by Julianne Smith

Created on: November 19, 2008   Last Updated: November 29, 2008

It is upsetting when people get offended by symbols and objects that are part of our American history. The Civil War was a terrible time of separation for our country, but it was necessary to endure. If the war would never have been fought there would most likely still be slavery in America. Someone might argue that the confederate flag represents racism, but I strongly disagree. The Civil War was not about African Americans at all, instead, it was about money. Slave traders did not take people from Africa because they were black; they were brought here because Africa was the easiest place to obtain workers. At the time, Africa wasn't strong but America was, and so was the slave industry.

In the midst of the Industrial Revolution plantations became desperate for workers that would work on their fields. When they were unsuccessful they turned to slave trading which overall was a better financial decision on account that you don't have to pay the workers. Over the years the factory and plantation owners became increasingly greedy. By the time the Civil War began the idea of wealth and free labor was so appealing that the owners were willing to fight to keep their slaves.

Of course we all know who won. After years of fighting and thousands of deaths, General Lee and his confederate army finally surrendered and the slaves were free. But not without preconditions. African Americans living in the United States encountered years of oppression under the Jim Crow Laws and other prejudice acts. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

The confederate flag represents history, the battle for freedom and our rights as human beings. Banning the confederate flag would not only be offensive to those wishing to display it but also to our country. If we Americans are to truly follow what is written in our constitution then we must understand what it is saying. We all have the right to free speech. A person's decision to display the confederate flag, weather it for a racist reason or as symbolic piece of history, is the right of that person. The same idea goes for legalized abortions. If you are to stand by the constitution of the United States then you would be pro-choice, whether or not you think abortions are immoral and would never get one. Being pro-choice is the more American thing to do because it protects the mothers of unborn babies' right to free speech.

Although the confederate flag does not represent racism, but is a symbol of our freedom, the banning of it would be going against our country and our liberties as citizens. Its appearance may be offensive to some, but it is smart to keep in mind the true meaning of the confederate flag: the lives of those who fought and died in the Civil War, the struggles of the African Americans and the strength of our great nation.

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