h a l f b a k e r yLike gliding backwards through porridge.
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The traditional confederate flag is controversial, growing more so every day. Yet there are those who still like it for its cultural meaning aside from any racial undertones.
I propose designing a modified confenderate flag which incorporates subtle new elements, or color shifts, or adjustments to
the layout which will represent the "I like the new confederate flag, not what the old one stands for." Maybe the stars are alternating black and white, or something meaningful. This way, stores can keep selling it, people can keep using it, government buildings can keep flying it, all with the understanding that the redesign has an important meaning... supporting the spirit of freedom some see in the flag, ditching the racial baggage it carries.
More of a social engineering feat than a design issue. I'm not emotionally attached to this issue but feel like a simple redesign could temper passions.
[link]
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I'm sorry, but the "I like it for the culture" argument is
junk. There are some very nice things about Southern
culture and history. But that flag very specifically
represents a period where a rather nasty war was fought
in an attempt to maintain a rather nasty institution. |
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And it was revived specifically as a symbol of racism
during the civil rights era. |
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There is no possible use of the flag that is not inherently
tied up with those issues, except, possibly, displaying it
on memorials to the soldiers of the confederate army,
most of whom
weren't involved in the decision making. |
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Combining the main text with what [MechE] wrote, it might
be possible to design a Southern flag based on other classic
Southern cultural icons. It could feature a hygrometer
showing 99%
humidity, a thermometer showing a 40C temperature, and
the malaria microbe. |
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Nobody flies the Nazi flag besides skinheads.
Millions died for its cause. |
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All good points. I was thinking along the lines of a "take back" campaign, which has worked with certain words and images in the past, but not for others obviously (the nazi flag). I'm afraid that by outlawing a symbol, you give it more power. By redesigning you deflect the energy and ease people away from wielding it. |
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Oh, don't get me wrong. I don't want to ban it, I fully
support the right of individuals to fly it (just not on public
property). |
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After all, one of the advantages of free speech is that it
allows bigots and morons to self identify. |
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[+] if you can identify a part of the flag that signifies "darkies in the cotton fields, while us cultured folks sip mint juleps" and change the colour or something to signify "Mexican migrant workers in the cotton fields, while us cultured folks sip mint juleps". |
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Or not. I've no dog in that race. But there's probably plenty of ancestrally-slaves that enjoy mint julep or, humans being humans, may see it as a symbol of class distinction but this time they're on the "right" side of the line. |
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Wouldn't it just be another sign to blacks that they are
unwelcome/unrespected there? |
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I mean, who would bother to adopt this other than those
who wish to tell the black people, "We're better than you." |
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Yes, I'm with MechE, that we want them to identify as the
morons/racists they are, so we can treat them accordingly.
We just don't want our government to adopt those views in
any way. |
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Just like we wouldn't want our government to have a sign
out front saying, "I love bananas, esp. shoved up my arse!".
But, we let you put that sign in your yard if you wish. |
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You can design any kind of flag you wish, give it a name, but it won't be the flag of the confederacy. That flag belongs in the Museum of US history. |
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USA americans are flag crazy. As one I can picture in my head several flags of country and states. There are special crimes for burning flags here. Our national anthem worries about the flag. If the flag is gone, so might the hopes of creating a nation. |
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I very much doubt that citizens of most other countries can recall, draw out their flags, or care very much about their flag. Depends on their history. |
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Change it or dilute it? Diluting, thousands of similar but slightly different designs, would be be the only way to lose meaning. |
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