Amazing Popularity of the Confederate Flag

Most of us are likely to recognize the Confederate battle flag as a symbol of the southern United States. Also referred to as the Southern Cross, this flag has some very strong associations. For some, these are positive, but for others, they’re quite negative. Some people see the Confederate flag as a proud symbol of the south, and an emblem of their heritage. Other people are likely to see it as a reminder of blue laws and segregation, as well as other racist institutions. A large number of extreme hate groups - more than five hundred by one count - also use this flag as a symbol. That makes the issue even more complicated.

There’s a common misperception that the battle flag was also the national flag. The truth is that it wasn’t even the primary battle flag. What we currently recognize as the Confederate flag is actually one of about a hundred and eighty different flags carried into battle on the southern side during the Civil War. Not only that, but the national flag of the confederacy changed several times, too. There were three different flags used by the Confederacy during this period. Some of the Confederate flags looked like the familiar Southern Cross. Others bore very little resemblance to it.

Display of the Confederate flag is a highly controversial issue for many people - it’s hard to get anyone to agree on exactly what it stands for. When flown, some will see it as an overt form of support for the organizations and racist practices that dominated the south for much of its history. However, other people will see the same flag as a sign of regional pride and acknowledgment of their past. Some, mostly outside the US, even use it as a general symbol of rebellion, divorced from the Civil War entirely.

Because of this mixed symbolism, displaying the Confederate flag at a sporting event, on a public building, or as part of a state flag is a big deal. This flag is very politically charged, and some people even see it as an attack. That’s why legislatures in the south have been struggling with the problem of the Confederate flag for almost twenty years now.

Many states still display this flag in some locations and on particular locations. It’s a good idea to remember that display of the Confederate flag, while politically charged, isn’t always a direct statement about race.

Display of the Confederate flag is, for many, a personal point of pride. That means that many displays of the flag aren’t done out of a racist motivation. There are some that do mean this, however, and if you’re thinking about displaying this flag, you should keep that in mind.

There’s a long history behind the Confederate flag, and it’s a point of pride for lots of people. That makes it a bad idea to dismiss it as merely a symbol of racism. This flag means a great deal to a large number of people. However, you should remember that there are lots of negative associations that go with this flag. No matter how you feel about it, everyone has a strong reaction.

The Confederate battle flag has a long history, and is still looked on with pride by many. That means that it shouldn’t be dismissed as a banner of racism. It’s a popular symbol that means a lot to many people. Just remember that there are negative associations, too, and that almost everyone reacts strongly to it when it’s on display.

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July 11 2008 | flags | No Comments »

Do You Know the History of Flag Day?

Flag Day is celebrated every June 14. As you might expect, there is an history behind the adoption of Flag Day. Read on for more about how this celebration came about in the ongoing story of Amercana.

Flag Day and Its History

On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress in Philadelphia passed a resolution which specified that the new country’s flag would have 13 stripes and 13 stars. The red represented valor, the white purity and the blue justice. An Act of Congress designating June 14 as Flag Day each year wasn’t passed until 1949. What transpired between these two dates?

In 1877, 100 years after the flag was adopted, Congress asked all public buildings to fly the flag on June 14 to commemorate that anniversary. They did, but it was a one-time thing, not something to be observed annually.

A Wisconsin schoolteacher, B.J. Cigrand, had his students celebrate June 14, 1885 as Flag Birthday. Four years later, a New York City kindergarten teacher, George Balch, planned a celebration of the flag with his students on June 14.

July 14, 1891 saw a Flag Day celebration at the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia and the next year, the Sons of the Revolution of New York celebrated Flag Day.

In April, 1893, the Colonial Dames of America adopted a resolution asking the mayor of Philadelphia and all its citizens to diplay the flag on Flag Day, June 14. The Superintendant of Public Schools in Philadelphia proclaimed that June 14 would be known as Flag Day and that all school children in the city would assemble for exercises. Each child received a small flag.

The governor of New York directed in 1894 that each year on June 14 all public buildings would display the American flag.

In 1916, a proclamation by President Woodrow Wilson established June 14 as a day to celebrate the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1877. Finally, on August 3, 1949, President Truman signed an Act of Congress directing that National Flag Day would be observed every year on June 14.

Since that time, flags have been flown on June 14 at public buildings and homes throughout the nation.

Pat McCarthy is an instructor for the Institute of Children’s Literature and the author of over a dozen books for children. Learn more about her books at her blog, http://www.PatMcCarthysAuthorBlog.blogspot.com

If you have a question about writing for children, e-mail Pat at patmcbirder@woh.rr.com More resources for children’s writers will soon be up on the blog.

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June 26 2008 | American Flags | No Comments »

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