New Baldonia wrote:The Confederate flag represents the struggle for the rights of the states to govern themselves, and not submit their sovereignty to the federal government. Slavery was a factor during the civil war, but it was simply the straw that broke the camels back, not the sole cause of the fight.
So no, the confederate flag should stay up, to remove it is dishonorable to those who fought and died for their state. The average Johnny Reb wasn't fighting because he wanted to own slaves, he was fighting because he didn't want northern troops to march on his town or home. And to suggest otherwise, regardless of your political leaning or thoughts on southern slavery, would be false outright.
Besides, those who do not remember the past, are doomed to repeat it."I deny the right of Congress to force a slaveholding State upon an unwilling people. I deny their right to force a free State upon an unwilling people. I deny their right to force a good thing upon a people who are unwilling to receive it. The great principle is the right of every community to judge and decide for itself, whether a thing is right or wrong, whether it would be good or evil for them to adopt it; and the right of free action, the right of free thought, the right of free judgment upon the question is dearer to every true American than any other under a free government."
- Democratic Senator Stephen A. Douglas, 1858
Ever tried convincing both African-Americans and the hate groups like the Neo-Nazi and the KKK?