The Confederate battle flag is still flying at the grounds of the South Carolina statehouse. It is a symbol of racism. The Civil War was about slavery for a main part. Most Americans see it as racist and a sign that should be destroyed. The flag does have a place in history - in a museum case - but not flying on the Statehouse grounds.

There is Asian/Pacific Islander month. There is Hispanic Heritage month.

Brave Americans fought and died for that flag's right to fly. It is meant as a sign of bravery and not racism.

I think the real question is "what is the intent"? While some people may display this flag for the purpose of their own personal show of racism (which, btw, is not the historical meaning of this flag at all!), I highly doubt that the state of SC flies it for that reason. It is a part of their history. Why must we constantly change our history because people choose to distort things?

Originally Posted by Guest

I think the real question is "what is the intent"? While some people may display this flag for the purpose of their own personal show of racism (which, btw, is not the historical meaning of this flag at all!), I highly doubt that the state of SC flies it for that reason. It is a part of their history. Why must we constantly change our history because people choose to distort things?

The civil war was lost by the southern states. To hold onto the memory of a cause that has been proven to be unpopular to the vast majority should certainly be allowed on personal property but not in the public view of so many SC citizens that find it so upsetting. If you are proud of the KKK, you should have the right to fly their flag in your front yard, but again, I would find it inappropriate on a flag pole in my neighborhood park. Public places supported by tax dollars from everyone should not take a stand on issues like this. Remember a famous quote "United we stand, Divided we fall"

Mitt Romney Joins Call for Confederate Flag to Come Down After Shooting - NBC News


Mitt Romney came out with a powerful statement yesterday saying take this flag down, it has no place on public grounds. Jeb Bush echoed his words and had the good sense to remove the flag from the Florida state house back in 2000.

People who want to remember and honor the war dead can do so at a museum or confederate cemetery.

A state legislator in SC will be introducing a bill to remove the flag from public buildings when the legislature reconvenes in January 2016.

Actually, most of the people fighting in the Confederate War had no ideal what they were fighting for. Many families had sons fighting for different sides. The Southern people didn't like the North telling them what to do. The confederate people were treated like dogs after the war. Texans were treated the worst. I visited the Vicksburg Battleground and there is a plaque there that states that President Lincoln would not allow any Confederate Soldiers to be buried in the cemeteries there. They were all buried in mass unmarked graves outside of town. The one that really confuses me is why do we have racial riots in the Northern states, the ones that fought to free the slaves? I'm from Michigan and I remember the Detroit riots very well. Detroit has never recovered from them.

Originally Posted by Guest

The civil war was lost by the southern states. To hold onto the memory of a cause that has been proven to be unpopular to the vast majority should certainly be allowed on personal property but not in the public view of so many SC citizens that find it so upsetting. If you are proud of the KKK, you should have the right to fly their flag in your front yard, but again, I would find it inappropriate on a flag pole in my neighborhood park. Public places supported by tax dollars from everyone should not take a stand on issues like this. Remember a famous quote "United we stand, Divided we fall"

Really? The Confederate flag is the flag of the KKK? Seems to me I have seen such groups fly the American flag as well. Should we get rid of that too? That's precisely my point!

Originally Posted by Guest

Really? The Confederate flag is the flag of the KKK? Seems to me I have seen such groups fly the American flag as well. Should we get rid of that too? That's precisely my point!

I love this kind of comparison......

The Confederate is the flag of a lost country, The Confederated States of America. It should be remembered, but not flown on public buildings. The KKK flag is no different than the ISIS flag.

Originally Posted by Guest

I love this kind of comparison......

Listen, I have no dog in this fight. I just don't get racism at all. Did not grow up with it and don't understand it. I probably have more different cultures, skin colors, etc in my family than most of you, so again, I just don't get it! My point is that it is a flag - a thing - like any other thing that can be taken out of context. I go back to my question - "what is the intent" of flying it in SC? I think it should be up to the state of SC and the people of that state as to what is the proper thing to do. I just get tired of others dictating what someone else should do based on their own biased thinking.

Just FYI regarding the flag and the KKK -

The Real Flag Of The Ku Klux Klan - KKK

Don't know anything about this site or KKK for that matter, just googled "the flag of the KKK" and this is one of articles I found.

Just now found this - Ku Klux Klan (U.S. organization)

Once again, by no means am I a promoter of any kind for this organization, but I do hate disinformation!

There was no CSA flag flown at the state capital in SC until the civil rights act was passed in the 1960's. Then the segregationist leadership of that state, and others, responded by claiming that they could defy the federal government (just like they had 100 years earlier). And as part of this state's speech SC chose to begin to fly the stars and bars over their statehouse. It was a clear response to laws enacted to help black Americans achieve equality. That is not an accident of history. It is a clear message to black Americans. The CSA flag is no more a symbol that is legitimately used to honor the South's history of starting the most brutal war fought by the USA than flying the flag of Nazi Germany can be said to honor the German's who died for their country and fought out of German patriotism, perhaps not fully aware of the policies of their leadership.
The Nazi flag is of course still revered by some and its meaning is not German pride. The CSA flag is still revered by some, and its meaning is not Southern pride. It is not surprising that Mr. Roof on his personal website has photos of himself proudly holding the CSA flag while also burning and spitting on the American flag. You fly the CSA flag, you are speaking very clearly. You wish the CSA had won that war and that the darkies were still on the plantation.

Originally Posted by Guest

Listen, I have no dog in this fight. I just don't get racism at all. Did not grow up with it and don't understand it. I probably have more different cultures, skin colors, etc in my family than most of you, so again, I just don't get it! My point is that it is a flag - a thing - like any other thing that can be taken out of context. I go back to my question - "what is the intent" of flying it in SC? I think it should be up to the state of SC and the people of that state as to what is the proper thing to do. I just get tired of others dictating what someone else should do based on their own biased thinking.

Only the people of South Carolina, through their elected state representatives, will make this decision, but that doesn't mean that others cannot make their opinions known especially the 2016 presidential hopefuls.

If any good is to come out of this heart-breaking, despicable act it will be to have this flag removed once and for all. God bless Charleston as they grieve.

Originally Posted by Guest

There was no CSA flag flown at the state capital in SC until the civil rights act was passed in the 1960's. Then the segregationist leadership of that state, and others, responded by claiming that they could defy the federal government (just like they had 100 years earlier). And as part of this state's speech SC chose to begin to fly the stars and bars over their statehouse. It was a clear response to laws enacted to help black Americans achieve equality. That is not an accident of history. It is a clear message to black Americans. The CSA flag is no more a symbol that is legitimately used to honor the South's history of starting the most brutal war fought by the USA than flying the flag of Nazi Germany can be said to honor the German's who died for their country and fought out of German patriotism, perhaps not fully aware of the policies of their leadership.
The Nazi flag is of course still revered by some and its meaning is not German pride. The CSA flag is still revered by some, and its meaning is not Southern pride. It is not surprising that Mr. Roof on his personal website has photos of himself proudly holding the CSA flag while also burning and spitting on the American flag. You fly the CSA flag, you are speaking very clearly. You wish the CSA had won that war and that the darkies were still on the plantation.

And that being said, and if true (not saying it is not, I am just admitting I don't know), then you have answered my question about intent. So let's allow the people of SC to decide if that is so. To respond to the others on here, expressing one's opinion is one thing but knowing the true intent is clearly another.