Originally Posted by
Giacomo 1
I have been deeply troubled by all this talk about the Confederate Flag at a time when we should be celebrating the testimony of those beautiful Christians that were so quick to forgive the murdering terrorist. At this time, that is what we should be talking about. These wonderful martyrs aren't even buried yet, but we talk about this flag as if it is the most important issue arising from this heinous crime.
What has happened to this once great Christian land, that at one time was unafraid to talk openly of their Christian heritage? That openly spoke about God in the public square? That often and openly invoked God in speeches? These days, we can't even honor the loss of these great martyrs, and celebrate the great testimony of the survivors without interference of some ancillary issue, like this flag. I find it deplorable and deeply troubling. It is a terrible sign for our times, that at a time when ISIS, in the name of religion, is drowning, burning and cutting off the heads of people, that we should be showing the world that Christianity is love, not hatred, yet our media, our President and the national debate is silent on the good that God brings out of this tragedy.
There should be a discussion on the matter of this flag, but it should be at a more appropriate time. First we need to mourn this loss of beautiful life, and we need to celebrate the beauty of Christianity, which was once the glue that held our wonderful country together...
Christians can celebrate the beauty of Christianity, but given that this nation's secularism is enshrined in the constitution and federal law, I don't think it's a good idea to reference "this christian land" and encompass the nation as a whole with that language.
Originally Posted by
Cyclosaurus
Oh please. The civil war was first, foremost, and almost completely about slavery. It's a cliched pseudo-smart thing to say that "the civil war was about states' rights, not slavery". The states' rights issues you refer to were about 1) whether slaveowners from slave states could take their slaves to free states and not lose their "property", and 2) the right to secede because their slave-based economic system was threatened. In other words, "states' rights" was just a way to create a rallying cry for pro-slavery forces.
This. I was shocked when I moved to the South (ironically, from further south in Miami to Virginia) to hear how many people willingly and quickly downplay the role that slavery played in the war. You can talk around it as much as you want and pretend your great-great-great grandfather didn't own slaves, but the inescapable fact is that, were it not for slavery, the South would not have seceded and the war would not have occurred.
Anyway, good points on the sybolism of statues vs. the flag. I just hope our little group of nutters that parade around every Saturday carrying their dixie flags next to the Museum of Fine Arts decide to avoid the world championships.
This guy has been counter-protesting for a year or so now, kinda funny to see it in action when I ride past-
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