Confederate Flag example essay topic

The issue of the Confederate flag has created one of our countries age long debates. It stems from its presence during the Civil War; where it represented the Confederate states, all of which supported slavery. According to many the Civil war was fought in order to end slavery in the United States, so accordingly, to those the flag represents a past of slavery that they would much rather forget. In opposition to those who feel this way about the Confederate flag, others see it as just a symbol of their Southern heritage whether they are ancestors of slaves, slave owners or sharecroppers; their heritage is the Confederate South. The Confederate Flag should be outlawed and not used as a symbol to represent a state because it has a modern association with white supremacist, presents no positive contribution to those of this country, and those who flaunt the flag have an attitude which is "backward-looking, rejecting the diversity and dynamism of this country".

(ABC News. com) The confederate flag should be outlawed because it has a modern association with white supremacist. White supremacist, are not an unorganized throng of individuals rather they are a political group known for being hateful to all those who are different from them, be it by race, religion, or even thought pattern. This group of individuals also feels that they are better than others just because of their skin color. White supremacist have a very narrow minded view on life in general and any symbol that represents them often offends others. The country, which we live in, is based on equality and a symbol of a group that does not believe in equality should not be used as a sign to identify a state.

The Confederate flag in essence represents a political party whose overall priority is "to totally subjugate and dehumanize those different from their selves". (Newsweek) Furthermore, the confederate flag presents no positive contribution to those living in this country. Those who fly the confederate flag are often regarded as showing support for racist principles and a hurtful past. Surely all those who fly the flag are not racist or intentionally have a desire to hurt those who they fortuitously offend, but in many cases they are perceived this way. The representation that those who fly the flag take on often does more to cause a problem than it does to unite those of this country. This country is built on the principle that all men are created equal and flying the confederate flag takes away from this principle by reminding many of a past which they would rather forget.

The Confederate flag not only represents the Civil war but it is also affiliated with the civil rights movement. The flag has an association with the civil rights movement because its popularity grew during 1960's and it served as a symbol to those who opposed the movement. The flag also does not have a positive contribution to Americas' youth. Just as miniskirts and gang paraphernalia cause a distraction to students clothing displaying the confederate flag "exploits bad feelings amongst ethnic groups and encourages clashes between them".

(AJC) Continuing, the flag rejects diversity in our country and those who flaunt the flag are seen as backward looking individuals who refuse to accept the diversity of the New South. By continuing to fly a flag that offends so many it is very difficult for those offended by the flag to have any interaction with those who fly the flag. Those who support such a divisive symbol undermine continuing efforts at integration and generate negative views of the South in the rest of the nation. Until these individuals began to realize that they are offending others by supporting their heritage, the nation will never be able to advance past a past that terrorized and impacted so many in a negative manner.

In conclusion, the Confederate flag should be outlawed and it should not be a symbol that represents one of our States. The flag is a symbol that represents many things. For those offended by it, it symbolizes pain and a daunted past. For those who support the flag it represents a heritage that they support and feel should not be forgotten. If our country ever wants to advance to a level where everyone treats everyone else with respect, we must learn to accept that fact that no one person is better than another.

As stated before the flag represents White supremacist and it has no positive contribution to the citizens of this country. For a symbol to not have any positive contribution to our country and cause the enormous negative impact that is has caused should be reason enough for the flag to be outlawed.