Confederate Flag Sales Skyrocket As Debate Rolls On
In the wake of the Charleston church shooting that left nine dead, a national debate is arising about the role of the Confederate flag in our society.
Over the last few days, multiple states have renounced the flag. South Carolina governor’s called for its removal from state properties. The governor of Virginia vowed to remove it from state license plates. Mississippi’s house speaker said the infamous battle design needed to be removed from the state flag. All the while, online sales of the flag have skyrocketed.
From Business Insider:
Amazon’s sales of Confederate flags have skyrocketed by more than 3,000% in the past 24 hours.
People are snatching up the flags online after several major retailers — including eBay, Wal-Mart, and Sears — pulled them from shelves.
The retailers banned the flags after last week’s shooting in Charleston, South Carolina, in which a gunman killed nine people in the historic black Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church.
This afternoon, Amazon joined the ranks of eBay, Wal-Mart and Sears by removing Confederate merchandise from its site.
It’s no surprise that people are stocking up on Confederate paraphernalia. The issue is proving to be incredibly divisive, with one side claiming the flag is a symbol for hatred and racism, while the other claims it’s about heritage and state’s rights. This shift in blame is commonplace after a tragedy, when people naturally search out reasons behind the “why” of an issue. Why did the shooter feel so much hatred towards black people? What compels a human being to commit a monstrous act?
Perhaps I am oversimplifying it, but it is possible to be on neither side of an issue. While I believe it is 100 percent ludicrous to take pride in a flag that represented a faction of anti-American, racist fervor 150 years ago, I also disagree with the notion that a reactionary mob mentality of banning or criminalizing anything deemed offensive will solve any problems, at all.
I mean, look at this:
CNN: Does this offend you?
Everyone right now: Yes to both. Don Lemon and the Confederate flag. pic.twitter.com/x1c7GX7mKY
— Nerdy Wonka (@NerdyWonka) June 23, 2015
ARE YOU OFFENDED? WELL, ARE YOU?
When the Confederate flag is inevitably banned from government properties, it will be considered a milestone victory for racism in America.
No racism issues will be solved, but they will be temporarily deflected because of victory over an inanimate object. Symbols don’t have inherent power — people place power in them. Racists don’t need a flag to be racist.
This tragedy shouldn’t be the reason the flag is removed. The flag shouldn’t have been flying on government properties in the first place.
This is usually the point in a controversy where I’d just stick to sports and ignore all the other noise, but it’s the offseason and there is nothing else to talk about. This debate will only get more insane, with (at minimum) 50-plus hot takes on the way — from a slightly drunk grandma at family dinner to an editorializing, overly dramatic SportsCenter anchor and everyone in-between.
Maybe I should just go camping..
[via Business Insider]
Image via YouTube
Bottom Line, people in this country are getting sick and tired of being told what to say, think and do.
10 years ago at 2:54 amAs a Jew I wouldn’t be to pumped if a German dude was flying a Nazi flag. I know slavery and genocide is an apples to oranges comparison, but both are hardships. I was went to school down south so I was taught the Southern historians version of the war. As much as a I hate PC bullshit, sometimes you have to be a man and do something you don’t agree with. Fair or not the flag is hurtful to many, be a man.
10 years ago at 10:27 amMoved from New York to Georgia so I feel like I’ve seen both sides of the east coast ignorance. I’m just confused on the purpose of flying the rebel flag on a personal level if you’re so patriotic. The rebel flag doesn’t necessarily represnt racism (although a lot of the individuals who fly the flag seem to believe in it) but the image on that flag was used to rebel against what was then the United States of America. We’re still the same United States correct? (Obviously debatable). Why are you possibly proud to be an American if you proudly support an entity that was against the USofA? It’s understandable if you’re uncontent with the country, but get off ass drinking shitty beer and do something about it. Or just go somewhere else.
People say “its heritage” but again, the heritage being represented was against the country we all supposedly love. And I fucking love America I’d hope every other citizen does too.
10 years ago at 12:12 pmIssues like this clearly require critical thought. Here’s the thing: I don’t agree with abortion. And yet it happens legally in America. But am I going to take down the American flag? There’s a better chance of another Clinton being elected. We just cannot freak out about issues like this, because every society has their dark spots.
10 years ago at 12:19 pm