Americans, do you think displaying the confederate flag should be illegal?

[Anonymous]

Americans, do you think displaying the confederate flag should be illegal?

Yes

No

Not sure

[Curmudgeon]

An instance of Copyright vs. Public Domain come to mind: "Heritage Not Hate" vs. neo-Nazi groups.

Great attempts were made by Civil War re-enactors, historians, and other Southern USA heritage groups to take legal action against Neo-Nazis or other nogoodniks using the "Stars and Bars" or the "X Cross Battle Flag", which, incidentally, are not the same.

The Courts have ruled, sadly but quite correctly, that such flags are in the Public Domain now and no one owns the rights to them.

[monorprise]

@Curmudgeon We really shouldn't be in the business of trying to keep others from saying what they want but rather remembering what it is. The NAZI's for example have no exclusive claim to the swastika, why then is the symbol condemn when it is clearly used for an entirely different propose?

The confederate flag is of a great deal of historical importance to theses united States and in particular the 11 southern states that fought the most costly conflict of their history under it.
Today the battle flag (not so much the confederate flag) represent the unique cultural sprite of the region.
This is the clear meaning of theses symbols for the vast majority in the south who uses them. That so many lie about it and try to ban is really just an attack upon them.

[richardcory]

I support the right for people to fly any flags or other symbols they want on their own property. I'm OK with there being some restrictions on what can be shown on public property as long as those restrictions can be created in an unbiased way (which is difficult).

I don't want nazi or USSR flags on public property, but I can't think of a good way to prevent that.

In general when there is any doubt I'm in favor of free speech, even if its extremely offensive

[BootsLover94]

On public grounds yes it should be illegal like at government buildings

People should have the right to fly it at their homes. Also, it helps me to know who to ignore lol

[Agape93]

Nope. Freedom of speech and expression doesn't mean you have to like or agree

[Grovermint]

To do so would be a slippery slope. Where would it end? Symbols only have the meaning we choose to invest in them. Banning something on the grounds that it's "offensive" to certain people or a "symbol of racism/hate/oppression/treason", there are a whole lot of other things we would also have to ban. There's also states that have symbols of the Confederacy in part of their flags. Alabama features the cross of St. Andrew, one of the more distinctive features of the Confederate battle flag. Arkansas' features four stars, with the fourth added in 1923 to represent the Confederacy. Florida mimics Alabama. Georgia has the Stars and Bars, which features the flag used from November 28, 1861 – May 1, 1863. Mississippi still incorporates the Confederate battle flag.

[Lliam]

No. Only liberals who disdain the traditions and opinions of others and support totalitarianism would say yes.
People should read some history and learn what the Civil War was really about, who were the aggressors, and who defied the constitution. Hint: It wasn't about slavery. And secession wasn't prohibited by the Constitution.

[Drewtate]

No. Its part of southern culture. Are we going to ban the stars and stripes, are we going to tear down statues of the founding fathers?

[Stacey55666]

No I think it should largely be ignored like Biden. Making a big deal about it only encourages people to fly it.

[Anonymous]

Of course not. People criticizing the confederate flag shows us which of our neighbors are idiots.

[Varanus]

No, it's helpful for quickly recognizing and avoiding douchebags.

[GodsPinkyToe]

No. Not unless I can make the LGBT flag illegal, because it's far more offensive to me.

[SmokinAces2000]

No but I do think it’s funny that the people who fly it are the same ones who claim to be patriots even though they are supporting a flag that represents traitors of the United States.

[Anonymous]

No I think it should largely be ignored like trump. Making a big deal about it only encourages people to fly it.

[KostasKouvalis]

You mean THIS one?

[exitseven]

The last time I checked we still had freedom of expression.

[pethouse]

No, tho I do not agree with waving the confederate, flag it’s still a right of freedom of speech.

[Anonymous]

Of course not. That flag tells us which of our neighbors are idiots.

[LiamJHayden]

Nope, but then I'm not a totalitarian.

[gorydetails]

No American would say 'yes'.

[Snakeyes7]

You'd be a moron but yes.

[Snakeyes7]

* but no

[OddBeMe]

It should be looked down on, but not illegal.

[BigDog1989]

Yeah