[Shannon]

Most people who display the flag hide it under, ‘expressing southern pride’ or ‘we have the right to remember OUR past’. You see blacks bring up the slavery issue all the time and whites don’t like to be reminded of the bad past. Because of the slavery issue, this leads people to believe that ALL Southerners back during that time were ALL bad people…this is simply not true. I believe that the slave owners were small in percentages, but held large percentages of blacks as slaves. Whites find it offensives that Southerners are grouped together as if they were all slave owners, believed that slavery was a good thing and ALL were mean people. Bringing labeled in such a negative manner would make anyone angry and brings out the worst in people. They forgot how to communicate to get their point across. I don’t want to forget the past or we would be doomed to repeat it; however I don’t need to fly it, display it or wear it like a badge. Long story short…they are trying to say, “We weren’t all bad”. But they are just saying it the wrong way.

User Detail :  

Name : Shannon, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Baptist, Age : 36, City : Birmingham, State : AL, Country : United States, 

[Sean]

The Confederate Flag is not a racist symbol and the fact that people believe that shows their ignorance toward history! The one most southerners display is the Confederate Battle Flag. It wasn’t even the true flag of the Confederate States. To it being racist, it is not a racist symbol, course there are some ignorant narrow-minded individuals that use it in that fashion but it isn’t. If you believe it is because you think that the Civil War was faught because of slavery and that makes it racist you’re still wrong! The Civil War was fought because Lincoln broke the law and wanted the Confederate States to be a part of the Union and it was not about slavery, even if it were the union flag flew over slavery a hell of a lot longer than the Confederate Flag did. Now go study your real history not out of the books the government school system provides Sean

User Detail :  

Name : Sean, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Non-denominational, Age : 19, City : Jacksonville, State : FL, Country : United States, Occupation : Marina Technician, Education level : Technical School, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Flip]

The fact is a flag is a flag, I would ask this person if they are american born, and if so do they view the stars and stripes also racist? If not why not? The union was also racist, it slaughtered millions of native americans, stole their land, imprisoned women and children, and treated the men worse than slaves, disrespected their way of life and generally tried to wipe out the entire race, those it did not manage to kill were put on reservations where they were for the most part starved. I would say here I am not racist I am white and am open minded about most everything. When this question is raised about flags and symbols I believe people over react, the sooner people get over the whole flag, slave, thing the better, only then will we start respecting each other for who we are….not what color we are. Black white yellow, it does’nt matter, we are all human.

User Detail :  

Name : Flip, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 44, City : Philladelphia, State : PA, Country : United States, Occupation : IT, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[chris32154]

I think black people need to move on with their lives and stop blaming the white people of today for things that happened a long time ago.I think of the flag as just a southern thing,not trying to hurt any ones feelings.After all you are free to wear Malcom X t-shirts and I could really care less, I have more important things to worry about.

User Detail :  

Name : chris32154, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 32, City : trenton, State : MI, Country : United States, Social class : Middle class, 

[Tiffany]

I wear the Confederate flag and I do so proudly. I am very proud of the Southern heritage and feel that though it is offensive to certain people, not jsut of the African Americans, it does not always represent racism. I am not racist. I have many friends of all races, and I have dated others from all races. I am not in any way proud of the bondage that occured in the past, but I am proud of my heritage, is that so wrong?

User Detail :  

Name : Tiffany, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Lutheran, Age : 18, City : Austin, State : TX, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Tim24583]

I am a southerner and damn proud to be one. As the saying goes, ‘American by birth and southern by the grace of God.’ I hold the confederate flag as a symbol of the past, pride, and heritage. Members of my family fought under this flag and died under it to in the civil war. I am not saying that everything that it stands for was right and I do not agree with what some white rednecks do with it. I do not agree that it should be the offical symbol of the KKK, but lets face it, it is and it was and there is nothing that we can do about it. It is past history and it should be remembered good or bad we learn from history and if we don’t remember it we are doommed to make the same mistakes. Slavery was a very bad thing but a couple of points people don’t like to talk about, 1) African Tribes would trap people and sell them into slavery, 2) Slave ships were not all owned by the white man, and number 3) Black males fought in the civil war under this flag by their own free will for the south. Its just part of a southern tradition to be proud of your roots and backgrounds good or bad. People can take anything to the extreme and this flag is one thing that unfortunately has been taken there and back and there again. Its heritage not hate. This is my opinion and like noses everyone has one. I may be right or wrong but that is how I personally feel about the flag.

User Detail :  

Name : Tim24583, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 22, City : Atl, State : GA, Country : United States, Occupation : Business Manager, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Mango]

while I have limited knowledge of this, I wouldn’t think that having a confederate flag on one’s license plate alone would be a reason of racism, although if they were sporting some ugly white clothes/using offensive language I would consider it racist. AKA, no, I do not find this offensive.

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Name : Mango, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Greek, Religion : Atheist, Age : 14, City : Portland, State : OR, Country : United States, 

[KCC]

The people who constantly display the flag are people who do not understand what it really means. They only see it as a symbol of southern pride, but they cannot comprehend that the southern pride the wave is a symbol of hate for African-Americans. Even if it is explained to them, the will still not understand what it really means.

User Detail :  

Name : KCC, City : Miami, State : FL, Country : United States, 

[William]

I don’t find it to be racist in the least bit. Because the southern flag flew in the southern states where slavery was rampant, doesn’t mean that the flag represents slavery. Blacks made the assumption that the Confederate flag stood for racism, and it doesn’t. I don’t see how you can say it’s ‘a symbol of a very shameful and horrific time in our country’s heritage and pride.’ The slaves where brought over here in boats and chains. Are you so offended by boats and chains? When you see a black man being escorted by white police officers, in handcuffs, do you see that as racist? Of course not. The Confederate flag was just another flag in our nation’s long history. If you’re so worried about it being offensive and racist, you need find boats and chains to be offensive too.

User Detail :  

Name : William, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 21, City : Orlando, State : FL, Country : United States, Occupation : Network/Internet Security, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper class, 

[Jodi]

Being from michigan, I would say that people that i know who wave this flag on their car, on t-shirts, hats, … etc. do it bc they are racist. I know for a fact that most people who display it where i live are racist and are not from the south.

User Detail :  

Name : Jodi, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 18, City : Grand Rapids, State : MI, Country : United States, Occupation : day care aid, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 

[Ashley B.]

To me the meaning of the Confederate flag all depends on who the person is that is displaying it. Personally I am glad that the North won the war and I think that slavery is an injustice done to a group in our society that can never be forgotten. However I take pride in the Confederate flag for the simple fact that I am proud to be from the South. I also have enough respect not to fly this flag in public or display it where everyone can see because I know that to some it is a painful reminder of what happened to their ancestors and can cause much controversy.

User Detail :  

Name : Ashley B., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Baptist, Age : 18, City : Corpus Christi, State : TX, Country : United States, Occupation : teacher, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Mary21958]

Well, I personally am sickened when I see the beat up old truck with the confederate flag in the window. i always considered it a form of declaring that racism. but recently i was introduced to some southern rappers (they are black) and they ‘sport’ the confederate flag for southern pride. personally, that doesn’t bother me. i am biased to be disgusted when a white person presents the flag but not a black person. i think it can go both ways meaning that one person my present it for racism, but another for pride. but i will always cringe when i see it used. i also agree that southern pride can be expressed differently.

User Detail :  

Name : Mary21958, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Orthodox Christian, Age : 19, City : Austin, State : TX, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Christina32040]

The reason is, despite what the history books say, not ALL people in the south had slaves. Only about 1/3 of them owned slaves, the rest being poor farmers. When they display that flag, they’re not saying they hate blacks and want slavery back, they’re showing their pride in being southern. Anyone who’s seen a movie that takes place in the south has seen that they have a different culture to ours, and they’re proud of it.

User Detail :  

Name : Christina32040, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Baptist, City : Long Beach, State : CA, Country : United States, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Victor24549]

I see the Confederate flag in the same light as a Jewish person would see the Nazi flag. It’s offensive. The same ‘heritage’ that it’s supporters talk about is the same heritage that held Black Americans in bondage under some of the most brutal conditions known to all of mankind.

User Detail :  

Name : Victor24549, Gender : M, Race : Black/African American, Age : 32, City : Norfolk, State : VA, Country : United States, Occupation : Consultant, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

[Kimberly]

Personally speaking, I never considered the confederate flag to be racist. Seeing the flag flying, on bumper stickers, or license plates doesn’t bother me either. People from the south can be proud of their heritage just as anybody else can and I feel that they aren’t really allowed to do it. Just as long as they aren’t preaching hate and trying to hang people that look like me, fine. You won’t see me flying it, but if someone else does, i could care less.

User Detail :  

Name : Kimberly, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 25, City : Camp Springs, State : MD, Country : United States, Occupation : Clerical, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, 

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