Since late December in 1861, a red flag boasting a blue x enamored with thirteen stars has been raised on battlefields across the country. Of course, that was during the Civil war, in which the Northern states and the southern states were vying for power. There were several Confederate flags, one of which was similar to the famous flag that Betsy Ross is known for creating. The confederate 'battle' flag truly lives up to it's name, even today. Originally, the flags were devised to support the southern states that succeeded from the union prior to the war between the states. The first flag that was voted to represent the seven confederate states resembled closely the American flag, and was to pay homage to the loyalty of America, though the states were against abolishing slavery. This flag was made up of two red and one white bar, with seven stars within a circle in place of the same stars that 'Old Glory' does don. It was changed, eventually, as upon the battlefield during the battle of Bull Run, it was found to fail in differentiating the confederate soldiers from the union soldiers. The result was the Confederate battle flag that raises controversies even 140 plus years later.
When the Civil war broke out, Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard was insistent that the flag be changed to look completely opposite of the American flag, so as to separate the armies. With the flag looking different from the enemies' flag, one soldier would know or be able to tell which camp a soldier belonged to. The whole point of a war, one would think. Thus the confederate flag- in any shape or style- came to be synonymous with racism, because it was made to support the states that supported slavery. The states where the flag was waved proudly were those that believed that the government should not control it's states. These states included; Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, Florida, Mississippi, Virginia, Missouri, North and South Carolina, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, and Kentucky (in no particular order). Since these states supported slavery, or more intimately slavery of African American's, the flag is associated as such.
Many Americans believe that when a confederate flag is waved, it is a symbolic support for racism against African American people. To be more specific, this is not always the case. Many soldiers, young men, and women, even children, of both black and white died beneath the flag of the confederacy, and for that they should be heralded as heroes. The flag that was flown above their heads is symbolic of their lives, and the land that they loved enough to give their lives for. It has been said in the past that many black soldiers fought for the Union, and have been largely overlooked for their contributions in the war. It should also be mentioned that many also fought for the confederacy, digging ditches, and flexing their muscles for the men and boys that they grew up with. Who is to thank those men that lost their lives in battle, underneath the southern flag? Much of the Civil war was fought to abolish slavery, but the war was also about principle. The principle that the states should have a portion of unity among themselves, and that they too should have rights to govern their own land with little government interference.
Therefore, any holiday, or single day of the year that any of these states use to celebrate the controversial flag would be controversial in itself. People feel that the flag should not be waqved, especially upon state owned lands, or by the state government itself. The flag is seen in many eyes as a slap in the face to those that were ultinmately freed beneath it. the flag is not seen as being patriotic (which it is, as it is a large part of our history), but condescending.
There in itself lies the problem, I think. Racism exists, yes, largely over this great land, but a flag is by no means a way of encouraging it, nor is it a means of dissuading it. If one waves a confederate flag above their home, or upon their land, they are considered a racist. Yet, is that not a racist belief itself? Perhaps a flag supporter does so because his/her great ancestor fought in the war and lost a life, or a loved one. If in support for a fallen hero, one may be considered a racist, or a white supremacist, could that not be another facet of what we refer to as racial profiling? Would it also not remain a breach of our first amendment to forbid the celebration of such a flag, even if one would not use it to hurt nor provoke another in believing it also?
Confederate Flag Day is controversial largely because of ignorance, a need for power, and anger. Can we not assume that any individuals that are not of the white race are actually smarter than that? Can we not believe that an someone of African American descent is intelligent enough to assume that the celebration of such a flag is not racist? I think that the majority of the people that are not true southerners or perhaps not white are indeed very smart people who may not care that others celebrate this flag, nor why they do so. I do not wave such a flag as the confederate flag, but I also see no problem with one who would, as it is their decision to live with, and not my own. I am offended by many other things in this world by those of the same race as I, as well as varied races, but I can not judge the life of another, for each person has a right to their own belief.
The confederate flag just happens to be one of these symbols. It is a symbol of ignorance, but that ignorance has two sides; those that do not understand it, and those that care not to. It may be controversial, but like all other things that are so, it is true and it is misunderstood, and debatable. The confederate southern states lost the war, should they also be forced to lose the ability to remeber having been part of it too? It is the truth, and it is part of history, and is something that we can not change. But it is something that also causes freedom and diversity, which are things that makes our country great.