Yes, the Confederate battle flag has flown over several Southern state capitols in recent years. I want to know what you all (and y’all) think about it.
I’ve never been the biggest fan of political correctness, and I understand that some citizens see the Stars and Bars as a legitimate sign of heritage, rather than as a hateful symbol, but doesn’t it just seem wrong that a rebel emblem flown by soldiers attempting to destroy the Union now graces a state flag (Mississippi, and Georgia’s state flag is actually the Confederate political flag with an emblem)?
I know that a lot of emotion surrounds the Confederate battle flag, and that it means many different things to many different people. As a Northerner though, it just seems as though some people cannot comprehend that secessionism, state supremacy over federal authority and extreme localism have been dead for 141 years now, and that Southern independence simply doesn’t exist. In the interests of uniting as a nation, wouldn’t it be best to just mandate that the Union flag be the only flag flown on governmental grounds?
I am a direct descendent of Henry Halleck. That name may not mean anything to you, but General Halleck was the commander of Union forces at the outset of the Civil War. He was relieved from his post after several months to serve as the first-ever chief of staff, largely because he was ineffective on the battlefield. Still, he served the Union and was ready to lay his life down to preserve our country. That some states choose not to honor the sacrifices of all those who died for the Union is a disgrace, in my mind.
We ought to honor both Union and Confederate souls as Americans, and fly only the Stars and Stripes, to demonstrate so clearly that none died in vain, and that our great nation has been forever reunited as one. It’s the least we can do to honor the hundreds of thousands of brave American souls who gave their lives to save this nation. Once again, we are one. We need to fly one flag, now more than ever before.
E Pluribus Unum.
August 7, 2006 at 1:39 am |
THANK YOU, MATT.
Condederate flags make me mad. Especially when you see girls in Houston wearing them on bikinis :-\
August 7, 2006 at 9:45 pm |
Matt, I understand your argument completely and I comment you on some very valid points. Three of my direct descendants fought for the North in the civil war. However, I believe that it is legit for Southern States to fly the Confederate flag. In today’s world, the Confederate flag is flown as a symbol of southern Heritage. I guess one could also say that the Confederate flag also commemorates the Men who fought and died on the other side- remember that the Confederate soldiers are technically American casualties as well. I don’t really have a problem with the Confederate flag. To most southerners, it commemorates a southern heritage very different for that of the rest of the country, it does not state a desire to “split the union” once again. As Northerners, we don’t quite grasp the pride involved with living in the south. Personally, I respect that “Southern Pride”.
August 8, 2006 at 1:37 am |
I might be an anti-Texan whatever you might call me, but……
Why keep up the conferate flag-flying, deer shooting, tobacco spitting, all-American macho man with dutiful wife image? I think all that is what’s wrapped up into the confederate flag image.
August 9, 2006 at 3:30 am |
Yeah I guess I’m just soo Awesome that I can time travel. You didn’t read that article about my time travel Machine???? Well it’s here! Hey if you ever wanna hit up the middle ages with me sometime come up to Maine! It’d be pretty cool