Posted on Aug 22, 2014
Feelings on displaying the Confederate flag on your POV or person while on a military installation?
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Recently, I had a long and heated discussion with a fellow veteran about this issue. I don't know for sure whether a branch-specific reg or a DoD-wide reg exists that prohibits/allows personnel on a military installation to display the Confederate flag on their personal vehicle or on their person (e.g. a belt buckle). Maybe this is a base-specific policy and left to the judgment of the installation commander. Display of the Confederate flag is a divisive issue and people often feel really strongly one way or the other. But today, it is still a relevant topic and touches on other military leadership/discipline areas, including the actions of one member deeply offending another member -- regardless of whether said action is legal/authorized. That can create huge problems in a military unit, and this happened in a unit I personally served in. So, below are my questions for the RallyPoint community about this issue.
Please try to keep comments professional (don't attack one another) and explain your thoughts as best you can.
Questions:
(1) How do you feel about the Confederate flag being displayed on the vehicle/person of a service member if he/she is ON post? How does your opinion change if the member is OFF post?
(2) What does the Confederate flag symbolize to you personally? What do you think it can symbolize to other people around you who may perceive it differently?
(3) If you have personally experienced a military-related situation where a symbol/flag caused someone to be offended, what happened and what did you/would you have done as the leader?
I look fwd to everyone's thoughts on this. Personally, I have some strong feelings about this issue, though I don't want to bias people's answers upfront. Please be as honest as possible.
Tag: SSG Emily Williams Col (Join to see) 1SG Steven Stankovich SSG Scott Williams 1LT Sandy Annala CPT (Join to see) SSG V. Michelle Woods MSG Carl Cunningham
Please try to keep comments professional (don't attack one another) and explain your thoughts as best you can.
Questions:
(1) How do you feel about the Confederate flag being displayed on the vehicle/person of a service member if he/she is ON post? How does your opinion change if the member is OFF post?
(2) What does the Confederate flag symbolize to you personally? What do you think it can symbolize to other people around you who may perceive it differently?
(3) If you have personally experienced a military-related situation where a symbol/flag caused someone to be offended, what happened and what did you/would you have done as the leader?
I look fwd to everyone's thoughts on this. Personally, I have some strong feelings about this issue, though I don't want to bias people's answers upfront. Please be as honest as possible.
Tag: SSG Emily Williams Col (Join to see) 1SG Steven Stankovich SSG Scott Williams 1LT Sandy Annala CPT (Join to see) SSG V. Michelle Woods MSG Carl Cunningham
Regulation
Policy
Respect
Confederate Flag
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 326
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DOD should institute a comprehensive policy for all the services both on and off post.
When I see a rebel flag I immediately think of slavery, lynchings, and other demeaning actions such as white only sections. On a battlefield the rebel flag supporter may move slowly to help a Soldier of color. Conversely, a Soldier of color may be slow to help the rebel flag supporter. You cannot even have the mere thought of something like these deliberate acts in a unit.
When I see a rebel flag I immediately think of slavery, lynchings, and other demeaning actions such as white only sections. On a battlefield the rebel flag supporter may move slowly to help a Soldier of color. Conversely, a Soldier of color may be slow to help the rebel flag supporter. You cannot even have the mere thought of something like these deliberate acts in a unit.
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My late stepdad retired from the Army as a CW4. He was a Purple Heart recipient and member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. He said that had he been around then he would have fought for the south. He was a good man and it’s because of him that I just cannot see the Confederacy as the embodiment of evil that I feel like I’m being told it was. At the very least I have some respect for those guys as fellow soldiers.
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Being born and raised in Kentucky my early Heros were Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, John Mosby along with George Washington and Francis Marion. Kentucky was truly torn as it’s families frequently fought on both sides. None of my people owned Slaves or knew anyone who did but they were against the North telling the South how to Govern themselves. The Slavery Question was a political argument and did not involve the Common man who farmed his rocky acres with one mule and owned one cow, if he was lucky. Children went barefoot in the summer. Usually everyone owned a Squirrel gun and shotgun in order to kill small game to supplement their garden. The Stars and Bars Identified the Southern Troops to keep from shooting their own people as war is very confusing at times, especially then. So now we are here so many years later and and people who had nothing to do with the War are upset when a person wears a flag to remember his or her Heritage of Brave ancestors who answered the call of their State to defend it from attacks from the Northern Armies. While My Hero might be your Villain, so is the reverse true. Talk to the people of Atlanta about General Sherman. Still his ancestors are proud of him and rightly so. Today we have much to disagree over. No one who has a Confederate Flag beloved in Slavery and they Damn sure have never owned a slave nor their Father or Grandfather. Today things like this are a personal choice. Let them stay that way.
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I feel that the confederate flag should be allowed just like the US flag or another flag that is not deemed to be a symbol of hate. That being said I know that some people see the flag as a hate crime but "in my opinion" they only refer to this flag not for what it stood for as a symbol of the states the withdrew from the US but as a slave banner. I fly both as a testament to all our history but that is just me. With that being said I think if people hate the confederate flag they should also hate the US flag based on the same reasons. It was a symbol for the men and women of the south to rally behind just like our now 50 star flag we of the armed forces rally behind and fight for a symbol of freedom we have all shed blood sweat and tears.
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I am a white person I'm a history major. I get offended when I see what is now called the "confederate" flag. I feel that those who display it unfortunately believe in the lost cause narrative which was a must education of the southern youth on purpose by the confederacy and racists. Even if the flag meant what they think- Why what do you want to display your pride in the fact that one of your ancestors committed treason Hand to the point you had to wear Something proclaiming their treason on you unless you still held their values. The Civil War was not about states rights it was clearly and only about slavery ask also clearly stated in the declarations of war. Wearing the symbolism also implies to me you feel the south will rise again - that also feels un patriotic and offensive. Finally a person who feels They need to wear a divisive symbols such as this to display their heritage regardless of who they offend tells me that person is not a thoughtful or caring person. That is not who I want to represent me as a member of the military and as a retired officer.
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According to many historians the flag had nothing to do with slavery or owning slaves sent
from Europe or Africa. It was about States Rights. There were several Southern Flags flown
by different states. The current Confederate flag grew to become the most popular and stands
for State Rights even today. It has become a hate symbol by those who are looking for something
for a reason to hate and/or change history.
from Europe or Africa. It was about States Rights. There were several Southern Flags flown
by different states. The current Confederate flag grew to become the most popular and stands
for State Rights even today. It has become a hate symbol by those who are looking for something
for a reason to hate and/or change history.
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I believe this question has become moot because more and more units check with the Marines have now ordered the Confederate flag to be removed from everything. Anyone that displays the confederate flag can we easily be assumed that he or she is displaying it for a reason. I have found no one that can give me a good explanation of that reason. Many people say it’s because we’re proud of our southern heritage. But when I asked him what the sudden heritage that you’re proud of is either they can’t articulate it or it has nothing to do with the confederate flag.
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To me the Confederate Flag doesn't bother me in the slightest so it would not bother me if someone displayed it.
The Confederate flag reps the south and it heritage. To others I know it reps something totally different and mostly because the symbol of the flag has been adopted by hate groups which gives it the bad rap it doesn't deserve. I guess I have an affection for this flag because I had family members fight in the south during the civil war, although I disagree with their reason they went to war with the north.
I can not remember any instance during my time in service that the Confederate flag was an issue.
The Confederate flag reps the south and it heritage. To others I know it reps something totally different and mostly because the symbol of the flag has been adopted by hate groups which gives it the bad rap it doesn't deserve. I guess I have an affection for this flag because I had family members fight in the south during the civil war, although I disagree with their reason they went to war with the north.
I can not remember any instance during my time in service that the Confederate flag was an issue.
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