The public displays should be eliminated because they imply the state, or county, or city is endorsing the confederacy and its bigoted values. As far as private displays, I say go for it, Johnny Reb. When I see that flag flying from your pickup truck, I know I need to stay as far away from you as I can get. Thanks for the warning.

Last edited Thu Jun 25, 2015, 07:12 PM - Edit history (1)

the state, county or city to keep flying it also. Those institutional and political entities are endorsing racist terrorism and I want every citizen to know just how hypocritical and vicious this country is in endorsing, and has been for 150+ years, vicious and virulent hate toward racial minorities. If a citizen cares about the hate represented by that traitorous rags they can continue to speak against the stars and bars, an emblem of racist heritage. Taking down a flag WILL NOT change their attitudes and/or actions. Symbolism never has done a damn thing for me. Concrete knowledge of who the enemy is, means in america, knowledge and opportunity to prepare any response necessary. Never be caught with one's pants down I say. As far as showing the world/citizens, "look we're not allowing this anymore" after 150 years, bullshit! The citizen who is a diehard racist(many) and the world don't give a damn whether that traitorous rag is flying or not.

Eliminating the public displays puts pressure on people to make an individual choice. It's not OK for your neighborhood Johhny Reb to fly that flag on his front porch and point out the same flag flies over the state capitol. Now he has to take responsibility for it without the support of the state. And for bonus points, the state just admitted, officially, the flag is a symbol of hate. The hardcore bigots now have to stand out there on their own, without the cover they had before. Your point about symbols not changing hearts and minds is a good one, but this is (I hope) one more step in the process of making bigotry unacceptable. Eventually, some day, long after we're pushing up daisies, people will think differently, and the thing with the flag may help push things along.

you're correct.....

The difference is where it was flying. The Confederate flag is not going away. Hell,; you would have to burn most everything south of the Mason-Dixon line for that to happen. And I'm guessing quite a few sweat shops in China. But flying it on a governmental building, not cool. 
Just like the swastika, the Confederate flag is here to stay. It will remain, in all its glory, pasted on the back of pickup trucks hiding the rifle hanging in the back, on salt and pepper shakers in quaint little diners in Georgia, on front plates of vehicles with the "Don't Tread on Me" frame. 
It's not going anywhere.

But I know what you mean. It's like the Irish toast:

May those that love us, love us.
For those that don’t love us,
May God turn their hearts.
And if he doesn’t turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles,
So we’ll know them by their limping.

thanks.

Yep! It's not really funny but what you said was.

Too bad we can't just make people, kind