Quote:So... because genocide is worse than slavery we should only say no to Nazi flags, and not to Confederate ones?


Sure, you might have been taught it wasn't about slavery.  Just as people in the middle east are taught that the holocaust is a myth.  So will you forgive them for believing what they were taught?


Free Speech is all fine and good.  Individuals should be able to fly the flag if they want (and people are free to think about them what they want to think as well).  The flag should not be honored by our government.  If an individual wants a confederate, nazi, or even ISIS flag, they should have that right.  Stores however have the right to refuse to sell them.  Why should our government honor a flag of a group that rebelled against it, and failed, especially when to many it's come to be a symbol of racism.Not just for the actions of confederates, but for the actions of other groups as well.  

 

Regarding the first part that is in bold.    Sure the Civil War was in part about slavery, but that wasn't the only issue.  It is but one of many issues.  The sad fact of the matter is that people today only focus on one "cherry picked" part of history rather than look at the big picture.

 

Regarding the second two bold statements.  Please explain how our government is "honoring" a flag.  Perhaps the correct term would be "respect" since the flag is flown over burial grounds and is part of our nation's history.  It's not about the flag, it's about honoring those that gave their lives while shaping our nation's history.  It's about remembering what happened in our past so that we never go back and make the same mistakes again.

 

I'm going to use an analogy here, and mods. if this is "over the line" please let me know and I'll remove this part of my post.  I do believe that it explains my point fairly and in a neutral way.

 

Many Christians use the symbol of the crucifix and display it not only in their houses of worship, but also in books, movies, television shows, on jewelry, etc..  What is the purpose of the symbol?  Is it not a symbol to remember what happened?  What was done to Jesus is a cruel and terrible thing.  Some may think that the act of crucifixion is "offensive".  Should that symbol be banned?

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