I think I have made myself very clear throughout my time on CF just how I feel about the American flag and about America itself. I have made a point to express my personal opinion that I think the American flag and the Confederate flag both represent racism and oppression of minorities. In fact, I have a personal distaste for the Confederate flag as I do for the American flag. I have also made it a point to express my personal opinion that I think the people who oppose the Confederate flag aren't being consistent in their arguments against it. If I may, I will further explain my reasons why.
The Confederate States of America only had legalized slavery for four years of its entire existence, but the United States of America had legalized slavery for 89 years until slavery was abolished by the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865. The descendants of freed slaves were then denied freedom, liberty, justice, and equality to white people for the next 99 years until the Civil Rights Movement in 1964.
The United States of America spent 188 years of its entire existence denying black people freedom, liberty, justice and equality to white people. America had the 3/5th Compromise and slavery for 89 years VERSUS the Confederate States of America having slavery for the four years of its existence.
In the United States of America, black people were lynched and hung from trees. They had to sit at the back of the public bus and were legally required to give up their seat to a white person. They were not allowed to eat at the same counter as white people in a public restaurant or use the same public restroom as white people or use the same drinking fountain as white people. Black children were not allowed to go to school with white children until the Supreme Court intervened with the landmark Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. It took another three years and the presence of the National Guard before black children were finally allowed to attend public schools with white children.
In United States of America, "No Colored" signs, "No Mexicans" signs, "No Indians and dogs" signs, and "Whites Only" signs once dawned public stores and public restaurants. Black people were legally segregated from white people during the era of the Jim Crow laws. Black people were also denied the right to vote until the Voting Rights Act in 1965. It's only been 55 years since black people and other minorities have had civil rights and equality to white people and America is 243 years old.
The United States of America, unlike the Confederate States of America, has claimed to have been founded upon freedom, liberty and justice for all. America also has within in its own Declaration of Independence that all men are created equal and they are endowed by the Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
The Confederate States of America never claimed to be founded upon freedom, liberty and justice for all. The Confederate States of America never claimed to be the land of the free and home of the brave.
In conclusion, far more atrocities against black people (and other minorities) were committed under the American flag than under the Confederate flag. I think if a person is going to be morally indignant about the Confederate flag because they believe it represents slavery, racial hatred and racism against black people, then they should extend their moral indignation to the American flag because America is far more guilty of slavery, racial hatred and racism against black people (and other minorities).
