Tom,
The discussion that is being had on this Forum and nationally is a discussion that is a long time overdue and shows what Ken Burns or somebody else said that if you look for the Civil War, just look around you, because it is still an open wound for us all.
In a very unfortunate and unplanned way, this murderer may have done us all a services by having this discussion. Many of us find that flag when flown over a public place offensive because of what it represents and the history that goes with it: the Civil Rights Era, Emmett Till, lynchings, Jim Crow, what happened to the enslaved people of this country pre-1861 and so forth. Obviously, some don't. I think the sooner the better the flag is not there, the better. I, obviously, have toy soldiers that have the flag and don't think much of it.
I'm not going to change your mind about it as much as I try and you're not going to change my mind about it as much as you try. I think what is going on now is settling past accounts, in a very small way, for what happened to African Americans over the years, particularly during Jim Crow. I don't think we would be having this discussion had not the flag been appropriated by white hate groups to keep Black people in their place, who were trying to assert their rights.
The hope is that one day these matters are completely relegated to the history books where they belong.
As an aside, I find that except for flareups like these, most people don't seem to really have an interest in the Civil War, to really discuss it, to really discuss American History and how we got to where we did in 1860. Fore example, I see a lot of people jumping all over Forrest all the time. Obviously, not one of my favorite characters but in his later days, exhibited some good traits, that are often conveniently ignored. When I've posted things in the past, they generally get ignored. Although I don't agree with Poppo about 99% of the time, at least he's interested, so I have to give him that.
Brad
Brad,
I think that for me, this issue has always been in the history books where it belongs as we are a nation of Americans (notice no pre adjective, I hate those, we are all Americans). I am a Converted Jewish American, before that I was a German American........NO, I am an American, period.
Anyhow, point being, it is history, it is to be remembered and learned upon. That is my viewpoint, I don't find offense in the 5th Michigan Calvary flag who killed my ancestors (literally, in Yellow Tavern, it was a bloodbath). It is a historical regiment that I also respect. 150 years ago, Americans came together to resolve a dispute both sides thought was important enough to fight over and at the time (all issues) it was or they wouldn't have. Today's viewpoint obviously would be different as the times are very different.
In the setting of studying history which can include books, arts, toy soldiers, etc, the Confederate Battle Flag has a rightful place just like any other symbol of war. By this logic, that is the reason I say the same thing about the Nazi Flag. We all have a choice of display and that is respected.
Regarding public places, I have never wavered that it is the choice of those States on what they do, me personally, I do not believe in a flag flying over a State Capitol of a defunct government, that makes no sense and the Flag should not be there. Should it fly on memorials/monuments, etc, absolutely, they are there for historical purposes and that flag is part of the context, so in my opinion it belongs. Back to the board, since we are a hobby board and the Flag is part of our hobby, it belongs in whatever format and context that is - history. For example, I have Bedford Forrest as my avatar because I found in my research , he turned out to be a darn good cavalry commander with no training and that drew my respect. Regarding the Battle Flag, I view it as my free speech, but to delve even further, this is the actual flag of my ancestors as they were part of the Army of Northern Virginia. SO ironically, that is the flag of my ancestry with regards to the Civil War. I am one of the ones who should be the most pissed that the idiotic hate groups appropriated and abused this flag and have blinded the historical perspective of it and what it means to my family.
As I said, I am not about refighting the Civil War, I am not a Lost Causer by that means. The current issue and has been my viewpoint most of my life is that we are Americans, we should have moved on long ago from this Civil War, I have and will continue to do so. Stopping the sale of a Battle Flag is not going to do anything other than cause what you see in this microcosm of a message board. I believe it actually will further the divide, albeit, it may be more silently and not measurable by protests, but I wonder if it doesn't just bring out more racial divide than it heals.
TD