Confederate flag... what that make you think?

[FlexdXJ]

They like it because it pisses people off, and makes em feel like badasses.

Haha, that reminds me of a guy I know who pissed a lot of people off around here. Also, I know a Hells Angel who has a Swastika tatooed on his arm and has a Mixed Granddaughter......................Thats Irony! :roflmao:

 

[Sherman_thetank]

By that logic, the same 618k died "in relation" to the US flag, plus the millions in wars before and after.

The Nazis actually rounded up civilians and exterminated them.

The Nazi Swastika is a whole different class than the Confederate flag. The two should not be compared.


All of which is irrelevant, because nobody really flies it to "celebrate their heritage."

They like it because it pisses people off, and makes em feel like badasses.

I know, I had one on my old Mopar in high school. Then I grew up a little.

Robert

Exactly, If your gonna compare those two your not too bright. If you disagree, drive your jeep with a confederate flag on it for a week, then put a Swastika on it, and i bet you get slightly different looks,

Actually it shows just how much education people do have. They all know that the confederate flag does not stand for the same thing now as it did then.

Your right it doesnt, it can stand for one of two things, your heritage, or you being a redneck, yes some pieces of crap still fly it to symbolize racism, but not anyone on this board.

 

[Matthew Currie]

Your right it doesnt, it can stand for one of two things, your heritage, or you being a redneck, yes some pieces of crap still fly it to symbolize racism, but not anyone on this board.

The problem here is that you've named three things it can stand for. Unfortunately, one of those three is common enough, and nasty enough, to make the symbol a poor choice for non-political, non-racist expression. Even if your motives are good, it can be pretty well guaranteed that many people will misunderstand you, and that raises the question of why one would wish to invite that kind of misunderstanding.

 

[Sherman_thetank]

The problem here is that you've named three things it can stand for. Unfortunately, one of those three is common enough, and nasty enough, to make the symbol a poor choice for non-political, non-racist expression. Even if your motives are good, it can be pretty well guaranteed that many people will misunderstand you, and that raises the question of why one would wish to invite that kind of misunderstanding.

So i cant count :dunce:
And i do agree with that some will take it like that, which is why you will never find one on my jeep, but i think most would not.

 

[RedHeep]

It doesn't matter what it means, it matters what it symbolizes.

Anyone who's read a book can tell you that it's a flag flown by a group of states fighting for financial freedom from the US. No more, no less.

Unfortunately, in pursuit of that financial freedom, those states condoned a practice that was no longer acceptable. The "ownership" of another human being was wrong then just as it is now. In order for the south to farm the millions of acres of crops to continue their livelihood, they simply couldn't afford to pay their workers.

That notwithstanding, I can tell you from the bottom of my heart that every time I see a representation of that flag, whether it's on a t-shirt, a license plate or a flagpole, I feel insulted. Not because someone is proud of being southern (and I'm from the north) or because it stands for slavery or the persecution of black americans (because it doesn't, directly), but because it represents a group of people who CHOSE not to be part of my country anymore.

I stand in the front of a lot of people who would die for the american flag. Seeing someone flying a symbol of people who hated my flag really bothers me. It makes me not want to fight for you. Why can't you put an american flag on your jeep? Maybe if we were all trying to be better americans and not little individual groups of people inside america, we'd be much better off.

 

[avnsteve]

.
It is the "Battle Flag of Northern Virginia." They represent the thirteen southern states of the American union which left the union and formed the Confederate States of America.
the southern states no longer wanted to be a part pf any group which the northern states were a part of. CROSS US OUT of your Union!

In light of what our illustrious government is doing these days, it's a wonder there isn't more talk of rebellion and secession. It's about time we did something about it. I for one am no lemming

 

[Texas Twitch]

I will freely admit i didn't read through all 5 pages, mainly because i haven't had quite enough adderall and coffee to cross out the egg nog and bloody marys from this morning.

Being in Texas my entire life, I think it's safe to say i see my fair share of racism and prejudice on a daily basis, and I will admit that I am not always on the innocent end of this. But when i see a "Rebel" flag on a car or truck, the thought "racist" does not even ENTER my mind. I think redneck, good ol' boy, or something along those lines. But, as with everything else in this world that certain members of certain groups/races/ethnicities might pull the race card on, it all lies on the perception of the individual viewing the rebel flag.

As my hippy college roommate always told me, "Reality is based on perception."
If YOU don't see a problem with it, then there isn't. If someone else DOES see a problem with it, then so be it. If they call you out on it, say your peace and leave it alone.

Everything you do on a daily basis is going to piss SOMEONE off. Unfortunately, that's the world we live in. I have seen people get more pissed off at obama/mccain/palin/bush/clinton/etc....stickers than i have ever seen be offended by a rebel flag. I've also seen more people make a big stink over Christmas and all its accoutrement i.e. nativity scene, CHRISTMAS (not holiday) trees, crosses, etc. than i have seen over-exaggerate the real meaning of a rebel flag.

Bottom line, to me it means redneck, and PROBABLY pretty ignorant. (please take note of the emphasis i put on "probably") But then again, I'm a Protestant Irish/German bred Texan. Someone with more ethnic descent might think differently. But once again, that brings us back to the perception and reality theory.

/rant off.

 

[Mudderoy]

I like the flag. If I displayed it I would hope people would judge me on my actions and not what flag I was displaying. I was thinking about getting one of those "Don't Tread On Me" flags. It has a rattle snake on a yellow flag. Hmmm I guess I might offend PETA though. I guess you can't do anything these days without offending someone.

 

[XJ 4-play]

I guess it came off wrong. I thought i explained it well but i forgot about attention spans. I compared the way they are perceived to the original meaning of the symbols. not rednecks to nazis. how may ancient symbols mean to "live long and prosper"

 

[cracked-butt]

i even seen that canadians fly the rebel flags!! so they're not limited to the United States rednecks

also yeah i learned that in my history class that the south dont want to end the slavery because if it ends the south's productivity will decrease due to no slavery to work on the field, the plantation owner will now need to pay the worker (less worker and less hours per worker) as slavery isnt allowed.

that's why in the south they hire illegal immigrants before they will AMERICANS... they can pay them less!

 

[Matthew Currie]

As a Yankee, I have no issue of southern heritage, and don't really want to identify myself as a redneck, but I have no quarrel with people who wish to do so, though I would rather for myself to be identified, as our old friend Eagle did, as a "swamp yankee." The problem, as I see it, is that like it or not, enough people fly the Confederate flag as a symbol of bigotry to incite some doubt in people's minds as to what is intended whenever it's seen. It's not as compromised as the swastika, by a huge margin, but it is sufficiently ambiguous that people who fly it ought to be prepared for some controversy. I would not recommend flying it to a northerner unless you have a proactive interest in rehabilitating the symbol or explaining your point of view. Because, like it or not, people will be inclined to misread your message. If all you want to do is make a statement about being a redneck, you'd do better to get a decal that says "redneck," and save yourself some hassle.

Little anecdote. I was at a gas station in PA last month, and there was a car plastered with confederate and U.S. flags, and various other stickers. Another person at the station went out of his way to make a disparaging remark about the confederate flags, until I pointed out to him the very prominent stickers that identified the owner as a Civil War buff, and more specifically as a "UNION RE-ENACTOR." Some people will ALWAYS misread the stars and bars.

 

[Boatwrench]

I don't like iratefla either.

 

[tbburg]

the nazi flag is kinda a bit much, allthough you could debate what this says about jesse james:

closet nazi? or a german proud of his past? he even uses a picture of rommel as his avatar on RDC.

Just to clarify, that's not a Nazi flag, or a swastika. Look close, it's the "Iron Cross". This might look familiar. It sits on top of the Brandenburg gate.

( I pretty much think JJ is an idiot, regardless of what's painted on the side of his truck. )

As for rebel flag stickers, plates, window covers, etc., I throw them in the same category as the chrome "naked chick" silhouettes, and "truck nutz" ie: idiots.

 

[hubs97xj]

Iron Cross- not a Nazi party symbol. Used by the Wehrmacht, later the German Army, and I think it has Prussian origins. Not Hitlerific. Popular with the bike crowd, which I don't really understand. I'd have figured the Bimmer crowd would have adopted it before the HD types.

 

[karstic]

Iron Cross- not a Nazi party symbol. Used by the Wehrmacht, later the German Army, and I think it has Prussian origins. Not Hitlerific. Popular with the bike crowd, which I don't really understand. I'd have figured the Bimmer crowd would have adopted it before the HD types.

Not, the Bayers and the Preissen mix like oil and water. Kinda Yankees and Southerners.

 

[fscrig75]

You can dress up in combat boots, jeans, red suspenders and a white t-shirt, it doesn't mean you're a skin head but first impressions are a mofo.

 

[tharlanjr]

You can dress up in combat boots, jeans, red suspenders and a white t-shirt, it doesn't mean you're a skin head but first impressions are a mofo.

Or you can be a skinhead and just not be a rascist one...


SHARP...

 

[xcm]

Just to clarify, that's not a Nazi flag, or a swastika. Look close, it's the "Iron Cross". This might look familiar. It sits on top of the Brandenburg gate.

oh! its not? ;;facepalm;;
its still, quite nazi era german. this thread isnt about what things ARE, its what they seem.

 

[fscrig75]

Or you can be a skinhead and just not be a rascist one...


SHARP...

Good point, its all about the impressions you leave on other people.

 

[97GOVXJ]

I personally am sick and tired of all this politically correct bs. This country is turning into a bunch of sue-happy candy-asses. Put your big girl panties on and deal with it. As far as your flag goes, I see it as a rebel flag and nothing else. I've been know to sport one myself from time to time. Fly what you want, just be willing to back it up.