Posted on Aug 22, 2014
Feelings on displaying the Confederate flag on your POV or person while on a military installation?
362K
2.13K
959
111
111
0
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
0
0
0
It would depend on why you are displaying it? Heritage or hatred? Yes, the south was defeated but I believe that congress declared confederate soldiers to be US military veterans. I see people with memorials to fallen friends, family, and comrades on their vehicles and tat’s on their bodies. Is there a difference just because it is the starts and bars? Would you tell someone to get rid of their “in memory of” display? Just saying….
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
I say fly or decorate away. As long as they don't disrespect the US flag or myself I could give two shits about it.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
1. Display of the Confederate battle flag on post is probably not a good idea if it's large and obvious, such as an actual flag or a central element of a T-shirt imprint or such. If it's inconspicuous, I have no issue with it. Off post, it doesn't bother me in the slightest if someone wants to have a Confederate battle flag on a pole outside their house, mounted on his/her truck, or emblazoned on his or her clothing. That said, the only uniform that should be worn when prominently displaying that flag is a Confederate uniform, and only when participating in a function, like a historical parade or Civil War reenactment, at which wear of a Confederate uniform is appropriate. If someone wants to make a stink about it off-post, then that's the problem of the person making the stink and the person with the flag. They'll work it out.
2. The Confederate battle flag symbolizes the armies of the Confederacy. They fought bravely, well, and honorably, the same as their estranged brothers who fought for the US. In that sense, it's no different than the regimental standards of German units (I'll agree that the SS units are a special case) that were raised during WW2 -- military organizations who did their duty to their country to the best of their ability. It's a military flag that has been hijacked and disgraced by racist SOBs who think that it's a pro-slavery banner, and now far too many people believe that the only thing the Confederate battle flag has ever symbolized is anti-black racism or white supremacy.
3. Nope. Never saw it.
2. The Confederate battle flag symbolizes the armies of the Confederacy. They fought bravely, well, and honorably, the same as their estranged brothers who fought for the US. In that sense, it's no different than the regimental standards of German units (I'll agree that the SS units are a special case) that were raised during WW2 -- military organizations who did their duty to their country to the best of their ability. It's a military flag that has been hijacked and disgraced by racist SOBs who think that it's a pro-slavery banner, and now far too many people believe that the only thing the Confederate battle flag has ever symbolized is anti-black racism or white supremacy.
3. Nope. Never saw it.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
0
0
0
A romanian friend and I were discussing this a few weeks ago and he brought up valid point that changed my view. While I grew up seeing this flag in my country town in Maryland I never had positive or negative feelings towards it. I had looked towards it as something historic and of free speech to those who liked it. But my friend told me reminded me the confederacy lost the war and it's "right" to slavery. He reminded me that that you don't see Germany flying the nazi flag anymore either and what it stood for. Boom. I now look at that flag in the same way. I no long believe it should be a sing of pride as only one group of people really fly it
(0)
(0)
SGT (Join to see)
I know that the northern part of maryland was for slavery where there was more plantations and south was anti slavery. But the maryland flag was older than that. My logic is that represented a side l that lost the war as did the nazis. Germany doesn't fly that flag for obvious reasons. While not all southerners are racist the flag has been represented by some of those beleifs and is seen as such
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
0
0
0
MY FEELING.... (1) Do not care in either case
(2) history....southern pride ; to others.....a variety of responses....some consider it a racist symbol reflecting white supremacist feelings
(3) Had a black panther SFC once tell me "Kojak, I do not like you" I asked him why?.....He said, "Mainly because you are white' I responded with a smile "There is not much I can do about that"..... he looked in my eyes and said..... " But I respect you"....I looked back and said "That is all any man can reasonably expect"
The flag was not much of a problem in my time but racism has always been a problem.....
NOW lets get to the heart of the problem.... For many people....perception is reality.....If it looks like a duck....walks like a duck....dresses like a duck......for many it is a duck even though it is a goose..... You want to wear the flag.....display the flag..... appear to many as a "racist" even though you are not a racist..... that is your option..... but remember there is a price for being John Wayne..... it will impact your life and how people will see and respond to you..... the likelihood it will adversely impact you is higher than the chance it will help you.....if people perceive you as a racist....they will see racism in you even when it does not exist....
CONTROL.....you can control you.....but you can not control how others feel about you.....and not seeing how your actions hurt or irritate others....has a price.....just do not complain when you pay a price for being John Wayne
(2) history....southern pride ; to others.....a variety of responses....some consider it a racist symbol reflecting white supremacist feelings
(3) Had a black panther SFC once tell me "Kojak, I do not like you" I asked him why?.....He said, "Mainly because you are white' I responded with a smile "There is not much I can do about that"..... he looked in my eyes and said..... " But I respect you"....I looked back and said "That is all any man can reasonably expect"
The flag was not much of a problem in my time but racism has always been a problem.....
NOW lets get to the heart of the problem.... For many people....perception is reality.....If it looks like a duck....walks like a duck....dresses like a duck......for many it is a duck even though it is a goose..... You want to wear the flag.....display the flag..... appear to many as a "racist" even though you are not a racist..... that is your option..... but remember there is a price for being John Wayne..... it will impact your life and how people will see and respond to you..... the likelihood it will adversely impact you is higher than the chance it will help you.....if people perceive you as a racist....they will see racism in you even when it does not exist....
CONTROL.....you can control you.....but you can not control how others feel about you.....and not seeing how your actions hurt or irritate others....has a price.....just do not complain when you pay a price for being John Wayne
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
The Truth Concerning the Confederate Battle Flag
For 224 years America was a country of slavery under the stars and stripes of the American flag. Why then should a person feel hate toward a flag that flew b...
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Here's my take on this matter. It seems that nowadays everyone's way too sensitive about everything. I was born a Texan, & proud of it, but I was raised in lots of different states, (military brat) lol. I love my Texas flag as well as Confederate flag. But above all the Stars & Stripes are Number One! Having been raised with a deep southern background, I was taught to respect my elders, believe in God, & be respectful to others. I'v had some great friends from all kinds of backgrounds, & we always got along. We never played this racist / ethnic card. Everyone should do one of those 23 & me DNA test. You'd be so surprised at who you really are. And Heads Up people " NOT EVERYONE WITH LIGHT SKIN OWNED SLAVES!! Get Over It!! I'm Irish, Scottish, & Native American. My family never owned a slave, if anything my relatives probably were slaves themselves. But Who Cares!? It was along time ago. You are an American above all else. Be proud! Quit being a bunch of babies! It's great to know your families history, But it's HISTORY. I'l treat you with respect if you treat me that way as well. After All "We Are Americans"
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
to clarify Confederate Naval Jack is displayed in the photo. The Confederate states went through three official flags during the four-year Civil War, but none of them was the battle flag that's at the center of the photo
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google