Confederate flag causing a flap in SC

[citizenzen]

I think it's totally within her rights to fly the flag.

I also think it's totally within he neighbor's rights to greet her with, "Good morning, you racist cracker bitch."

Let's here it for free speech!

 

[GreyArea]

I just wish more people flew the correct flags for the CSA.

Hear, hear!

I wonder why the stretched out flag of a few of the military units gained traction during the nadir of race relations and again during desegregation. Maybe the official CSA flags were too identified with losers?

And why not keep it square?

Not quite. To those who fly it, it is an act of nostalgia, in remembrance of a time that is lost, quite literally 'Gone With the Wind'. ...

The problems with it are that it is memory of a time that nobody still living was actually alive to remember, and may not be very accurate.

1953 is not that far away.

For the last half century, the Rectangular Variant has been a rallying flag for segregationists. During the flag's revival in the 1950's and 1960's, many people remembered the period before Brown, which was only in 1954. Two years later, Georgia changed its flag in defiance. In 1962, South Carolina started flying the segregationist flag. Even now, not all of the people who came of age benefiting from that oppression are dead yet. And many of their children yearn for a reestablishment of the "rightful" elevated status they biologically inherited from the parents they so carefully chose.

 

[Hoppy]

Race seems to be the easiest explaination as it certainly was a key ingredient.
The "stars and bars" has been the symbol of Southern defiance in the face of loss.
To many southerners Sherman's "march to the sea" was the sum total of Northern
evil. The only time in U.S. history that civilians were raped, murdered (their read),
homes/businesses burned, lives destroyed.
The feeling that the Yankees run this country and rarely miss the opportunity to
get a dig at the "hillbillies" still prevails.
Not the story for all but still a part of it.

 

[Arisia]

As a New Englander, I'll never understand this desire to fly the flag of a losing cause that so many others find offensive. Why don't they go with the 'Don't tread on me' flag (either the Gadsden or the First US Navy Jack), if they're actually trying to make a statement about their rebellious nature? Gadsden was from South Carolina, so it wouldn't insult their southern sensibilities, either.

 

[Psi Baba]

Obviously, this person has the right to fly this flag. Her expression is a constitutionally protected freedom. Of course, in doing so, she has also labeled herself so that her stand is clearly identified for all to see and make note of. Everyone knows exactly what she is and can easily decide for themselves how to deal with her. I think it's important to note that this woman hasn't lived in this neighborhood all of her life or even a long time, but only just moved there in 2010 and immediately started displaying the confederate flag. She clearly came there to start trouble. I don't personally advocate violence as a response to her lunacy, but whatever reaction she gets is brought upon herself.

You have every right to kick a hornet's nest, but don't act so surprised at the consequences.

 

[Antiquehunter]

I have to admit that I question her motives. She says that she doesn't see the fences as a bad thing because they attract attention to her house.

Not the least bit concerned about aesthetics or property values?

 

[Chaos]

I think it's totally within her rights to fly the flag.

I also think it's totally within he neighbor's rights to greet her with, "Good morning, you racist cracker bitch."

Let's here it for free speech!

A judgment worthy of King Solomon...

 

[phildonnia]

So I'd say the main meanings are
*Rebellion against the Federal government, "State sovereignty."
*Rebelliousness in general.
*Southern pride.
*Racism.

I would have no idea where the split would be, quantitatively.

My first thought on seeing it is "Rebelliousness in general" with a slight tint of "Isn't my pickup truck pretty." I'm a white guy living in Northern California. Others might see it differently, obviously.

Interestingly, "State sovereignty" seems to be represented by the Arizona State flag here.

 

[cwalner]

1953 is not that far away.

For the last half century, the Rectangular Variant has been a rallying flag for segregationists. During the flag's revival in the 1950's and 1960's, many people remembered the period before Brown, which was only in 1954. Two years later, Georgia changed its flag in defiance. In 1962, South Carolina started flying the segregationist flag. Even now, not all of the people who came of age benefiting from that oppression are dead yet. And many of their children yearn for a reestablishment of the "rightful" elevated status they biologically inherited from the parents they so carefully chose.

I somewhat disagree. I think the revival of the flag was also meant to be reminiscent of the antebellum south, but with intentional emphasis on the racial inequalities of such. The antebellum south has passed out of living memory.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

I have to admit that I question her motives. She says that she doesn't see the fences as a bad thing because they attract attention to her house.

Not the least bit concerned about aesthetics or property values?

I question why someone would want to make themselves a target.

There are a lot of nuts out there.

 

[Checkmite]

Not quite. To those who fly it, it is an act of nostalgia, in remembrance of a time that is lost, quite literally 'Gone With the Wind'. It evokes memories of a life like Scarlet OHara had at the beginning of the movie.

I disagree. In my experience, those who fly it are overwhelmingly social trolls who are trying to get a rise out of minorities who don't like it, and generally have no tangible connection with the antebellum South.

 

[AvalonXQ]

I disagree. In my experience, those who fly it are overwhelmingly social trolls who are trying to get a rise out of minorities who don't like it, and generally have no tangible connection with the antebellum South.

According to the article, the woman in question is a direct descendent of Confederate soldiers.

 

[bigred]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/09/2...in-black-south-carolina-neighborhood-despite/

(Sorry about the link from fox news)

Oh yes the horror. Please turn in your JREF membership card. We all know they are satanic while CNN has halos and angels flitting about it's HQ. Sorry but I wish people would get over this us vs them silliness including online news. Anyway -

So - on the surface, my 'keep your government out of my business' side of me says that she should be perfectly entitled to fly whatever damn flag she wants.

However, then I thought - what if that was a Nazi flag? Would I feel the same way?

Nothing against you personally at all, but how is how you feel relevant? Her place, her right. Don't like it, fly a flag they don't like or something.

I'm also frankly tired of the hypocrisy of people who think burning the U.S. flag is one's "right" but the right to simply fly a flag on your own property? Goodness no, ban that!!

Not being an American, and having only infrequently visited the southern bits of USA, I don't really understand the emotional attachment to the confederate flag, nor do I necessarily understand all its symbolism.

It can be a trolling thing as mentioned above but my experience/impression is that usually it's simply a pride of one's roots, pride in the South in general kind of thing. You have to realize that back then, the northern U.S. and the southern U.S. were almost like 2 distinct countries. Very different in very many ways and much distrust/dislike on both sides of the other.

Does flying the confederate flag equate to support for slavery?

Of course not (with rare exception, there will always be some loon like that around) and only a complete moron thinks so. It is about "Southern pride" in general.

Personally I love Clam Chowdah just as much as I love real BBQ. It's UNITED states, remember?

 

[Checkmite]

According to the article, the woman in question is a direct descendent of Confederate soldiers.

She would be one of the (rare) antagonists who actually do have a connection.

Yes, what I've read in the article suggests to me that she's flying her flag at least partially to be antagonistic. If she "wasn't bothered by the fences" as she claimed, she would not have bought a taller flagpole in order to circumvent measures her neighbors are taking on their own property to keep from having to look at it.

 

[Antiquehunter]

Nothing against you personally at all, but how is how you feel relevant? Her place, her right. Don't like it, fly a flag they don't like or something.

I stumbled across the story while getting my morning news. My OP pretty much sums up how I thought about the article.

First thought: Why is this an issue. Fly any damn flag you want.
Next thought: What if it was the Nazi flag? Hmm?

Anyways - I just thought it was an interesting topic for discussion. I wasn't expecting the confederate inquisition.

 

[bigred]

I stumbled across the story while getting my morning news. My OP pretty much sums up how I thought about the article.

First thought: Why is this an issue. Fly any damn flag you want.
Next thought: What if it was the Nazi flag? Hmm?

Anyways - I just thought it was an interesting topic for discussion. I wasn't expecting the confederate inquisition.

Nor did you get it. At ease Francis. Really I meant "you" in a general sense. My point is how someone else feels about it should not matter.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Oh yes the horror. Please turn in your JREF membership card. We all know they are satanic while CNN has halos and angels flitting about it's HQ. Sorry but I wish people would get over this us vs them silliness including online news. Anyway -

It's not "us vs them". It's news vs "news".

 

[AvalonXQ]

It's not "us vs them". It's news vs "news".

Quite frankly, on the major networks, it's all "news".

 

[phildonnia]

There's this piece of work in Northern California:
http://tinyurl.com/3qaaqng

Note that the guy in this story was not jailed for flying a nazi flag, as is widely believed in these parts by people with no patience for legal subtlety. He was displaying his flag specifically to violate the property rights of his neighbors, and he was jailed for violating the subsequent restraining order.

 

[bigred]

There's this piece of work in Northern California:
http://tinyurl.com/3qaaqng

Note that the guy in this story was not jailed for flying a nazi flag, as is widely believed in these parts by people with no patience for legal subtlety. He was displaying his flag specifically to violate the property rights of his neighbors, and he was jailed for violating the subsequent restraining order.

? He was displaying his flag on HIS property. How does that "violate the property rights of his neighbors" - ? Your link provides little info and it all sounds quite sketchy.