This will certainly trigger most of you because y'all are not accustomed to thinking freely and considering ideas outside your dogma. Truthfully, just the sight of this flag has probably already triggered half of you. But what the hell, let's do a thought experiment, kids...
If the "N" word can be repurposed from the horrible racist slur that it is to a term of endearment by newer generations of black youths, is it at least possible that young southerners aren't using the #confederateflag as an open confession of racism?
And now I'll provide the 10,000 caveats required whenever one actually has an open mind and muses aloud about issues.
I, personally, would never display this flag because it does carry an extraordinary amount of symbolic pain that is rightly associated with this flag. And since I'm a fairly nice guy and have respect for other's opinions and feelings, I am accommodating in that way. I reserve the "Grow a sack" responses for the American flag.
I think that we can all agree that it is maddening that the swastika was placed off-limits because of its use by the Nazis. The Jains, Hindus, Buddhists, and anyone else who used this as a meaningful symbol in the past have had it forever stolen from them. Similarly, because of its use as a symbol for the KKK and white supremacists, I can understand the pangs of 'wtf' that someone might have associated with seeing the Confederate flag displayed.
But the left is equally as guilty on such matters. The difference is that the media just looks the other way because they are either cheerleading on behalf of or are quietly supportive of the left's agenda. "How so," you ask. Anyone walking around with a hammer and sickle, Mao or Che t-shirt is guilty of the same indecency or worse. In the case of Mao, millions were slaughtered in the name of socialism. And Che was a cold-blooded murderer. None of these traits should be aspirational but should we immediately assume that the wearer is broadcasting their love of slaughter and genocide?
But the left poo-poos the atrocities as minor inconveniences and cranes to see some thin sliver of shared ideology to justify their symbolic insolence. Why don't they do this with the southern cross? Because anyone they agree with gets the benefit of the doubt and all others are imputed the worst possible motives.
If a Che shirt is ok, would a Chauvin shirt be equally ok? Would you be satisfied with excuse-making like, "Well, he was for law and order. And I like that part but not those icky parts." I doubt it.
As for whether it should be displayed on government buildings, I say no. Just like I don't want a Christian flag atop the capitol, I don't want this either. Sure, Christianity was largely responsible for the formulation and implementation of many of the better aspects of the American political system, but I don't want the government facilities to be hijacked by any group. So keep the flags, rainbow spotlighting, and all other issue related expressions at your church, club, house, or wherever.
All things considered, I am sympathetic to those who would like to relegate the Confederate flag to museums. But if you want to fly it at your house or from your pickup, have at it - 1A says you can. And if you want to wear a Che t-shirt, giddyup. In both cases, you are sending purposeful messages and I am gleaning a snippet of insight about what you believe. I might wonder about such choices, but I'll carefully place that puzzle piece in the larger milieu of your life and behaviors and not dismiss you offhand as a racist or a murderous butcher.
I hope that everyone else will do the same.
