The Confederate Flag

KnightofBuddha

:uphand: :eek2: :downhand:

Germany has banned all swastikas in the country. Should the confederate flag be banned also? Many say it stands for racism and slavery? Do you think so, don't care, or have another opinion? Please share...

DharmaKitten

Knight of Buddha wrote:

:uphand: :eek2: :downhand:

Germany has banned all swastikas in the country. Should the confederate flag be banned also? Many say it stands for racism and slavery? Do you think so, don't care, or have another opinion? Please share...

Well, I'm generally against banning symbols here in the U.S. since I'm a firm believer in the 1st Ammendment. I live in the South and I know a lot of people who love the confederate flag but are not racist - even many black people. Some even have problems understanding why other people would see it as racist. For them, it's just a symbol of southern culture (which is not just slaves in cotton fields) and the power of local/state govt. ahead of federal (which has often been seen as being controlled by northerners).

I won't say that the Civil War was not about slavery. It was. But it wasn't only about slavery. That was just the catalyst. It really did have a lot to do with states rights. Or better paraphrased, "Who the hell do you think you are, Yankees, trying to tell us how to run our lives?"

Unfortunately, the South has had problems with slavery and racism. But then so has the North! Granted, slavery was eliminated there before it was in the South, but many happily profited from the South's use of slaves and had no issue with slavery. And the North has definitely had its share of racism. So why should the confederate flag be tainted but not the union flag?

Anyways, during and after the Civil War the northerners really crippled the South. And yes, there is still some cultural resentment, especially in poor areas. For these people, the confederate flag is less a racial symbol and more like Mel Gibson flashing his buttocks at the British (in this case Yankees) in a show of resistance. Their way of saying, "You haven't really beaten us."

Of course, I do understand why some consider it offensive. And I, being particularly sensitive to others feelings, will probably never display a confederate flag.

comicallyinsane

The civil war had nothing to do with slavery. It was just thrown in at the end to get black people fighting.


As far as the confederate flag, it is just a flag. Take it away and the people will just find another flag to use. Censorship is just bad.

Simonthepilgrim

As a non-USian, non-idolater, I am deeply puzzled by the US obsession with its flags. I understand that many schools begin their day with worship of a piece of coloured cloth, where people stand in liturgy ("action of people"), in approved positions, reciting a prayer about allegiance to the said cloth.

I have always believed that this is some sort of story spread by anti-USians but am assured that this idolatry really happens.

comicallyinsane

The flag doesn't mean much to me.

MoonLgt

Humm, Lets see, Ban the confederate flag, Ban Books for Violence and other things, Ban movies, Ban Pices of art for it's nudity, Ban gay marriages because some people don't think it is moral, Ban Ceramonies, WHat's Next? Ban Life?

Anita

Flag is a flag, why have a object to prove what you believe in.

comicallyinsane

Let's ban Butterfingers because no matter how good they taste they always get into your teeth.

DharmaKitten

Simonthepilgrim wrote:

As a non-USian, non-idolater, I am deeply puzzled by the US obsession with its flags. I understand that many schools begin their day with worship of a piece of coloured cloth, where people stand in liturgy ("action of people"), in approved positions, reciting a prayer about allegiance to the said cloth.

I have always believed that this is some sort of story spread by anti-USians but am assured that this idolatry really happens.

I'm not a big fan of the pledge of allegiance but I wouldn't go so far as to call it "worship" or "prayer". Even with the god references added in, it's not directed towards that god. I do agree that American culture puts too much importance on the union flag. Conservatives keep trying to pass an ammendment against burning the flag. Seems ridiculous to me. For me, the flag is a symbol of our freedoms and as such shouldn't be a pawn in censorship battles - or as a tool to promote conformism.

DharmaKitten

comicallyinsane wrote:

The civil war had nothing to do with slavery. It was just thrown in at the end to get black people fighting.


As far as the confederate flag, it is just a flag. Take it away and the people will just find another flag to use. Censorship is just bad.

I wouldn't say "nothing". I used to be a big Civil War buff and if you look at the events leading up to the outbreak of war slavery was definitely an issue. The North, in general, wasn't out to totally abolish slavery anytime soon, but the South sure didn't like the North butting into what they saw as their business. And it was something that did divide the country geographically as well as politically. IMHO, it was the straw (albeit heavy and important straw) that broke the camel's back, so to speak.

comicallyinsane

Yeah the Civil War was about the South doing it's own thing without the North telling them what to do. Makes me think. It seems that both sides were wrong. Of course that is every war.




:usflag: Here's a symbol. LOL

Sabine

I agree with DharmaKitten--I'm black, and at first, I was a little bothered by the whole flag thing. But living in the Deep South, you get used to people flaunting it at school and stuff, so whatever. :doh: I'll respect them, as long as I get respect too.
And I see the pledge as a mindless, habitual-type thing--I'll stand, to respect the people in my class, but unless I'm feeling unusually patriotic, I don't really say anything.

comicallyinsane

I remember in high school they always made everyone stand. If they didn't they got into trouble unless the person didn't do it for religous reasons.

Brian

to me the pledge is no different from prostrations to a statue of the buddha. Both are making physical motions towards an inanimate object. The meaning we ascribe to those objects depends on the individual.

I worship the flag of the US the same as I worship a statue of the buddha - not one bit. I stand before the flag as I bow before the buddha, with a clear mind and an open heart.

comicallyinsane

And if you are wearing the tight pants the back of them becomes open like your heart and mind. :bowdown: LOL

Palzang

I think we should ban banning! :buck:

Palzang

emmak

In Australia our Aborigines have their own flag. It is quite nice, very sybolic of their beliefs. Some people want our national flag to be changed to incorporate the Aborigine flag, there has been a lot of debate over this. If anyone recalls, at the olympics a few years back, one of our track stars won an event and ran a victory lap swathed in the Aboriginal Flag, not the Australian one. It caused uproar. It did not help the equality issue at all. Incidentally, one of the arguments against changing our flag is that the Aborigines did not have their own flag or any flag before the British came along.

buddhafoot

comicallyinsane wrote:

The civil war had nothing to do with slavery. It was just thrown in at the end to get black people fighting.

Well, actually, slavery was a reason for the Civil War in the US. Politically, it might not have been one of the main reasons, or the first reason - but it was still a reason or a result.

Hence the Emancipation Proclamation that we still use and reference today.

-bf

comicallyinsane

Yeah that's why I said "thrown in at the end".

federica

Brian wrote:

I worship the flag of the US the same as I worship a statue of the buddha - not one bit. I stand before the flag as I bow before the buddha, with a clear mind and an open heart.

The same goes for any "symbol" designed to evoke any response of fidelity, patriotism, Promise, sacrifice or allegiance.... the object is a pure symbol of what we aspire to. That is for us alone to know. but just as I have 17 Buddhas of varying sizes and types on my altar, it might just as well be an empty table. It's what I carry in my heart, and think, say and do that carry me through the day, and enable me to look myself square in the eye..... Live what you believe, or each moment is worthless.

Windwalker

Lincoln was raised as an abolitionist but he respected other's views on slavery. For a long time his plan was to abolish slavery in the North but to allow limited slavery in the border states. It wasn't until later in the war that he decided to go ahead with full emancipation (which was resisted on both sides) but this was more of a political/military tactic, designed to encourage slaves to revolt and join the Northern army and thereby hinder the South's war effort, than a moral/ethical ambition.

TheInfanta

I realize that the modern day Confederate flag is predominately a representation of "Southern pride", but it is also a bitter reminder of the bigotry that non-Caucasian races have faced in America and continue to face in a more minor way. I think there are better ways to express "Southern pride", but as Americans have freedom of speech and it's not inherently harmful, I don't think it should be banned.

MBolden

This is an interesting topic, I must say that most of ma neighbors wore this old flags down them trucks. I told them that they might be offending some folks that are sensitive to racism. Well, what do you know, one guy came out with his 357 and start pistol whip me, good thang I got my loaded Ak in ma pickup, heheheh. Them guys back right all down.

I am religious Christian man but I also listen to the Buddha, hell with them Puthujanas (those that worships the fleshes). It mentioned in the Sutra OK to wack them if needed.

Hallelujah
M Bolden

federica

hello M Bolden and welcome to our forum....