Traditional Country Fans,What does the REBEL FLAG mean to you? I'm so SERIOUS bout this ? cause I had to CUSS

Question

OUT THIS BLACK GUY WHO CAME INTO MY STORE AND SAW A TEE-SHIRT THAT I'D PAINTED THE FLAG ON FOR A CUSTOMER, HE SAID "GIRLFRIEND DON;T YOU KNOW THAT'S A RACIEST STATEMENT? AND WE AS A PEOPLE(I hate that phrase)HAVE TO STICK TOGETHER THESE DAYS" AND BLAH, BLAH, BLAH..WELL I PUT HIM OUT OF MY STORE BUT NOT BEFORE I GAVE HIM A PIECE OF MY COUNTRY MIND ...I MAY BE LIVING UNDER A ROCK OR SOMETHING CAUSE ALL THIS FLAG MEANS TO ME IS ALABAMA AND CHARLIE DANIELS...WHAT DO YOU THINK? DID I MISS SOMETHING???????

Answer 1

to me, it stands for the bravery of the men who gave all to protect their Southern soil from yankee invaders ...
nothing to do with slavery, less than 10% of Southerners owned slaves, taxation was the issue ...
tell me where your store is, and I'll come buy something to make up for the rude customer you had to chase off ...

Answer 2

Listen, I'm sure some Southern folks fly this flag because they're bigoted jerks...but others seem it simply as a representation of their home territory and culture...and States Rights (not an overpowering National Power in Washington).

Answer 3

To me the rebel flag is a symbol of history, of the civil war and the north and south. And that war was supposedly over slavery. Most blacks today find it offensive that many people still fly the rebel flag and will tell you so. They think it's racist but in actuallity it's a part of history and we are not allowed to use it for any purpose according to some. Myself, I think we should preserve history and remember what it means to each individual and not just certain ones whom it offends. I am offended by a lot of things in todays world but you won't find anyone standing behind me for disagreeing with something. To me the rebel flag means southern hospitality as it is today and, as you said, Charlie Daniels and a lot of other great southern bands and singers. It is part of the south and should remain part of the south. Just as other flags and banners are for those who are not traditional. You don't see someone kicking someone out for wearing a gay pride shirt. Or a black power shirt. Just like FUBU means For us by us and is meant for black people to wear. At least this is what I've been told by the blacks in Iowa. Maybe I'm wrong but that's how I see it.
There is so much that people call racist today. For one thing has anyone ever listened to David Allen Coes songs? Some are really blatantly racist. Yet if a white person tries some of the things that other minorities get away with they have hell to pay. So what gives? Is it reverse racism? I've been wondering about it. Don't sweat the guy in your store. He has the problem not you. Most black people today have never learned to let go of the past. That is why they never move forward in the present or the future.

Answer 4

I'm with HD Rider all the way!!! The Rebel Flag is a symbol of the South, our pride, and our heritage. There's nothing racist about it. White people today are the LEAST racist group out there. When was the last time you heard a white person holler "RACISM"? I don't care what color you are. If you treat me decent, then I'll do the same for you. That whole racism sh** just wears me out. I mean, really. I don't know about the rest of ya'll, but I've never owned any slaves. I've never had a cotton plantation. And I've never had a black maid. But I do eat fried chicken and watermelon.

Answer 5

OKIEFAN,
Yes, along time ago the rebel flag was a symbol of the confederacy, of racism, slavery, and so forth. However, now a days I see it more of a symbol of the south, and a kinda symbol for me and my fellow rednecks. Now yes, we still have hate groups that use it as a symbol of their ignorance, but I just see it as a part of Americana. I used to have a shirt many years ago back when people were wearing those "X" hats and shirts symbolizing Malcolm x. the shirt I had had a "X" on one side with the caption "you wear your "X", and on the other side it had a confederate flag and another caption that said "and I'll wear mine. Now I got some dirty looks for a while, but sooner or later everyone got over it. It's just a flag folks, a piece of American history, so why hide it in shame because of what it meant or stood for 150 years ago. Anyway, that's my opinion folks. Talk to y'all later, take care.

Answer 6

I know black people in the south that fly the rebel flag with pride, some of you may find that surprising...if you are ignorant. It is not racist at all, but has definitely been co-opted by certain unfortunate racist organizations. but that don't mean we should stop flying it and just give it to them. If you got a lot of rebel pride and you are proud to be from the south, or you are 100% country, then fly it high Okiefan. you did the right thing.

Answer 7

The flag to me represents our past and the mistake and advances that our country has made. I live in a place where there used be a sign outside of town that said 'ni**er dont let the set on you in *****county' what a shock that was coming from california where I accepted all people to this southern place . I have several rebel flags and dont think they are racist at all. South should have won anyway could yo imagine..........

Answer 8

Um, yes you did. The rebel flag is a symbol of ideals that are still (unfortunately) rampant, especially in the south. The flag itself isn't bad but the negative conotations it implies are what get people all worked up. My advice though, keep it up. If people stop letting stupid racial crap effect them, the crazy bigots and whatnot will stop doing it.

Answer 9

I think the flag means different things to different people and race . The flag means to me country boys having fun .

Answer 10

Truthfully, as a NJ girl, I find it offensive. I think that it represents southern pride, but that it does so by involking one of the most shameful episodes in American history.

I'm inclined to think that the man who spoke to you was saying "we as a people" Meaning AMERICANS, not North and South or Black and White or whatever.

I, too, once painted a rebel flag on a T-shirt thinking of the band Alabama, but I would never wear it now just because to ME it involks slavery and racism and lynching. Although there is nothing wrong with being a proud southerner - hey, if I can be proud of NEW JERSEY, there are NO limits on what we can be proud of - I think there should be a different symbol for it. The rebel flag has too many skeletons in its closet.

EDIT: I know the civil was was at least in part about states rights - specifically, the states' right to decide whether or not they could sell another human being - and taxation, etc., but groups like the KKK use that flag to this day. Like it or not, that symbol has been used to terrorize Black people. It's sort of like wondering why a Jew might be a bit cheesed at the waving of a Nazi flag. The Swastika is an ancient Hindu symbol of good fortune, but no matter what it means to Indian-Americans, and no matter how proud they are of their Indian heritage, you don't see them waving it about.

Answer 11

That's strikes me as funny because the other day I saw a group of black motorcycle riders. I guess you would call them outlaw bikers from their colors:
THEIR COLORS: THE REBEL FLAG!