Should the Confederate Flag be banned in Schools?

[WaffleSingSong]

Hi.

I live in South Kentucky. And as you may expect, there is a lot of rednecks there (not the hillbilly part XD) and many people have southern pride, and do so by displaying the flag. However, it is banned in our school because the officials say it has racist tendencies. Others say that there 1st Amendment is being taken away from them and believe that the flag is a representation of Southern culture.

Personally, I am on the latter side. Really, a symbol can mean anything. Hell, the swastika used to be a symbol of peace. I say if some people want to put a huge Dixie Cross on there car/truck, let'em.

What do you guys think?

[xXJust Jump ItXx]

Yes the 'Fed flag has a bad rep but its not a symbol of racism, you need to look at its real history and not what people bash it for and everything! Georgia had it part of their state flag for years! I think it should be allowed, its not the Nazi flag being thats a whole different level...

[Magical]

The South was pro-slavery before the Civil war, so that may be why they say it has racist tendancies.

[West Coast Sheriff]

Yes the 'Fed flag has a bad rep but its not a symbol of racism, you need to look at its real history and not what people bash it for and everything! Georgia had it part of their state flag for years! I think it should be allowed, its not the Nazi flag being thats a whole different level...

Kurt you stole my words. Jk but I'm thinking the same thing.

It's not racist. It's your showing of your southern pride.

[Drew5]

Yes the 'Fed flag has a bad rep but its not a symbol of racism, you need to look at its real history and not what people bash it for and everything! Georgia had it part of their state flag for years! I think it should be allowed, its not the Nazi flag being thats a whole different level...

Agree. People like to stereo type the South and that flag and it's inaccurate. The irony of this is awesome.

Confederates were about states rights and slavery was one issue. We are the United states, separate, but unified. We are still about states rights as a nation. That's why we have federal law and state law and why state laws are different from each other. Age of consent, drivers licenses, jail terms, taxes etc.

[FreeFall]

The flag makes me very uneasy.

It's been abused though I will say, it's ingrained with the KKK and Neo-Nazis. The poor flag's been drenched in hatred, and I can only see it as such. Sorry for such a close minded view, it's just how I stand.

But I don't have to look at the flag, it's not my flag to have, it's not my place to take their flag. It's a flag.

I agree though, it shouldn't be in schools thanks to the connotations it's been slapped with, and I don't see that going away anytime soon in our lifetime.

[Abyssal Echo]

Personally I don't have a prob. with the 'fed flag. it is a cool looking flag and is part of the Souths and the United States history. obviously the flag means differant things to differant people. should it be banned ???? same with the 10 commandments should they be banned ???? answers to those questions should be up to and by the people of the United States.

[Sugaree]

I say keep it. It's a symbol of Southern culture and is also a piece of history for the United States as a whole. Whether it should be displayed in schools, that's up to the discretion of the powers that be.

[Zarakly]

I believe, as much as I hate that flag, that it should be allowed to be flown. It is a flag and not having it be flown would be like not letting other countries fly their flags or even people with military flags not to be flown. It is their flag and their right. It should be allowed to be flown. THe only thing with it is that in America, you DO NOT fly any other flag regardless of what it means above the American Flag. The American Flag must be flown above the rest. If they want to fly a 'fed flag underneath it then so be it. It just can NEVER be flown higher than the American Flag.

[Haufen]

It's been abused though I will say, it's ingrained with the KKK and Neo-Nazis. The poor flag's been drenched in hatred, and I can only see it as such. Sorry for such a close minded view, it's just how I stand.


Good job being as close minded as the KKK and those racist rednecks you hate.

[Professional Russian]

Good job being as close minded as the KKK and those racist rednecks you hate.

not all rednecks are racist i hope you know.

[FreeFall]

Good job being as close minded as the KKK and those racist rednecks you hate.
Yes. I apologized for it, even said that flag was abused by the hate groups for how they've used it, but didn't I also say it's not my place to tell them what to do with the flag?
I'm perfectly capable of averting my eyes from their flag and ignoring it. It's not my flag, not my flag to wave, not my place to say where it can and cannot be. I gave my opinion on it yes, but as far as it stands, it's just an opinion and not a fighting stance. No one's shoving the flag down my throat, in my face and I'm a big girl that can respect that to others it's a wonderful flag. Do I like it? No. So that's why it won't grace my door. But because it's not for me doesn't mean I'm going to run around screaming at those that are and try to ban it from life.

So yes I am close minded, but far from being as drastic as the hate groups. But nice job on calling those that love their Dixie Cross, rednecks...

[Jess]

I say keep it. It's a symbol of Southern culture and is also a piece of history for the United States as a whole. Whether it should be displayed in schools, that's up to the discretion of the powers that be.

basically this. I don't see any reason for it to be banned, nor do I really see it as "racist"

[Thunduhbuhlt]

Well, it depends. How are they displaying the flag? On a flag post, or just like on personal items? Because i don't think it'a appropriate to display it in such a manner as on a post, but just drawings are fine as long as they don't put racist words with it or something like that.

[Clawhammer]

It's a symbol of my heritage. Hell, some of the state flags still include what we today identify as the battle flag of the Confederacy. Slavery existed a lot longer under "Old Glory," and whether we like it or not, slavery was not the only thing in dispute in the War. It represents the Southland, and the traditions and culture of the place. Not everyone in the South was for slavery. General Lee himself was against it. It was his political views and loyalty to his home state that he fought for.

[Guillermo]

Good job being as close minded as the KKK and those racist rednecks you hate.

She never even said that she hated those "rednecks" (which she never even called them that anyway). Good job taking words right out of her mouth...

Well, it depends. How are they displaying the flag? On a flag post, or just like on personal items? Because i don't think it'a appropriate to display it in such a manner as on a post, but just drawings are fine as long as they don't put racist words with it or something like that.

Well, this also depends also actually. Some people like to put stickers on their trucks or even wear shirts with the flag across it and something along the lines of this:

http://www.rebelyellonline.com/images/Southern%20Tradition%20Deer%20T-Shirt.jpg

or this:

http://www.stainlessbanners.com/photos/shirt-6.jpg


Some people also like to put flags on their trucks like this:

http://sidesalad.net/archives/OddTruckWithConfederateFlag2.JPG

(Or smaller versions of it)


I'm speaking from personal experiences since I live in North Carolina and see things like this on a daily basis. As much as I don't care about the flag, I don't think it should be banned in schools. It really does represent Southern culture and makes it distinguishable from the North. If you think that the flag itself represents slavery or racism, then you really need to stop generalizing and read about US history. It's just that some of the people who show and wear it are racist themselves. But this doesn't need to be associated with the actual flag.