Why
do so many people view this as a symbol of hatred? Do people really
know what the war was about? Do they really know what the Confederate
Battle Flag stands for?
This
flag is the flag used during the American Civil War by the southern
confederate soldiers.
The
reason so many people view this as a symbol of hatred is quite simple,
in schools, children are taught that the American Civil War was fought
over slavery. When infact, there are many other significant factors.
These factors include, competing nationalisms, political turmoil, the definition
of freedom, the preservation of the Union, the fate of slavery and the
structure of our society and economy.
WHAT THE WAR WAS
ABOUT:
Before
the war, many southerners wer complaining of high taxes and the gov.
not listening to law abiding citizens.
As
Northern industry expanded they looked toward the South to buy their
manufactured goods. However, prices of goods purchased from abroad
were often cheaper. To "protect" northern industry, Pres. Jackson
put a tariff on many of the imported goods bought by southerners.
In
1837, the depression began to effect the American system. However,
the economy in the South prospered before and after the depression.
Cotton sales abroad totaled 57% of all American exports before the war.
This devastated the North, and left the South untouched
From
1611 to 1865, citizens in each of the thirteen colonies enslaved people,
however, after the 1800's slavery was viewed as a southern institution.
The
United States had been moving towards a fractured, divisive society for
a number of years. Cultural and economic differences served to widen
the rift. Battles among North, South, and West grew more heated,
especially after 1850. Politicians and the judiciary sent conflicting
signals trying to appease each of the groups involved, yet all remained
dissatisfied. Southerners saw a federal gov. controlled by Northern
industrialists who were unresponsive to the problems of their state.
Tarrifs paid by Southerners bought improvements in northern and western
states. Now the federal gov., they thought, was going to take away
personal property without compensation, a clear violation of their Fourth
Amendment rights.
The
South was wrong to assume Lincoln intended to free the slaves.
he had never advocated action to abolish slavery nor did he speak out against
the Illinois rules prohibiting blacks from testifying against whites.
The true abolition candidate, Gerrit Smith of New York drew few votes.
In his inaugural address Lincoln made it clear he would not interfere with
slavery where it existed. Even though he made his speech after the
South seceded fhe left the door open for their return.
WHAT THE FLAG
STANDS FOR:
The
Confederate Battle Flag is a symbol, a monument, and a testament to
hundreds of thousands of Southerners who fought and bled and died defending
their home, their families, and what they believed in. Most Confederate
soldiers were just poor farmers trying make a living the best they could,
many had no slaves.
All
of this, the good, the bad, the blood, the honor, the land, is wrapped
up, part and parcel, into a vibrant spirit of the South, and that spirit's
material form is the Confederate battle flag. If you reject it, you
reject the South. And then you forget. We cannont afford to forget,
especially our mistakes.
A QUOTE FROM GEN. ROBERT E. LEE: "With all my devotion to the Union and the feeling of loyalty and duty of an American citizen, I have not been able to raise a hand against my relatives, my children, my home. I have therefore resigned my commission in the United States Army...."
A QUOTE FROM E. M. FORSTER: "I hate the idea of causes, and if I had to choose between betraying my country and betraying my friend, I hope I should have the guts to betray my country"
With all of in mind, I hope you will be well informed, and less ignorant of the meaning behind the the rebel flag. One you leave this sight, I can only hope that you will leave knowing that the Confederate battle flag really is a symbol of Heritage and Pride, not hate...
References:
Letter: Confederate flag symbolizes more than hidden racism; http://www.hendrix.edu/profile/04.27.95/franks.html
Confederate Flag; http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/1394/flag.html
Causes of the Civil War-a North Georga perspective; http://www.ngeorgia.com/history/why.shtml
