I've heard many people say that the Northern Virginia Battle Flag ("Confederate Flag") represents "Southern Heritage". But does it really? Because 40% of the population of the South opposed the cessation of the Southern States from the Union. The reason that such a sizeable portion of the population of the South didn't influence the decision to secede was because they were denied a say is because they were held in human bondage. But nonetheless they were inhabitants of the American deep south as were the white inhabitants.Now you could argue that the majority of the South was white and the majority of the overall population did support separation from the Union. Well, not all southern white's supported cessation so if you polled the entire population of the States that comprised the CSA (white and black residents) I would guess that you would've had between between 45% and 55% of the population in support of cessation. But in order to say that a movement represents the will of the people inhabiting a region, I would argue that a 'super-majority' would have had to be behind it (i. e. at least 2 supporters for every 1 opponent) and this was not the case for the population of the south and the CSA.Southerners fighting for the Union.So when people talk about 'Southern history', it should be inclusive to the entire population of the southern US within the time-frame that you're referring to. If you want to subdivide it along racial lines but then at least own your shit and call it "white southern history". Unfortunately we see this disgusting mindset manifest in other ways:
Is the Army of Northern Virginia Battle Flag a symbol of "Southern Heritage" or white southern heritage?
I know others might be more then that for others and does cause a emotional response from some. But my response to it and many other things is simply a shrug of my shoulders. Mostly because I don't want to get caught up the endless cycle and never ending argument taking a stance on ether side of the debate about it. Because the more you push against something, the more people embrace it. The more you embrace something the more people will push against it.
So you end up with this never ending back and forth that both sides of the given debate simply cause to grow. Both sides also more or less ensure the entire debate will only continue when they participate in the debate over it. In a lot of ways it's is a lot like the many other never ending debates.
You can look at a lot of debates on political, religious and social issues that have been raging for many generations that have no real chance of ever stopping. So my response is to simply not participate or choose a side. I know some people hate people that make such a choice. But free will gives me the ability to do and in general like many things being willing to agree to disagree is the best way to handle it. Simply because it's the one and only way to ensure the debate keeps going.
I don't consider it "heritage" at all. But I am not here to tell folks how they should personally feel about the flag. The thing that gets me is pretending their emotional connection is objective fact.
Objective fact says the confederate states of america was a traitorous racist theocracy.
