People make connections to objects by what they think they stand for. People’s viewpoints on particular items can change because of race, education, gender, social status or by the way they were raised. The Confederate flag is an example of an object that has impacted many people and history. With that being said, the viewpoints on the Confederate flag are extremely controversial and have been for a long time. The Confederate flag has been debated because of what it stands for, how people view it, and the impact it can have on the community if it is flown on public/government grounds. The Confederate flag has been viewed as racist and as a tool to undermine Civil Rights. On the opposing side, people view it as a symbol of respect to the soldiers who lost their lives for what they believed in. The debates have emerged and then dissipated in the past, but the controversies have risen again. People are concerned by the way it will affect the community, especially now that it is becoming a popular icon for younger generations. Other people view the Confederate flag similar to John M. Coski, author of “The Confederate Battle Flag: America’s Most …show more content…
The Civil War began because America was not united in its viewpoints on slavery and on the power the national government had to dictate whether or not slavery would be outlawed. Abraham Lincoln became president and vowed to shut down slavery and to make sure it would not appear in the new territories that were emerging in America. Southerners were outraged because they used slavery as a way of cheap labor, but people started to question the morality of what was taking place in the South. When the war began, America was split in two because some of the Southern states joined together. The war was fought by the Union soldiers, who fought against slavery. The Confederate soldiers, who fought for white supremacy and
In Atlanta Ga, Charlottesville Nc, and in every other formerly Confederate State in the U.S. there has been controversial debates on whether or not the current standing Confederate statues should be removed from public areas. Many people claim that a modern society should not honor the racist soldiers who fought for slavery. Others believe that preserving historical accuracy is essential to learning from the mistakes of the past. The opinions of thousands of citizens clash with one another over the debate between offense and information. I believe that it is most beneficial for the majority of people if the current Confederate monuments remain where they are.
Miranda Wood B6 A recent mass shooting at a Charleston Church, where nine black worshippers were killed by a white man, has sparked even more debate about an old and controversial symbol: the Confederate battle flag. In his National Review Article, David French argues that the Confederate flag, though it should not be used as a symbol of white supremacy, should be remain in public for historical purposes. He claims that the reason the flag still hangs over Confederate cemeteries is to honor those who fought for the Confederacy, not to discriminate against African Americans.
Today they say that the confederate flag stands for heritage and pride while the non-confederates say it stands for slavery. These people only think that it stands for slavery because of the twisted history of the flag. Researchers say that the flag isn't a sign of slavery but they have their own opinions and beliefs. They also say that it is just a symbol of the southern states history.
Confederate Flag Racism or Heritage The Confederate flag was a significant item throughout history, but what it was significant for varies from person to person. To some the Confederate flag represents Southern heritage while to others it signifies racism. Either opinion could be considered true, but evidence shows that it is viewed more as a symbol of racism. From one stand point the Confederate flag was the battle flag for the Southern states during the Civil War, which was virtually over slavery, but the battle flag was a symbol that was changed multiple times throughout the war.
The confederate flag debate has been going on for a very long time, and the same types of arguments for what the flag stands for have not really changed since the debate started. The flag itself from what I have understood has many different meanings that can be changed depending on the side that you land on. My other belief is that since the flag can have different meanings at not only different times but also by different people, are that since the flag was a symbol that represented confederacy, their mindsets or beliefs end up contributing to the overall consequence of what the flag stands for. The flag nowadays has this underlying tone because of the motions that the confederacy was trying to get approved.
Many maintain that the flag was cemented as a symbol of racism during the Civil Rights era, during which “Political displays of the battle flag of Dixie (the historical nickname for the states that seceded from the Union) only really resurfaced when that racial order was challenged by northern liberals.” But the flag of the Confederacy could not become a symbol of anything by that time-- the Confederacy was dead, and anything it came to mean afterwards was the result of its original meanings and uses being distorted by individual racists whose acts it could not, and certainly would not, endorse. Even today the flags of many modern nations are adopted for the use of racist groups: the Pan-African flag was adopted by the New Black Panthers, the British flag adopted by the National Front, and the ghgjgjh flag adopted by the dfghfhgf. These modern nations have the ability to disavow any and all extremist groups associated with their flag. Dead nations have no such privileges.
Slavery in The Civil War The American civil war from 1861 to 1865 divided many people in the United States, even turning brother against brother. There were also great amounts of bloodshed and was one of the bloodiest wars in the US and left a heritage of brief and bitterness. And the basis of this war, slavery, slavery is usually very cruel and has been around since early man. Their were two sides to this war, the North and the south.
To begin with, Confederate statues, flags, and monuments has been the history of our country so the people and the future generation can see what America have dealt with to be where we are at. In the United States, the statues and monuments are representation of historic mark as they are important part of the US history. The monuments are very significant as it symbolizes history and some of those monuments are being removed. For example, a monument of Chief Justice Roger B. Taney was removed in Maryland. One man stated that, "It has become increasingly clear in recent weeks that memorials such as this are hurtful to many residents in our community and elsewhere” (County “Here are the Confederate memorials that will be removed after Charlottesville”).
When a flag is presented in a rival that brings hate and discontent to America it should be removed from being displayed. I strongly am offended of the Confederate flag and my opinion is a lot of others are also offended. The constant reminder of the mistreatment and enslavement of the black race is still being suffered by black people today. The confederate flag brings grief to my heart as my ancestors were subjected to slavery.
It became a main-stay at Ku Klux Klan rallies as the organization launched a campaign of bombings, murders and other violence against African Americans and civil rights activist” (Booth). Racist groups and organizations would use the confederate flag as symbols for their own hate, further tarnishing the already-tainted image of what the confederate flag truly stands
Throughout the course of time there have always been people for and against America. Especially in current times when the controversy over the “rebel” flag is taking place. Some believe that the Confederate flag signifies American history and others believe it symbolizes rednecks raising hell. What does this say about America? A country where people fight and argue about an ancient flag?
Symbols mean a lot, and when one represents a whole country a lot of controversy can surround that symbol; In this case, the flag of the United States is an important symbol that stands for many things. Some people put the flag of the United States on a pedestal, they look up to the flag, and value it, so when someone desecrates the flag they get infuriated. On the other hand, some people see the flag as a symbol of our freedom that supports the First Amendment which allows us to disrespect the flag if we want to. For many years controversy has surrounded flag desecration and one of the most famous cases surrounding the topic would be Texas v. Johnson (1989):
In the news today, a continual debate can be found about the significance of Confederate monuments and if they should remain or be removed. Confederate monuments that have been erected throughout the U.S. should be kept because of the preservation of America’s history. For instance, in the article, The Unbearable Lightness of Confederate-Statue Removal, the author lists how slaveholder monuments aren’t the only statues being vandalized, but the Lincoln Memorial and Mount Rushmore are other symbols of U.S. history that some believe need to “blow up” (Murdock). Every historical symbol can have both people who appreciate it and who oppose it. That doesn’t mean that we should tear down all symbols, but
The Flags Meaning The article Confederate Flag’s Half-Century at South Carolina Capitol Ends by Jason Hanna and Ralph Ellis is about the long battle with confederate flag. Whether or not the confederate flag should be removed or hung. Or if the flag is considered a sign of something bad. It discusses the flags relation to racism and white supremacy.
The living legacy of the United States Civil War is a complicated time in American history one finds difficult to describe. The ramification of the war prior, during and after still haunt the current citizens who call The States their home. Tony Horwitz’s book Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War looks at the wide gap of discontent that still looms in the late 1990s. For some southerners, the Confederacy still lives on through reenactments, stories and beliefs. For others in the South, reminders the land was dedicated to the Confederacy spark hatred and spite.