Quote :

"I don't see a Nazi flag flying in Berlin."

Quote :

"Or the soviet block flying the old hammer and sickle. the confederate flag shouldnt be a thing any sane adult wants around."

6/22/2015 2:55:50 PM

I've seen less racism in Raleigh or Durham than I did in Boston for sure... but the rural South is horrendous with it.

6/22/2015 3:02:10 PM

^ Isn't the rural North bad as well??

I know a kid from the sticks of New York who says n***er more than any of inbred rednecks I grew up with.

I think it's more of a poor/uneducated versus cultured/educated thing. With outliers, of course.

[Edited on June 22, 2015 at 3:05 PM. Reason : .]

6/22/2015 3:04:45 PM

Senator Graham is doing an about face, and calling for the removal of the flag from state grounds now.

It is almost comical to consider it takes Roof posing for pictures with the confederate flag for people like Lindsay Graham to say "oh wow, just like these black people were saying all these years....this really is used as a symbol or racism and hatred!"

6/22/2015 3:40:28 PM

EMCE, you're going to vote Lindsey Graham for President now, right?

6/22/2015 3:48:00 PM

Quote :

"South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is expected to call for the removal of the Confederate flag from the state capitol grounds at a Monday afternoon press conference. The Post and Courier reported Monday that Haley would call for the flag to come down just days after the killing of nine African-Americans in a Charleston, S.C., church last week. It also reported that state lawmakers are working on legislation that could expedite the process. Separately, Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) predicted Haley would call for the flag’s removal. “I think she is. I really hope she is,” Clyburn told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell in response to a question about whether Haley was shifting her position. “That is a flag of rebellion,” Clyburn added. The Confederate flag was originally hung above the State House in 1962, but moved outside to the Confederate soldier’s monument in 2000. The White House on Monday reiterated President Obama's belief the flag should come down but said the decision is up to South Carolina's government. "In the mind of the president, it's pretty clear what should happen," said spokesman Josh Earnest. "He shared his view that the Confederate flag should be taken down and placed in a museum where it belongs." There have been growing calls for the flag's removal since last week's violence. The man accused of killing the nine people in Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church allegedly hoped to start a race war with the shootings. He has been photographed with the Confederate flag and with a car with Confederate flag license plates. Republican 2012 presidential nominee Mitt Romney called for the flag's removal over the weekend. “Take down the Confederate Flag at the SC Capitol,” Romney tweeted. “To many, it is a symbol of racial hatred. Remove it now to honor Charleston victims.” Republican presidential contender Jeb Bush suggested South Carolina should follow the example he set as governor of Florida, in Facebook post over the weekend. “My position on how to address the Confederate flag is clear,” Bush said. “In Florida, we acted, moving the flag from the state grounds to a museum where it belonged.” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a candidate for president who just last week defended his home state’s use of the Confederate flag, also will call for it to be removed, according to a source familiar with his decision. Clyburn said removing the flag would help the state heal after last week's violence. "I really believe that a lot of legislators in South Carolina, a lot of citizens in South Carolina, are growing to the point where we now see that the time has come for us to bring the state together,” Clyburn said. "And one of the best ways we can do that is to take that flag off of the state house grounds, put it in the Confederate Relic Room, which is a part of the South Carolina State Museum, and let's honor Confederate soldiers and their descendants, the sons of Confederate veterans, the daughters of the confederacy, let's honor them on Confederate Memorial Day, which, if my memory serves, is May 10thevery year. “This whole notion that the Confederate battle flag was some flag that all of these people lost their lives under, they ought to stop telling that myth,” Clyburn said. “That is absolutely not true.” Clyburn said Haley has been talking with South Carolina politicians about the issue, and he said he expected to talk to the governor again later on Monday. South Carolina lawmakers have previously rejected the idea of removing the flag but might be more open to the possibility following last week’s shooting. Two-thirds of the state’s lawmakers would be required to back the plan. Graham defended his state's use of the flag last week. “The flag represents to some people a civil war, and that was the symbol of one side. To others, it’s a racist symbol, and it’s been used by people, it’s been used in a racist way,” Graham told CNN. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), another presidential candidate, was also hesitant in comments last week to call on South Carolina to remove the Confederate flag. “I think that’s a question for South Carolina, and the last thing they need is people from outside the state coming in and dictating how they should resolve the issue,” Cruz said during a campaign stop in Iowa."

[Edited on June 22, 2015 at 4:14 PM. Reason : bolded the important bit for BJ]

6/22/2015 4:06:33 PM

Quote :

"Graham said that it would be “fine” by him if South Carolinians wanted to “revisit that decision,” but insisted that “this is part of who we are. The flag represents — to some people — the Civil War, and that was the symbol of one side.” He acknowledged, though, that “to others, it’s a racist symbol, and it’s been used by people in a racist way.” But, he added, “the problems we’re having in South Carolina and around the world aren’t because of a symbol, but because of what’s in people’s hearts.”"

That was 3 days ago.

6/22/2015 4:13:04 PM

Yup. That's what's called context.

6/22/2015 4:15:06 PM

http://deadspin.com/nfls-benjamin-watson-remove-the-confederate-flag-for-t-1713135379

6/22/2015 4:15:35 PM

Anything to get a vote I guess.

6/22/2015 4:16:48 PM

This isn't the first time they've been pushed to remove the flag. Anytime something white-on-black racist in South Carolina makes the national news there's a big uproar and they don't do shit.

6/22/2015 4:26:04 PM

With both of their senators and governor calling for its removal I'm thinking it'll actually come down [for now].

6/22/2015 4:33:17 PM

Meh, they still have to get the votes together. I expect nothing to happen.

6/22/2015 4:35:28 PM

Quote :

"I've seen less racism in Raleigh or Durham than I did in Boston for sure... but the rural South is horrendous with it."

I agree completely. From my experience and from talking to friends from the North. Racism is a much worse problem and is accepted intrinsically as part of society in places like Baltimore, Philly, Cleveland, etc.

Due to the history of the south it just isn't PC to be outwardly racist.

I think the knee jerk reaction to the flag in response to the atrocity committed by this kid; is pretty silly. Sure the flag is ignorant if not embarrassing if you are from SC but it ultimately is about states rights. If people didn't make a big deal about it; then the value of it as a symbol would decrease.

Maybe we should have banned the Qur'an after 9/11.

[Edited on June 22, 2015 at 4:43 PM. Reason : a]

6/22/2015 4:40:34 PM

Quote :

"I think it's more of a poor/uneducated versus cultured/educated thing"

This.

The only color that matters is green.

Not hating things different from yourself is a luxury that comes with not being a toothless piece of white trash in a trailer park.

6/22/2015 4:43:55 PM

Wow I'm wildly surprised you feel that way HUR

6/22/2015 4:44:40 PM

I was going to respond to that post until I realized its from a dick head.

6/22/2015 4:49:42 PM

Quote :

"Due to the history of the south it just isn't PC to be outwardly racist."

as opposed to where else, exactly?

6/22/2015 5:03:34 PM

The north, obviously

6/22/2015 5:12:32 PM

Quote :

"I think the knee jerk reaction to the flag in response to the atrocity committed by this kid; is pretty silly. Sure the flag is ignorant if not embarrassing if you are from SC but it ultimately is about states rights. If people didn't make a big deal about it; then the value of it as a symbol would decrease. "

I agree it is a knee jerk reaction.

At the end of the day though, there was a huge war about slavery and that flag represented the side that was pro-slavery. If you have state-pride fly the actual SC flag.

6/22/2015 5:23:07 PM

Quote :

"Sure the flag is ignorant if not embarrassing if you are from SC but it ultimately is about states rights"

What is, exactly?

6/22/2015 5:25:46 PM

Their right to fly the flag at the capitol

6/22/2015 5:28:14 PM

Their right to own slaves etc.

Maybe they need another ass kicking to remember the Fed trumps the state.

6/22/2015 5:29:08 PM

Here is my take on the Confederate Flag. I think that if a person wants to display it in their front yard, on their truck, or anywhere else on their property it is their right to do so. However, I feel that since the Confederate Flag is a representation of a different nation it is not right for any government establishment to fly the flag. The flag is not a representation of our government today.
Also, if you want to fly a flag to honor your heritage and your ancestors, fly a flag that represents your actual ancestors. The Confederate Flag that we all know today is not the flag that represented the majority of southern folk's heritage. The flag that we know today was displayed very minimally during the war and only came to popularity through the KKK, a group that promoted hatred.

6/22/2015 5:31:32 PM

Walmart has announced they are pulling all confederate flag merchandise from their stores.


If Walmart no longer reps the rednecks, times certainly are changing...

6/22/2015 8:28:11 PM

Sure am looking forward to all those confederate flags being gone. No more racists!

Now we just need to ban the ISIS flag and all of our problems will be solved.

6/22/2015 8:48:44 PM

Yeah, you are the type of cat to think Walmart is ceasing the sale of confederate merchandise in an attempt to "get rid of racists"

[Edited on June 22, 2015 at 8:52 PM. Reason : pooput]

6/22/2015 8:51:34 PM

Ban it, make it a law, it'll make you feel better.

Point that big finger when it doesn't work out the way you hoped, though.

6/22/2015 8:55:21 PM

Huh? No one anywhere is saying banning a flag is going to do anything about racism.

Also, nothing is getting banned.

I'm not even sure what you're arguing tbh..

6/22/2015 9:12:55 PM

He's mad that he can't fly the flag of his loser, racist, treasonous ancestors.

Taking it down and removing it from stores won't do nothing now, but in 20 years when the next set of inbred bastards are growing up without that flag being celebrated I guarantee it'll make a difference.

[Edited on June 22, 2015 at 9:17 PM. Reason : ,]

6/22/2015 9:16:48 PM

lol, what in the bloody hell are you even talking about DoubleDown?

Come on man, you are better than that.

6/22/2015 9:24:48 PM

^^ but he can fly the flag still. The only legal thing that is happening is the overturning of the retarded SC statute forbidding its removal from the capital grounds.

6/22/2015 9:44:07 PM

Don't tell him that! Let the stupid conservative think the gubment is taking his flag away.

6/22/2015 9:47:01 PM

yeah the confederate flag is offensive as fuck. imo, there's basically no room for argument about it either.

6/22/2015 9:50:47 PM

Even if you believe the flag is about heritage and not hate. If you know that every minority that sees you with that flag thinks you are a racist asshole and are instantly offended by you, why would you fly it?

I don't understand that mindset.

6/22/2015 10:03:50 PM

govts should not construct monuments in the first place. it's all just propaganda aimed at causing the subjects to take pride in something that isn't worth being proud of. want a monument? build it on private land with private funds.

6/22/2015 10:06:45 PM

Quote :

"Racism is a much worse problem and is accepted intrinsically as part of society in places like Baltimore, Philly, Cleveland, etc."

My last cab ride to BWI involved listening to the cab driver babble on for 30 minutes about how he was from Libya and was an Arab and not black, and how the blacks have ruined Baltimore. The day after the riots, I was in line at the Wawa listening to the two black ladies in line in front of me talking about how the "dumb monkeys" were destroying their own neighborhoods. I'm not going to claim that the racism here is worse than it was in NC, but people seem to be more openly vocal with it.

6/22/2015 10:07:00 PM

6/22/2015 10:09:25 PM

Quote :

"Even if you believe the flag is about heritage and not hate. If you know that every minority that sees you with that flag thinks you are a racist asshole and are instantly offended by you, why would you fly it? I don't understand that mindset."

I agree. The "heritage not hate" people must not have an ounce of empathy in their body to see how it can possibly be offensive.

6/22/2015 10:24:53 PM

like most other ignorant redneck teenagers, i used to wave the Confederate Navy Jack around. then i read some history, realized i'd been fed a load of horse shit, and i ditched it.

[Edited on June 22, 2015 at 10:43 PM. Reason : you could replace "Confederate Navy Jack" with "American Flag" in that sentence too. it's all lies.]

6/22/2015 10:31:57 PM

Quote :

"Come on man, you are better than that."

You sure about that?

6/22/2015 11:18:57 PM

I see this issue is bringing out the stupid on Facebook.

Also I made the mistake of reading the comments on one of the news articles about Walmart discontinuing sales of confederate flag items. Now I want to stab people.

6/22/2015 11:28:36 PM

I really haven't seen much about this on FB. Most people seem to be in support of taking it down on state property, but no one cares if an individual fly it.

The people I suspect would be against taking it down have been strangely quiet. There was a small cadre of people trying to push the idea that the Civil War wasn't about slavery, but they didn't stand by this too fervently with just meager questioning about it.

I guess silence from the usual suspects is far better than digging in heels to support racism.

We southerners though should come up with something we can wave around with pride... i'm not opposed to this goal. Maybe something to do with cookouts or something...

6/23/2015 1:16:17 AM

What we now know as the Confederate flag was actually never used to represent the confederacy. The ones that many southerns defend is actually the Gen Lee battle flag. There were actually 3 confederate flags that were adapted. The one that I consider the true confederate flag is the first one also known as the Stars and Bars as it was the first flag to represent the first confederate capital which was Montgomery Alabama. Removing the flag from SC is a temporary solution to a much bigger societal problem. The ignorant trailer trash will always defend their flag regardless of what others think which means the stigma of uneducated southerns will perpetuate as parents pass down archaic traditions to their children. History showed that segregation and desegregation proposed many issues. I think the problem with many Americans is they're ignorant as fuck and are prone to being easily influenced by the media. I think being well traveled and exposed to other cultures outside a one horse town would do wonders to reducing phobia to other races.

6/23/2015 6:29:33 AM

Football season is around the corner, who's going to be the badass to put a end to that frat that flies it at every tailgate? I've walked passed them flying the flag and jamming to rap music. My head wanted to explode.

6/23/2015 7:28:15 AM

Education fail



[Edited on June 23, 2015 at 8:09 AM. Reason : .]

6/23/2015 7:54:00 AM

The war started because they wanted to keep slavery......

6/23/2015 7:56:06 AM

Expand it... north planned on keeping it too.

6/23/2015 8:05:07 AM

Quote :

"Maybe something to do with cookouts or something..."

6/23/2015 8:05:49 AM

No the North already had no slaves and wanted the new states slave free.

6/23/2015 8:07:43 AM