Vrede too wrote:That's what white folks keep saying, few blacks believe it.
"Saying" and "believing"; two key words here. What people say and what people believe are as old as time. In regards to the flag comments, these are expressed OPINIONS; I stated mine above, and you stated yours.
The rebel flag was not originally a symbol of racism, nor was it intended to be, regardless how people felt, or still feel about it. It was/is a battle flag, differing in appearance than the flag of the Union that the southern states wanted to secede from. Slave ownership played a part in their desire to secede; therefore it was ASSUMED that slave ownership was the sole purpose of the south having a different flag than the north.
GoCubsGo wrote:Just curious, what do you think the reaction would be if northern states displayed Union battle flags as part of their heritage?
There are displaying it, only in a newer, revised form. There was no Union battle flag. Look at the photo and decide the answer to your question.
"During the Civil War, stars were NOT removed from the United States Flag, as Confederate States seceded from the Union. The Federal Government did not recognize the legality of the secession, and would not acknowledge it with a removal of stars from the flag. The Southern states were not represented in Congress during these years, but their stars remained on the flag."
Opinions of what the rebel flag stood for are as varied as opinions or interpretations of the Constitution, the Bible, The Bill of Rights, the Pledge of Allegiance, standing for the judge's entrance to the courtroom, how to make real clam chowder, etc. We all have differing opinions, none of which are absolutely right or absolutely wrong.
Truth be known, I'm in that 58% that has no reaction to seeing the rebel flag flying anywhere. It's a piece of decorative cloth; however it's fun to see people get their undies in a twist over it.