Wassup guys. (Finally I make a post on here since zoklet pretty much died)
Anyways, I overheard, and gradually entered into a debate on the legality and philosophy associated with the Confederate flag.
The one woman (Puerto rican/white, 18-20 y/o, middle class) was arguing it was a symbol of racism and ignorance. She said the south often uses the excuse of "going against oppression" to avoid the backlash of looking like bigot racists.
The guy (Hispanic, prob same age, looked lower class but not ghetto lookin), He argued that the MODERN flag was a symbol of refusing oppression, and not a symbol of racism. He said that "If the government banned the flag, it would literally be enciting what the flag stands against, tyranny". He said that even foreign nation's civilians use the flag as a symbol of libertarian, free ideas (this probably needs to be checked if it true).
My belief is that I think the flag stands for exactly what the male said "freedom".
Now I am far from racist, I grew up poor my whole life (until later years of high school I moved to a more better side of town) when I see the flag it doesn't really bother me at all (I'm Slovakian and Croatian AKA white
)
I understand today, that neo Nazis, KKK, and white supremacists use the flag sometimes as "their" symbol. But if someone uses the special Olympics flag for their anti-gay campaigns, does that mean all special Olympic athletes are against the gays?
LOL, I know that was a stupid analogy, but I did say this in the debate.
"If you take out the topic of slavery and say this:
The north (majority of the country) is pro vegetarian, and they believe it should be illegal for the consumption of animals. Now lets say the government has the same values as the majority and believe the south should shut down their meat plants and become all vegetarian. Should the south have to shut down all their meat plants AND change their beliefs because the government is forcing this new policy on them."
Yes I am not for slavery (personally), I do believe it is a good idea in some aspects though (economically). I can sympathize with the dominantly agricultural south who cant look for non slave workers because of the lack of immigrants to the south (all Europeans immigrate to the north).
The woman argued that all the south would have to do is just pay their slaves.
I said that if slaves were freed, most would move north (like they did initially), or they would start realizing they can argue for higher wages (based on the non availability of other workers).
She said she didn't think they would all leave.
To which I just
ed
So what do you guys think?
Should government restrict the sale of confederate flags?
What is the modern meaning of Confederate flags to you?
Do you approve of California's ban on confederate flags?
How would you argue being for or against the flags old meaning?
