Danger Dave
New member
Okay, I just couldn't let this go without commenting on it...
1) The Stars & Bars is NOT the Battle Flag of the Army of Northern Virginia! The Stars & Bars is the national flag of the Confederacy. The Battle Flag is the St. Andrew's Cross. The Stars & bars had three stripes - two red and one white, with a blue field of white stars in the upper left hand corner.
2) Slavery only existed under the Confederacy for about four years, whatever flag you choose to represent it. Under the US flag, it existed for nearly 100 years, and under the British flag, even longer. Why is the St. Andrew's Cross the symbol people choose to associate with slavery? Remember, Lincoln's emancipation proclamation only freed the slaves in the states that had seceded, not the slaves in the United States! That came later.
3) The adoption of the Battle Flag in some of the Southern state flags was at least partially done as a token of rememberance of the Civil War & the people that fought & died for their respective states. If you'll look at the dates the flags were adopted, you'll find that they were all changed within 5 years of the centennial of the outbreak of the Civil War. Sort of a "We have not forgotten" statement.
Here in the South, I do see some who fly/wear the battle flag simply to offend others, however, I see many more who view it as a symbol of their heritage and the sacrifices of their ancestors.
However, I'm not opposed to removing the Battle Flag from the state flag, as long as it is replaced with the Stars & Bars, or even a symbol of our colonial heritage.
BTW, there's a group now that's pushing to remove all monuments to the Confederacy. I guess even the monument to the division of free black men who fought for Alabama would have to go. I can't believe they were fighting for slavery any more than I can believe your average "Billy Yank" was willing to die to end it.
1) The Stars & Bars is NOT the Battle Flag of the Army of Northern Virginia! The Stars & Bars is the national flag of the Confederacy. The Battle Flag is the St. Andrew's Cross. The Stars & bars had three stripes - two red and one white, with a blue field of white stars in the upper left hand corner.
2) Slavery only existed under the Confederacy for about four years, whatever flag you choose to represent it. Under the US flag, it existed for nearly 100 years, and under the British flag, even longer. Why is the St. Andrew's Cross the symbol people choose to associate with slavery? Remember, Lincoln's emancipation proclamation only freed the slaves in the states that had seceded, not the slaves in the United States! That came later.
3) The adoption of the Battle Flag in some of the Southern state flags was at least partially done as a token of rememberance of the Civil War & the people that fought & died for their respective states. If you'll look at the dates the flags were adopted, you'll find that they were all changed within 5 years of the centennial of the outbreak of the Civil War. Sort of a "We have not forgotten" statement.
Here in the South, I do see some who fly/wear the battle flag simply to offend others, however, I see many more who view it as a symbol of their heritage and the sacrifices of their ancestors.
However, I'm not opposed to removing the Battle Flag from the state flag, as long as it is replaced with the Stars & Bars, or even a symbol of our colonial heritage.
BTW, there's a group now that's pushing to remove all monuments to the Confederacy. I guess even the monument to the division of free black men who fought for Alabama would have to go. I can't believe they were fighting for slavery any more than I can believe your average "Billy Yank" was willing to die to end it.