Why do people still wave/display the confederate flag?

Question

The civil war was a long time ago, and that flag represents a break in the union. We remained one country, but why do I still see the flag so frequently?

Some of your answers are surprising. On this board, people are always talking about getting over slavery, etc., because it was such a long time ago; yet they defend the display of that flag. It seems a little scary to me - How does it differ from displaying a swastika? The swastika had a different meaning before Hitler, too, but now it's original meaning has been replaced by the Nazi's use of the symbol.

Answer 1

I suppose the Southerners want to honor their war dead, and the soldiers who served.

But the North doesn't fly the 1861 version of the Union flag to honor its veterans.

I think the 50 stars and 13 stripes - the flag of TODAY - should be enough for anyone!

Answer 2

There are lots of reasons but one you may not hear loads of is income. Parks and memorials bring in big money in the South where the re-enactments still go on today. In most cases the battlefields are what is keeping out developments.

Little towns draw tourists and big dollars a few week-ends a year.

Another reason is that the Civil War ended on such a giving note. All the Northern states wanted really was to maintain the Union so when the war ended the North withdrew and allowed the South to stew in its history. So you have a war torn country inside a country along side a newly freed people. Southerners had split families because of the war, some men lost their land and homes. Robert E. Lee for example lost his family's land.

The flag gets waved out of remembrance and other times hatred.

Answer 3

Its about heritage and its not racist as some air headed liberals think yes some dodgy racists display it but that has nothing to do with the history of the flag as a battle flag used in the fight for the South's freedom from the Union.It does not symbolize slavery only in the minds of certain left wingers for your information Abe Lincoln was a racist and the Union General Ulysses . S. Grant was a slave holder until the Thirteenth Amendment was ratified and who said who would join the other side if the war was to abolish slavery.

Answer 4

Because it represents Southern pride and a very important part of their cultural heritage. I still think the wrong side won...and not for the reason you're probably assuming. States entered the Union voluntarily, and should be free to leave the same way.

EDIT: Che, when have you EVER seen the Stars and Bars flown anywhere? I believe you're referring to the Confederate Battle Flag. If you don't know the difference between the two, you have no business commenting on something you obviously do not understand.

Answer 5

The flag, often called "The Stars and Bars," is not a Confederate flag. The Confederates had about six different versions of the flag they went through including a completely white flag. The flag represents Southern pride, not the Confederacy.

Answer 6

The flag is not the flag of the confederacy, but is a battle flag of the confederacy. It was taken into battle by Southern troops against Union troops.

The civil war ultimatly decided the one question our founders left to the following generations (it was not slavery). The question left to the next generation was....are you a citizen of your state first and the union second or are you a citizen of the union first and your state second.

People wave the stars and bars as a sign of rebellion against the establishment, southern pride, to remember those who died for an ideal, to support localized autonomy over centralized autonomy. Unfortunatly, some stupid rednecks still fly it out of racist ignorance.

The north won, and because they won, we have ever been and ever will be unionists first and statists second.

Answer 7

To me it still represents a certain spirit. The spirit of the South at the time was to protect the states rights. They feared the central government growing too big and overstepping its constitutional bounds. The confederate flag represents so much more than slavery, which it doesn't really represent at all. It is ignorance that sees that flag as a symbol of slavery and ignorace that tries to ban it. (Burleson High School, Texas)

Answer 8

Actually there are various reasons.

Some people are remembering their heritage.
And there are those who diplay it for no other reason than racist hatred.

That said,I think it's utterly ridiculous for states to ban displays of the Confederate flag,especially on private property.I would never fly it,and I abhor the slavery system it symbolizes,but I'm not about to deny another their right to display it on their property.

Answer 9

Southern pride. State's rights. Freedom to remember our forefathers. Many of my ancestors fought in the Civil War and I remember and honor them and what they stood up for.

Why is everybody so proud we won the revolutionary war and so down on the Civil War.
Each was was fought for freedom and the right to choose.

I am not a redneck just a southern lady who wants to remember with dignity.

I do not fly the flag but support the freedom to do so if one chooses.

Answer 10

History and Pride.


For those who say it stands for hate. Lincoln freed the slaves to keep England out of the battle. He made it about slavery because England was against slavery at this time.