Why The Confederate Flag Isn T Actually Demeaning

Are You A Rebel?: Reasons Why The Confederate Flag Isn’t Actually Demeaning

Racist or history? Demeaning or heritage? Questions like these arise when the confederate flag is discussed. People may argue that the Confederate Flag is a racist hate symbol, but ultimately the flag’s roots are benign because it symbolizes history of war, southern pride, and secession of the confederate states. Being entitled to your own opinion is not wrong in itself, but once things are brought out of proportion it can harm others physically or emotionally. Learning the background of the Confederate flag can help some realize its true meaning and prevent more controversy.
Throughout many years of our society, the Confederate Flag has been argued as hurtful or

On April 9th, 1865, the Confederate States Army General, Robert E. Lee surrendered to the North at the Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia. The South did indeed lose the war. With their loss, the flag was one of the only things they had left over to hold onto to remind them of their bravery. The flag to them represented the many lives lost fighting for what they believed in. They fought for their homeland, rights, and economy. Many people associate the Confederate Army with only racist white men, but Confederates of the South also included African Americans, Native Americans, and Mexicans (Lenzini). In the article “Banner Headlines: The Fight Over Confederate Flags in the American South”, residents that were against the flag in Alabama wanted the Confederate Flag at the Alabama State Capitol Building taken down. They say that, “Opponents wanted the flag removed because the fervently believed that by flying it over the seat of the government the states were officially sanctioning the racism that they ascribed to the flag’s symbolism. Flag defenders, however, argued that moving the Confederate flag from the top of the dome was an affront to their Confederate heritage” (Leib & Webster). Alabama was one of the states of Confederacy and nothing will change that. The flag represents the state’s southern pride and heritage for those who fought for their state. Taking the flag down all of a sudden would

During the late 1800’s, Dixiecrats, Southern Democrats that believed in secession and states’ rights, claimed that the banning of the flag was the equivalent to Totalitarianism because the tenth amendment was not being put into action. The tenth amendment was created to balance power between the federal government and states. The fact that these rights weren’t guaranteed like stated in the Constitutional Bill of Rights made the Dixiecrats angry. It seemed unfair. This proceeded to make the want for secession even stronger. Through the many years of generations, people still fight to keep the flag. In 1987 the flag was taken down from the Alabama State Capitol Building because the building was being restored. Many people demanded that the flag should not be put back up once the restoration was completed. Many lawsuits were filed and won. The flag supporters were not happy. Eventually, In Alabama, “In 2000, a Southern independence rally at a capitol complex drew a crowd of 2,500 with many waving the battle flag and calling for the flag to be restored to the top of the dome” (Leib & Webster). Taking the flag down for good created anarchy among the proud Southerners and flag supporters in Alabama. Just like the Confederate States for succession in the late 1800’s, the Southern Independence Union gathered together to create a rally for protesting against their right to have the