What would you do

[luvsJack]

Yup. I can't believe the increase in Confederate Flags I see flying in my town....in Minnesota. Not exactly the deep south where people "claim" there is some non-racist reason to display that thing. But, I've definitely noticed a whole bunch more since 2016. I sure it's just random, right? LOL

We noticed when traveling and DH has noticed going across country in his truck, that there are places well outside the south that there are more confederate flags on display than anywhere around here. If I had to guess, outside of the south, racism is the reason for the flag but I don't know that. Which is why its assumed (as you have shown in your post) that everyone has it for that reason when its simply not true.

Here its usually young guys with big trucks that have one in their truck (actually this group includes whites and blacks)--mostly not racist, just rednecks, historical homes where you would sort of expect them--not racist but part of the history of the home, and a few that do put them somewhere outside their home but those are actually very few and far between and those I can't say whether they are or they are not, don't know them. May be more in the north part of the state, I don't know about that.

And what you are implying by your date is ridiculous. Racism has been around for a very, very long time, no one around now is responsible for it.
Way back when this state was voting on the state flag and whether to remove the stars and bars from it, we noticed the confederate flags in other areas, that was well before 2016.

 

[Wishing on a star]

First, you can't make a legitimate, blanket claim like this one.

Second, at the very least, the confederate flag promotes treason.

educated guess: OK posted this here to learn what others would do (or recommend doing) given the provided information.

What the what what?????

Refusing to even validate this with a response..,.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I would not be surprised if this family were not already being watched, due to their online activity.

Huh? What? What online activity? Do you know the neighbors? Are you stalking them? How would you have even a smidgen of an idea of their "online activites"?

 

[Wishing on a star]

Ohhh good grief.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Keep it coming!!!!

 

[Colleen27]

One of my former coworkers was loud and proud about his family’s long history of being in the KKK.

Rural Louisiana is a frightening place.

I'd amend that to "rural America". It isn't much different in rural Michigan, and you really can't get any further from the deep south.

Yup. I can't believe the increase in Confederate Flags I see flying in my town....in Minnesota. Not exactly the deep south where people "claim" there is some non-racist reason to display that thing. But, I've definitely noticed a whole bunch more since 2016. I sure it's just random, right? LOL

They still claim a non-racist meaning. It has taken on an anti-government, "you can't tell ME what to do" meaning with a certain sort of person who thinks his rights as a member of the religious and ethnic majority are under siege.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I'd amend that to "rural America". It isn't much different in rural Michigan, and you really can't get any further from the deep south.

Oh I know, but we were specifically discussing Louisiana. I know these people are every where.

 

[luvsJack]

First, you can't make a legitimate, blanket claim like this one.

Second, at the very least, the confederate flag promotes treason.

educated guess: OK posted this here to learn what others would do (or recommend doing) given the provided information.

What the what what?????

How many years ago was the civil war again? Treason? Seriously? Its not promoting anything for most people (racists excluded), it represents a period of time in a region of the country. Nothing more, nothing less.

I may not can say "no one" is promoting it but you also cannot say that everyone that has the flag is promoting it either which is what the pp was trying to say.

 

[luvsJack]

I'd amend that to "rural America". It isn't much different in rural Michigan, and you really can't get any further from the deep south.



They still claim a non-racist meaning. It has taken on an anti-government, "you can't tell ME what to do" meaning with a certain sort of person who thinks his rights as a member of the religious and ethnic majority are under siege.

If your last statement is meant toward the south: There is a certain sort of person that does have that attitude and that flag is one of many things that they may have but that isn't the only reason for it. And yes, it can be non-racist. To assume that it always has the same meaning to everyone is being very judgmental of someone before you even know them.

 

[luvsJack]

Huh? What? What online activity? Do you know the neighbors? Are you stalking them? How would you have even a smidgen of an idea of their "online activites"?

You know as well as everyone else reading her post that isn't what she meant. Don't be ridiculous.

If these people ARE a part of a group then they are likely to have online activity with said group.

 

[Searc]

I'd amend that to "rural America". It isn't much different in rural Michigan, and you really can't get any further from the deep south.



They still claim a non-racist meaning. It has taken on an anti-government, "you can't tell ME what to do" meaning with a certain sort of person who thinks his rights as a member of the religious and ethnic majority are under siege.

They can claim whatever they want. It doesn't change the fact it symbolizes being a traitor to the United States.

 

[skyblue17]

The thing about that flag is that the people who fly it know what it represents to MANY other people, and that's part of WHY they fly it. They want to stir the pot and say "that's not what it means to ME." Which, fine then, explain exactly what it means to you that outweighs how you represent yourself to other people by flying it.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I am from the South.
I can say that, here, that flag simply does NOT always, or even often, represent the actual Confederacy or Slavery.
I can say that I have never met anyone or heard of anyone that would consider or promote slavery.

I think that to many people it represents a way of life, a vibe, a cultural thing.
Country music is huge, simple living, back roads, etc...

About this flag discussion, I would never be prejudiced and hateful towards somebody based on seeing that symbol alone.

I do know and will admit that Racism does exist. No way am I denying that. So nobody can say that I am defending racism or slavery.
I would never, ever, in a million years do that.

But the reality is that racism, and negative prejudice from one group or culture towards another who is 'different', has always existed.
Prejudice and Hate come from all side.
Nobody has a corner on that market.

I also do not believe in confrontation.
Confrontation is not based out of love. Don't even try to get me to believe that.
Confrontation, in most all cases, is negative and can become ugly or violent.

 

[Wishing on a star]

The thing about that flag is that the people who fly it know what it represents to MANY other people, and that's part of WHY they fly it. They want to stir the pot and say "that's not what it means to ME." Which, fine then, explain exactly what it means to you that outweighs how you represent yourself to other people by flying it.

I can see what you are saying....
But, remember, it is what it means to that person.
We live in a time where PC runs amok. where every little thing is vile and offensive to somebody.
Every little word... The color of one's athletic shoes, or cap, a hijab, or even a darned stupid Chicken Sandwich.
It has become quite ridiculous.
People are all about claiming that something is now just so offensive, when it really has never even been, in the past.
Sometiimes I would question the motives.
It comes down to drawing more and more battle lines.

Sorry, but that bothers me.
Nobody gets to control everyone else's freedom of speech and expression.
Unless you are talking about something very clear cut, that it's only or very primary meaning can only be construed as 'hate speech', then we are on a very slippery slope.

 

[skyblue17]

Nobody gets to control everyone else's freedom of speech and expression.
Unless you are talking about something very clear cut, that it's only or very primary meaning can only be construed as 'hate speech', then we are on a very slippery slope.

On your first point, I agree. People are free to express it. Those people also are aware of how it's viewed by many other people, so in choosing to fly the flag, they are essentially signing off on those meanings being applied to them. Again, if anyone were to clearly explain why THAT flag, of all things you can do to express your culture, pride, etc., I'd be willing to listen, even if not agree. But I've found people generally just get defensive of their "right," which to me, doesn't help how they are representing themselves.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I would never fly or display or represent MYSELF in that way.
And, neither would anyone that I really know.
But, why does somebody get to assign that meaning? Their own meaning.
As I had said, we are reaching a level where everyone assigning their own meaning and reason to be offended is almost ridiculous.

Should I not display my Roll Tide because I am in Florida or Georgia?

My point remains the same, I would not deem that, alone, to be hate speech.
That, I think, is where the line should be drawn between censorship and freedom of expression.

I am not familiar about your personal information, but I am sitting here thinking, perhaps there is a poster that is black/African America... I do see that this would definitely be a big negative for them. Maybe they hate it... But, in a free society everyone should not be controlled by what some person/people like or not.

So, yes, when you look at the big picture here, and from different angles, it does come down to basic freedoms and human rights.

Personally, I could say that I don't like how some people (groups, demographics) represent themselves.
Based on remembering posts from a past thread - Even as a woman, I do not always like how some women's groups represent themselves.
But, I don't get that say.

 

[skyblue17]

But, my point remains the same, I would not deem that, alone, to be hate speech.
That, I think, is where the line should be drawn between censorship and freedom of expression.

I am not familiar about your personal information, but I am sitting here thinking, perhaps there is a poster that is black/African America... I do see that this would definitely be a big negative for them. Maybe they hate it... But, in a free society everyone should not be controlled by what some person/people like or not.

So, yes, when you look at the big picture here, and from different angles, it does come down to basic freedoms and human rights.

Personally, I could say that I don't like how some people (groups, demographics) represent themselves.
Based on remembering posts from a past thread - Even as a woman, I do not always like how some women's groups represent themselves.
But, I don't get that say.

I wouldn't deem it as hate speech on its own either. I think it's one of many things that can represent a person, but I do give it more weight because it's something that person chooses to visibly associate with them (unlike many other things, like t-shirts or subscriptions to magazines or donations to organizations, flags are attached to one's home or vehicle, and have more obvious permanence). It would be something I would assume a person considered pretty strongly to represent them, and again, you rarely hear what qualities of the flag people associate with beyond the negative ones that many find the flag to represent. Maybe if that was more mainstream knowledge, people would feel differently, but I've rarely seen any.

Either way, you do get a say, in that you get to choose who you associate with based on how they represent themselves to the world.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Yes!!!!
Everyone is going to have their own feelings and judgments!
I, personally, as someone from the South, do not really like or promote that whole 'presentation' as you call it.

And, you might notice that I am one of the ones who have been talking about freedom of association.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You know as well as everyone else reading her post that isn't what she meant. Don't be ridiculous.

Please don't deign to determine what I know. People need to say what they mean. I take words at face value.

If these people ARE a part of a group then they are likely to have online activity with said group.

If, if, if. If my grandmother had wheels, she'd be my grandfather. We have zero evidence that these people are any part of any group, or that they have any online activity.

I can say that, here, that flag simply does NOT always, or even often, represent the actual Confederacy or Slavery.

Agree on the slavery, but the confederate flag absolutely represents the Confederacy.

 

[aprilgail]

I’m white and so is my son and I would not let him play there. I have horrible anxiety and can already picture myself giving parents applications to see if I would allow my son to play at their house. Luckily he’s 2 and don’t have to worry about play dates yet. I would not be ok with him at a house that has a blatant display of racism.

Would not want my kid at that house either and she is white. It is stressful sending your kid to other peoples homes where you have no control- when my daughter was younger she was not permitted at any homes which had guns in the house- didn't matter if it was a police officers gun or a hunting rifle- it was nonnegotiable- no homes with guns.