It's just amazing to me how short our memories are in this country. Not too long ago, after a racist slaughtered nine innocent people in a church, the country was outraged that he would do it under the banner of the confederate flag. Now, two weeks later, we are back to being our old selves.
"American public opinion on the Confederate flag remains about where it was 15 years ago, with most describing the flag as a symbol of Southern pride more than one of racism, according to a new CNN/ORC poll. And questions about how far to go to remove references to the Confederacy from public life prompt broad racial divides.
The poll shows that 57% of Americans see the flag more as a symbol of Southern pride than as a symbol of racism, about the same as in 2000 when 59% said they viewed it as a symbol of pride. Opinions of the flag are sharply divided by race, and among whites, views are split by education." [Source]
I am going to take a guess and say that the more educated one is the more likely they are to see the flag for what it truly is: A racist treasonous symbol of defiance and ignorance.
"Among whites, there's a sharp divide by education, and those with more formal education are less apt to see the flag as a symbol of pride. Among whites with a college degree, 51% say it's a symbol of pride, 41% one of racism. Among those whites who do not have a college degree, 73% say it's a sign of Southern pride, 18% racism."
Just as I suspected. Although 51% of "educated" white folks still consider it a symbol of pride.
Hmmm, how many of those same people consider the swastika a symbol of German pride?
So I guess it won't Dbe long before Wal- Mart starts selling confederate flags again. I am sure that other retailers will do likewise now that then backlash has cooled off.
One person who might have changed his stance about the flag is Texas governor , Rick Perry. His speech today in Washington had be doing a double take.
"Rick Perry stepped up to the lectern and paused. The former Texas governor scanned the room, a Thursday luncheon at the National Press Club, and proceeded to delve into a particularly gruesome chapter of his state's history.
Speaking slowly but emphatically to a predominantly white audience, Perry recounted the horrific lynching outside the McLennan County Courthouse, where 15,000 people gathered to watch Washington be tortured, mutilated, castrated and burned alive. The incident, he said, was an "episode in our history that we cannot ignore. It is an episode we have an obligation to transcend."' [Source]
Governor, we would love to "transcend" that dark part of our history, but every time I see that damn flag I go back to that very dark place.
*Pic from the wahingtonpost.com
I think it's a mistake to assume that supporters of that flag care at all when more people are murdered in its name. What's a few more on top of the hundreds of thousands already killed? This stuff isn't secret. The civil war is still there, even in our whitewashed history books.
ReplyDelete-Doug in Oakland
"Among whites, there's a sharp divide by education, and those with more formal education are less apt to see the flag as a symbol of pride. Among whites with a college degree, 51% say it's a symbol of pride, 41% one of racism. Among those whites who do not have a college degree, 73% say it's a sign of Southern pride, 18% racism."
ReplyDeleteField, when will people learn that racism is not determined by education. Hell, a racist with an MD is still a racist at heart.
You see, racism lies in the heart, not the mind. All the education in the world won't change the mind and character of a racist. Racism is not something that can be eradicated by logic or reason. It's far more powerful than that.
Racism is an illogical and irrational emotional brew that intoxicates the mind and heart with hate. There is no reasoning behind it. You can be one of the greatest physicists in the world and still be a bigger racist than Roof and David Duke combined.
Wake up!
Brother Field, that photo makes the Confederate flag look majestically beautiful next to the SC Capitol dome. How much digging did you have to do to find a photo to make the flag look so breath taking prideful?
ReplyDeleteIt's as if your post is subtly trying to sabotage any votes against the flag. You don't have to do that. The flag will prevail in the South, esp SC where black lives don't matter.
What pride is there in being a traitor? SMDH
ReplyDelete"You see, racism lies in the heart, not the mind. All the education in the world won't change the mind and character of a racist. Racism is not something that can be eradicated by logic or reason. It's far more powerful than that."
ReplyDeleteNot entirely true.
I'm not saying that education is a panacea that is guaranteed to eliminate bigotry -- there are educated bigots -- but having a better understanding of how the world really works does decrease the chances of making unfair judgments about people.
So does traveling, and having a more diverse group of acquaintances.
Ignorance is a breeding ground for prejudice. In fact, one could argue that prejudice is the human brain's natural coping strategy for dealing with ignorance. If you only have a little bit of information, you fill in the blanks with guesswork and sometimes reach very incorrect conclusions.
"Brother Field, that photo makes the Confederate flag look majestically beautiful next to the SC Capitol dome. How much digging did you have to do to find a photo to make the flag look so breath taking prideful?"
ReplyDeleteThe Confederate battle flag is actually an attractive design, in my opinion.
Likewise, the Nazis always had a pretty sharp fashion sense and knew how throw a good political rally. (Go watch "Triumph of the Will" and you'll get at least some inkling of what their followers found appealing about them.)
None of that changes the fact that these symbols are associated with belief systems that have been soundly rejected by most people alive today, being based on both a false, pseudoscientific version of human biology and a cruel, destructive moral code.
I am not surprised that Dylann Roof's massacre hasn't changed many people's opinions. The people who see the Confederate flag as benign look at Roof and assume that Roof is the one who does not understand the true meaning of the flag, that Roof is the one "bringing it into disrepute."
ReplyDeleteA big part of the problem has to do with intent. Some white Southerners do indeed use the flag without any racist intent. They think there's not a problem because they don't have any hateful motivation behind plastering that flag across their pickup truck. They believe they have "reclaimed" this symbol and don't get why anyone else would see the flag differently than they do.
You can see some similar thinking going on with black people's colloquial use of the n-word. Plenty of black folks seem to feel they have "reclaimed" that word as well. But has that actually happened? It's easy enough to tell. If a white person calls you a nigger to your face, do you get angry? If you said yes, then there's your answer: Word not reclaimed.
Look, I'm not saying the intent of people's actions doesn't matter. It usually does, and should be taken into account. But the associations of some symbols are simply too strong to change. You cannot get rid of original meaning, no matter how hard you try. The bad smell simply will not come off.
"One person who might have changed his stance about the flag is Texas governor , Rick Perry. His speech today in Washington had be doing a double take."
ReplyDeleteMaybe he's still trying to compensate for his family's West Texas hunting camp, where he used to to entertain his friends and colleagues, back before his first attempt at the presidency.
This piece of real estate had a very interesting, attention-grabbing name. You might remember it: Niggerhead Ranch.
I'm sure Rick would really prefer to not have to talk about that place again this time around.
God, this shit is boring. Burn Everything!!!
ReplyDelete"God, this shit is boring. Burn Everything!!!"
ReplyDeleteNah, just burn the Confederate flag. At least that's not boring. It's actually rather amusing because it makes the rednecks go bananas.
Laughing@what Anon 5:07 said.
ReplyDelete"51% of "educated" white folks still consider it a symbol of pride."
ReplyDeletehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/07/01/why-do-people-believe-myths-about-the-confederacy-because-our-textbooks-and-monuments-are-wrong/
First, you whitewash history textbooks so as not to "offend" anyone. States' rights! That's what the war was fought over! Surprising how many "educated" white folks believe that. Loewen takes you on a tour of a very successful 150-year propaganda campaign...
ReplyDeleteJust in case the update doesn't get mentioned...
Mt. Zion AME Church fire in SC caused by lightning. No criminal intent. The investigation is complete.
https://twitter.com/ATFHQ/status/616748397689761792
Haha. The Confederate flag is the "white pride" flag. What a joke of a race.
ReplyDeleteHate much?
DeleteYeah I know Bill.
ReplyDeleteOh wait.....
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/24/fire-church-north-carolina-arson_n_7658300.html
Never mind.
ReplyDeletefield negro said...
Yeah I know Bill.
Oh wait.....
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/24/fire-church-north-carolina-arson_n_7658300.html
Never mind.'
From your link...
Investigators are not sure if the fire was racially motivated.
Never mind.
ReplyDeleteHarry Reid calls on UNLV to consider changing ‘rebel’ mascot
http://lasvegassun.com/news/2015/jun/23/harry-reid-calls-unlv-consider-changing-rebel-masc/
"Redskins" is insulting.
"Rebels" celebrates.
These dumbocrat double standards are relentless.
"'Redskins' is insulting.
ReplyDelete'Rebels' celebrates.
These dumbocrat double standards are relentless."
Wow, you really don't understand the concept of a double standard at all, eh, Bill?
Let me explain.
It is a debatable concept as to whether using an image of a group of people is a celebration of them. Arguably, it is. But some Native Americans have objected to the use of being portrayed as mascots because these mascots are usually based on cartoonish caricature versions of the group in question, and Native Americans feel they are already seen as a caricature. But other Native Americans are completely fine with sports teams using native Braves or Scouts or Warriors and take it as a compliment. There's not one settled opinion on this.
But none of that is what the Redskins controversy is about. The complaint in that situation is that the actual name "Redskins" is a racial slur. It's probably not the most offensive racial epithet out there ... but it is somewhat offensive. It has a negative historical connotation. The Washington fans who demand the name not be changed, simply because they've grown used to it, are being major douchebags.
PS This is certainly not the first time a sports team has had an offensive name.
ReplyDeleteThere is a small town, Pekin, Illinois, which, since their town's name sounded sort of like Peking, China (now known as Beijing, China), thought it would be very clever to call their high school's sports teams the "Pekin Chinks." (I think their actual mascot was some sort of Chinese New Year-style dragon.)
They maintained this offensive absurdity until the 1970s when public pressure finally forced them to change it.
I am not making this up.
Who gives 2 shits about those 9.I bet you love Omar Thornton and he is your hero.STFU losers.
ReplyDeleteBY the way if I see your monkey friends waving that POS african flag in Baltimore again I'll piss all over it.
ReplyDeleteWhite men are lame as hell. White women, on the other hand, are great ;)
ReplyDeleteThe latest news is that the Confederate flag will fly throughout the deep South and in other places as well.
ReplyDeleteBlacks will just have to deal with it, live with it, and STFU about it.
Yes, there will be more black lives lost over it but not enough to eliminate 'one' of the greatest symbol of pride and courage America has ever known.
Such is the way Americans must live.
BTW, there is no guarantee that Roof will be given the death penalty or life in prison. There are extenuating circumstances such as depression and mental problems that cause temporary insanity.
When will this shit stop...both sides already.
ReplyDeleteOn September 16, 2013, Aaron Alexis, a black male, fatally shot twelve people and injured several others in murderous slaughter at the headquarters of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) inside the Washington Navy Yard in Southeast Washington, D.C. The attack, which took place in the Navy Yard's Building 197, began around 8:20 a.m. EDT and ended when Alexis was killed by police around 9:20 a.m. EDT. It was the second-deadliest mass murder on a U.S. military base, behind only the Fort Hood shooting in November 2009. All but two of the victims that Alexis stalked and murdered that morning were white. It has been well documented that Alexis spent as much as 18 hours per day and night, obsessively playing violent, shooter-style video games. It is also well documented that he had made several claims to his friends that he felt discriminated against as a black man. Why is any of this relevant now? There were no calls by liberals to ban video games. There were no cries of racism, even though nearly every one of the victims was white and the shooter was black. There were no rallies for gun control and Obama did not attend any of the funerals of the victims. No tax payer money was taken and given to the victims of the attack and no TV shows were cancelled.
ReplyDelete"There were no cries of racism, even though nearly every one of the victims was white and the shooter was black."
ReplyDeleteYeah, because Aaron Alexis was legitimately mentally ill. He didn't commit those killings with any kind of agenda a sane person could understand. That most of the people he killed were white was mere happenstance, not a product of racism.
But shootings like his absolutely are a reason for gun control. Severely disturbed people like Alexis should never have access to the kind of weaponry he used to kill those people.
Regarding Aaron Alexis:
ReplyDelete"The media reported that Alexis had filed a police report in Rhode Island on August 2, 2013, in which he claimed to be the victim of harassment and that he was hearing voices in his head.[51] According to an FBI official after the shooting, Alexis was under 'the delusional belief that he was being controlled or influenced by extremely low frequency electromagnetic waves'. A message later obtained by federal authorities from Alexis' personal computing devices said, 'Ultra low frequency attack is what I've been subject to for the last 3 months. And to be perfectly honest, that is what has driven me to this.'[52]
On August 4, 2013, naval police were called to Alexis' hotel at Naval Station Newport and found that he had 'taken apart his bed, believing someone was hiding under it, and observed that Alexis had taped a microphone to the ceiling to record the voices of people that were following him'.'"
Dont ayba no dat we poda gets what we wants wheneva we wants if whites be mad then who care I dont nether you should nether I represent fo sho 100 and shit all day that flag racist from old days when slavery happen I don't care what pride is I no that skinhead and klu kluk klan use it to dis my peeps fo real doe aaaiiiitt nomesayn
ReplyDelete"Yeah, because Aaron Alexis was legitimately mentally ill. He didn't commit those killings with any kind of agenda a sane person could understand. That most of the people he killed were white was mere happenstance, not a product of racism."
ReplyDeleteYes, well there is that.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltway_sniper_attacks
ReplyDeleteExplain this one away then....
@11:06,
ReplyDeleteHitler.
There.