If you want to know if something is racist, ask those who would be affected by that racism if it is racist. If minorities, which are majority black in South Carolina, think that the Confederate flag is racist and don't see it as a symbol of their heritage then it is racist. Don't ask the white man if the flag is a symbol of heritage. Ask the black man who has as much right to claim heritage as any other if that flag is his history.
Wow, when I heard Jon Stewart talking about the confederate flag flying over SC I assumed it was a metaphor... I have a question though; forgive my ignorance but what exactly are people referring to when they say that the flag represents their heritage? Is there any other facet to it than symbolising the idea that black people are not equal?
This is just personal spit balling, but I think I can understand why they feel this way. Southerners could see the flag as representing their communities: their customs, heritage, food, shared historical experiences, etc. In theory they could divorce this sense of community from the flag's history of racial prejudice. So they honestly may believe that they themselves are not racist, their community is not racist (anymore at least), and that the flag merely stands as a symbol of their community bond. Of course it's beyond naive to separate the flag's despicable racial past from it's use in modern times, but perhaps that's just the culture in South Carolina. I wouldn't know, I've never been.
That's true, but then there's a reason one of the classic history books on the South was titled the Burden of Southern History. The confederate flag is a very good symbol. Tell someone who flies it that it's irredeemable because it's tainted by racism and you might as well be telling them that they're irredeemable because they're tainted by racism. Which might be what people who want it removed mean to say, but all the same these arguments are never just about the flag itself on either side.Of course it's beyond naive to separate the flag's despicable racial past from it's use in modern times
I see, so by telling them they can't fly the Confederate flag because it's tainted by racism, we're saying they're tainted by racism. Which I imagine they resent because they likely don't consider themselves racist, whether this is true or not. I think this raises an interesting question: Can the Confederate flag be redeemed? Can it ever be considered primarily a symbol of Southern community pride, and not a racist rallying point? I have a feeling this question and it's answer lies with minority communities, and it's something I personally cannot comment on.
I really don't think the Confederate Flag can be redeemed, a lot of people will see it as a symbol of racism and but also as a symbol of a bloody civil war that killed many young men. This flag is seen by a good number of people as a symbol of traitors and history rarely treats traitors well. Is Benedict Arnold ever really treated well after all these years?
It's possible, but not likely. Certainly not in my lifetime, or my grandchildren's lifetime. I guess the point I'm making is that many Southerners see the stars and bars purely as a symbol of Southern pride and culture, and not as a racist banner. I think in theory it could be viewed this way, but I imagine a large portion of the public, especially minorities, wouldn't buy into it, understandably so.
I suspect you're right in that most people perpetuating casual racism don't view themselves as racist. Like you say, there's a feeling that we've moved beyond race and that people should just get on with the bootstrap pulling. When the flag represents nothing more to you than a shared cultural experience (using shared loosely considering that it's not really the most inclusive "share") then I'd say you have other issues at hand. It shows that they haven't considered what it must be like to see the flag through any other lens than their own. Or perhaps more frighteningly, considered it but came to the conclusion that the other experience was not "that bad" or whatever. IMO you'll never have any kind of meaningful reconcilliation until people are able to identify with the lived experiences of the other group. edit: on rereading I see this might seem like I'm implying that you (BB) think this way - when I say "you" I mean it generally
I hope one day we'll all share a single flag. Or even better, no flag at all.
fyi this is the stars and bars: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Flag_of_the_Confederate_States_of_America_%281861-1863%29.svg The flag that is being burned in the picture is the battle flag- flown during battle. It's kind of more fucked up that this is the flag people use these days.
If they flew the actual confederate flag for heritage, I actually wouldn't mind it at all. The fact that they purposely fly a battle flag that wasn't even used in SC is what gets me. But we must also look at the issue of free speech... if the majority voted the flag on top of a confederate statue...well then we are looking at a case of the tyranny of the majority, it happens all the time in a voting society. May I say though that #wewillshootback is the most backwards way to combat this violence? Didn't MLK teach us anything?
Let's face it. This is the flag they wish they had when they wave St Andrew's Cross with stars and a red background. I like how it becomes a partial Hardee battle flag. "You can't take my precious stars and bars away! You'll make me realize I'm just a ball of hate and I sound like a barking, toothless dog."