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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The rebel flag is just a rebel flag, shows wild character, just like a Texas or New York flag . But I do question seeing all those flags flying from different countries, if the s--- hit the fan, what flag do they follow
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First of all, that is not the Confederate flag, that's the Confederate Battle Flag. I'm an old soldier who fought in Vietnam, anytime I would see that flag I really thought nothing of it back then, just some Southern Boys showing their pride in where they came from. It never diminished their pride in America or their sense of Duty or their willingness to engage the enemy. In my opinion it still doesn't! I find people kneeling when our national anthem is played and Our Stars and Stripes displayed as more offensive! But that's my opinion.
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I own a Confederate flag, was not born in the U.S., am a legal immigrant who identifies as an American, but I know true history of civil war. And, for those who are offended by a flag, or a statue, of something that actually occurred in the history of this country, are those that only know what the media and others tell them, instead of researching facts. Most in the South, who own the flag, to include black Americans, do so to show pride in where they live and were born. But, because of weak politically correct minded individuals who are trying to erase history, as if it didn't happen, are offended by something that most know absolutely nothing about.
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I remember I was heading into the headquarters building of 3id Fort Stewart for work I saw the division CSM ripping this guy a new one in the parking lot. The soldier was displaying a huge confederate flag from the tailgate of his truck. Later that same soldier and his entire battalion chain of command appeared at my desk requesting badges for access to the building. I later found out that the soldier was flying South Carolina klan colors, and th CSM ripped the soldier again in front everyone that meant something in his battalion, along with a courts martial to get him pushed out.
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I personally have no issues with anyone displaying the Confederate battle flag, and believe it is a part of both Southern and US history. I understand that some may have issues with it, but also feel that much of the hysteria is being inflamed by the media and troublemakers trying to create an issue. I have never had an issue with anyone wearing or displaying the confederate flag, but did have one issue with someone wearing a Nazi swastika.
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What will come next? Let us rename all the bases in the south. Yeah, Gen, Braxton Bragg, Confederate. general George McClellan, Confederate. Fort Lee, Fort Eustis, Fort Gordon, Fort Benning and Fort Polk were ALL named after confederate generals. We need to stop pushing the racist diatribe of the left and remember that men on BOTH sides fought for their state and their Nation. The secession of the south was IDENTICAL to the secession of the 13 original colonies from England. Stop perpetuating hate and realize that honoring the fallen is not wrong. Honoring your state is not wrong. Honoring your ancestors is not wrong. Learn the REAL history of the war and stop perpetuating the revisionist lies about slavery that was used to justify the invasion of the CSA. We are now ONE NATION. Start behaving like it and quit being pansies taking offense at everything.
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I have zero problems with the Confederate flag. Whether on or off base. Honestly, i have more problems with people that choose to fly the flags of other countries on base. The confederate flag is part of our history. It isn't a symbol of racism. If you go and research the civil war, you'll find that the main reason the sounth seceded, was because of the high taxes that were being placed on all their goods (the same reason the U.S. decided to become it's own country) and slavery wasn't an issue until the north needed to garner more support for the war because they were loosing. That's why slavery wasn't even abolished in the north until about halfway through the civil war. On the other hand, flying the flags of other nations makes it look like your loyalties are split. Flying a mexican flag? What would you do if we ever went to war with mexico? Same with puerto rico or any other nation. (I name those 2 because I've seen those the most).
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If there is any question on what it symbolizes, just ask it’s creator. Just because someone has been lied to, failed to research it, or just wants to believe what grandpa said does not negate the true meaning of this flag of the losing group of states who went to war to affirm their rights to maintain slavery. If there is any doubt in that read the separate letters of succession by each state of the confederacy. My question to those who wear this symbol and claim “southern pride” is, what exactly is It that you are proud of? What is the basis of the pride you claim when you say heritage not hate? How is it that the heritage of enslaving generations of people is not contained in that heritage you claim to be so innocently representing the “old south”? I am from the south and drive through a KKK traffic stop as a three year old and it scared the hell out of me even though I am white. There is no positive meaning in that flag to me.
Therefore it is my humble opinion that it has no place on a military installation where people of all backgrounds are supposed to serve together as one in the defense of this whole nation. Do what you want in your own time, pretend to display pride not hate at your residence, but let’s not insult anyone’s intelligence here.
Therefore it is my humble opinion that it has no place on a military installation where people of all backgrounds are supposed to serve together as one in the defense of this whole nation. Do what you want in your own time, pretend to display pride not hate at your residence, but let’s not insult anyone’s intelligence here.
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