Redefining the Stars and Bars

Last week, Byron Thomas gained attention across the country for winning the right to hang a Confederate 'Rebel' flag in his dorm window. Here are my thoughts about his decision and some of the responses I've heard since this has gone viral.

Original report courtesy of WTOC (Savannah, GA): http://www.wtoc.com/story/16168655/black-student-wins-right-to-hang-confedera...

His own personal YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeB-bHgccpc

A follow up on his decision:
http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/education/2011-12-06/black-student-north-au...

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• confederacy
• confederate
• flag
• southern
• pride
• free
• speech
• history
• Byron
• Thomas

[darthroden]

@chamblizi Agreed.



[chamblizi]

@darthroden i believe in bars & stars its a piece of fabric which represents southern heritage I am however mixed ethnicity but due to content i am considered African American by book standards. Its not like the flag says nigger on the front or racist remarks like cracker and spick. A flag is a representation of heritage just like Virginia state flag is a representation for Virginia state. The flag has no branding there for it cannot be racist.

[darthroden]

I agree with the most part with what you say dude.

I am a white Southern man from South Carolina who regards this flag as a symbol of Southern identity and cultural heritage, as well as a living memorial for Confederate dead.

I believe it is a positive symbol for all Southerners regardless of race or religion and can very well be more than what it has been wrongly used as by racists and any black Southerner who displays it or uses it is a thumb in the eye to such racism and I am all for that!

[DixieRebel772]

@lee1906 have supported the South's decision, but their thoughts on this are lost to history.

[DixieRebel772]

@lee1906 But the South had other reasons besides slavery to seceded. They were no longer well represented in the Government, they were paying a higher percentage of taxes, and they were simply a separate beast from the North in terms of values and ideology.

And yes, they did not take the opinion of slaves into their decisions to secede, no argument against that, but because the slave's opinions were not recorded it is impossible to know what they thought of secession, maybe.they would

[lee1906]

@DixieRebel772 To George III and many Loyalist who moved to the West Indies and back to Britain I'm sure it was a symbol of treason and I see your point. Nevertheless, it does not negate the fact, that the Colonist were fighting for the freedom from Tyranny of taxation without representation,the south was fighting for the rights to not give freedom to 10 - 50% of its residents, there is no way around it. How would feel if people wanted rights but not yours? Isn't this hypocrisy?

[DixieRebel772]

@lee1906 No more so than the American flag would be a symbol of treason to the British. And there was a determined effort on the part of the CSA at State's Rights and to elaborate on other freedoms. Oh, and despite what my name may imply I am not a bitter white supremacist. I will not trash your views like others might, and I would greatly like to hear how you came to your reasoning.

[charlieup2]

@lee1906: I agree. Very interesting, your using the Swastika to analogize the Confederate flag issue,given it, too, has a positive history--in addition to the more negative history with which most are familiar. The positive history of these iconic symbols/insignias,however, fails to either annul, or even approach their crushing, and well earned iniquitous historical notoriety. To do so would be tantamount to throwing candy in the sand and cleansing the sand without losing any of the candy

[lee1906]

I understand the issue of Free speech, nevertheless, I cannot imagine Germany hanging the Swastika to remember the anniversary of World War II. As a Jew probably feels about the Swastika, I as a Southern African American feel about the Confederate flag it is a symbol of treason, not states rights, and those rights were the right to enslave others. I feel the same about using the word Niggah, Nigger, etc. It is not a word of endearment neither is the confederate flag.