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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To display the rebel flag on a military instillation should not be a question. You should be allowed to display it. Hell Fort Bragg is named after confederate general Braxton Bragg who was a North Carolina native. Its not a big deal. Let soldiers be happy.
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My statement to you on this is if you worry about what others think all of the time you will never live your life and never have your freedom of speech because you will always worry what others think. Try living your life and let others live theirs with out being so thin skinned that if they glance in your direction you get offended. What others have on their vehicle is none of my business as long as it isn't obscene or crude or blatantly racial on post what difference does it make it is their choice to put it there. They have just as much right to free speech as you do that is why they put on the uniform. if you take things like that to heart then you need to do away with every thing that could be remotely be offensive and that would be just about every thing. No bumper stickers no logo t shirts no logo shoe's nothing but 1 style hair cut no ring tones because some one might over hear it and be offended. Live your life and let others live theirs stop the decline grow up be an adult let others live free to the real limits of good taste quit being so easily offended.
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I personally have no feeling on this issue and think people spend too much time debating it. All I care about is the Confederacy was defeated to keep the nation unified. and slavery was abolished.
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(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?
If it is someone who is still serving active, guard, or reserve then they aren't allowed to have a political view. This means bumper stickers, flags, other stickers, social media everything is off limits. This is on and off base. If it is a veteran then it is up to them until something comes out saying that this kind of thing is not allowed for veterans.
(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?
I look at the flag as a piece of history. While I don't agree with slavery I do understand that it was a rampit problem all over the world at the time and not just in the South. I do hate to see all the monuments getting destroyed, vandalized, and taken down across the South even as we speak. To me even if you don't agree with the message or what they stand for it is still this countries history and you can only learn if you teach history. If you erase the past we are likely to repeat it again in the future.
(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?
While I have never seen anyone punished for a flag or symbol I did receive a verbal reprimand because I identified myself as a redneck and a hick and another NCO was offended that I identified myself that way even though I was country boy growing up.
If it is someone who is still serving active, guard, or reserve then they aren't allowed to have a political view. This means bumper stickers, flags, other stickers, social media everything is off limits. This is on and off base. If it is a veteran then it is up to them until something comes out saying that this kind of thing is not allowed for veterans.
(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?
I look at the flag as a piece of history. While I don't agree with slavery I do understand that it was a rampit problem all over the world at the time and not just in the South. I do hate to see all the monuments getting destroyed, vandalized, and taken down across the South even as we speak. To me even if you don't agree with the message or what they stand for it is still this countries history and you can only learn if you teach history. If you erase the past we are likely to repeat it again in the future.
(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?
While I have never seen anyone punished for a flag or symbol I did receive a verbal reprimand because I identified myself as a redneck and a hick and another NCO was offended that I identified myself that way even though I was country boy growing up.
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I was born in NC and to me tbe flag represents division and racism. Do I think this was its intended use no...however over time it has morphed into that. I am of mixed ancestry Germanic on one side black and Native American on the other. I would like for the people of NC and other places still showcasing the confederacy to host educational talks on tbe subject for both sides in other words begin the healing process for the divided people.
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Why the heck should the U.S. Military tolerate the display of symbols of treason. That is what the Confederacy was, a treasonous body that made war on the United States. If this is OK, then bring on the Battle Flag of the Third Reich, the Vietcong/North Vietnamese or ISIS Battle Flags; all of which are far less repugnant - since they were mere enemies, not TRAITORS!! Forever NO to the display of Confederate garbage. They were traitors, and anyone who displays it are seriously close the being the same.
Heritage, slavery, prejudice, state's rights, symbol of the South - all don't matter, It is about treason to the United States and them making war on this country. If you see it as representing your "heritage" then your "Heritage" is all about TREASON; not anything that is at all heroic.
Heritage, slavery, prejudice, state's rights, symbol of the South - all don't matter, It is about treason to the United States and them making war on this country. If you see it as representing your "heritage" then your "Heritage" is all about TREASON; not anything that is at all heroic.
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To me it symbolizes rebellion. They were brothers fighting brothers. The darkest part of our history. It should not be flown without the US flag at the bare minimum.
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I have deep-rooted love for the CSA and what it represented. Many, many people will argue to no end about the causes of the US Civil War without knowing anything about events that led up to the armed conflict. To me, the war was about a states' right to nullify federal laws that a state's leaders felt were bad for a largely rural South. The abolition of slavery became a tactical position that was taken by the leaders of the Union to create chaos in the "states in a state of rebellion." Slavery was wrong. But it occurred over 150 years ago.
All that being said, the Battle Standard of the Army of Northern Virginia (most people couldn't pick a real CSA flag out of a line-up) remains a divisive symbol. ANY SYMBOL that stands in contrary to the good order, dicipline, and cohesion of a fighting unit should be strictly prohibited by leadership. Same should apply across the board. CSA memorabilia, Black Power regalia, White Power regalia, Mexican flags, African Flags, Crusaders Flags, etc. (Don't read into what I included or excluded in that last statement. Really! Don't be a Sally Sue.) Remember...we are in the business of winning wars not popularity contests.
All that being said, the Battle Standard of the Army of Northern Virginia (most people couldn't pick a real CSA flag out of a line-up) remains a divisive symbol. ANY SYMBOL that stands in contrary to the good order, dicipline, and cohesion of a fighting unit should be strictly prohibited by leadership. Same should apply across the board. CSA memorabilia, Black Power regalia, White Power regalia, Mexican flags, African Flags, Crusaders Flags, etc. (Don't read into what I included or excluded in that last statement. Really! Don't be a Sally Sue.) Remember...we are in the business of winning wars not popularity contests.
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MSgt (Join to see)
Read the cessation documents written by the southern states. That pretty much spells out what they were concerned about. Take note of the first reason almost every one declares. This does not forgive the North of their abduction of resources from the South, but it didn't seem to be first on the minds of the Southern states declarations.
https://www.civilwar.org/learn/primary-sources/declaration-causes-seceding-states
https://www.civilwar.org/learn/primary-sources/declaration-causes-seceding-states
The Declaration of Causes of Seceding States | Civil War Trust
The Declaration of Causes made by Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas.
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I will ever only hoist one flag on a pole above my head. She is beautiful, she is 13 stripes red and white with a field of blue and white stars. No other is worthy of my effort.
This flag has only been used by the Klan, by those in opposition of segregation, those against equal rights and finally by those who honor the South's willingness to stand up and rebel against what they believed to be an oppressive government. This flag was never carried into battle against the north. The Northern Virginia battle flag was "square." Today however, I think the majority of people who wave it are simply proud of their Southern heritage. Still there are a great many people who wave this flag with respect to racism. So, I don't get why peaceful caring people would want to associate themselves with the same flag carried by the Klan and those who oppose equality.
So, my personal opinion is that,
When this flag was square and used as a battle flag, it lost.
When it opposed the 14th & 15th amendment in 1868, it lost.
When opposition carried this flag in opposition of segregation in 1954 & 1964, it lost.
The Klan carried this flag for many year and they are but a memory today, They lost.
So, in my view anyone who carries this flag is a loser. History proves it.
I just giggle to myself when I see losers waving it.
Still, I get how some people see it as every thing good about the South. Why choose such a historical symbol of hatred to represent you? I don't get it.
The swastika was original a sign of peace and good fortune in many cultures around the world. Yet today, we can only see it for how it represented German Imperialism in the late 1930 and early 1940s. So, which emblem is worse? And why does any symbol have to have one meaning to everyone.
https://aratta.wordpress.com/the-history-of-the-swastika/
This flag has only been used by the Klan, by those in opposition of segregation, those against equal rights and finally by those who honor the South's willingness to stand up and rebel against what they believed to be an oppressive government. This flag was never carried into battle against the north. The Northern Virginia battle flag was "square." Today however, I think the majority of people who wave it are simply proud of their Southern heritage. Still there are a great many people who wave this flag with respect to racism. So, I don't get why peaceful caring people would want to associate themselves with the same flag carried by the Klan and those who oppose equality.
So, my personal opinion is that,
When this flag was square and used as a battle flag, it lost.
When it opposed the 14th & 15th amendment in 1868, it lost.
When opposition carried this flag in opposition of segregation in 1954 & 1964, it lost.
The Klan carried this flag for many year and they are but a memory today, They lost.
So, in my view anyone who carries this flag is a loser. History proves it.
I just giggle to myself when I see losers waving it.
Still, I get how some people see it as every thing good about the South. Why choose such a historical symbol of hatred to represent you? I don't get it.
The swastika was original a sign of peace and good fortune in many cultures around the world. Yet today, we can only see it for how it represented German Imperialism in the late 1930 and early 1940s. So, which emblem is worse? And why does any symbol have to have one meaning to everyone.
https://aratta.wordpress.com/the-history-of-the-swastika/
The earliest swastika known has been found in Mezine, Ukraine. It is carved on late paleolithic figurine of mammoth ivory, being dated as early as about 10,000 BC. It has been suggested this swasti…
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MSgt (Join to see)
GySgt Stephen Anderson - Why are you telling me the Nazis aren't the only ones who used the swastika? I way more than wrote and proved that.
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MSgt (Join to see)
GySgt Stephen Anderson - Would have been better understood had you liked my comment. Sorry, I misunderstood.
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