It can be said that, "History is in the eye of the beholder".While at Reggie's spot the recent discussion was centered on whether the Confederate Flag was racist or not.
In the context above - is the use of the flag racist?
Could Tommie Smith and John Carlos be perceived as being racists?
Could wearing an Afro be seen as being threatening?
How many people in NYC are up in arms over a religious structure being placed so close to the site of the former World Trade Center?
How many minorities would see a Temple and think, "Racists"?
How many countries view the cross the same way many of us do?
Would the sight of the LAPD be a cause for comfort or for fear and resentment?
And what can we say for the symbol of our own country?(I'm sure that being called "racist" is the least offensive term one would use when describing our country.)
5 comments:
Symbols are meant to convey meaning... flags are symbols. Say what you want about all the institutoins or images you listed but the confederacy was founded and created on the simple idea that they wanted to keep black people in slavery. The confederate battle flag was the symbol of the army killing to maintain the right to own black people. racist or not... thats the origin of the flag and the message it was created to convey.
Any other meaning for that flag is secondary or imaginary.
What brohammas said.
"the Confederacy was founded..."
"WAS" - there is no current Confederacy.
That side lost - and with that loss came the loss of any real power.
The meanings behind these symbols have to be taught.
If no one gives these meanings any power, of what use is their intention (racist or not)?
John while the Confederacy was founded.......try telling some of your fellow Americans that. They'll tell you that the south shall rise again, that our Civil War was fought over taxes, that the north was the aggresor and that fat meat isn't greasy.
When I wrote that blog I understood that everyone might not agree with me. Depending upon who dropped by my page, I was counting on it. When I spoke with that gentleman at the gas station he was the very first person who ever gave me a reasonable explanation for displaying that flag. It would be one thing if people displayed the Confederate National Flag; but they don't, they display the Confederate Battle Flag. That's a symbol of something entirely different. The Battle Flag isn't about a national....even an old tired one, it's about fighting for an idea. An idea that I just can't co-sign.
Symbols are important.
Still, I respected most of that gentleman at the gas station's argument; just like I respected TrueConfederate's passion.
Perception is reality.
perception is reality. My father, yes my father, once argued that that flag was simply a symbol of rebellion, hence its popularity with the bikers of our day (Harleys and long mustaches, not visors and crotch rockets).
Sure maybe its that to some, but again, for it to have a "non-racist" meaning to someone, that someone would essentially have to ignore 99.9% of black people who see it akin to a swastika... and ignoring all those black people is 99.9% racist.
At best it is ignorant/uninformed racism, but so is most of today's racism.
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