Word of the day...badass

[Capt_Ron]

Well said. Thank you.:agree:

 

[Commander]

Glad you said it so I didn't have to give the history lesson!

I stand corrected, thank you

 

[Rogue Hawk]

But the question is, who's pride? It's certainly not a symbol of pride for every American citizen that lives south of the Mason-Dixon line.

It seems to me that some folks have forgotten that they are still free to fly any flag they want on their own property. Public (Government) property is a whole different story. Public property belongs to all the citizens and therefore must be all inclusive or excluded to all. There is no middle ground.

As much as I am tempted to, I will not invoke Godwin's Law.

Does the confederate battle flag offend me? Not in the slightest. I grew up watching 'The Dukes of Hazard' and loved it. (mostly because of Daisy). I am also a Caucasian male. That fact pretty much puts me on the top tier of opportunity in the United States.

I am not trying to get a political debate going or cause any problems on a site I love and I am not a 'glass half full' or 'glass half empty' kinda guy. I try to look at the reality of things from all perspectives. An eight ounce glass containing four ounces of water equals four ounces of water. Four ounces of water in a 16 ounce glass is still equal to four ounces of water.

Is there some overreaction going on? You bet there is... on both sides. Is it time to relegate the past to the past and keep it as a history lesson that freedom and equality is a right everyone on this planet should have? You're damn right it is.

Like it or not, many countries in the world take their queues from us. We can be the excuse for oppression and bigotry or a light for freedom. We better get it right and get it right fast.

News travels at the speed of electrons now.

In the end, I really have only one hope. That hope is that in my lifetime I will see all American citizens recognized and perceived as truly equal. Regardless of the melanin content of their skin cells, or who they love, or what religion they follow, or their gender, or salary, or anything other than the simple fact that they are just as human as me and we all bleed red.

That remains my hope.

It is controversial and divisive and should not be an official symbol on state property. Private citizens can do what they want. When I was in the service, I knew a man from Alabama. To him, and many others, its about the bravery of the officers and men, which can't be disputed. Also, the rift between the North and South at the time was over state sovereignty. From what I understand, slavery became more of an issue later in the war.