In which Recursion rants about the "confederate flag" [View all]

[Recursion]

Another thread set me off on this, and I didn't want to threadjack.

I grew up in Mississippi, and I have done civil war re-enactments. It's a time period that fascinates me. I had ancestors fighting on both sides (ironically, the union side of the family were slave owners and the Confederate side were not...) So, I have basically nothing but contempt for the "heritage not hate" argument about the so-called "confederate flag".

Let me tell you why. This is not in any sense "the confederate flag":



As far as anyone can tell, this design is unattested until the 1920s.

It bears some superficial resemblance to the Battle Colors of the Army of Northern Virginia



As well as to the Confederate Naval Jack



But it's the colors of one in the hoist shape of the other. Nothing makes me doubt the sincerity of the "we honor the history" argument like not bothering to learn correct flag discipline. Flags were extremely important to the people in the civil war, and sadly you're actually dishonoring the common soldiers who fought by incorrectly displaying an ahistorical flag. The Naval Jack is improper to fly except aboard a vessel underweigh, and the Army of Northern Virginia Battle Colors are improper to fly except at the head of Lee's army (in particular, neither would have been flown at any point over North Carolina, where the thread that set me off was reported from, nor over Mississippi, which still keeps the battle colors as part of her state flag).

Carry on with your business, I just have to issue this rant from time to time when something sets me off.

Edit: Oh, and incidentally, this is the actual "Confederate Flag":