I lived in Columbia for 8 years....2004 to 2012 and all we ever talked about was how we hated that flag and what it cost this state and our University. I never heard anyone defend it.Maybe in the Upstate. I know almost no one in Columbia that hasn't wanted it down for years.
Like everyone else I am OK with the flag going down, but true history does get warped by an agressive media. One thing that really bugs me everyone loves the country, but everyone has to describe each other by hypens. Are we all Americans or are we just a bunch of different groups thrown together?
This action doesn't mean the END of anything...whether you agree or disagree...I just heard the head of the NAACP state that ANYTHING with the word "Confederate" or ANYTHING that references "the Confederacy" is a target...he specifically mentioned statutes of Robert E. Lee...I have family buried in SC that fought and died in the Civil War...was the war wrong...all wars are wrong....but you can't change history no matter how many flags and statues you destroy...so let's discuss some facts....The American flag is more associated with "slavery" than the confederate flag...American flags flew above the ships that went to Africa and brought the slaves to America....northern merchants and sailors were on those ships....More slaves from Africa went to Europe than America...ships full of infantry soldiers didn't go to Africa, invade their countries and capture slaves...they were already captured and brought to the docks by their own and sold....The Civil War wasn't fought over the slavery issue...the main reason was economics....FREE LABOR.....why?...because in the early 1800's after 100 years of slave trade with Africa the "business" dried up...in this country and Europe there was no longer any need to buy slaves....Owners were now "breeding" their own...northern merchants realized they would not be able to compete with southern merchants who had a free, non-paid labor force...it had already started with the European trade...Restrictions were trying to be imposed to limit this trade deficit which led to the secession from the "Union" of the southern states, which had the legal right to do that at the time....after the civil war ended, Jefferson Davis sat in a prison for three years pleading for a trial, but was never given...in fact, NO CONFEDERATE leader was ever put on trial....why is that? Because they could have proved that they had the right to do what they did, and that the CSA was "ATTACKED" by a foreign country....the Union did not want that....was the reunification of this country the right thing to do...of course it was...The United States of America IS the greatest country in the world...If you don't believe that, you need to VISIT some of the countries I have...Someone needs to police the world, America is my choice...whose yours...Russia, Iran, China, Japan...Germany? I believe in the Constitution of this country...it's the second greatest document ever written in my opinion...the Chapters of the Holy Bible are the first...Why do you think so many countries have "mirrored" that document...Am I a racist, do I believe in slavery, of course not...I believe in the liberties the Constitution of the United States affords us...all people...not special interest groups...not one activist group...not one color...at the EXPENSE of any other....
This is not to make anybody mad, but I would like to ask a question of the folks commenting on the "Battle Flag" that strongly feel it should remain on display on the Statehouse grounds..and that question is this.....Do you fly the flag at your home and/or your business if you have one? If not, it would seem slightly hypocritical to me, but I'd be curious to know how many folks actually have a Battle Flag.
Speaking of putting it up there. It sure seemed convenient that it went up in 1960 in the middle of the Civil Rights movement. Could it have been SC's way of thumbing their nose at Civil Rights? I know it was the 100th anniversary of the Civil War but like I said, it was in the middle of the Civil Right's movement.Well putting it up there certainly caused a whole bunch of problems and didn't help anything. While taking it down won't fix everything, it will fix a few things that are important. It was time to bring it down. We are better than this.
Today or tomorrow.
Does everyone here agree it was time for this to happen?
Sure fine bring it down.
Now let's talk about things I find racist.
1. The term African-American. I don't call myself a European-American. Let's just all be Americans.
2. Miss black America contest. ( what if it were called the Miss white America contest? )
3. The black caucus. Is there a white caucus?
4. BET network.
5. The black coaches association
6. NAACP
7. Black history month
8. Why is there a place for race on a job application? Or sex for that matter. Can I just answer yes please?
This is not being racist, it is just a fair question. South Carolina has better race relations than most states in America and I'm very proud of that. We are all God's children and should love and respect each other.
Yes, but there are a number of posters here saying they are Southerners first and Americans second. Would your condemnation apply to them?
Today or tomorrow.
Does everyone here agree it was time for this to happen?
Sure fine bring it down.
Now let's talk about things I find racist.
1. The term African-American. I don't call myself a European-American. Let's just all be Americans. agree
2. Miss black America contest. ( what if it were called the Miss white America contest? ) We had Miss White America contest until 1970.
3. The black caucus. Is there a white caucus? We had that for almost 100 years - took that long for the first black to be elected to congress.
4. BET network. We have WET
5. The black coaches association - has there ever been a person of color to coach football or men's basketball at South Carolina?
6. NAACP - seems only fair since our country did everything in its power, including legislation, to keep colored people from advancing
7. Black history month - to educate our children on the history of this country, even the unpleasant part of our history - the same reason we shouldn't remove confederate monuments
8. Why is there a place for race on a job application? Or sex for that matter. Can I just answer yes please? the race question is optional
This is not being racist, it is just a fair question. South Carolina has better race relations than most states in America and I'm very proud of that. We are all God's children and should love and respect each other.
I am a born southerner as all my relatives for at least 6 generations have been. My great great grandmother's brothers fought on opposite sides. But I can understand how African-Americans could be offended by the confederate battle flag, regardless of what I see it representing as a white male it doesn't represent a time where my race was owned, sold and treated like lifestock. But to say its the reason for the awful shooting is just ignorant, his ideas weren't formed from the flag, they were formed by a racist. Its alone the lines of guns killing people, sure get gun fires the bullet, but if someone is set on injuring or killing people not having a gun isn't going to stop them. How many guns were in play in the Boston bombing, how many guns were in play on the 9-11 hyjackings. Both of those gunless incidents caused more damage than a guy with a gun did, but we aren't trying to outlaw flying or road races.
I don't have an issue with the flag being banned, but understanding how the confederate flag is offensive to African-Americans, and we are banning it. It's also time to start talking about banning all the Mexican flags on tags, hanging from windows and on poles, it offends me for people to come into this country under the cover of darkness and willing to break multiple laws of our country to get here and stay, but continue to flag the flag the place they ran away from. If it were such a great place, why did you do everything you could to get away from it and willing to do anything you can to keep from being sent back?
The difference is that the Mexican flags, tags, etc are not being prominently featured in front of the SC State House. That is what the problem is, sanctioning the symbol that has been unfortunately co-opted by the white supremacists.
I offered tongue-in-cheek that if the flag were to stay then the blacks would be well within their rights in my very humble view to say they wanted African flags representing their various heritages flying on the grounds at their monument. Funny how some thought that strangely wrong.... Funny that the shoe on the other foot just doesn't fit and feels and looks odd.![]()
Chick, you are awesome.
Sure as hell won't hurt it, either and believe this: those clowns at Tater Tech have been using it against us for years while screaming 'Heritage; Not Hate'. However, THEIR time on the social justice hot seat is just beginning - 'Hello, World - meet Mr. Ben Tillman!' LOL!
Yeah, nice. Find a complaint box and good luck. You're still not getting your racist a** flag back. This isn't a quid pro quo.Sure fine bring it down.
Now let's talk about things I find racist.
1. The term African-American. I don't call myself a European-American. Let's just all be Americans.
2. Miss black America contest. ( what if it were called the Miss white America contest? )
3. The black caucus. Is there a white caucus?
4. BET network.
5. The black coaches association
6. NAACP
7. Black history month
8. Why is there a place for race on a job application? Or sex for that matter. Can I just answer yes please?
This is not being racist, it is just a fair question. South Carolina has better race relations than most states in America and I'm very proud of that. We are all God's children and should love and respect each other.
The difference is that the Mexican flags, tags, etc are not being prominently featured in front of the SC State House. That is what the problem is, sanctioning the symbol that has been unfortunately co-opted by the white supremacists.
I offered tongue-in-cheek that if the flag were to stay then the blacks would be well within their rights in my very humble view to say they wanted African flags representing their various heritages flying on the grounds at their monument. Funny how some thought that strangely wrong.... Funny that the shoe on the other foot just doesn't fit and feels and looks odd.![]()
How did quempsum use the flag against us? Yes, it's in Columbia but it's a flag that represents the entire state.
We had a co-op from quempsum a year or two before I retired and she was telling me their is a fraternity at quempsum that is like a rebel fraternity from the Ole South. She said they fly rebel flags all the time. And at parties they scream the rebel yell, etc. Boy, if that's not something that would tick off the African-American, I don't know what would.
Chick75, I have never known you to be so engaged in a single topic before. You have stated your position without getting touchy like many of the other posters. Boy, I wish you had been one of my teachers but you were still in Junior High when I finished college or was just starting HS. LOL!
Remind me again: Who fired the first shot of the Civil War?NO CONFEDERATE leader was ever put on trial....why is that? Because they could have proved that they had the right to do what they did, and that the CSA was "ATTACKED" by a foreign country.
Freddie, this is how they used it against us:
Out-of-State A-A Prospect: 'I'm also considering South Carolina'.
Recruiter: 'Oh, isn't that the school where the Confederate flag flies?'
The old adage applies here, imo. Keep it short and simple and repeat it often enough. Soon, they'll believe it and tell others.
Now that we don't have the 'flag' problem anymore,. we need to turn up the heat on Tillman Tech!
Thanks, Freddie. I think I am sensitive to it because I teach all kinds children in a public school. I learn about them as people, not just races or religions, so, yes, I am sensitive to their feelings and perceptions. I have always wanted that flag in a museum, never understood why it should be where it was. It is so nice to be able to type "was" instead of "is."
When will this thread die?!