People waving Confederate flags in front of a statueA slave with scars from being whippedIt has become apparent in the wake of Charlottesville that there are those in this country who will relentlessly defend twisted ideologies. Take the Confederate flag as an example. Defiant supporters proudly fly the stars and bars, arguing that they symbolize Southern heritage. But we must ask ourselves: what does that heritage encompass? To all those who suffered and died because of it, the Confederate flag represents slavery, murder, insurrection, and treason. In that sense, the Confederate colors are just as evil as the sinister black flag of ISIS.

For descendants of slaves, the flag elicits images of a very different heritage than for white southerners. Generations of human beings treated like property, raped, made to work until death, and forced to endure unspeakable violence. Is that the kind of heritage we ought to be commemorating?

How many Germans proudly fly the Nazi flag as a symbol of their heritage? The answer speaks volumes.

Avenue for Reparations

So, what can be done to stop the unabashed worship of hateful imagery here in the U.S.? Well, here's one idea: grant ownership of such images to the ancestors of those who suffered under them. The numerous Confederate monuments and statues which sit on public property could be handed over to descendants of slaves to do with them what they please. Perhaps the statues could be assembled in a museum so the figures would no longer be idolized in the public square. Perhaps they could be destroyed in a televised ceremony, a final farewell to perverted relics of the past. Why not let the people decide?

Let's take it one step further: the ancestors of slaves could be granted exclusive rights to the Confederate flag thereby giving power over the image to people whose family history was irreparably impacted by it. Who better to own the flag than them?

Defeating Hate

The crimes of the Confederate States of America are well documented. They traitorously rebelled against the Union. They sanctioned the systematic rape, beating, and murder of innumerable black slaves. By refusing to release their grip on the institution of slavery, the South brought about the bloodiest war in American history more than 600,000 people died thanks to their hateful ideology. And yet their symbols are still glorified.

Seeing as this hate has bubbled to the surface once again, perhaps it's time we take drastic measures to contain the evil before it can spread. Your thoughts?

85 comments

  1. Rev Troy McLean's Avatar Rev Troy McLean

    I have to agree that hate is hate. But a flag is not hate. The flag that you argue over shows how shallow your faith is. The flag of the south had nothing to do with slavery, get your facts straight. It was about the rights if the states. Now look where this nation has gone. We all want the rights given to us by God, not other men. Seriously, I had family fight on the union side, was born in the south. I sent 28+ years in service of the nation. I still believe that everyone has their personal rights, even if it might be in constant to my believes.

    1. Joe Stutler's Avatar Joe Stutler

      Flags are but pieces of cloth. It is what the flag stands for that is the problem. When one flies the traitor loser's flag, one says "Look at me! I am a traitor against the United States! I support the ownership of my fellow human beings! My ideology lost more than a century and a half ago and still I persist in hating!!!" Yeah, feel free to enjoy the Right to speak such a vile message.

      1. Rev Troy McLean's Avatar Rev Troy McLean

        Joe, you have no sins, I assume. Since you seem to be doing Gods job of judgement. I do not fly that flag, I fly my US Flag that I served under. But, thank you for exposing your true nature. You do not understand the union of our nation.

        1. Joe Stutler's Avatar Joe Stutler

          You assume correctly; I have no sins, nor was I born with any. My faith tradition doesn't abide such silliness. I fly the flag under which I served, and which will drape my casket when I die. Flying the traitor loser's flag is antithetical to our nation's ideals. Apologists for the Confederacy are just as bad as those who still choose to fly the banner of hate.

          1. Rev. Rene's Avatar Rev. Rene

            Joe, please understand all the war was, was economics!! The north had industrial capacity to process cotton, the south only had plantations and tobacco. It was all because rich people wanted more, poor people had no choice but to fight AND DIE!!! Or starve??? Lousy choice, if you ask me, but pride has no place for most southerners, they were and are used!!!

        2. Stephanie Willey's Avatar Stephanie Willey

          Troy, you "... fly my US Flag that I served under.". What, exactly does your flag and your public display of your flag mean to you? And, thank you for your service.

      2. Paul's Avatar Paul

        Troy, your remarks protecting a flag of hate is ignorant... You too must be as ignorant as that flag

        1. Rev Troy McLean's Avatar Rev Troy McLean

          Paul, it is history. Hate is conquered by love. So, despite you think I am ignorant, and despite the fact you do not know me, I love you. When you use words that are hateful you fall into the trap of the devil. Chew on that.

      3. john's Avatar john

        Joe,

        Your remarks are rude and uneducated. If your heart is as big as you claim, perhaps there is room for truth as well. History is not your strong point, is it?

        Reparations for American blacks? What a phony excuse for a another racial shakedown. How about reparations for Vietnam veterans?

        1. John Owens's Avatar John Owens

          Hear! Hear! Reparations for Irish. Reparations for Scots. Reparations for Jews. All of it is bullshit. First, a person would have to prove lineage, then damages to the ancestor, then who is the guilty party, then where that guilty party's assets lie today. Not likely to ever happen, and most who believe in that are being led around like idiots by someone else. They have a vague idea that EVERYBODY who belongs to one ethnic group is just going to send a check EVERYBODY that belongs to another ethnic group. Pure stupidity. A few are actually just evil and know it will never happen and use talk of it to gain influence with the stupid.

    2. John Maher's Avatar John Maher

      TRUE it is NOT the FLAG,as it is NOT the BIBLE that STENCHES of HATE but the PEOPLE that WAVE it in that HATEFUL MANNER, KEEP YOUR FLAGS and YOUR BIBLE in the BASEMENT with the REST of YOUR TREASURES, END the HATE it KILLS, DUMP the IGNORAMUS COWARD CRIMINAL TRAITOR tRUMP, GOD is GREAT so is the US of A

    3. Rob Frizzell's Avatar Rob Frizzell

      The flag of the south? Are you you referring to the confederate battle flag which is flown at every KKK gathering, is displayed alongside swastikas at neo-nazi gatherings and has been proudly displayed as a symbol of hate and intimidation since it was created? Whether or not you choose to believe it, the war between the States was, at its heart about slavery. A piece of cloth, stone or metal may represent different things to different people and we can never make everyone comfortable, but when a symbol arouses such strong feelings in so many people maybe it is time to start an adult dialogue without all the cliches and revised history.

      1. renie's Avatar renie

        ROB THE KKK WAS ESTABLISHED BY DEMOCRATS AND THE LONFEST SERVING MEMBER WAS ROBERT KKK BIRD ALSO KNOWN AS "SHEETS". THESE PEOPLE STOLE THAT BATTLE FLAG AND NOW IT IS PERVERTED. PEOPLE NEED TO RESEARCH AND LOOK UP HISTORY BEFORE THEY GO OFFF LIKE CRAZY PEOPLE.

      2. Walter Green's Avatar Walter Green

        It is only reasonable to point out that these same groups carry the United States flag. In fact at least one Klan states that the US flag is their official flag. If we want to ban one flag involved with slavery, we should ban all. The US flag goes because it's versions represented slavery from 1776 to 1866 when slavery was finally abolished in the Indian Territory, along with the flags of all states which permitted slavery. The British, French, and Spanish flags should be prohibited because at various times from 1600 forward territory that is currently the US allowed slaves. No Dutch or Portugese flags - they were slave trading nations. All the flags of African countries that supported the slave trade through capturing and selling their own people should be banned. The Belgian flag should be banned because one of the Kings of Belgium operated a massive slave empire in the Congo. Russian and German flags need to be banned because they operated large slave labor operations in modern times. The ancient Romans and Greeks and Egyptians had slaves, so the flags of the modern countries should go also. Oh, and any Christian Church flags for denominations that existed prior to or trace their theological lineage to prior to say 1866 in the United States - I almost forgot them. Slave labor built a lot of churches, north and south, and many of the Spanish missions, so those denominations need to be added to the list of the flagless. You could argue that flags that have changed should not be banned, but that is just sophistry. The flag is the country, and the history of the country, state, or denomination has not changed. We probably can't ban the country flags at their embassies or the UN, but everywhere else all the flags of oppression need to come down if one comes down. Inconsistency simply proves that the argument is not a moral or theological one (our legitimate concern as ministers), but rather a simply political one. If you want to ban the various flags used by the Confederate States of America, either sign up for the whole monte of going after all flags that involved slavery, or admit that you have some other motive.

        1. Norma Battes's Avatar Norma Battes

          Walter Green September 7, 2017 at 8:40 am ." If we want to ban one flag involved with slavery, we should ban all. "

          Reductio ad absurdum. Great research, failed logic.

    4. Pat Rafferty's Avatar Pat Rafferty

      The word Hate has become another Liberal term for "unacceptable behavior if you disagree with my Ideology". The mere fact you (Universal Life Church turds) have taken the same position as Liberals, you all can go screw yourselves. My Universal Life literature and other related ULC bogus religious crap is being burned today. Where was everyone's anti-statue rhetoric prior prior to the current administration? You and all the other anti-History supporters are a bunch of pathetic hypocrites.

      1. Dr. David's Avatar Dr. David

        Pat-

        The ridding of hate symbols and glorifying traitors has been happening before the current administration. Do you remember South Carolina? Did you know only Mississippi still has the "stars and bars" as part of the state flag? It seems you are blaming the issues of hate and history with Trump "haters." Ridding our nation of these traitors and symbols has nothing to do with hate, but with enlightenment and the courage to finally speak out. We do not want traitors on our public squares.

        1. John Owens's Avatar John Owens

          Yep. Those Antifa sissies and BLM thugs seem to be full of enlightenment.

      2. Rev. Rene's Avatar Rev. Rene

        This the only fair online church gives us the opportunity to bypass the hate and find the emotions that so drive us, the thoughts that so get us to respond! Religious thinking is one, secular thinking is another. If you are mad about government, it does not belong here!!!

        1. Elder Freddie Bell's Avatar Elder Freddie Bell

          Agreed

      3. Norma Battes's Avatar Norma Battes

        Pat Rafferty September 6, 2017 at 7:15 am " The word Hate has become another Liberal term for 'unacceptable behavior if you disagree with my Ideology'. " And the term used by The White(only) House for "unacceptable behavior if you disagree with my Ideology" is, "You're fired!"

        " My Universal Life literature and other related ULC bogus religious crap is being burned today. " That Mr. Rafferty, is unfortunate to hear. You do understand ULC is just a portal? We each bring, including you, our own "religious crap." You will be missed. But not much.

        " Where was everyone’s anti-statue rhetoric prior prior to the current administration? " I won't speak for anyone else, but I never really cared either way about statues or what I knew as the "Rebel" flag. I had an opportunity to live for a while in Mississippi along the gulf coast in the 60's. It was culture shock for basically a boy, to see "colored" and "white" toilets. It was confusing to hear things said about people, those I considered people, who others seem to look at as things. Though I must concede to your point, to our whereabouts, and can only say, if not for Charlottesville and the things said and done there and after, I would have been content to be ignorant and uninformed. However, things were said. Things were done. And I find that unacceptable.

    5. Rev. Rene's Avatar Rev. Rene

      Hate is not hate, hate is fear. Fear of a world they do not fit in, fear of change, Fear of facing themselves as they are now in an everchanching world of humans they have never met nor understand nor wish to hear!!! Please learn to accept and learn, the fear may then go away, there is no need to dislike other religions or cultures, in the end they are all men's solution to what they cannot understand!

    6. William Byers's Avatar William Byers

      Only in America would people fight the same war twice.

      1. Norma Battes's Avatar Norma Battes

        William Byers September 9, 2017 at 5:13 pm " Only in America would people fight the same war twice. "

        Only twice? You don't know us very well do you?

    7. William Byers's Avatar William Byers

      Only in America would people fight the same war twice

      1. Norma Battes's Avatar Norma Battes

        William Byers September 9, 2017 at 5:13 pm Only in America would people fight the same war twice.

        Only Twice..., Whoa, deja vu.

  1. Rev. Hoagie's Avatar Rev. Hoagie

    "The crimes of the Confederate States of America are well documented." Yes, they have. And the Confederacy and the people who committed those crimes were defeated in war, punished as citizens, and paid the price for their wrongs. That was over 150 years ago. They are all dead. Any slaves are all dead. The only hate I hear and see is the hate put forward by people like you who refuse to let the Civil War end. It's over. Done. We grown-ups have healed and are not full of hate. You hate the South because you hate Southern people. You are a bigot.

    Southerners today consider the Confederacy part of their history and their heritage and quite frankly they are correct. The Confederacy was part of our history as Americans and as such we should accept the good with the bad. Bear in mind the Confederacy was pardoned after the war by the very men who fought it.

    Our country is great but it is not perfect and the worst thing a people or a culture can do is erase its past. It is ignorant and fascistic to do so. You also need to remember over 600,000 Americans died in that war and they were ALL Americans. Slavery was an important reason for the Civil War but it was not the only reason. I'd like to point out the Civil War was not a slave rebellion. It was a war fought between white people to free black people. It was the party of Abolition, the Republican Party that won and freed the slaves. And it was the party of Slavery, the Democrats that supported slavery, Jim Crow, segregation, lynching, separate but equal, racial discrimination and who started the Ku Klux Klan to control the freed blacks in the South. To this day every major city controlled by the Democrats maintains a "plantation" called a ghetto. Clean up the Democrats alive today then worry about dead Confederates.

    1. Joe Stutler's Avatar Joe Stutler

      Part of the price they were required to pay for their pardons was to put away their ideologies and symbols of hate and treason. Bringing those out again goes against their parole, and should be put down post-haste. Radical regressives acting as apologists for hate groups such as the Klan, White Supremists, Nazis, etc, are just as bad as those they defend. If you really hate America, you are more than welcome to find the egress and use it.

      1. Rev. Hoagie's Avatar Rev. Hoagie

        "Part of the price they were required to pay for their pardons was to put away their ideologies and symbols of hate and treason." No, they weren't. They were required to lay down their arms and cease making war against the Union. The Confederate men who fought were "traitors" to America like Washington and his followers were "traitors" to England. Only difference is Washington's crew won. They were "Rebels" not traitors hence the name "Rebel". They were Americans who believed that under the Constitution their loyalty was First to their Sovereign State then to the feds. Grow up Stutler and learn the difference between 1860 and 2017. And put away the blind hate you hold in your heart for your fellow Americans because they are proud of their heritage and you don't agree with it.

        I was just watching rescuers in Texas with Confederate flags on their boats and pickups rescuing people of all colors and faiths without regard to their own safety. You should be thankful there are men with kind of stuff. The right stuff. North or South it's The American stuff!

        1. John Owens's Avatar John Owens

          Yep. Those dirty racist white supremacists stealing those poor black people stranded on their rooftops. Flying that mean flag. The nerve!

        2. Rev. Hoagie's Avatar Rev. Hoagie

          Just another hatful bigot and traitor Texan proud to help:

          http://www.beldar.org/.a/6a00d834515edc69e201b8d2a5bf06970c-450wi

          1. John Owens's Avatar John Owens

            Amen, Brother.

          2. John Owens's Avatar John Owens

            You see? He's stealing those poor children! Can't you see the abject terror in their faces?

        3. Dr Griffith's Avatar Dr Griffith

          Rev Hoagie-

          They have not laid down their arms!

          Of corse, they were Americans, they lived in N America. Everyone who lives in North, Central, and South America is an American. That is a great way to spin them as just rebels. They seceded from the USA and fought against it as The Confederate States of America. That makes them traitors to the USA.

          Some people are good at heart and either are ignorant to what the flag stands for, or the power to aid others in distress is greater than the hatred inside. Or the cynic may say that the rescued those that were not white to avoid what would be said about them and one of your symbols of hatred.

          Those that rescued others and came to help all people deserve our gratitude and thanks. To those of you writing the rude comments about the people they rescued, you only show your ignorance and hate.

          To rid the world of hate will rid the world of war and killing of others only because of their religion or color of their skin.

          May the Gods bless each and every one of you and fill your hearts with love and understanding for those that are different than you.

        4. Norma Battes's Avatar Norma Battes

          Rev.Hoagie August 31, 2017 at 1:14 pm “ ...rescuing people of all colors and faiths without regard... "

          Until one of those colors starts dating your daughter?

    2. Stephanie Willey's Avatar Stephanie Willey

      Rev. Hoagie, just a historical political note her, if I may: It is true and accurate that before, during, and for some time after the Civil War the Democratic Party was populated by politicians who favored racial discrimination and who enacted the Jim Crow Laws. But when Democrats John F. Kennedy and then Lyndon Johnson proposed, supported, and signed civil rights bills into Federal Law, they pissed of the entire wing of the Democratic Party then known as the Dixiecrats. This entire block of politicians switched their affiliations to the Republican Party, and the ranks of the Democratic Party filled with Liberal and Progressive Politicians and voters. Today it is the Democratic Party that supports all socially liberal causes such as equal rights and it is the Republican party that consistently opposes the same causes. In terms of the support of racism associated with the National Parties, the roles played by them reversed exactly 100 years after the end of the Civil War.

      1. Rev. Titus's Avatar Rev. Titus

        Stephanie Willey. This is LBJ when they introduced welfare. Lyndon Baines Johnson 1963... "These Negroes, they're getting pretty uppity these days and that's a problem for us since they've got something now they never had before, the political pull to back up their uppityness. Now we've got to do something about this, we've got to give them a little something, just enough to quiet them down, not enough to make a difference... I'll have them niggers voting Democratic for the next two hundred years". Stephanie Willey you are incorrect. It is widely known that the “Party Switch” is a myth that the Democrats have concocted in order to deflect the their own shameful history of anti-Civil-Rights actions on to Republicans. The whole concept of “parties/ideologies switched sides,” is simply a LIE. http://blackrepublican.blogspot.com/2012/06/republicans-and-democrats-did-not.html The confederate flag is not a flag of hatred nor does it represent hatred. The neo nazis and the klan are hatred. They carry both the American flag and the stars and bars. But yet no one whats to say anything about the American flag representing slavery. I fly both at my home everyday and neither one is to represent racism or slavery. Nor do I condone the KKK, Neo-Nazi's,BLM or ANTIFA. I fly the American flag because I'm an American and a former Marine and The Stars and Bars because my Grandfather was a General in the Louisiana Confederate Army. He never had or owned slaves either. I fly it mainly to irritate the liberals and dare them to come and try to take either one down.

        1. John Owens's Avatar John Owens

          My MC also wears the stars and bars on our vests, slightly lower than the US flag, for exactly the same reason as you fly it. In fact, very few of us wore it, until the political left starting making a big deal about it, and then, I would get requests from Brothers in New England to send them some flag patches, since they couldn't find them there. We dare anyone to tell us not to wear it. Elsewhere I mentioned that we are a multi-ethnic, international motorcycle club.

          My dad told me that when he was a child, there was one black family in their community, who attended church at the same Baptist church as he did. He also said they were good, honest, hard-working, God-fearing people, and if anyone HAD mistreated them, (which they didn't) the KLAN would have defended them. He said, before WWII, the Klan where he lived mostly dealt with white criminals-- wife-beaters, burglars, frauds, men who neglected their wives and children. Apparently the Nazis infiltrated or converted some of the Klan after the war.

    3. Pastor Rick's Avatar Pastor Rick

      Rev. Hoagie, very well put. Although originally from the north, I am a student of history and look at history as lessons from the past. We all have a past and denying it ever happened or tying to hide it, will only put the past into a position for us to repeat it. The other point that probably needs to be made is that this is a two sided issue and it's not how one side handled these issues that is at hand, it's how BOTH sides handled the issues. There is enough blame to go around to whatever side your on. As for free speech, it's what I say that is protected. So when one side or the other turns to violence, it's no longer about free speech.

  1. Robert's Avatar Robert

    i completely agree with what Rev.Hoagie and Troy McLean have stated, it is just some lib tard writing who does not know up from down

  1. Beth K's Avatar Beth K

    The Confederate monuments - many put up in the 1930s - is not the issue. Yes, those who do not remember their history are doomed to repeat it. There are other images, including those with Nazi flags and other images. http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/dc/wwii-vets-shaken-by-nazi-flags-in-charlottesville/465189398 These neo-Confederates have merged with the neo-Nazis. Many of their ideas are similar.

    This is not an American tradition. 75 years ago, the US - including those from North and South, black and white, fought to defeat the German Nazi government and all that the ideology stood for. These people are not patriots. They are not American. They are traitors rallying for the enemy - enemies which the United States fought to protect - and many of all walks of life died to protect.

    1. Norma Battes's Avatar Norma Battes

      Beth K. August 30, 2017 at 6:01 pm " ...from North and South, black and white, fought to defeat the German Nazi... "

      Ms. K., a point to note, blacks and whites fought a common enemy in the Nazi. However they didn't fight for a common country. Black solders were not considered as equals by white solders. Blacks fought for a country that treated them as if they weren't a real citizen of the United States. And anyone that doesn't understand that doesn't understand what this country is about.

      1. John Owens's Avatar John Owens

        Norma, those black soldiers were still better off than most black people in other parts of the world, and their attitude was much better than many young people now, who have NOT had to work with their hands OR go to war. We don't live THEN. We live NOW.
        I don't care about the statues, but I see the idiocy of those who wish to tear them down. They'll never be satisfied. Take down the flags. Ok. Now take down the statues. Ok. Then, what? Don't put cotton on display. Ok. Now what? We want reparations. From whom? White people. Even the ones who fought and died to free black people? Yes, because of white privilege. How much reparations, and who is qualified to receive them? $25,000/year and any black person. What if they came here AFTER slavery was abolished? Don't they have to prove they are descended from a slave? If they are only 1/10th slave, do they only get $2500/a year? What if my ancestors never owned a slave and never fought for the South? Do I still have to pay reparations?

  1. Clayton Beardmore's Avatar Clayton Beardmore

    The truth must be told - you can't (or shouldn't) rewrite history.

  1. Eric k's Avatar Eric k

    This flag of the Confederacy is a symbol of hate plain and simple, I live in an area where it is flown and everyone of those that do are some racist pig ,

    1. John Owens's Avatar John Owens

      I seriously doubt that you know the ideology of everyone who flies that flag, erik.

      1. Christopher Carlson's Avatar Christopher Carlson

        I agree. I know Black Americans who fly "that" flag proudly and are decendants of Confederate Soldiers. These ignorant self righteous people who act as if they are an authority on the subject are the same ones who seek to rewrite history and strip Us all of our Constitutional Rights. Plain and simple!

  1. Lynn Gideon's Avatar Lynn Gideon

    I don't usually comment, but when we think we know all the facts about history, we find out we know nothing.

    Your history lesson for the day.

    Robert E Lee was married to George Washington's granddaughter. He worked with Grant during the Mexican-American war and became a decorated war hero defending this country He believed slavery was a great evil and his wife broke the law by teaching slaves to read and write. After the civil war he worked with Andrew Johnson's program of reconstruction. He became very popular with the northern states and the Barracks at West Point were named in his honor in 1962. He was a great man who served this country his entire life in some form or other. His memorial is now being called a blight. No American military veteran should be treated as such. People keep yelling, "You can't change history." Sadly you can. This is no better than book burnings. ISIS tried rewriting history by destroying historical artifacts. Is that really who we want to emulate? As they tear down this "blight" keep these few historical facts in your mind. No military veteran and highly decorated war hero should ever be treated as such. This is not Iraq and that is not a statue of Sadam.

    IN ADDITION: Lee was also very torn about the prospect of the South leaving the Union. His wife’s grandfather George Washington was a huge influence on him. He believed that ultimately, states’ rights trumped the federal government and chose to lead the Southern army. His estate, Arlington, near Washington DC was his home and while away fighting the war, the federal government demanded that Lee himself pay his taxes in person. He sent his wife but the money was not accepted from a woman. When he could not pay the taxes, the government began burying dead Union soldiers on his land. The government is still burying people there today. It is now called Arlington National Cemetery. DO THEY WANT TO TEAR THAT UP ALSO??

    1. Lynn Gideon's Avatar Lynn Gideon

      And the Stars and Bars were flown by the navy and had nothing to do with slavery.

    2. Joe Stutler's Avatar Joe Stutler

      I see we have a representative from Minitrue here commenting.

    3. hsw's Avatar hsw

      I'm sure his many slaves and their descendants would be very happy to hear that massa was so conflicted.

      What you put forth is a very whitewashed version of the good general. Scratch the surface and you find a man who believed his slaves were too inferior to live on their own.

      There is so much more but it's the middle of the night and I'm going to try to sleep.

      1. Christopher Carlson's Avatar Christopher Carlson

        Robert E. Lee did NOT own slaves by the way. Learn your history correctly if you want to throw out your 2 cents.

    4. Christopher Carlson's Avatar Christopher Carlson

      You are absolutely correct. Ignorance is Bliss for a lot of the people commenting on this thread. I know and have Black friends who proudly fly the Confederate Flag. My ancestors were hearded onto reservations and beaten, raped and had there children stolen but you don't see anyone fighting that injustice.

      1. John Owens's Avatar John Owens

        If ignorance is bliss, there are a LOT of happy lefties and snowflakes on here.

  1. Frank Villari's Avatar Frank Villari

    Hate hasn't "resurfaced," it is simply still existing. There will always be hate. Today this hate seems more prevalent because of the perpetually offended who won't allow it to die the painful death it deserves. The offended keep finding a flag or a statue to pin their own hatred upon instead of learning some history of which they speak. I find rewriting history, trying to forget history, offensive. When we repeat history due to our ignorance of it, the offended will have yet more to be offended over - their own ignorance which caused it.

  1. John Owens's Avatar John Owens

    This flag flap is hysterically funny. North Korea, which we all know is run by a little nut, just lobbed a missile over Japan. East Texas and southern Louisiana are under water, and people are letting their emotions be dictated to them by a few yahoos protesting our history. LOOK AT ANTIFA'S FLAGS! Look at the flags with the raised fist in them! And you let morons tell you we need to tear down statues and do away with old flags. Most of you are suffering from stupid white guilt that is a figment of the imagination, and you think you can redeem yourselves by siding with the yahoos. Those yahoos don't care how much you support them. They won't be satisfied until they have everything you have worked for.

    I am a patch-holder in one of the oldest and largest Motorcycle clubs in the world. We are in the US and Canada, S. Korea, all over Europe and the United Kingdom. We are not racist. We judge people not based on the color of their skin, but the content of their character and the kind of motorcycle they ride. We are, like the song says, red and yellow, black and white. We wear the US flag on our left side and the Confederate flag, slightly lower, on the right side. We dare anyone to try to take it.

    If you watch and believe the news, white people and black people are always trying to kill each other, but if you look at your own daily life, you will see that is all a big lie. We work together, use the same restaurants and laundramats, go to church together, have barbecues together, fish, hunt, shoot skeet together. We don't call each other dirty names or rape the women or steal from each other or ANY OF THAT JUNK.

    This flag flap is just another evolution of the politics of division and diversion. Divert the attention of the people from what is important and divide them against one another. Please don't fall for it.

    1. Mike Andy Mahler's Avatar Mike Andy Mahler

      Amen brother, Amen.

    2. Clarke Mahaney's Avatar Clarke Mahaney

      Well said. The trouble in this country is that when the hate seems to die down, somebody comes along to stir it up again. It wouldn't surprise me at all if it was found out that they are getting paid to do that.

      1. John Owens's Avatar John Owens

        It's apparently a big business, almost as big as the "criminal justice" system. That, and the fictitious collective white guilt (felt only by white leftists, because they are the true racists who think minorities are inferior and feel sorry for them) are what elected the Kenyan to the highest office in the land, TWICE, despite any reason to believe in his competence and a sketchy history full of holes and falsehoods. The white leftists voted for him to prove to themselves that they weren't racist, which is strong evidence that they are.

    3. Christopher Carlson's Avatar Christopher Carlson

      Well put John Owens

    4. Minister Jacobs's Avatar Minister Jacobs

      AMEN My Brother, It is of the World and soon come the Season for he that cometh to him must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them.

  1. biblical scholar's Avatar biblical scholar

    What about Seattle where there is a city sponsored statue of VLADIMIR LENNIN (communist murderer and basis for dracula). A friend of mine told me hundreds of liberals gather around the statue daily to pray to this evil man and many more pray silently from their work or home. LIBERALS truly lack the capacity for rational thought. I'd pray for them but Jesus knows they're hopeless anyway.

    1. John Owens's Avatar John Owens

      But Bernard, anything liberals do is okay, and nothing conservatives do is okay.

      1. Carol W Waldenburg's Avatar Carol W Waldenburg

        Truth and I'm sick of it . . .

  1. Ed's Avatar Ed

    Hate has been in existence. Sites like ULC just pick and choose which one they want to cover:

    "The Dartmouth Review, an independent newspaper at the private Ivy League college, reported that protesters marched into the Baker-Berry Library shouting profanity and berating =white students.= Protesters reportedly shouted “F– you, you filthy white f–-” “f– you and your comfort” and “f– you, you racist s–.”

    One student abandoned the study room and ran out of the library. The protesters followed her out of the library, shouting obscenities the whole way.

    One woman was reportedly pinned to a wall by protesters who shouted “filthy white b–-” in her face."

    Here, there is specifically a gang of black thugs chasing down specifically white students, pining them against a wall, committing various acts of assault and battery, and yet, it's "not a hate crime," nor does it get mass coverage. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/nov/16/black-lives-matter-protesters-berate-white-student/

    As for Charoletsville, http://thefreethoughtproject.com/confirmed-police-told-stand-charlottesville/ Cops were ORDERED by the mayor, to stand down, and NOT do anything, whatsoever.

    Then, to add to it, instead of letting the UTR protesters to leave through a peaceful method, they forced them to go through the BLM and ANTIFA thugs, who were committing various acts of assault and battery: http://dailycaller.com/2017/08/14/heres-how-the-virginia-state-police-provoked-violence-at-charlottesville/

    So, being beat on by unknown numbers of thugs, in what was initially a peaceful protest, if you say you won't get into your car, and get the 4311 out of there, and d@mn the rest, for fear of your life, you're lying!

  1. Sean's Avatar Sean

    Who writes this stuff and why does ULC think it is actually reporting something? This is what we expect from the MSM and more than a little disappointed ib the lack of knowledge. Maybe if our schools started teaching American History again you would have some actual knowledge to use when writing something.

  1. Patti's Avatar Patti

    William Tappan Thompson is the man who created the Confederate flag we see flown today. He created it for a specific reason quoted here: In a series of editorials, Thompson wrote why he felt the design should be chosen to represent the Confederacy:

    As a people, we are fighting to maintain the Heaven-ordained supremacy of the white man over the inferior or colored race; a white flag would thus be emblematical of our cause.[5]… Such a flag…would soon take rank among the proudest ensigns of the nations, and be hailed by the civilized world as THE WHITE MAN'S FLAG [sic].[6]

    This alone should make any person who values equality to distance themselves from such a symbol. I am from Ohio, we were not part of the states that committed treason against the United States and maybe that is why I don't understand why the flag of another country, founded by those who committed treason against the United States should be flown in our country with such high regard.

  1. Patrick Fay's Avatar Patrick Fay

    As a member of ULC I find some of these comments truly diturbing. I will not coment on a flag, statue, tattoo, motorcycle or, any oter sysmbol you think reprsents hate. I understand there are those who idealize and possibly even pray to these things. To that I say; if that's your choice then good luck with that. my problem is when one person hurts another. this should be our focus,

  1. Bill Fox's Avatar Bill Fox

    The day will come when someone comes to take away your history. It is inevitable. Know history but don't love it. Love people.

  1. Prof. ML Watrous's Avatar Prof. ML Watrous

    Good luck on getting rid of hate groups. But, if your are going to try it, you should prioritize them and start with the worst one first ... and that would be Black Lives Matter. Let's see how many people come back with a hateful opinion rather than a thoughtful review of who is actually marching up and down the streets with songs to kill police.

    1. Tina S's Avatar Tina S

      All lives should matter regardless of the color. I totally agree with you.

    2. Carol W Waldenburg's Avatar Carol W Waldenburg

      Yes Prof!

  1. James's Avatar James

    This is a dangerous conversation. Yet, if we want to destroy our history, and the facts. Where will it stop. Punish people for thoughts, crimes of their people 5 generations ago? If that can even be proven. In that case, Everyone is kin to some criminal! No yelling how many would be in our family tree. We must get back to reality on this. No one alive in the United States owns, has owned, or are even on to anyone who did own a slave. Every demographic was used, bought and sold in to slavery. So why is it only the south has this reputation? Why are there still slaves being sold around the world today? Why are we having emotions over something we never witnessed. It's because this is a repeating social experiment to keep the people from seeing that the govt class are the owners, the rich bought a ticket out of the race, the middle class pay so that they aren't poor, the wealthy pay for the middle class and poor class to stay peaceful and produce the products of commerce. While the political class sturdy the pot to show that they can have a seat at the table. It's life. Deal with it and find your place before to die alone, sad, and broken. Say a prayer with me. I am happy, thank you for my life, that you for the treasures I do not see yet. Help me find peace. Through friends, lovers, family or war please let me find peace. Amend

  1. Tina S's Avatar Tina S

    I want to share I'm a Caucasian, single mom, been married/divorced 1x while trying to conform to "society" before coming out in 2000. I was raised by racist/judgmental parents. I was abused mentally and physically by my parents and sisters (not sexually). I was raped as by a neighbor boy, went home, tried to take a shower, but mom caught me. She asked what happened so I told her. She said, "If you weren't wearing shorts, he wouldn't have been tempted!".

    My ex is half-Cuban and very abusive. When our daughter was about 5 years old, after being investigated numerous times by CPS for molestation on her, he was awarded custody even after being caught committing perjury. I hadn't been investigated or involved with CPS ever. She was legally kidnapped, because as the saying goes, "Money talks, BS walks." My son's father walked out as soon as he found out I was pregnant. I've had issues keeping any relationship for over 3 years as I have trust issues and was recently diagnosed with PTSD from all these events.

    I share all this because I want you to know how easy it would be for me to hate! I live in a part of Texas where being part of the LGBTQ will get you killed. It's on the news almost weekly stating how a member of the LGBTQ community is jumped, hospitalized or killed simply for being who they are - nothing more. I've raised my son with the mind set, "We all bleed red!"

    HERE IS SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT OR AS WE SAY "CHEW ON THIS" Hate is Hate just like Love is Love! A flag doesn't stand for hate anymore than guns or knives kill people - people kill people! Guns are inanimate cold metal objects that are incapable of shooting themselves. They are no more dangerous than knives are.....knives are inanimate objects that can't stab people - people stab people!

    I don't personally care for the Confederate Flag due to what the KKK, Skin Heads, Nazi's and others have "Made it stand for". The statues are historical not racial. Sure there was slavery and as a Caucasian, I'm not proud of that fact; however, that's history. Should we erase all of history? This is ridiculous! Let me give you just a couple examples: The Mayflower/Thanksgiving - it involved the Native Americans. Eventually they lost their land and were "mixed"/"married" into other races, causing their pure blood to virtually vanish. How about the Salem Witch Trials? Many were never proven to be witches. These are things we all learn about in school, are history and can arguably considered racist or hate crimes too.

    There's quite a few Muslims and Hispanics in this area, so should I judge my fellow men and woman? Should I see them all as terrorists and illegal aliens? The same people arguing against the "Racist Things" are the same people who are allowed their own "exclusive" schools and scholarships! Why is this being allowed? It's becoming a "Reverse Racism" now! NO RACE should be allowed any exclusive anything! The statues are historical, leave them or put them into a museum. We need to quit allowing a handful of people to tell American's how to run America! America WAS created on prayer....IN GOD WE TRUST!

    Come on America, a flag is material...people bleed red, but the most important thing to remember is: When we fight with each other all we do is show other countries that we are weaker as we fight and kill each other. "United we stand - Divided we fall"

  1. Azri's Avatar Azri

    ok, not gonna be real popular.

    reparations? ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!! who is gonna pay that bill? cause me? I've never owned anyone in my life. why should i pay a DIME!!? first though, the Native Americans should get theirs!

     that particular  flag  is historically  about  MORE than just slavery.  that flag  is  now a tool to sway peoples  minds  or  make some rabid beasts.  no matter  how  much these  chuckle heads  are TRYING  to rewrite American history, those statues should stay. if they are all butt  hurt about em,  why  not  go BUY a piece of land, commission an artist  and  BUILD  YOUR  OWN GOOFY STATUE!! 
    
    i watched various  middle eastern ijjits  tear down monuments  of Buddha....think bout that..it wasn't  and  isn't about the actual statues, it's about ERASING all signs  of what came before, the better to control peoples  minds, give  them 1  form of history and make all others non existent/illegal..the  middle east? they  do it  by physical force, here? mental/emotional propaganda force.  it's ALL BS!!
    

    as for "racism"? yeah. i'm BEYOND done with that. anyone wanna call me racist? i just say "yes i am, i am racist against IDIOTS, ASSHOLES & LOSERS!! which one are YOU"

    it ticks me off how various white power rallies are EVIL, but the black panthers can chant DEATH TO WHITES babies to adults and no one says JACK!! ((check youtube,...it's there...but no one says anything about THAT)

    what we have here are a few who want to stay in power, have dumbed down the mass's, and pay a few hypocritical malcontents that would be unhappy if they BECAME king... to keep us, the common decent folk at each others necks.

    "DIVIDE AND CONQUER"!!! and most folks are too wrapped up in their own BS to see it or admit to seeing it..

    your damn right hate is hate, i'd like to see the hate be equal across the board.

    another thing that frosts my biscuits, is this , you can be part of and proud of ANY race in the world, EXCEPT WHITE!! cause the minute you voice pride in your peoples accomplishments? your automatically a racist..and immediately harassed at worst and ignored at best.

    see people? the propaganda experts, they know how to use certain words to either GET your attention or MAKE people dislike/ignore you and therefor ignore anything you say. just by labeling you with something.

    hate groups? hell ALL of us are being played.

       in the end? i am tired  of  people using "slavery" of an ancestor as an excuse to be a fuckup..it's not their Fault!! oh no..it's  cause they are repressed and held  down by  someone or group of someones. it has  NOTHING  to do with their choices  in life, NOTHING  to do with the fact that some people are lazy whiny screw-ups!! nope..it's  cause some nebulous  ancestor was a slave.  *FACEPALM*
    

    that whole argument "slavery" is bunk anyway. because slavery is still going on today !!! the hypocrites need to stop flapping their gums about it. or rather stop blaming someone about way back in the day stuff and maybe try n rescue some modern day slaves. if slavery is bad? then help stop it NOW!! stop whining about the past ..for all intents and purposes make an impact now, not go on about some random ancestor. they are dead, help the living.

    OK THERE YA HAVE THE OPINION OF ONE WOMAN WHO IS TIRED OF BEING HIT ON AND POLITELY DECLINING AND BEING CALLED RACIST AND THATS THE BEST I'VE BEEN CALLED.

    now go talk amongst y'selves.

    cheers!

    1. Vincent's Avatar Vincent

      You should post that on Facebook. It's very brilliant and says so much about the idiocy in America at this point

    2. Carol W Waldenburg's Avatar Carol W Waldenburg

      Yeah Azri!

  1. Tina S's Avatar Tina S

    I love your post AZRI! You are so right!! Quit fighting amongst ourselves....my sentiments exactly!

  1. Vincent's Avatar Vincent

    A statue isn't the problem, it's there that's it its stone. Nothing More Nothing Less. The Ideas for what the statue stands for is over. The flag is older than the civil war. The civil war wasn't about slavery, it was about taxes, when Lincoln freed the slaves it became about slavery. But it wasn't a major issue. If Lincoln hadn't freed the slaves and the north had won I don't think people would have cared back then. Tearing down the statues isn't the way to fix the problem because you can't fix it. It happened it's history. The statues should be a reminder of how horrible that time was. It should remind you not to allow that to happen again. Remember those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. You should honor the civil rights movement, where are those statues standing. Where can you find statues of people holding hands, singing we shall over come and other inspired messages. We should honor peace, love, charity, kindness. Those should be statues. Where are the inspirational statues at, friends hugging, shaking hands. Or The ones with kids playing. We As Americans seem to only honor tragedy. It needs to change and soon!

  1. A druid's Avatar A druid

    Yes, hate speech is odious, annoying, and uncouth. However, it is legally protected by the exact same sentence which gives us the right to gripe about it. Which is in the exact same paragraph which gives us, the ULC, the right to free belief. Just sayin"

  1. Don W's Avatar Don W

    Those statues were erected in the spirit of reconciliation after a horrible war caused by terrible leadership on both sides. The people behind the movement to get rid of these statues are trying to stir up hatred among the people of the United States in order to divide us once again. Instead of learning from history we are letting haters and their identity politics rip the country apart.

    1. John Owens's Avatar John Owens

      Because we are too civilized to kill the haters. Therefore, they have an automatic advantage, because if we criticize their behavior, they call us throwbacks, racists, apologists, whatever their little pea-brains come up with, just like a teen-ager trying to get concessions from their parents. Sometimes being a peace-maker means stomping the living crap out of your enemies and "pacifying" them.

  1. Rev. A. Schulz's Avatar Rev. A. Schulz

    Hate is such a waste of emotion. Unchecked by reason and compassion, it runs wild leaving high costs in lives and other damages. It is easily created from feelings of inadequacy and fear. It enslaves the hater making the hater easily led and controlled. Thereby creating personal wealth and power for any charismatic schemer and manipulator who was able to stir up such a frenzied emotion that defies logic, evidence or its lack,, and blocks off all rational thought. All things that represent what we now refer to as a repugnant past can be transformed into reminders of lessons painfully learned and never to be repeated. We do this by 1.personal growth in faith and love for all life on our home we call planet Earth.2. stop taking sides in this debate. it only adds more fuel to the raging inferno of hate and achieves nothing constructive. 3.learn to see, honor, and respect the dignity of life within each person you meet as your equal and sibling "Child of God."

  1. Carol W Waldenburg's Avatar Carol W Waldenburg

    Anyone take exception to the manner in which the article was written, or rather Slanted?!?! Obviously the writer is a hater and I hated the article! The Southern or Confederate flag is about a people's history - you cannot just erase that and assign to it the strongest sentiment YOU want. It's history people . . . This BLM and tearing down of statues and monuments is the new fascism.

    1. John Owens's Avatar John Owens

      It's the way of the Left, who think they are liberals, but are not.

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