The Confederate Flag : A Harmful Form Of Free Speech

Is the Confederate flag really a flag of hate? Contrary to popular belief, the Confederate flag does not stand for racism, it stands for freedom. It stands for the men who lost their lives fighting for a doomed country, white and black. It stands for not letting others push you around and control you. I stands for the “bad side” in the Civil War. It is the proof that despite the fact that we boast about being stubborn, we are ignorant to the fact that all we do is follow the crowd. It represents a piece of history incredibly rich, yet so full of sorrow, that we are trying to erase. But people do not see this, they only see hate, and they are too oblivious to truly understand what this symbol of liberty stands for. This is why the

In my paper I will be discussing the Confederate Flag and its controversy in history and in todays views. The Confederate flag has been a negative symbol in American society since the 1800’s. It has been only recently that the Confederate flag has been brought back to life as a contemporary issue. In recent times the flag has been used as a motivation for racial strikes and other rebellious acts bring the issues of the flag and the controversy behind it back to life. The major questions I seek to answer in this essay it why the controversy of the Confederate flag only been brought back up recently and why the confederate flag was created the way it was. And the overall motivation behind its creation. The Confederate flag has only recently been brought back as an issue because of the recent racial attacks and an overall rebellious acts that swear under the confederate flag, back in the early 1860’s the confederate flag was first used to represent the southern states because the south was wanting to secede from the northern states. Because of the major shooting in Charleston controversy behind the confederate flag sparked back up. Major retailers like Walmart and Amazon and stopping the sale of the Confederate flag because of its growing symbol of racism. The Confederate flag has shifted from being viewed as the southern states to viewed as a symbol of racism. what does the future hold for the confederate flag and will it become a rare item?

The start of the Confederate flag controversy was due to the request of the NAACP to remove the flag off of South Carolina’s Statehouse. This request is based on the fact that they, the anti-flag groups, claim that the meaning of the Confederate flag is one of hate and discrimination. On the other hand, there are other groups that believe differently whom are called the pro-flag groups. They claim that the flag is a sign of heritage and should stay on the Statehouse. Liberals tend to be in the favor of the anti-flag groups, and conservatives are more likely to be supporting pro-flag groups. Both sides use evidential logos to prove their arguments, and pathos to show how wrong the other side is.

Yes, the confederate flag shown in the public properties should be banned because they Symbolizes racism and inequality for many of the people basically in the north. To most of the people it symbolizes the time of slavery which was acceptable at the time. And there is no real purpose of showing it on these properties.

Over the past few days, one issue has received some special attention: the issue of the Confederate Flags in our schools. As a student in Carroll County Public Schools, I see the flag on a daily basis. Whether it be on a shirt, or hat, or truck, it is present in our county and among the students. As the Maryland State SMOB’s (Student Member on the Board of Education) Advisory Council Member for Carroll County, I have traveled across the county visiting students in different schools, but no matter what school I go to I hear the same thing from students: “it makes me feel unwelcome and not accepted for who I am.” So, how can we help students who are not being provided the learning environment that they deserve, one that promotes tolerance and

The beginning of Confederate flag controversy started due to the request of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) to remove the flag off the South Carolina statehouse. This request, based on the fact that the anti-flag groups, claim that the meaning of the Confederate flag as one of hateful and discriminatory views. On the other hand, there are other groups that believe differently which considered themselves pro-flag groups. They claim that the flag holds a sign of history of heritage and should stay on the statehouse. The Confederate Flag 's banning is not necessary nor appropriate. Its meaning can not hold a misinterpretation as what it used to fly over, that being the confederate flag. The confederate flag represented the confederacy just as any flag of any country would represent any other group or country, state, club, etc.

Before August 12, 2017 many Americans neither cared about nor thought about Confederate flags or monuments in their daily lives. On that day in Charlottesville, Va. was “… one of the bloodiest fights to date over the removal of Confederate monuments across the South.” (Stolberg) This tragic event brought light to a movement that was able to fly under the national radar until that fateful day in August, the removal of the Confederate flag and monuments. This paper will demonstrate the need to move the Confederate flag and Confederate monuments to museums where they can be displayed in the context of history instead of in the public square where they glorify traitors and insurrectionists as heroes. This will be done by providing a brief

Changing attitudes and actions about the Confederate battle flag have risen since the tragedy in South Carolina with the shooting of 9 people in a church during a bible study. The confederate flag has been and is a symbol of hatred, oppression and even senseless acts of murder for many. The removal of the flag at the Capital are being called for by thousands of South Carolina protesters, politicians, both Democrats and Republicans along with South Carolina Governor, Nikki Haley. She stated, “That flag, while an integral part of our past, does not represent the future. By removing a symbol that divides us, we can move forward as a state in harmony.” Even retailers such as Wal-Mart, E-bay and Amazon stood in support by pulling merchandise with the confederate flag on it. This is an ethical decision based on moral principles and demonstrates their changing

The power that comes from an object or symbol is not inherent. At one point in human history a cross was simply just two sticks laying on top of each other. Humans gave it power by using it and acknowledging it as a symbol. The case is the same with the confederate flag. It is a powerful symbol because of the connotations that humans have given it. The problem is not everyone has the same idea on what the confederate flag stands for. Gene Demby, author of When The ‘Heritage’ In ‘Heritage Not Hate’ Is More Skynyrd Than Stonewall Jackson spoke to multiple people who all have different reasons for liking the flag. Rather than see it as a sign of slavery they connect the flag to their childhood or a memory they have that has literally nothing to do with slavery. Gene’s point is that the flag is significant based on personal heritage and experiences not that of the past. Hugh Howard author of, How the North distorts Civil War history has yet another approach. He doesn’t necessarily debate the meaning of the flag, but does illuminate that most people only have one side of the story when it comes to the reasons for the Civil War. The north was in favor of slavery just as much as the south, yet nobody seems to have a problem with the Union flag. This leads to the conclusion that it isn’t the flag itself that is the problem rather the people who endorse it. Lastly Byron Thomas, author of I am a black South Carolinian Here’s why I support the Confederate flag uses the fact that he is

Can the same flag that symbolizes southern heritage also be a symbol of hate? In 2015, a tragic shooting occurred at the Emanuel African Methodist Church in Charlestown, South Carolina. The Charleston shooter, Dylan Roof, was charged with killing nine African-Americans. After this horrible act, he waved the confederate flag in photographs sparking an issue with the flag. Two articles were released concerning whether or not the confederate flag should be removed from the South Carolina capitol. The first article, “Take Down the Confederate Flag, Symbol of Hatred”, was released by The New York Times editorial board on June 22, 2015. This article proposed that the flag should be removed. Following the release of this article, on June 24, 2015 “Keep the Confederate Flag Flying” was released by Selwyn Duke claiming the flag should remain. In these articles, both authors incorporated persona, audience, tone and style to effectively argue whether or not the flag should remain to Americans who may side with their argument.

Just like teaching any other topic in the Twenty-First century, the topic of teaching The Confederate Flag is controversial. Some people believe that you should not teach something with a negative connotation attached to it. However others, including me, believe that teachers need to teach the events that took place years prior, no matter the connotation.

The first official confederate flag was made in 1861 for use of the Confederate states. The main reason for the southern states seceding at the time was because of how they wanted to keep slavery. The flag has started to become popular as a symbol of hate and racism in the modern day. This type of thing should not be aloud to be flown in public buildings and should be kept out of schools.

One of the first things to adress is that the Confederate flag is not a direct symbol of hate. In today’s standards to which the people it means anything to, its perceived as cultural. Only very select groups of people go and tarnish it in their far right wing rallies. Where the meaning of the flag comes from though, is its origins. Its origins were from the Confederacy, where the symbol dwindles from being a battle flag to being a mere logo of its culture. The battle flag flew for Americans fighting what they believed was tyranny.

Some people argue that the Confederate Flag is a symbol of racism, and everyone that displays it is a racist. Kid Rock displays the Confederate flag proudly during his performance. He has received criticism from liberals because of this. Despite the fact that Kid Rock has done a lot for Detroit, which is his hometown, many people have accused him of racism because of the flag.

As seeing on the news over the summer in July 10th of 2015 the Confederate Flag came down in South Carolina. At my great-grandmothers house my whole family came over and we sit there and watch on it News Channel 7. My great-grandmother was in tears because there has been so much hate and racism she went through because of the Confederate Flag. As me sitting there watching it I caught chills and I don't know the half of what my great-grandmother and parents went through. My mother and father was so proud only thing they could say was they were relieved with tears at the tip of their eyes. Also, as looking at the news reporters as them being about my parents age able to know what the reason behind the situation I could see freedom they had in