Has the Confederate flag become a nationwide symbol of hate?

[Cyrano]

You used to just see this flag in the South. The message was, "The South will rise again."

Seems that flag has risen again. It's displayed everywhere in the country and, no matter what the rationalization is, it's a symbol of hatred, bigotry, divisiveness, and people who want a white, "christian" America that conforms to their sick, sour flavor of "christianity."

What does that flag stand for today? It's not (just) about the South. It's about hatred. Hatred of "The Other," bigotry, racism, and a symbol that is tied to the Republican Party whether they like it or not.

And some go further. They fly a Nazi flag. These are ignorant people who are unable to grasp what WWII was about. These are people who deny the holocaust, yet believe that gas chambers may be a good idea. These are people who are a danger to humanity.

And most of all, these are people who either don't understand what slavery, torture, murder were about, or would love to see a return of slavery.

I don't know about you, but the only time I ever want to again see a Confederate flag is in a museum displayed right next to a Nazi flag.

[Aristus]

1. Become?

It's been a symbol of hate since the 1860's.

[FreeState]

2. This n/t

[dchill]

3. Ta-DAAA!

[intheflow]

22. Exactly what I was going to post! n/t

[Dreampuff]

4. Supporters

Of it say it is their Heritage and their history. What a sad and pathetic thing to be proud of. Yeah, it symbolizes all of the things you mentioned.

And the ignorance that goes along with it is unbelievable. You know that many who support the flying of that flag think it is their stars and bars? The South had several different flags and this one was never flown over their southern capital. The original southern flag was too similar to the United States flag and they would confuse those in battle so they switched it to this one. If it's even visible, a Museum would be the only place for it along with an explanation as to what it represents and stands for. Hatred, racism, division, traitors, Etc.

[Aristus]

8. I was born and raised in the South to an all-Southern family.

Every ancestor of mine who fought in the Civil War fought for the Confederacy.

But that flag has never, ever represented me or done honor to my 'heritage' (whatever that may be...)

I am an American.

[Jirel]

5. When hasn't it been?

It was always about slavery, murder, and torture.

It wasn't flown much for a couple decades because the slavers and murderers were keeping their heads down. When it was flown again, it was to show support for slavery, murder, and torture.

[Bettie]

6. It has been a sign of hate for a long time

since the 1860's though the current version wasn't the flag used back then.

[Celerity]

7. Anyone who flies that traitor's rag is a white power-backing POS

This includes minstrel show, tommed-out, self hating PoC.

[PJMcK]

9. I've never understood the "South" thing

They fly that flag and claim it's about "heritage." That heritage represents traitorous secessionists and slave owners. That's some heritage to be proud of!

I'll close by quoting something "patriots" often trot out:

"One nation, under God, indivisible..."

Do these "Southerners" understand the meaning of that word?

[Statistical]

21. because it is a lie.

The confederate battle flag has always been about hatred, oppression, and terrorism. Always.

[IngridsLittleAngel]

10. Of course it is

As I learned back in the pre-internet, BBS'ing days when I encountered person after person who, despite spending their entire lives in Southern California, got off on screaming "The south shall rise again!" in their mass emails of stupidity, insanity and hatred.

Not only is it a symbol of hate, it's a gateway drug to swastikas.

Thanks, Reagan.

[JCMach1]

11. It has been for a long long time outside of

Civil War re-enactmenting and Lynrd Skynyrd concerts

[Trumpocalypse]

12. It has always been a symbol of hate.

[Iggo]

13. The Dixie Swastika? A symbol of hate? Naaaah.

[Hoyt]

14. It's been America's Swastika for decades.

[Caliman73]

15. The Confederate Flag...

The battle flag of the Army of North Virginia (because historically that is what it was/ and a slightly different version was the Confederate Navy Jack) was not typically the unifying symbol of the Confederacy. The CSA had its own "national flag" several versions of it, like the United States did.

The battle flag (Confederate flag) was adopted after the war, during periods of racial unrest in the South (Reconstruction, Jim Crow, 1960's Civil Rights, and currently) as a symbol of White Supremacy. It was used to tell Black people that the old order of the South was not dead.

While the South was the "hot bed" of chattel slavery and racial repression, that doesn't mean that the idea of White supremacy wasn't alive and well in the North too. It was natural, with the migration of people from the South, and the open attitudes about Black inferiority. While the majority of Americans reject outright White Supremacy and forced segregation, and see slavery as a stain on the country, we have all been bathed in the subtle waters of White Supremacy and a lot of people are "okay" with seeing the battle flag as a symbol of heritage. If the battle flag is "just a symbol" of Southern Pride, then we can sweep all of the horrible things it has stood for, under the rug. We don't have to deal with how we all perpetuate White Supremacy in small ways (and I say this as a person of color). The flag is a symbol of White Supremacy and hatred of other groups plain and simple and it is the way it should be taught in school.

[TheBlackAdder]

16. Always been a symbol of stupid racist and treasonous assholes.

[Behind the Aegis]

17. Nationwide?

Check out photos from marches in Berlin, Paris, and (I think) Athens, Greece! Yeah, it is now a WORLDWIDE symbol of hate!

[Cyrano]

19. Seems the swastika wasn't as hard to match as we thought it was

[Behind the Aegis]

20. The Nazi swastika is still better known.

But there is no denying, the US brand of white nationalism has been exported.

[Statistical]

18. Become? It always has.

The "it is heritage" is has and always will be bullshit. After the civil war the flag was not widely flown. The southern generals furled the colors and put it away. It wasn't the flag of the confederate states it was the battle flag. The military flag for the military that lost the war. Who would want to remember that? Plus the country was hurting. Dead on both sides, families torn apart, economic collapse. Many just wanted to bury the dead and move forward.

So when did the flag start being flown and when did all those confederate statues get built? The first spike in popularity was under Jim Crow and the second one was just prior to and after the peak of the civil rights movement.

The flag of Mississippi with the confederate battle flag iconography. You may be surprised to learn that wasn't adopted until 1895 nearly 30 years AFTER the civil war ended.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Mississippi

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FLAG OF HATRED. Don't ever let anyone gaslight you on that. It like confederate statues has always been a sign to black Americans that no matter what DC says you will never be equal.

[bermudat]

23. Confederate battle flag is the same as the Confederate swatika

That's why the NeoNazis fly the Confederate flag at their rallies
because they can't fly the Nazi flag. Even in Germany they understand
the true meaning of the Confederate swastika.

[Paladin]

24. Whatever redeeming historical significance that flag may have had is gone.

trump and his scumbag followers have confirmed its status as a 100% hate symbol. It's no better than the nazi swastika.

[peggysue2]

25. The Confederate flag . . .

is the flag of treason against the United States of America. It also represents the subjugation of millions in slavery, abuse, rape and murder.

Nothing more to be said.