Before getting to the meat of the subject here, let me first state that I don’t really give a crap about the flying of the Confederate Battle Flag. Some folks find it is a symbol of slavery and oppression. Others find it to be a symbol of their Southern heritage and a beacon of federalism. Me I think it’s stupid and merely a symbol of a losing cause fought by, hmm, losers.
A story from, of all places, Minnesota brings up the Flag of Dixie. Three high school kids there were suspended from school for displaying the the southern battle flag. The boys claimed that they only displayed the flags as their own personal style and to show (I’m not making this up) that they were huge fans of “The Dukes of Hazzard.” Because of this rebellious act, the boys will not be able to participate in graduation.
One of the youngster claimed that he & his friends were just being rebellious and meant no harm. He further explained that ”The confederate army was in rebellion to the U.S. Army who were about money and power.” I’m guessing this guy wasn’t the standout student in History class. It begs the question that if this kid WAS participating in graduation prior to his suspension, maybe after his interview the whole idea of his graduating at all should be revisited.
Just my take on it. Yee-Haw!!!!!!!
As much as I hate defending what in my eyes is a horrid representation of racist and dirty history, it is time that people come to realize that this flag is a symbol. Like all symbols, it can be interpretted in varying ways, Southern Pride, rebellion against power, etc. By banning these boys from wearing this symbol, the gate is openned to banning other symbols such as a rainbow flag.
Instead of suspending these boys, let the culture of the student body ostrocize them for doing so. Either that, or allow the debate to open amongst the student body to further enlighten them about freedom of speech and symbolic representation.
We cannot erase this nations past and if these Confederate wearing students want to bring it back, along with its ideals of what I perceive as hate, slavery and ruthless rebellion, then so be it.
Well, as someone who couldn’t wear their NIN shirt in school, or their Beavis & Butthead shirt, or The Simpsons, or anything else that was awesome – I say go ahead and ban it. They ban crap that people ‘may’ find offense and the Confederate Flag is one of those things.
Students don’t have rights. It sucks, but it’s the truth. It especially bites when you think you DO have rights (thanks to civics class in 7th grade) and imagine one’s surprise when you find out that most do not apply to you…yet.
The Supreme Court Case Tinker v Des Moines School District established and has maintained the protection of free speech for students in public schools. This is symbolic speech, which a Confederate flag would be protected under. I am not sure that NIN or Simpsons t-shirts qualify as symbolic speech.
reading this stuff brings to lijht howstupid some of these folks are.this flag has not a thing to do with slavery.my people were dirt poor and worked there farms.there only slave was there plow.study your history stupid,we fought for our freedom fromthe lib north.260,000men women childrengave there lives for the principles ESPOUSED BY OUR FOUNDING FATHERS OF THE UNITED STATES. Tens of thousands of men of color ,hispanic chineseamerican and many more served the confederate army.Southerners fought the invading northern army to protect their families and preserve our southern way of life. the confederate flag is a symbol of their sacrifice.it is a symbol of our southern heritage—-God Bless LH
xpressursf wrote: “as I hate defending what in my eyes is a horrid representation of racist and dirty history” “I perceive as hate, slavery and ruthless rebellion, then so be it.”
Well you need to clean out your eyes. Check your history. The North needed the South’s aggricultural assets. Slaves fought alongside Southern Rebels and in fact had a whole regiment of “Colored Confedreate Soldiers”. Also check your time frame (regarding slavery). President Lincoln did not even mention slavery until well into the war.
Now having said that, unless the school is an all uniform school they would be hard pressed to find determine what’s good and what’s bad.
I’m cool with banning the flag but the people who want the flag banned must give back something to society. Till they do I can’t ban the flag.
Instead of worring about a piece of cloth let us try to figure out how the so called black leadership can help with the number one cause of death to young black men. Can you guess what it is? Any one, any one at all? Or how about the culture of “it’s the government’s responsibility to take care of me. How about the segment of society that has the most cases of AIDS?
It seems to me that hatred is much more motivating than love. What a pitty for black children too.
Hatred certainly guarentees job security for those who SAY they want the best for our black brothers and sisters.