meaning behind the confederate flag?
80002
I agree with the above poster,  that there are black and whites in the south who have that as something that represents "this is us this is a symbol of the south".\n\nI think some people use it to denote their membership in white supremecist groups.\n\nFrom the perspective of the pride thing it's no different than when people whose ancestors are from Ireland having the Irish flag.  While southerners or Irish Americans love America there is still like you said, a pride in that from which we came.\n\nSo in essense, outside of the racist thing, it just means this was where we came from at a time and place, and our ancestors were part of that group of people.
1110010
There was no one flag of the short lived Confederate States of America.\n\nThe first unofficial one was the "Bonnie Blue", which originated with the truly short lived Republic of West Florida. I believed that it lasted for a month and a day in 1810. This flag was popularized by the song, The Bonnie Blue Flag, which called for states rights and was one of the three most popular songs of the civil war in the south.\n\nThe first National Confederate Flag was called the "Stars and Bars", said to resemble the Austrian flag. It was designed by Nicola Marschall of Marion, AL, at the suggestion of Mrs. Napoleon Lockett of the place. Adopted by the Confederate Congress, March 4, 1861, and raised that day by Miss Letitia Tyler, grand-daughter of former U.S. President John Tyler . It was a horizonal tri-color red, white, red, with a blue canton containing a varying number of stars, ranging from 7 (the original members) to 15, including 11 members, 2 states that had representatives in both congresses, namely Missouri and Kentucky, and 2 representing those states which despite occupation by the federals, rallied to the cause of Southern independence. Most common were 11. Due to it's similarity to the Federal flag, it was one of the factors that led to the death of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson by his own troops.\n\nThe Second Confederate Flag, also called the "Stainless" banner had the Southern Cross as a canton (blue St-Andrew's cross saltire) on a red field. The cross was said to be due to the Scottish ancestry of many Southerners and the popularity of "Ivanhoe" and other novels by Sir Walter Scott. It served for most of the war as the National Flag of the Confederacy. Due to the large expanse of white, it was difficult to see at sea and could be confused for a flag of truce.\n\nFor the last several months of the war it was modified by the addition of a red vertical stripe on the fly. This was called the Third Confederate Flag or Last Confederate Flag. The canton was a Naval Jack. In a square design, with a pink, orange and finally white 2" border, it was used by the Army of Northern Virginia, the main army of the South, led by Robert E. Lee, as a cavalry, artillery and infantry battle flag, depending on size (39",45" or 51" square). This would have been the one that saw the most use as it was employed by the largest number of units and involved in the largest number of battles. The pink and orange borders used bunting captured at the naval yard in Norfolk. Upon production of material in the South, white was used. One of the first two flags given to General Lee was sewn by two sisters from Alexander, Va. The other was sewn by their cousin, a Miss Carey in occupied territory (Baltimore, Md).\n\nIn a 3' x 5' shape, the Naval Jack was used by the Army of Tennessee, one of the main forces in the Western field of operations. The Stars and Bars with 18 stars (13 white representing the 13 states and 5 red, representing the five civilized nations - Indians that fought for the confederacy) was the last one to be used in the field by the last Confederate General to surrender with the Cherokee brigade.\n \nIn Montgomery, in 1931, a marble tablet was dedicated at the capitol building, commemorating the raising of the first Confederate flag. It reads:\n"From the dome of this Building, the First Capital, floated the First Flag of the Confederacy, known as the 'Stars and Bars' designed by Nicola Marschall of Marion, AL, at the suggestion of Mrs. Napoleon Lockett of the place. Adopted by the Confederate Congress, March 4, 1861, and raised that day by Miss Letitia Tyler, grand-daughter of former U.S. President John Tyler."\n\nThis monument, in front of the Perry County Courthouse, reads:\nIn Honor of Nicola Marschall\n1829-1917\nWho designed at Marion, Ala. \nthe Stars and Bars \nfirst official flag adopted \nby the Confederate \nStates of America, at\nMo
573366
Although, I AM one to "uphold" heritage , reinstating that flag would cause enormous racial problem's. In the eye's of African-Americans, that flag represents hatred, hanging's, brutality, injustice, ETC ETC ETC.\n\nAs a true "Southern Gentleman/Lady", we must begin to understand that ,although, our heritage does include the "rebel flag", the Civil War is over! You can be proud of your southern upbringing, but to raise that flag is an effrontery to 1/4 of our American citizen's. And this will not do!\n\nAmerica is the "melting pot". It is time for all of us to start "melting".
812556
The meaning behind it is the context in which it is used. Black people say it with an "a" at the end. Basically claiming that it is something they turned into a term of endearment within the black community. \nThe n word does not mean that a black person was going to be raped, killed, or anything else. It means ignorant. Look it up in the dictionary. \nPersonally, I don't think anyone should say it, regardless to what color they are or what context they use it in.
1149706
a flag flown upside down in the U.S. originaly meant a sign of distress
135285
Today the flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, seven red alternating with 6 white. The stripes represent the original 13 colonies, the stars represent the 50 states of the Union. The colors of the flag are symbolic as well: Red symbolizes Hardiness and Valor, White symbolizes Purity and Innocence and Blue represents Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice.
1103890
NO.\n\nBecause the very idea that the flag symbolizes is the freedom to do what I want, say what I want, and protest what I want.
548406
Three 'Plus's' representing 1. The Native Americans: 2. The White Settlers: 3. The Black Slaves:  All now united under one flag.\n\nThree Crosses as on a voting paper: Representing: 1. Votes for women:  2.  Votes for Blacks:  3.  Votes for Gay rights (I don't agree with the last but go for it).\n\nThree crosses:  Two represent the punishment for two criminals:  The other for a convicted innocent man (Jesus - but do not mention Him).
1048827
What the word flag means, and what the acronym FLAG stand for can be found via the two sources listed below.\n\nHope it helps.
343132
The Confederate flag represents one thing: TREASON. Lincoln should've charged the leaders with treason, as the Constitution states, then we wouldn't have this problem. So much for being nice. Now they still wave the flag 150 years later. YOU LOST, GET OVER IT!!!!!
919188
It is a symbol ............. like the US Flag.  It is a representation of the "peoples".   And it is sacred.\n\n\nNative Pride!
900877
To me, it goes back to the Civil War, when the Confederacy was red and the Union was blue. In other words, Republicans(today, even though roles were reversed back then) are in many ways still like the Confederacy, pretty much all the states that were in the Confederacy are still Republican.
960607
I see nothing wrong with it.. it represents the South ... not slavery, not racism.. the South wanted to succeed from the United States and that is why they had the Civil War... the Confederate Flag represented the South in the Civil War-It's part of our history, and some people just like the way it looks.. it's not the Symbol of the US
640700
The bubba's are racist and homophobic.  I live in GA and our republican governor Sonny Perdue got elected because  he promised the rednecks they could vote to get the old flag back, which was offensive because it had the old Dixie flag on it.  He lied by the way and there never was a vote on changing the flag back.
355686
They mean this\n\n\nEver wonder why the flag is red, white, and blue? While the flag's colors did not have a specific meaning at the time, the colors were significant for the Great Seal of 1782. \n\nWhite: Signifies purity and innocence \nRed: Signifies valor and bravery \nBlue: Signifies Vigilance, perseverance, and justice \nWhy stars and stripes? Stars are considered a symbol of the heavens and the divine goal to which man has aspired from time immemorial; the stripe is symbolic of the rays of light emanating from the sun.\n\n\n\n\nOne another thought is that\n\n\n"The colors of the pales (the vertical stripes) are those used in the flag of the United States of America; White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & velour, and Blue, the color of the Chief (the broad band above the stripes) signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice
1081828
Hell no. The flag symbolizes our freedom - including the freedom to burn it if we want. Will they ban using it on clothes? How about letting it hang outside your house until it's tattered and faded? What about all those made in China magnetic ones on the backs of cars that are filthy dirty?\n\nThe flag burning amendmant is just a way for republicans to placate their rightist followers without doing anything.
494081
The flag is nothing but cloth and dye.  It is a symbol that's all.  Too many people make too big of a deal about it.  It has almost become idolatry.  It is like skin color.\n\nInstead of blindly defending or attacking symbols lets get to the heart of the issues; America has some "growing up" to do.      America can be better than it is toady, we have room to grow and mature.  We are not the BEST country in the world, but that is OK because we have the potential to be the best (or more concisely; we have room to be our best). But to do this we must choose better leadership, in fact we must all learn to be leaders, we must educate ourselves, we must get wise, etc.\n\nWe have been acting like idiots, but that's OK because we are young, but now that we know our mistakes we must stop repeating them.\n\nWe have so much potential.  I can't wait till these tough days come to an end and we finally live up to the pride we have in our flag.