Channel Button

There are 22 articles on this title. You are reading the article ranked and rated #1 by Helium's members.

Politics, News & Issues   >

Party Politics & Ideology

Get a Widget for this title

Confederate flag: Heritage or hate?

The issue of whether the Confederate Battle Flag (or even the use of the emblem of the Mississippi state flag) depends on how you choose to view it. For a large majority the flag represents a group of people who fought against the abolishment of slavery. Because of this view, the flag is seen as a symbol of hate, and perhaps even wishful thinking on the parts of individuals who are inherently racist and wish for the "old south" where slavery was common.

Being that i'm from the south myself, does not mean I subscribe to this view. In fact, I find this particular stereotype of the Confederate Flag to be wrong. But rather than make this statement just because of where I live, I will offer a fact-supported statement that is meant to at least give better understanding to those who are against the flag.

The Civil War began because southern states decided to succeed from the Union. They decided to succeed from the Union because they feared that the rest of American (The North) were trying to modernize them. Basically, most of the South were afraid of change. And while change did include the abolishment of slavery, it included other things as well. In fact, slavery did not become a main focus of the war until later on, and even though the Civil War has been labeled as North and South fighting over slavery, the war runs deeper than that.

In fact, a select group in the North (Copperheads) did not look down upon the issue of slavery. The "Copperheads" did not mind slavery, so if they fought in the war and they weren't fighting over slavery, then how can one suggest that the entire war was about slavery to begin with? It wasn't. It just happened to be a simple way of explaining the war with no regards to how truthful the statement may be. Anyway, the outcome of the war did include the abolition of slavery, and incidentally included the abolition of succession as well.

If the South succeeded because they were afraid of change (including slavery issues or not) and the end of the Civil War saw the end of succession, then how can one bypass fact and just write the entire ordeal off as a "war over slavery"? They can't. Well they can, but that doesn't mean they are entirely correct.

The confederate flag may indeed be a symbol of hate for some, but not for all, or even most people. The flag serves as a tribute to relatives who died during the Civil War. As none of the people who fought in the Civil War are around today, I would find is incorrect to just assume that every single person


Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

Confederate flag: Heritage or hate?

  • 1 of 22

    by Fn Brooks

    The issue of whether the Confederate Battle Flag (or even the use of the emblem of the Mississippi state flag) depends on

    read more

  • 2 of 22

    by Russell Roper

    The question of "Heritage or Hate" has been debated throughout this country probably since the war ended more than 140 years

    read more

  • 3 of 22

    by Nicole Dias

    A flag with the same colors and stars as our American flag ....it is hard to believe that both flags stand for completely

    read more

  • 4 of 22

    by Juan Izquierdo

    My view of the Confederate flag has undergone a profound change over the last twenty years, from one of disdain to now one

    read more

  • 5 of 22

    by TIMOTHY J. THOMPSON

    The flag of the Confederacy, referred to by some, as the "Stars and Bars", began originally as a battle field flag. One of

    read more

View All Articles on:
Confederate flag: Heritage or hate?

Add your voice

Know something about Confederate flag: Heritage or hate??
We want to hear your view. Write_penWrite now!

87020

Featured Partner

The Overbrook Foundation

The Overbrook Foundation has partnered with Helium, giving you the chance to write for a cause. Browse Overbrook...more

What is Helium? | Buy Web Content | Contact Us | Privacy | User agreement | DMCA | User Tools | Help | Community | Helium’s Official Blog | Link to Helium

Helium, Inc.
200 Brickstone Square Andover, MA 01810 USA