3rd July 2008, 1:55 PM
Was that a parody or what?
Yeah, that was insane. Yes there were a number of economical and other factors that were part of the cause for civil war, but "it was about slavery" isn't just a blanket and glib description of it, it really was the main catalyst that led into things, and to say "hey, it was about our independence" while just sort of ignoring the clear racial hatred that sparked their anger over the ending of slavery (regardless of the economical impact ending it would have, I seriously don't care about that) is pretty callous. When the north was advertising freedom and the south was insistant on maintaining their "right" to decide if slavery should be legal or not, what do you THINK the slaves are going to see the confederate flag as a symbol for? Of COURSE the flag of the "nation" that insists on maintaining a barbaric practice is going to be associated with that same practice.
Oh, lovely "other people were eviler" argument. Right, and Stalin killed more people than Hitler. I love how people attempt to argue that people should not get so uptight about an attrocity because worse ones have been committed.
Notice that few are arguing that the confederate flag should be outright banned. Peaceful protesting and foaming rants about that flag are just as protected by freedom of speech as your right to hang that symbol up. Freedom of speech is not freedom FROM criticism. If anything the right to criticize others for their opinions is one of the main reasons we have freedom of speech.
Want to hang up that flag? Go ahead, show your misplaced (in my opinion) pride. However, don't suddenly start claiming discrimination and oppression when someone else starts criticizing you for it. You want discrimination and oppression? Try what black people have had to live with for generations, and THEN try to tell me with a straight face that people criticizing your choice in decor even comes close. Get physically attacked or barred from entering most public places, then you've got me on your side. Until then, I'll criticize your flag, and your attempts to defend it. I won't, however, say that you have "no right" to criticize the people criticizing you. I'll just say you have poorly reasoned arguments and play the discrimination card far too much for a claimed enemy of "political correctness".
Yeah, that was insane. Yes there were a number of economical and other factors that were part of the cause for civil war, but "it was about slavery" isn't just a blanket and glib description of it, it really was the main catalyst that led into things, and to say "hey, it was about our independence" while just sort of ignoring the clear racial hatred that sparked their anger over the ending of slavery (regardless of the economical impact ending it would have, I seriously don't care about that) is pretty callous. When the north was advertising freedom and the south was insistant on maintaining their "right" to decide if slavery should be legal or not, what do you THINK the slaves are going to see the confederate flag as a symbol for? Of COURSE the flag of the "nation" that insists on maintaining a barbaric practice is going to be associated with that same practice.
Oh, lovely "other people were eviler" argument. Right, and Stalin killed more people than Hitler. I love how people attempt to argue that people should not get so uptight about an attrocity because worse ones have been committed.
Notice that few are arguing that the confederate flag should be outright banned. Peaceful protesting and foaming rants about that flag are just as protected by freedom of speech as your right to hang that symbol up. Freedom of speech is not freedom FROM criticism. If anything the right to criticize others for their opinions is one of the main reasons we have freedom of speech.
Want to hang up that flag? Go ahead, show your misplaced (in my opinion) pride. However, don't suddenly start claiming discrimination and oppression when someone else starts criticizing you for it. You want discrimination and oppression? Try what black people have had to live with for generations, and THEN try to tell me with a straight face that people criticizing your choice in decor even comes close. Get physically attacked or barred from entering most public places, then you've got me on your side. Until then, I'll criticize your flag, and your attempts to defend it. I won't, however, say that you have "no right" to criticize the people criticizing you. I'll just say you have poorly reasoned arguments and play the discrimination card far too much for a claimed enemy of "political correctness".
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ~ Charles Babbage (1791-1871)