And the KKK is not representative of mine or the people that agree with me.You're being extremely intellectually dishonest by including one person's contrarian remarks. If a majority of African America people are against this particular position, Morgan Freeman, a rich millionaire Hollywood star, is not representative of their position.
Actually the racist groups absolutely waved and presented the American flag. Also there are those of us that try to fight against the damage done to the CBF. People like you just try to discount and silence us......and I said as much in another thread but that's not an excuse. Those that wanted to go to war used several tactics to get people to fight for them and one was racism, hate and white supremacy. Absolutely that a lot of the soldiers were just farmers who wanted to protect their family, land and property. But it's also absolutely true that those in power wanted to maintain that power and slavery and white superiority over the colored race was a another true factor.
Just like the segregated south, I'm sure a lot of nice people weren't racist but they also did nothing to change the dynamic around them. They were caught up in the perception of what people might think of them if they talked to blacks or if they tried to treat blacks as equal.
This argument that they don't get to define it is fine but it's a sullied symbol that was allowed to be tarnished by racist white supremacist that murdered, beat up and tried to run out black people just because the color of their skin and because they felt they were the superior race. Black people were burned, hung, decapitated, dragged to their deaths behind vehicles all because they were black and seen as an inferior subhuman race. It's right up their in a statement from those that supported the confederacy in speeches and statements.
Sure the KKK burned crosses and flew the American flag but there sure as hell was a lot of effort over the last 100 years to change any minor damage they did to the image of those symbols. You know, the Civil Rights movement where people didn't fly the American flag while holding signs that read "GO HOME N_WORD!!!" or "Your kind not welcome here". There were no racist American flag waving groups that bombed churches or son's of the south universities that beat people for trying to get an education. Of states that flew the confederate flag that rioted b/c they allowed blacks into their schools.
Totally the same symbolism.
There isn't a number because it isn't relevant.
How about this? Present me with a historical fact. Much like I, and Rhino, and some other have done, that counters the argument that the CBF is a racist symbol.
For example; the CBF never flew in any official manner in the state of South Carolina until 1961, and was done so as a protest to desegregation. Now your turn.
Hilariously and sadly true.I don't have to provide "facts" to support my opinion or my belief.
Actually the racist groups absolutely waved and presented the American flag. Also there are those of us that try to fight against the damage done to the CBF. People like you just try to discount and silence us.
And the KKK is not representative of mine or the people that agree with me.
Most Germans didn't fight Ww2 because they hated Jews. Most were good people just the caught up in a war. Nazi flags are still inappropriate outside a museum and would look really odd on top of a car as a symbol of "German pride".
Let me make sure I understand you. You are saying we should give more weight to the opinion of people who participate in heinous criminal acts? Is that correct?In order to make an apples to apples comparison I'll wait until Morgan Freeman lynches people for their skin color
Let me make sure I understand you. You are saying we should give more weight to the opinion of people who participate in heinous criminal acts? Is that correct?
You're missing the point. Of course racism and slavery are horrible things...that is a universally shared opinion/fact for anyone not a racist.
WALLACE: Black History Month, you find ...
[Morgan] FREEMAN: Ridiculous.
WALLACE: Why?
FREEMAN: You're going to relegate my history to a month?
WALLACE: Come on.
FREEMAN: What do you do with yours? Which month is White History Month? Come on, tell me.
WALLACE: I'm Jewish.
FREEMAN: OK. Which month is Jewish History Month?
WALLACE: There isn't one.
FREEMAN: Why not? Do you want one?
WALLACE: No, no.
FREEMAN: I don't either. I don't want a Black History Month. Black history is American history.
WALLACE: How are we going to get rid of racism until ...?
FREEMAN: Stop talking about it. I'm going to stop calling you a white man. And I'm going to ask you to stop calling me a black man. I know you as Mike Wallace. You know me as Morgan Freeman. You're not going to say, "I know this white guy named Mike Wallace." Hear what I'm saying?
I wish folks could realize it's about the person and their intent NOT the object.
Person A. Wears a rebel flag t-shirt and exclaims Southern Pride.
Person B. Wears a rebel flag t-shirt and exclaims racial slurs decrying white superiority.
Media views the shirt as evil and the source of the atrocity. All while Person A suffers for the ignorant actions of Person B and the public's sweeping, knee-jerk reaction that assumes all things mean the same to all people. Quit focusing on the "thing" and focus on the "who."
Personally, I have no dog in this fight as I own nothing (outside of a diecast car) with a CBF on it, but I recognize individual freedom of expression. Hell, I'm morally against same-sex marriage, but I damn sure voted FOR it as I'm 100% in support of equality within our legal system. Who am I to say who a person can marry, how they view the meaning of an object, etc.?
Freeman is spot on. He gets it.
Understand your point. Has (or does) anything relating to the Dukes of Hazard or the General Lee ever offended you (outside of it being generally bad television) or influenced you to be a racist?
Also, should crosses be banned as they were used as a racist tool and burned in the front lawn of people's homes.
Ask yourself a simple question, would it be OK if the dukes had a swastika on the top of their car, assuming they were German? Even if the show was good clean fun?
What he doesn't seem to understand is the reason Black History Month was created was due to the fact many schools were not and refused to teach aspects of history that included black culture and history. It was not being incorporated into the curriculum at all.
Sure one day the need for BHM will go away (I doubt it, too much political posturing to be made) but there was a need for it when it was started.
I guess it depends...has there every been a point in American History where that flag represented anything positive or was used in a positive manner, i.e. German Pride?
Again, has (or does) anything related to the Dukes of Hazard TV show offend you?
If I see a guy walking down the street wearing a swatstika shirt I just shake my head and move on.
A. I don't call my congressman or media outlet and demand that shirt be banned. I would assume preventing him from wearing the shirt wouldn't change his beliefs. In fact, banning the shirt will actually contribute to hiding his beliefs. At least with that ugly shirt, I can spot him in a crowd.
B. If he (the person not the shirt) starting acting out his beliefs (attacking another person), I would intervien.
I think the whole Caitlyn Jenner thing was horribly racial. I mean, by not converting to African American, she was expressing her hatred for that race. And then they interviewed her and plasters her all over the place. Really offensive to me.
The Dukes didn't offend me as a kid. But then, neither did the clearly racist loony tunes episodes , and I'm glad they don't show those anymore.
What was the racist loony tunes stuff?........I might recall it if you help jog my memory
Just like there was once a need for affirmative action.
When will the day come when were are truly color blind? Everyone demands equal treatment, but then wants to be segregated at the same time. Take my company for example, we are filled with ERGs (Employee Resource Groups). What are they, you ask?
APCA — The Asian Pacific Islanders for Professional and Community Advancement
AT&T Veterans
Community NETwork — The African-American Telecommunications Professionals of AT&T
FACES — The Filipino American Communications Employees of AT&T
HACEMOS — The Hispanic/Latino Employee Association of AT&T
ICAE — The Inter-Tribal Council of AT&T Employees
IDEAL — Individuals with Disabilities Enabling Advocacy Link
LEAGUE at AT&T — The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) and Allies Organization of AT&T
OASIS — The Organization of Asian Indians at AT&T
oxyGEN — Young Professionals of AT&T
Women of AT&T
I'm a 40-year old white male. Where's my resource group? Am I a racist for feeling left out?
Don't know that it was as much racism as it was stereo typing and it was more prevelant in Tom and Jerry than in the Looney Toons.
Just like there was once a need for affirmative action.
When will the day come when were are truly color blind? Everyone demands equal treatment, but then wants to be segregated at the same time. Take my company for example, we are filled with ERGs (Employee Resource Groups). What are they, you ask?
APCA — The Asian Pacific Islanders for Professional and Community Advancement
AT&T Veterans
Community NETwork — The African-American Telecommunications Professionals of AT&T
FACES — The Filipino American Communications Employees of AT&T
HACEMOS — The Hispanic/Latino Employee Association of AT&T
ICAE — The Inter-Tribal Council of AT&T Employees
IDEAL — Individuals with Disabilities Enabling Advocacy Link
LEAGUE at AT&T — The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) and Allies Organization of AT&T
OASIS — The Organization of Asian Indians at AT&T
oxyGEN — Young Professionals of AT&T
Women of AT&T
I'm a 40-year old white male. Where's my resource group? Am I a racist for feeling left out?
Here's my issue, Belem:
I'm against racism. I'm also against being a media puppet.
Media, "The Confederate Flag is the source of all this racism in America. You should be offended and outraged!!! In fact, you should join us in curing racism by removing its source from our country." [sarcasm used to illustrate the point]
The masses, "What? The Confederate Flag is the source? I didn't realize this before, but NOW that I do, I'm offended and outraged! How can I support this noble effort? Hhhmmm [ding ding] I will find every Confederate Flag and offer it up for public sacrifice." [sarcasm used to illustrate the point]
So, while this big waste of time is going on, the problem of racism isn't being addressed and the country is sidetracked by bickering about a flag and a damn TV show (myself included).
That is what I have an issue with.
Bull$hit!!!!!!!!!!!
Start one. Aren't you retired military (congrats)?
The need for the Civil Rights Movement due to racial inequality is still fairly fresh, there are people (like my dad) who lived through segregation and had family members or friends beaten for no other reason then being black or who had to use different entrances in the rear or who couldn't enter certain establishments. They're still alive, they still remember and the people on the other side of the spectrum who were pro segregation and that participated in active marches opposing desegregation of schools are still around too. So who knows how long it will be when we're truly color blind.
There's plenty of people in this world that grew up like JMGNole with a racist father but he himself turned into a really good person. I knew a guy who proudly flew the stars and bars (had one in his apartment and another that was the headliner for his pick up truck), wore sh!t kickers, cowboy hats and giant belt buckles and he told racist cruel not racist funny jokes and told me to my face he would never share a drink with me b/c I was black (he was a pseudo roommate of mine). As we talked more and more and got to know each other more and more I learned that his parents were a bunch of regular Cleavers and his sister didn't carry a racist bone in her body. He told me he adopted this persona b/c that's what the kids around him at his school did, flew the stars and bars, told racist jokes and looked down on "gays, n-wrods and Mexicans". So I asked him if he truly knew any black people and he said "nope, don't care to" and I challenged him to get to know me. We hung out, talked about the south and southern heritage, the stars and bars and I told him what it was like for me growing up in California and Seattle. He had me help him install a new headliner for his truck but he kept his stars and bars up in his apartment but senior year it later came down. We became such good friends that he was my best man in my small wedding. We would go fishing together a few days a week for the next few years and I still consider him a great friend. He essentially told me he flew the stars and bars under the guise of history (degree in history and political sciences and was very knowledgeable) but it was more of the I'm a rebel you can't tell me what to do and he said he got caught up in the peer pressure of those that truly were racist (but most likely ignorant b/c they were incapable of forming their own opinions). Now that isn't everyone but it's something I lived from both sides of this discussion.
Then there's those that grew up w/ racist father that turn out like the Charleston shooter and murder 9 people b/c of the color of their skin and see them as subhuman.
So you don't think removing the CBF from all government buildings (or directly on the building property) is a step in the right direction? It's just some knee jerk reaction, this has literally been an ongoing battle since it went up in 1961 as an anti Civil Rights movement. Plenty of people protested its existence then, into the 70, 80s and 90s. It gets brought up a lot. I don't see this as knee jerk, I see it as a slow burner that has traction based on a horrific incident.
Well at least they bothered to include us
I'm ok with private showings of the flag but happy to see it coming off of state buildings.
I think everyone in this thread is in agreement the flag should come down from state buildings (unless I missed someone to the contrary).
I think everyone in this thread is in agreement the flag should come down from state buildings (unless I missed someone to the contrary).