Idiots already ruined the Gadsden flag, so they might as well use that. It's one of the coolest flags in our country's history and I've always liked what it stands for, but I wouldn't be able to fly one in my yard anymore without looking like a crazy, ultra right-wing, doomsday prepping nutjob. Spoiler
Well I guess Bill Engvall got his wish. Thanks to all this political and media bs -- wanna still display the confederate flag? Go for it, and "Here's your sign!" I can't recal a single other time when a symbol - right or wrong - has been so quickly, uniformly ostracized. Hell smokers, preppers, and "pick up artists" must be high fiving right now.
What's really ironic is the fact that the community he waged his "war" on is having none of it... if anything it has brought them closer together. The only ones screaming for a race war are those that aren't involved. There's something to take away from that.
This one is stupid to me, because the statue is absolutely stupid. I drove by it every day for the first five years I lived down here, and it looks more like the Burger King, or the Zoltar machine from the movie Big. Now, I don't know if I'm making a point, or really just throwing out some thoughts from my own experiences. This thread has had a few people say basically (paraphrasing) "Like it or not, it doesn't matter what all the motivations of the confederacy, it was slavery first and foremost." I don't disagree with that. Their right to continue their economic system, which was supported by slavery. That makes sense. I grew up in Gettysburg, PA. And we have a Wal-Mart. Several people are cheering on my Facebook feed about how the ol' Stars and Bars aren't gonna be sold at the Wal-Mart. But the yearly reenactments will feature plenty of confederacy merchandise. And the town has TONS of gift shops that are FILLED with confederate flags, replica hats, "Heritage not Hate" shirts, the sales of which are a huge part of the local economy. And the countryside is littered with monuments that pay tribute to the fallen who were fighting so that people could continue to own other people. I guess the point I'm making is, will this keep going? Is the flag the only thing that is offensive? If the flag is a symbol of racism and slavery, then are the monuments not honoring the fight to preserve racism and slavery, and shouldn't they be gone? I'm not really asking for answers, but just throwing out my thoughts. To me - the confederate flag shouldn't fly above state capitol buildings. It has nothing to do with my feelings about the flag - it's simply because it's pointless to be flying a flag there for something that no longer exists.
That is where the flag belongs. As a souvenir, a trinket. Or on a battlefield where a significant part of US history played out. It does not deserve to be flown on a capitol building where the all inclusive law of our land is meant to be exacted. If someone wishes to fly it on their property, that is their's to own. This is interesting. It really is the 1-2 punch of social media and the 24 hour news cycle. Those two things brought the ugliness of it all right into your house, where you could not avoid it. 150 years it took, and the tipping point finally happened. Strange how the 60s didn't ameliorate the issue. Assassinations, bombings, rape, murder. That didn't seem to do anything. Too many of the old school still around? Different reporting styles? Less shame/blame in reporting? I really can't help but think it is this idea of "Well, it's always been like this for blacks, so whatever. Those boys were just mixed up and trying to preserve their way of life." I have no idea.
I looked at that picture for five minutes thinking it was a woman with an alien bursting out of her torso with the horses eye as her titty. Da Fuq am I looking at?
I am under the impression that picture is a joke. That can't be the real statue. Somebody was paid in actual money? Not confederate bills? Oh my fuck, it's real. It looks like King Friday from Mr. Rogers. However, the one in Memphis that people are probably talking about is done professionally: Mind you this is the guy that possibly started the KKK, definitely a founding member.
The statue beside I-65 in Nashville is on private property. So it's within his rights to have his little "monument." But it's not up to him whether or not the state puts shrubs between the statue and the highway, no matter how pissed the old dude gets.
Nope, it's the one Natch posted that they're trying to hide behind bushes. The one in Memphis...I have no idea what those folks are thinking. I think they should have bigger things to worry about then statues of 100 year dead racist assholes, but nope. They're alarmingly concerned. The random children being killed, gang violence, ministers being hit with random bullets while mowing the church lawn? Fuck that noise! We've got to do something about this racist statue.
That's what the police are for. Because one thing cannot be easily fixed or addressed, then they should not do another? It takes 2 hours and a bobcat to move that statue. Re-habituating an entire community from theft, rape, and violence is a bit more of a job. You seriously don't see an issue in keeping up a memorial to the founder of the KKK? This is one step towards that goal of addressing gang violence.
I do have an issue with it if you read my other posts. Get rid of it. He was an asshole. However, if your community is suddenly throwing a fit about statues that have been in place for 100 years instead of addressing the fact that your community is routinely one of the most dangerous places on the planet, then I think someone needs to reassess their priorities of the problem. And did you seriously just suggest that getting rid of a statue of a civil war general will help solve gang violence? I don't think any of them actually give a shit or even have a clue who Forrest is.
How do we do this every time? We have another event that truly stirs the country in terms or race issues, gender issues, etc. and we find some inconsequential detail like a confederate flag or Civil War era statue to focus on, instead of opening a real, meaningful dialogue? Eventually we'll run out of flags, phrases, mottos, slogans, mascots and statues to point at to make the problem go away. I'm not sitting here saying I have the answers or even really want to be a part of the debate.....the last part of the statement is my true sentiment and maybe I'm more a part of the problem than the solution and it also may be that my feelings aren't far off of what others think or feel. So, I guess the question I'm leading towards is: Is there a solution to these problems or will race, gender, socioeconomic, etc. politics just become more volatile and virulent until we have another Civil War of sorts? I am seriously having trouble seeing anything that remotely resembles a viable solution to any of the issues raised here.
In the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, a race of hyperintelligent beings creates a computer to answer the following question: 'What is the answer to life, the universe and everything?' The computer, after a shitload of time, comes back with the following answer: '42.' Is this the right answer? Maybe, but Douglas Adams illustrates a very important point when it comes to questions: if they're poorly phrased, you're not going to get an answer you understand. As an attorney, you learn this quickly. You ask pointed questions in order to get a definitive answer. Now to your point. If you look over my posts with regards to guns, you'll see I ask 'What do you want?' Contrary to popular belief, politics and policy isn't just opinion. There are often very definitive ways to achieve certain goals. That is the basis of governance, knowing what questions specifically need to be answered and then reviewing history to see if anyone has already answered that question, consulting with experts and policy gurus, and formulating a policy which is targeted at that question. I'll give you an example: "We need to end racism.' Ok, this sounds great. We'll end racism. But which kind? Are you talking about institutional racism? I can't get a cab racism? Certain people don't like me racism? You see where I'm going with this? Until you drive down to an actual specific question - that yields a definable goal that can be measured, you will not get an answer other than '42.' Everyone assumes that everyone agrees with a generalized goal - most of the time very wrongly. Politicians and the media intentionally keep the questions at a very macro level in this country because for politicians it means they don't have to come up with a specific plan and commit to anything (and potentially lose voters) and the media because it allows the to hyperspeculate about any and all issues related to a topic no matter how attenuated that issue may be. In short, people need to ask better questions and have definite goals in mind before you can even begin to tackle the questions posed. There are answers, but until we define our goals, those answers are impossible to divine or at the least, understand.
Nevada has decide to throw it's hat in the anti-racism ring. Senator Harry Reid came out and said UNLV needs to seriously consider changing their mascot in light of the Charleston tragedy. The UNLV mascot is a prospector. But he's an old timey prospector, so he probably is a racist. Or at the very least, a racist sympathizer. I'm glad things in this country are so wonderful and glorious that this is what are politicians are focusing on.
Quick question: how do you change their minds? What's the actual solution? And more importantly, what are you trying to convince them should be done?
Where are the calls to ban the Rhodesian flag? Or the apartheid era south African flag? Or bowl haircuts? Or Gold's Gym shirts? I agree with TX. on the flag itself. The fact that the flag of the losing side of a war that occurred 150 years ago has become the focus of peoples concern is monumentally fucking stupid.
The website Vulture reports Warner Bros. has decided to stop licensing of the General Lee, the car from the television series 'Dukes of Hazzard.' I need a fucking drink.
So you're ok if I decide to fly the British Empire flag over my state? I mean, not like we sacrificed or anything. My point here is that symbols are important. They take shape, they get reshaped based on history, so it is up to us, the discerning viewer, to determine what symbols we want associated with us in any given time and place.