Confarned Confederate Flag!

Joe Biden (D-DE), looking to gain some points with the Dem base saying about the Confederate Flag flying on South Carolina's State House grounds,

"If I were a state legislator, I'd vote for it to move off the grounds -- out of the state."

I've never really been too worked up about the "Confederate Flag" debate. My personal feeling is that if the people of SC are offended, they should speak up. Most of the talking seems to come from out of staters, and I do understand why. Lot's of people associate that flag with hatred (including lots of those who support keeping it). However, and just to clarify, the flag that everyone's talking about is not the "Confederate" flag. What most people incorrectly call The "Stars and Bars" (made famous by the Dukes of Hazzard, and is the picture on the right) is actually the battle flag of the Confederacy and was nicknamed the "Stainless Banner." Back in the day "Stars and Bars" referred to the actual "National Flag" of the CSA and is the flag on the left.

Here's my issue. The battle flag of the Confederacy is an open sign of rebellion, of violence against the state. Its also a symbol of division and a flag under which many people killed and died in an effort to forcibly divide the Union. Being a proud southern man, I understand and fully buy into the notion of "southern pride" and do think the South is different, in a good way. But, I do think its odd to fly the battle flag on the state grounds. I believe that history is key, and that many good people fought in the War of Northern Aggression and to deny the honor of those individuals is a disservice to them, their families, and the collective history of the nation.

But...that very flag has become a symbol to those who share nothing with Southern soldiers. The KKK, White Supremacists and other bigots have absolutely nothing in common with the great General Lee, Stonewall Jackson, or Ranger Mosby (a personal fav). Sometimes symbols are corrupted, words can change meaning (think "gay"), and perception becomes reality.

Thus I suggest that SC fly the actual national flag of the Confederacy at the memorial. It honors the soldiers, keeps history alive, educates folks, yet doesn't suggest that violent hostility towards the Nation is good, and it doesn't give the KKK and WS' anything to brag about.

Finally, and I know this is a long post so I'll keep it short, SC has a great Revolutionary history, and this is reflected in SC's actual state flag. Too bad this flap about the "Confederate Flag" makes it seem like SC's claim to fame is the Civil War.