Do YOU wear Confederate apparel ?

[tiggersmom2]

It's a war symbol of a war that nearly broke the back of this country and I don't see the upside of it.

I think many are forgetting that it was the Georgia state flag from 1956 -2001. I see many homes that fly the old state flag alongside the American flag b/c they see it as a symbol of Ga.

http://www.sos.state.ga.us/museum/html/georgia_state_flag_since_1956.htm

We don't have either outside of our home but if I did choose to have an old Georgia state flag, I certainly wouldn't care what someone thought about it.

 

[auntpolly]

I think many are forgetting that it was the Georgia state flag from 1956 -2001. I see many homes that fly the old state flag alongside the American flag b/c they see it as a symbol of Ga.

)

Unless it was a pre-Civil War symbol, I see any use of it after wrong,(especially by the state) but hey, I'm glad we live in a country that doesn't censor.

I'm just one of those people who doesn't respect the use of it.

 

[LuvDuke]

I'm with you, Aunt Polly.

 

[cardaway]

I think many are forgetting that it was the Georgia state flag from 1956 -2001. I see many homes that fly the old state flag alongside the American flag b/c they see it as a symbol of Ga.

I don't think anybody forgot. I do think many didn't respect the fact that the people in power kept it on the flag for as long as they did. Says a lot about Georgia IMO, none of it good.

BTW: Isn't it still part of the Mississippi state flag?

 

[tiggersmom2]

My point was - there are many in Georgia that still fly the flag as a symbol of GEORGIA and their pride to hail from this state, not as a symbol of hatred. Simple as that.

 

[auntpolly]

My point was - there are many in Georgia that still fly the flag as a symbol of GEORGIA and their pride to hail from this state, not as a symbol of hatred. Simple as that.

Yeah, but Georgia should never have adopted it in the first place.

I'll defend an individual's right to fly the stupid thing, but as far as the state flying it, that's wrong. I wouldn't want the state speaking for me in that way.

 

[cardaway]

My point was - there are many in Georgia that still fly the flag as a symbol of GEORGIA and their pride to hail from this state, not as a symbol of hatred. Simple as that.

If they were purpsosely flying an out of date flag it would make me question what they were proud of. Simple as that.

 

[noodleknitter]

If they were purpsosely flying an out of date flag it would make me question what they were proud of. Simple as that.

Guess that counts out the 48 star flag we have hanging here!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Unless I were part of a battle reenactment--no, I wouldn't wear the flag. I have no reason to do so.

For historical context (such as a reenactment) it is entirely appropriate. However I cannot think of another time that it is.

 

[Cool-Beans]

So, if the USA was overtaken by Canada or some other country, you all wouldn't still have a "connection" to the flag of the US?

It is a shame that it is identified with haters, and I understand that, because of that, it is offensive, but to those who don't understand a connection with their familial past, well, shame on you. Shame also on the fool who thought it appropriate to injure someone dumb enough to wear a shirt, because you disagree with a concept. Does that make it ok to trip a gay student who wears a shirt stating his/her views?

If someone is, in your words, "dumb enough" to wear a shirt they know full well is hurtful and offensive, a shirt that symbolizes violence and hatred, they ought to be ready for the fallout. I don't know that I'd personally trip someone, but you can bet that my spaghetti would end up all over that shirt.

Gay people around here do not make those kind of statements. They work against them.

Canada take over the U.S.?! Oh, my gosh. It'll take me a while to contemplate the Canadian military overpowering America. Have to get back to you on that.

 

[roger_ramjet]

Thanks to those who are completely disregarding the history surrounding the flag and prefer to refer to those who take pride in a little bit of their local heritage as rednecks.

You're right, there are some of those down in the south who tote the flag around as a symbol of hate, but by far and away the majority recognise it as a symbol of their heritage - a heritage that is in many ways a painful one. The South was destroyed by the Civil War and took a very long time to recover, and even as a *gasp* foreigner (in the literal sense), I don't appreciate the condescending attitudes of some. It smacks of ignorance.

The Civil War is still very much a part of the South. There are markers everywhere, and battlefields galore. It is actually very interesting, especially for an outsider. Stereotyping people who wield any of the Confederate flags as being buck-toothed hillbillies is disingenuous. For many it is a source of remembrance of their history, not just a prelude to cross-burning. Before I left my home country, I had the image of the confederate flag being the domain of rednecks too, but living in the South has taught me that such stereotyping is false and intellectually dishonest.

Kudos to vh32.

 

[m&m's mom]

Let me say why, as a proud Southerner I would NEVER wear or display the confererate flag, but not necessarily for the incredibly articulated reasons that have been stated so far.
Every single time in the Dallas area someone gets in trouble for something to do w/ the Confederate flag it is ALWAYS the stereotypical poster child for white trash. On the news they go w/someone in the back of the picture w/ a cigarette hanging out their mouth, mangy dog barking and the most unintelligent sounding people you have ever heard saying some variation of "It's my right, and I do not care who I upset". Does not speak well for their case.
OK, back to more legitimate discussions.

 

[JadenLayne]

The Civil War is still very much a part of the South. There are markers everywhere, and battlefields galore. It is actually very interesting, especially for an outsider. Stereotyping people who wield any of the Confederate flags as being buck-toothed hillbillies is disingenuous. For many it is a source of remembrance of their history, not just a prelude to cross-burning. Before I left my home country, I had the image of the confederate flag being the domain of rednecks too, but living in the South has taught me that such stereotyping is false and intellectually dishonest.

Thank you so much for posting this. You said it all so well without the least bit of contempt or rudeness. That is exactly how it is. The South is my heritage, the flag is my heritage and I've never been racist towards anyone in my life, however I do have the cutest shirt with Southern Girl written on it along with the Confederate flag and a magnolia I believe. Just because I like this shirt doesn't make me a memeber of the KKK or anything close. I was also a member of the Daughters of the Confederacy in high school. It is a very very respected organization that does highly respected work for communities.

 

[scifihippie]

As a southerner born and bred, I would NEVER wear or display the confederate flag. Southerners pride ourselves on hospitality. There's nothing hospitable about making someone else uncomfortable. Seeing the flag is hurtful to others, so why do it? There are other ways to express your southern pride than displaying what has been turned into a symbol of intolerance.

 

[m&m's mom]

As a southerner born and bred, I would NEVER wear or display the confederate flag. Southerners pride ourselves on hospitality. There's nothing hospitable about making someone else uncomfortable. Seeing the flag is hurtful to others, so why do it? There are other ways to express your southern pride than displaying what has been turned into a symbol of intolerance.

Ohhh! Now THAT is good!!!!

 

[disneyjunkie]

Thank you so much for posting this. You said it all so well without the least bit of contempt or rudeness. That is exactly how it is. The South is my heritage, the flag is my heritage and I've never been racist towards anyone in my life, however I do have the cutest shirt with Southern Girl written on it along with the Confederate flag and a magnolia I believe. Just because I like this shirt doesn't make me a memeber of the KKK or anything close. I was also a member of the Daughters of the Confederacy in high school. It is a very very respected organization that does highly respected work for communities.

The south is also a huge part of my heritage. My sister, two cousins and I were the first ones in our family to be raised in NY.

I have plenty of family members who were born and raised in South Carolina. (as a matter of fact, I'll be there in July for our family reunion ) They are as southern as they come. They would die before they put on the shirt you just described.
Take away the confederate flag and we'd all wear it.

I'll never understand how someone can take pride in a flag that represents hate and racism.

 

[JadenLayne]

I'll never understand how someone can take pride in a flag that represents hate and racism.

The fact is it does not represent hate and racism to many people. For example there is a gang that wears Malcolm X shirts. I don't particularly find them offensive but they bother me because I know that ONE GROUP of people who wear them are White racists (like the KKK for blacks but don't know the name). BUT Malcolm X is a person of pride for alot of African American people and they have deep respect for him. NEVER EVER would I clump a group of people because of a shirt they wore. You have to know the REAL person, the person on the inside before you make a judgement. My daughter happens to have a t-shirt with a golden lab on it and around the neck of the dog is a confederate scarf. Its a cute shirt and all she sees is the doggie. I'm sorry people feel the need to debate this, I simply don't. The confederate flag is a symbol of the south, it DOES NOT stand for hate or racism to the majority of the people that wear it. Nor areb the majority of the people who wear it redneck hicks. I promise you if you come to Tennessee and just go to the mall you will see plenty of people with something confederate on. These are NORMAL people who are proud to be from the South. Everyone has their right to think what they want and to have their own opinions so I guess I'll leave it at that.

I'll still wear my cute shirt and let my daughter wear hers. We won't be anymore "hick" "redneck" or racist as we were if we didn't have the shirts. People who know our family know our hearts and thats all that matters. I'll continue to feel pride for the South (no not Civil War Pride or lets go lynch black people pride) just pride of being from a part of our country full of rich heritage both good and bad.

 

[Froggyswife]

I think this whole debate is mote. I don't believe in censorship, although I see more and more of it these days due to the fact that we are living in the PC era. Some wear the flag as a sign of hate some as a sign of southern pride. Depending upon the person as to what their reasons behind it is. I myself do not wear it or any other flag on my clothing. (one reason being that stripes and the color red makes me look fat. lol)

Anyone who assumes that a person is a "Dumb Redneck" or "Racist" just because they do wear this flag is called "Prejudiced". IE my dh and our carpenter (who happens to be black) both wear do rags with the Confederate flag.

 

[CheshireVal]

I'm a Georgia girl, born and bred. While it's not really my style to wear confederate flag apparel, there's still a small part of me that is attached..... somehow.... to the image.

I pass by Civil War historic markers on my way to work every day. I grew up near a Civil War battlefield. You really can't escape the past here.... everywhere you turn, you're reminded of a city destroyed, people killed.

I don't think anyone who hasn't grown up in the South can possibly understand, so make fun all you want.

It's a shame that the confederate flag is now synonymous with rednecks and ignorance. It really is so much more than that.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Thanks to those who are completely disregarding the history surrounding the flag and prefer to refer to those who take pride in a little bit of their local heritage as rednecks.

You're right, there are some of those down in the south who tote the flag around as a symbol of hate, but by far and away the majority recognise it as a symbol of their heritage - a heritage that is in many ways a painful one. The South was destroyed by the Civil War and took a very long time to recover, and even as a *gasp* foreigner (in the literal sense), I don't appreciate the condescending attitudes of some. It smacks of ignorance.

The Civil War is still very much a part of the South. There are markers everywhere, and battlefields galore. It is actually very interesting, especially for an outsider. Stereotyping people who wield any of the Confederate flags as being buck-toothed hillbillies is disingenuous. For many it is a source of remembrance of their history, not just a prelude to cross-burning. Before I left my home country, I had the image of the confederate flag being the domain of rednecks too, but living in the South has taught me that such stereotyping is false and intellectually dishonest.

Kudos to vh32.

That was really a wonderful post. I think you and Cheshire Val have expressed my sentiments exactly. I was born and raised in Ga and I too have that "attachment" to the confederate flag. So sad that others have tried to twist it into something hateful and ugly.