Comments on: Don’t you see what life here has done to me?

By: James

James — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:23:59 +0000

Yes the ol’ Georgia flag the one most old school Georgians remember as “their” state flag. Yes I do agree the battle emblem does have divisive meaning or undertones, but in reality it is a symbol of what the South WAS. It is shameful to disgrace it like they have and not think of the losses many men died under that flag. Not to solely continue on with slavery, as slavery is not the real reason for the civil war. Yes slavery was an institution that kept the south’s agriculture going…was there a better way, yes…but at that time slavery was the way, not to own a person, but to make a living as we do today working for “the man”. We just get paid and have rights now. So, to disgrace the battle emblem and shun it from public is disgracing those men and women who died for what they believed in, right or wrong..they fought the American DREAM, to them it was there way of life. As we know things have changed, the NORTH is no longer what it was and the south has become some other kind of monster…If we are to get past slavery, it was wrong, I totally agree, but to fly that flag in your yard is not a sign of negativity, nor racism nor ignorance, it is a sign of respect to the fallen who died on that hollowed ground you call HOME.

By: blues

blues — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 15:08:15 +0000

I don’t know.

I guess I have similar feelings towards it than when I see a Nazi symbol. I know that at one point the symbol meant many positive things that didn’t include hatred in it. But still…

As to PCness, I get the feeling of the relaxed sense being abroad, I feel it too here and it used to shock me how innocently Spanish people would talk about the ‘negroes’ or the ‘china man’. On the other hand, PCness often educates a population, albeit forcefully and makes them feel socially ashamed of being verbally hateful and I don’t see that as always a bad thing. In my parents time, you could get away with saying really ugly shit and no one blinked an eye. I like the fact that when my parents talk like openly that my sisters and I lecture them for it. It’s not acceptable and I’m the first to get all PC on their asses.

I actually kind of flipped the hell out when I was home. I was in the with my parents for just a little too long and I had just had it with the never ending talk about the Mexicans draining the economy and the lazy blacks on welfare and the (fill in the blank with anything except a hard-working white male harming our good christian country) and I just lost it. I told them that I just couldn’t stand to listen to them any longer that I was so sorry they lived their lives with that much hatred inside them and that I really honestly pitied them because the world was a much more beautiful place than they were making of it and if they would open up their fucking eyes they would see how much they have in common with the rest of the people they have to share the planet with. I later had to apologize for yelling. Sorry, kinda went off on a tangent but I’m sure my parents think I’m the most annoying PC freak ever.
blues´s last blog ..Gum and Madge

By: Gypsy

Gypsy — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:16:16 +0000

I think you mean the War of Northern Aggression.
Gypsy´s last blog ..When you’re chewing on life’s gristle, don’t grumble, give a whistle

By: mjrc

mjrc — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 20:55:37 +0000

i’m a little late chiming in here, too, but i have to say a couple of things.

first, i agree with april about the similarities to the symbolism the swastika holds for nazi germany and the confederate flag to racism. you can’t separate the two, not anymore, not without a dissertation to explain it. it’s a flag, it’s a symbol, it speaks without language and it means something awful to a lot of people.

for example, i live near an historically black university in pennsylvania and on election day there were hundreds of students lined up to vote at the local polling place. while they were waiting in line, pick-up trucks flying huge confederate flags drove by numerous times. i don’t think they were flying the flag to represent states’ rights or whatever else you might intellectually associate with the confederate flag. they were flying it in the faces of the young black voters for only one reason: to be racists.

also re: “the help,” it is a wonderful book. the really startling thing for me to think about is that jim crow laws were in effect as recently as 40+ years ago. institutionalized racism was the law of the land and even though 40 years sounds like a long time, attitudes and feelings don’t always change that quickly, especially if they’re being perpetuated in your home and family. joe wilson is from south carolina, the state that proudly elected an avowed segregationist to the u.s. senate for 7 terms. you don’t escape that kind of racism very easily.

so although i certainly don’t think that you are a racist or a redneck or, god forbid, a republican (j/k), i do think the flag represents more than you can argue away, no matter how factually and historically you try.
mjrc´s last blog ..I May Have Been a Drummer in a Previous Life

By: arizaphale

arizaphale — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 13:10:41 +0000

I miss all the good debates lately….
I will say this belatedly however; sometimes at school I will ask one of my African kids something about their culture or one of my multi-national care group about the attitudes of their culture with respect to an issue…and I get gasps of horror from (mostly) year 9s who stare at me aghast,”You can’t ask that! That’s racist!!!”
Political correctness gone mad.
arizaphale´s last blog ..Quilt Update!

By: Noble Savage

Noble Savage — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:43:23 +0000

You know what’s funny? I knew that YOU knew I’d call you out on it too. I almost didn’t, just to confuse you, but you know I can’t resist a little ol’ argument.

I don’t think you’re ‘that guy’, I was just tossing out a possible explanation for why some people might embrace symbols of things that, in practice and in theory, they abhor (like racism, sexism, etc..) and I wondered if it might have a deeper meaning for you.I also suggested that if you just like it despite its negative connotations then that’s your prerogative. All I ask is that you don’t blame “political correctness” when the people whom that symbol hurts are offended by its display.
Noble Savage´s last blog ..Mother-to-mother (in-law)

By: admin

admin — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 05:22:40 +0000

Rassles – There isn’t much to love in Indiana. I hate Texas.

Monty – There are lots of terms I can’t use at work. Let’s not get into that, though.

Jud – Who argues benevolent slavery in the 21st century? Anyone who does really is a racist.

NS – Wow. When I was writing this I knew you wouldn’t like what I was saying. Seriously, I said to myself, “Noble Savage is going to rip into me for this”. But “represents your frustration at the ever-changing world and your confusion about your place in it now that white-male-straight privilege is being challenged (which are very valid concerns for white, straight men), explore that…”

Really? Do I come off as that guy? I’ve got no confusion about my place in the world. Not a single bit. What you’ve got to consider is that I’ve come to age in a world in which the white-straight-male privilege is being challenged and it is just the status quo. I know that if I’m up for a job and there is an equally qualified minority or female applicant up for the same job I won’t get it. That’s OK. I’m down with reparations. I’m doing just fine.

I just like the bloody flag.

Jane – Glad to see a new reader. Especially one who agrees with me

Courtney – I don’t like your analogy, but I take your point.

HIF – Wow, ‘Bama produces literate graduates?

Jessica – No, absolutely most people fly it for some sort of ‘Southern pride’.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:55:37 +0000

I went to college in Louisiana in the 80’s. Racism was a live and well at that time, I can tell you that. You have a good point about keeping the flag up to remind people but there is a part of me that doesn’t believe that is the reason why they fly it but rather as a way to maintain their “southern pride” and sometimes as a racist statement. It’s hard to know but I honestly don’t think it does anything to remind those who fly it about their heritage as far as the slaves go.
Jessica´s last blog ..DING DUNG, DING DUNG

By: Here In Franklin

Here In Franklin — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:19:31 +0000

The author is Kathryn Stockett, who, despite the fact that she is a graduate of the University of Alabama, has written a wonderful book.
Here In Franklin´s last blog ..What About Those Birthday Cards?

By: courtney

courtney — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:51:34 +0000

Late to the party here, so it seems everyone has already written what I was going to say. I was not sorry to see the stars and bars go. That flag is rooted in nothing but racism, it was not around during the Civil War, it is not an accurate representation of the South, and it didn’t need to be the Georgia state flag. It’s a symbol of hate. Keeping it as the state flag would be akin to Germany keeping a swastika on its flag.

I do agree that one can differ politically from Obama without being a racist. I like the guy, but I don’t agree with him 100% of the time. Does that mean I’m all for racial harmony when I agree with him and I’m a racist when I don’t? No. Racism is a big part of American history, sure, and there’s still plenty of it around today, but it’s become a witch hunt.
courtney´s last blog ..Late For A Very Important State (Of Mind)