a Daughter of the Confederacy: http://www.dixieoutfitters.com/heritage/dgnews.php?dg=005. This webpage also does a pretty good job with examples, although I do wish it would give better sources: http://www.angelfire.com/ga3/confederaterebels/forgotten.html

I've researched the Civil War for several years now and I have seen quite a few pictures of black Confederate veterans. Just before the war ended the CSA government began talking about appointing slaves as soldiers. Had they done this earlier in the war, many reputable historians believe slaves would've fought honorably for the south and probably allowed the South to win the war. I could go on and on about how the North was just as racist and how today's view of slavery is a little slanted but that wouldn't really have anything to do with the question posed above.

While I believe the NAACP was started for a very good reason, I think it's gotten to the point where it's causing more division than unification and it's time for them to rethink their policies and focus more on the future instead of the past.

Answer 3

Yes. They are crossing the line. That's what pressure groups do when they get as big as the NAACP. They start looking for things that can keep the prominent and in the news. They look for issues that will bring in donations. The Confederate flag is a nice, easy symbol for them to attack and hence they do so. There's no thought being put into this than the publicity and being a pain in the ***. I'm from British Columbia and Greenpeace is no different up here. They started off as a group founded by people in Vancouver who wanted to end the most grievous and careless abuses of the earth. Now they're just another big business that obliterates the entire Canadian fur trading industry (which is in its vast magority ran by aboriginal peoples living in their traditional lifestyles) by portraying it as being nothing more than those drunken idiots out on the ice floes clubbing baby seals. My point is these groups start off well intentioned and doing good work but somehow they just get bastardized. They're taken over by the spin doctors and their fundraising arms and become a self perpetuating monstrousity. It's extremely sad, but it's true, and you shouldn't feel bad for saying it.

Answer 4

You are correct in many of your statements,but most Americans both white and black are ignorrant of the gruesome details of slave ownership.African women were reffered to as breeders if you were a poor whiteman you could save up and buy a young black girl and rape her,and make quick cash selling your offspring.This was very common,so much that many American Blacks are the product of this transaction.The attrocities are endless,from branding,torture,cruelty,scientific experiments,breaking up families.Its no wonder we see the negative legacy we see today.Are all whites responsible No many whites especially in the north were ignorrant to the horrors,and not all Blacks were innocent.African kingdoms and city states participated in slavery for centuries.The aboloshment of slavery was started by an Englishmen in the 18th century.The point im trying to make is the confederate flag is a reminder of a very dark chapter in history.We need to stop labeling African Americans as complainers look at the damage American slavery has done to them.It may have been 200 hundred years ago,but the trauma is passed down to each generation it doesnt just go away.I know alot of people will not agree but it is the truth.If you abuse a child for 18 years and emancipate him,would it be fair to condemn him for any dysfuntional behavior as an adult.

Answer 5

Maybe they find it easier to complain about the slavery in the U.S. 200 years ago than to protest or try to do anything about the slavery that still goes on today in Africa.

Answer 6

Their doing for attention! The squeaky wheel gets the grease!

Answer 7

Maybe they just want to see how much they can get away with. The government has already allowed them to get away with far worse. With all the criminals, deadbeats and immoral issues they have defended I would think any decent person would be too ashamed to be associated with them, even if they were doing something good, which they rarely do.

Answer 8

It's the same mentality today that kept making Japan being the agressor during WWll when they planned the WWll museum....victimization.

Answer 9

You know, I kinda think they need the publicity. It's all about being seen and "looking" important even when the topic is so NOT important. If you're like me, you'd just ignore 'em.

Answer 10

Would you want to see a monument to German WWII soldiers in the US, even though most of them weren't Nazis?