Honk for Confederate Pride

[Geo]

I have lived in this beautiful place for only a year. I was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. There are many things that make me proud of where I come from, especially the people and their character. My family and just about everyone we knew were Catholic, very hardworking, fiercely loyal and what you would probably call or think of as "GOOD people"...

My family and just about everyone we knew were also very racist and homophobic. And I didn't realize it until I left for good at 18...

I don't remember when I changed. I don't know if it was gradual. I don't know which people, places or experiences changed me...

But what I do know is when I go back to the South Side I will, on occasion, run into friends who never left. After minutes of talking with them I am absolutely shocked in how they view the world. The most shocking part, however, is realizing that this used to be me. Seeing these folks is like going back in a time machine and meeting myself back then. So bizarre...

So where am I heading with this-

I believe it is possible to be proud of your heritage and where you are from without having to be proud of everything. Be proud of your Southern heritage. But man-

(and I know you will say you could care less)

If you folks only knew what you really looked like driving around with the rebel flag to those of us who aren't natives of the South...

I might regret sharing these sentiments but here goes-

SUBMIT...

 

[Jdarg]

Wow.

When I saw the title of this thread originally, I thought it was a joke. Ha ha, it's not so funny.

 

[Teresa]

I might regret sharing these sentiments but here goes-

SUBMIT...

all very well said geowickey. and I'm from birmingham but you've described my view and experience exactly.

please ya'll don't think all southerners go around with rebel flag underwear and bed sheets, much less on their cars and trucks... not at all.

I do like a good old civil war re-enactment now and then - they used to do it here at Eden State Park every so often complete with soldiers, canon blasts, the woman folk, bon fires, tents, etc. its a slice of history. but its funny to me to think that people like to go spend the weekend "re-enacting" the civil war.

 

[Allifunn]

That is what I am saying. the Rebel flag and/or the Civil War was NOT all about slavery- just a small portion. After reading history books on the Civil War you will see that the war was about about money and control, it is funny how they teach you different in school.... :roll:

The power and control of which you speak was directly related to slavery, it is what generated the power and control. The south had some truly intelligent men that were noteworthy, but building and "empire" on slavery was wrong.
Here in South Carolina most people who fly the confederate flag are doing so JUST to be inflamatory, period!
I do not care what vanity tag anyone puts on their car..it is their own personal choice. I just really DON'T care...there are so many worse things in this world to concern myself with.

 

[scooterbug44]

Just as the swastika was appropriated and had its symbolism forever altered, so did the Confederate flag.

You can claim that displaying it shows pride in many aspects of your heritage, but to many it will always be a symbol of hate.

They already make Confederate flag plates for the front of your car, bumper stickers, decals etc. so if you want to display your heritage you don't need a vanity plate. Just be realistic about what putting that symbol on your vehicle represents to many people and says about you.

 

[wrobert]

Based on the press this thing is starting to get, I wonder if we are going to see CC or Greer come out and denounce it. Hmmm....maybe a chance to start a new thread, call it Pander Watch. Post examples of politicians pandering to specific electors.

 

[Jdarg]

Based on the press this thing is starting to get, I wonder if we are going to see CC or Greer come out and denounce it. Hmmm....maybe a chance to start a new thread, call it Pander Watch. Post examples of politicians pandering to specific electors.

Why exactly would denouncing this be pandering to anybody? Please tell me you are kidding.

 

[InletBchDweller]

Just as the swastika was appropriated and had its symbolism forever altered, so did the Confederate flag.

You can claim that displaying it shows pride in many aspects of your heritage, but to many it will always be a symbol of hate.

They already make Confederate flag plates for the front of your car, bumper stickers, decals etc. so if you want to display your heritage you don't need a vanity plate. Just be realistic about what putting that symbol on your vehicle represents to many people and says about you.

I understand that some will always view the flag as symbols of hate, slavery, etc. So if I do choose to put the symbol on my car what does it make people think about me? "Oh hey there goes a redneck?" or "there goes a pro-slavery lover?" or "There goes a Southerner?" I guess it is all on how the viewer perceives it.
I guess this ole gal's has just been in the South her whole life and like it or not, I love that flag. I dont want slavery to come back, I dont have a gun rack in the car I drive and I love people from "up North". ;-)
I dont think I come off to people as an ignorant inbred hick. I guess I am just passionate about this subject - imagine if we all were passionate about the same thing - this board would be soooooooo boring...

 

[wrobert]

Why exactly would denouncing this be pandering to anybody? Please tell me you are kidding.

Either you are for the rights of others to say things, no matter how offensive, or you are against it. It would depend on what they said if they came out against this. I would hope that they would support the first amendment, but I imagine they will try to show how being against it somehow makes them more enlightened.

 

[Jdarg]

Either you are for the rights of others to say things, no matter how offensive, or you are against it. It would depend on what they said if they came out against this. I would hope that they would support the first amendment, but I imagine they will try to show how being against it somehow makes them more enlightened.

I'm all for first amendment rights. However, why put something offensive to so many people on an object that represents our state? Why is this vanity plate necessary? On another thread I am trying to rally parents around the education of their children. On this thread, I am scratching my head wondering why this rebel flag issue would even merit a discussion. Good God.

Carry on. As someone mentioned earlier, sometimes posts speak for themselves. This thread just died for me.