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Showing posts with the label Flags and Symbols

Talking About History & Symbols: Why are people offended by the Confederate battle flag?

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Battle Flag of the Army of Northern Virginia. On Quora, member Cody Pafford asks: Why are people offended by the Confederate battle flag? My reply: Because the 11 states that formed the Confederate States of America from March 1861 to April of 1865 rebelled against the Union to defend the odious institution of slavery. As a result of this dark stain on the American psyche, and because Southern apologists have tried mightily to whitewash history by claiming the Civil War was fought over the more innocuous principle of “States’ Rights,” the Stars and Bars - which was originally the battle flag of the Army of Northern Virginia, but was later incorporated into the last two national flags of the entire Confederacy - represents the side that started the bloodiest war in American history. Most people who know the history of the Civil War and the design history behind American flags will say - accurately - that this is not the  national flag  of the Confederate States of Amer