I believe all this is extremely accurate.
Now that we have finally fixed the flag issue, can we legalize weed. Everyone deserves to get chill every once in a while without threat of committing a felony.
Since you clarified that you don't have an opinion, I'll ask again.
How can the flag created by the people that were fighting to preserve chattel slavery, as a means of identifying them in a battle, not be a racist symbol?
You are correct the flag does not make a person racist. Just like an MSU T Shirt does not make you and MSU fan. But IF I see a guy playing baseball in the Maroon 1985 MSU baseball uniform (a uniform made to let everyone know the MSU players from those on the other team), I assume he is an MSU baseball player.
By the same rational, If someone is flying a swastika in their front yard, I assume they are a Nazi and not a a member of the 45th infantry.
Damn man, are you dense. I'm not drawing a hard line either way. I'm in the middle. The flag doesn't bother me. Maybe because I didn't live in the 1800s nor was I oppressed. I just don't see racial issues in symbols. But I do understand if someone does. And as for your logic on the how the 2 flags you referenced represent people, well, you know what they say about assuming....
Your assumptions are calling me a racist if I fly the MS flag
I'm not calling you a racist. I'm saying that the symbol is a racist symbol. That you choose to ignore the reality of that means you don't mind projecting to others what that symbol means.
I'm trying to have you tell me how the flag is not a racist symbol, since that's what you first said.
You keep saying"you don't see racist issues in symbols". That's fine.
That's not reality. Some items are created as symbols.
You have to know that that's not how the rest of the world sees it.
If I move into a house and my neighbor has "Go Irish" License plates, a fighting leprechaun in his yard, and a big ND flag, I can accurately assume he is a fan of a school in South Bend Indiana, because of what those symbols mean.
What if you take the current flag and remove the confederate symbol and replace of with the state seal in blue. Wallah. My opinion, but the Stennis flag is dog shit, and probably won?t pass if taken to a vote. I think a major problem with the vote last time was that the alternative was absolutely terrible.
I don't think the flag should be viewed as just the next thing in a long line of things that people are deciding is racist and offensive. I used to kind of think in that mindset, but have since changed my views. All of these symbols are from an era that was so egregiously bad and inhumane to black people. There's no doubt the ramifications of slavery thru segregation and the civil rights era are still greatly affecting our social structure in this country. Obviously its hard for a lot of people these days to fully accept that because we weren't around to see the worst of it. A lot of people pretty much just see the poverty/crime etc in the black community and think "why don't they just suck it up and make a living like I did?" Well, when the state still uses a confederate symbol on the flag and things are named after racist figures in history, its a pretty sobering reminder as to why things are the way they are. I don't think keeping any of that stuff around helps anyone.
Clarion Ledger has a poll offering about 4 designs. Current state flag has almost 75% of the vote.
Not a great day for sources
Exactly, that’s why you can’t allow the general public to vote on this. Just change the damn thing
Not to go too far down this rabbit hole BUT I have to address a couple things. I work with poor black kids as well as successful black colleagues and I will say this, each individual has a choice to make about their own success in life. The people I work with will tell you the same thing. Now, if you want to say that for a middle class white person like myself that choice was easier then I’d agree. It is extremely tough for a young black male to choose his own education and success over being accepted by their peers. And to be honest I thing there are a lot of things that go into that other than our flag and what it means to some people. Go to the inner city of pretty much any large metropolitan area and you’re going to see the exact same thing goin on as you see in the heart of the Deep South. So I have a hard time saying that the current south and our current flag are solely to blame. In fact I’d say that the available avenues to success for black kids in particular are vast and highly available to the individuals wanting to take advantage. I could go on but I don’t wanna ruin the thread.
I guess it's in in the eye of the beholder. To me, if someone is flying a MS flag today, I just think he is a proud Mississippian, not a racist. Just like flying the American flag, to me, means you are a proud American, not a communist. Just like flying a go Irish flag means you are a fan of the Irish, not a drunk Irish a**hole (or any other negative thing you can think of).
So in trying best answer your question from my perspective, people perceive the flag differently. You obviously perceive it as a racist symbol and I told you already that I can agree with that. I just try not to get caught up with inanimate objects being racists. I won't pre-judge anybody about flying the MS flag before meeting them. Now if they flew a KKK flag or a swastika flag like you mentioned earlier( bad comparison by the way), I think these type flags or symbols are more specific and do reveal more about that person. But I guess once again it's in the eye of the beholder.
I think we've had this dialogue enough and if we can't reach common ground, that's ok too.
Just know that I understand if you think the flag has racial undertones. I can agree to that. But if I choose to fly that flag, it doesn't make me a racist. I think our common ground is that we can just change the flag and move on, because like I said in the beginning, it doesn't matter to me if they change it. Anyway, good day sir. God Bless.
Even NASCAR is dropping hints...how bout we listen
http://www.cbssports.com/nascar/news...al-anthem/amp/
I don't mean this rude, but you don't live or travel outside of Mississippi much.
And you are confusing my problem with the canton of the Mississippi flag with the entirety of the flag.
The Canton of the Mississippi state flags is the KKK flag. I used the swastika on purpose as it was not originally a symbol of hate. It's symbolism was distorted by a group that killed millions and thought some races of people inferior.
The confederate battle flag was created as a symbol of hate.
And I'm not calling you a racist, but wouldn't it be nice to fly your state flag without having to defend that point?
Not blaming it solely on the flag and yes you are right it is a nation wide problem not just the South. That's because our entire nation was built on slavery at some point. I'm glad the black people you work with have that viewpoint but the majority of black people would not agree with that. Evidenced by the state of our nation currently. The opportunities in place for black people from a white mans perspective seem like fantastic avenues, but there are still so many things working against them to make it to that point. But also agree it's a deep rabbit hole discussion.
You don't know how much I travel. Once again... assumptions. And I was just meaning a flag with the actual letters KKK. You also seem to be forgetting the fact that I don't care if they change the flag. I don't have to defend anything either. I know what I feel in my heart and don't have to have you to label me or tell me what I'm am projecting because I don't denounce the flag. Now good day sir
By the way, I'm not standing up for it either. I'm good both ways.