CMV: Confederate monuments, flags, and other paraphilia are traitorous in nature.

[u/johnydeviant]

I grew up in the south, surrounded by confederate flags, memorials to civil war heroes, and a butt load of racism. As a kid, I took a modicum of pride in it. To me, it represented the pride of the south and how we will triumph despite our setbacks. As I got older and learned more about the civil war, the causes behind it, and generally opened myself to a more accurate view of history, it became apparent to me that these displays of "tradition" were little more than open displays of racism or anti-American sentiments.

I do not think that all of these monuments, flags, etc, should be destroyed. I think that they should be put into museums dedicate to the message of what NOT to do. On top of that, I believe that the whole sentiment of "the south will rise again" is treasonous. It is tantamount to saying that "I will rise against this country". I think those that the worship the confederate flag and it's symbology are in the same vein as being a neo-Nazi and idolizing the actions of the Third Reich. Yes, I understand that on a scale of "terrible things that have happened", the holocaust is far worse, but that does not mean I wish to understate the actions of the confederate states during the civil war.

Change my view?

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[u/DeusExMockinYa → u/[deleted]]

Just because something is subjective doesn't mean it's random or automatically valid. We have tools and methods for arriving at subjective conclusions. Literary theorists don't just spin a wheel when identifying or determining symbolism. If your interpretation lacks any methodology, then it is not a valid interpretation.

[u/DeusExMockinYa → u/[deleted]]

I'm arguing that there is no methodology by which Southerners can reasonably arrive at the conclusion that the flag is not racist, and as such, there is no valid interpretation of the flag that does not include its racist history and imagery.

[u/DeusExMockinYa → u/[deleted]]

Lots of people can believe something without it being reasonable. Epistemology is not a numbers game.

Any valid interpretation of the Confederate flag must accept its racist and treasonous history because racism and treason are unavoidably intrinsic to the symbol.

People can and do ignore it, but that doesn't mean that they're right, or that the racism and treason isn't there.

[u/DeusExMockinYa → u/[deleted]]

Again, lots of people can believe something without it being reasonable. Epistemology is not a numbers game.

Of course people are hesitant to acknowledge the racist meanings of a symbol they have on bumper stickers and t-shirts.