Feelings on displaying the Confederate flag on your POV or person while on a military installation?

Fun fact: Every confederate soldier that fought was granted United States Veteran status. Honoring our ancestors who fought for the south should not be divisive, especially if you know your history.

Many of those commanders of the Confederates were prominent members of the United States Armed forces before the war, and many of their doctrines and tactics are revered to this day.

I personaly knew a Marine whose entire hood of his truck was a Confederate Battle flag. His roommate and best friend was a dark green Marine who borrowed his truck on a regular basis lol.

Bottom line, if someone wants to display their heritage in a tasteful manner, then let them do so. The Germans were Nazis in WWII, but if I had a nickle for every german flag licences plate I saw on base I'd have at least 10 bucks by now

I think this is a freedom of speech issue. Of which we did or do not have on base. Such as wearing a cross on a necklace that can be seen while in uniform. Having said that, you can wear the cross in civilian attire on base.

We have to level the playing field for everyone. If the US flag can be burned, football players can kneel during the anthem, people can walk around DC wearing fake genitalia on their head, and all sorts of other things that we see and hear, then this is just one of them. Freedom doesn’t mean freedom from being offended/offensive. Having said that, respect and dignity must be the standard — especially in uniform. And frankly understanding the other perspective. We have to separate radical racists from heritage-oriented people. Not everyone is a racist who displays the confederate flag. And no, I don’t display it or even want to. I’m just trying to protect our right to freedom of speech. We have to fight to keep everyone’s right, not just those we agree with.

I have no feelings for the flag. It does not bother me except when it is used with a hammer & sickle or a swastika. Those symbols piss me off and makes me want to pound somebody into the dirt. My Dad fought against the swastika of Nizasim and my dad and I both fought against the hammer & sickle of communism. The confederate flag is a part of our history and does not represent slavery. And, the stars and bars was a battle flag and not the southern States main flag. I have a problem with people making mountains out of molehills.....

Off base, do what you want, but be ready to answer for it...on base...remember you're on a military installation and the Post Commander dictates what can and can not be done on HIS installation.

I would say that as a member of the military we take on a neutral responsibility and understanding that we represent the U.S armed forces and should refrain from individual displays of the sort. If you are off post and not in uniform, I wouldn’t see an issue with expressing your freedom how you see fit. On post in view of subordinates, peers, and leaders would most likely not represent the spirit of our volunteered profession.

I personally don’t see any issue with it. The Confederacy was one half of our beloved nation that, just like the North, fought for what they believed was right. This war cost more American lives than any other conflict. To ban or restrict this piece of history is just as disrespectful in my opinion as kneeling for the National Anthem or burning the National Colors.

To me it represents Heritage, nothing more and nothing less. Also, this isn't the Confederate flag, but the Battle Flag of Northern Virginia. Now regarding displaying on base, I think that should be up to base policy if there's not a double-standard in place.

To me it represents heritage. Also, that isn't the Confederate flag but the battle flag of Virginia.

To answer your 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? Private vehile is just like a home...private. They have freedom of speech and should be able to display whenever or wherever it is personally owned.
How does your opinion change if the member is OFF post? None
(2) What does the Confederate flag symbolize to you personally? The flag to me is irrelevant. I am from MS and could care less. The flag is not my flag nor have I ever served under it. It is part of our state flag so I guess it is ok to have it on there as it shows part of our states history.
What do you think it can symbolize to other people around you who may perceive it differently? I think it can be interpreted as Historical and represent heritage...I think to some it can represent hate since it was and is used by hate groups around the nation.
(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? Never experienced it and never had to deal with it.

My editorial-If you play stupid games you win stupid prizes. What I mean is that with actions come consequences. If I chose to eat my French Onion soup with the cheese bubbling from the heat on the top as soon as it arrives, I am going to burn my mouth. Same principle applies to displaying the flag...if you are going to display it then man up and be ready to accept the consequences good or bad. I do believe it is their right to display on private homes, vehicles, motorcycles, RV's etc...I do not think it is acceptable to display it at work, government facilities (Dorms) because then it becomes the voice of the government and we don't serve under that flag. Just my two cents and now I am broke again.

To me the flag is a symbol of southern heritage and is not representative of race suppression. I believe all considerations of symbols and actions must be taken in the context of the times. Changing that context to accommodate more current views distorts the history. We know or have read about POWs who have returned to Vietnam to shake the hands of their captors. Once they were enemies and now friends, these things change but that does not erase the lessons of history. Because that NVA soldier is a friend today does not change the heroism of the American Marine that earned a MOH trying to kill him to save a teammate 50 yrs ago. This is essentially the argument placed in a different context. Less germain but worth mentioning, I also believe that a people who suppresses, misrepresents or erases history is destined to repeat that history.

Just like every other war - the average soldier serving in the Confederate military had no political agenda. He probably had a view on slavery or states rights but it did not impact his service and he certainly had no policy influence on the wars course. He was called upon to serve his state and the evaluation of the character of his service should not change with the views of the politics of the times. The heritage of the civil war soldier on either side is simply a part of history and we should embrace the lessons learned from that history.

With all of that said let me also say, I would never post, wear or display a confederate flag where it offends those with whom I served. Not because of a regulation or a rule or a political agenda. It is simply respect. These are the people you serve with, sweat with and may be called upon to bleed with. I will do everything in my power to have your back and I have to trust that you willl have mine if I serve with you. So shouldn’t we be respectful enough to avoid something so offensive to some of those same teammates especially when it is so easy to avoid? How is this different from pornographic posters where female soldiers serve or symbols condemning a religion. I would also argue that If you need a regulation to force that basic consideration - a little self assessment may be in order.