by Nicole Dias

Created on: July 03, 2009

A flag with the same colors and stars as our American flag ....it is hard to believe that both flags stand for completely different ideals. The American Flag stands for unity, democracy and freedom. It is the flag of the country dubiously nicknamed the "melting pot" because of the all of the races and ethnicities that live in the United States.

The Confederate Flag on the other hand symbolizes segregation, hatred and slavery. The Confederate Flag for whichever side of the debate brings out strong emotion and feelings. For many the Confederate Flag a part of American History but for many others it is a sign of hatred and intolerance. The Confederate Flag immediately makes people think of the Civil War and the side emulating that hatred and intolerance.

While no one today was alive during the Civil War, many have experienced hatred and racism in the form of segregation that existed and helped invoke the Civil Rights Movement. For those individuals the Confederate Flag is the ultimate symbol of that hatred and segregation and although no one today has experienced slavery to the degree that it was felt in the 1800s up until the enactment of the 13th Amendment(and even after) invokes strong emotion and sadness.

The end of the Civil War and the 13th Amendment brought a level of hope to those who were subjected to slavery. But yet the hatred continued long after the end of the Civil War and 13th Amendment and that was clear by the sight of the Confederate Flag being flown in the South. Even today more than a century later some individuals continue to fly the Confederate Flag despite how far we have come as a nation. This of course is acceptable in this country because of our Freedom of Speech another ideal that is present and makes us so great. So in essence it is important that even though many of us disagree with the Confederate Flag and the symbolism it is important that we remember our ideals and the importance of political freedom.

There are still many who feel that the Confederate Flag is a part of American History for many reasons. Some because they still are full of hate and intolerance and believe in its ideals. For others however the Confederate Flag is a part of American History that we should hold onto in order to never forget the past, to learn from it and to never forget those who sacrificed so that we may continue down the path they had dreamt of for the United States.

The bottom line is that the Confederate Flag is a clear symbol of hatred. Those that fly them to this day still feel hatred and racism.

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