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The Civil War was about states' rights - not slavery. Yes, slavery was involved, but it was not the sole issue behind that war.

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I've learned that they see it essentially as an expression of their manliness and unwillingness to be cowed by authority. I cannot respect anyone who would use the flag of the Slave State to express his manliness or autonomy.

I also think many people who display the Stars and Bars really are racists. Not all (perhaps). But many. (After all, it's not just in the South that you see it. Go to Carlisle, Pennsylvania--the heart of Union territory--and you'll see it everywhere. What can the Stars and Bars possibly mean to someone from Carlisle, Pennsylvania?)

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ORIGINAL: yourMissTress

I moved here to TN about 9 months ago. The love of my life lives here, as well as his son, so we are tied to the south for at least another 12 years.

I was and still am shocked by the number of confederate flags I see EVERYWHERE. Not just on bumper stickers. And, if you drive about 15 miles from my house, you will see in someone's front yard a memorial, yep I said memorial and mean a huge freaking STATUE glorifying and memorializing the founder of the KKK. And at night it's lit up.

Now, all that being said, I'm a yankee, from a small town in Wisconsin. Which happens to be the hometown and final resting place of Senator Joseph McCarthy. Nothing at all that I'm proud of, just a fact. And there are people in that town that have put an exhibit dedicated to him in the county museum. I hope that no one assumes that because there are memorials to him in my home town that I share the feelings of those who chose to erect such.

So, should the very public displays of stupidity by a few reflect on all? No. But there is always some truth in a stereotype.

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ORIGINAL: angelic

i disagree, Sir... do not mistake what i am saying... i am very proud that i am who i am...

If You look about Yourself, You are surrounded by Many that OWN slaves here... Many of Them i personally have a great deal of respect for, They are Wise and Kind... however, they OWN Their slaves... as they are that... slaves...

To seek a slave in the here and now but then turn around and blame a part of our history on that which You currently seek... is imho hypocrasy.

just my opinion, Sir!

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ORIGINAL: Lordandmaster

To answer your question: if I were Southern and felt I had to express my pride in the South (and for some reason Southerners tend to feel that need more than Yankees do), I'm not sure what emblem I'd use, but it would probably be something like a peanut. Peanuts revolutionized the world's agricultural systems.

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ORIGINAL: Termyn8or

Yup, Florida, Arizona, even Utah and in some cases Alaska. All are places to store the old, it all depends on where the kids live and how well they were raised.

Boils down to this ; better treat your kids good.

T

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ORIGINAL: DelightMachine

But in Carlisle it sure isn't a Southern culture thing. A symbol of being a rebel in other ways? That sounds right. And I'd call using that symbol for that reason pretty damn stupid.

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ORIGINAL: Termyn8or

In any court if you are a proven liar, your testimony is regarded in toto as not valid. Not completely invalid, but not taken as sworn to.