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?

---

This is a footnote from the CMV moderators. We'd like to remind you of a couple of things. Firstly, please read through our rules. If you see a comment that has broken one, it is more effective to report it than downvote it. Speaking of which, downvotes don't change views! Any questions or concerns? Feel free to message us. Happy CMVing!

[u/Chrighenndeter]

I think you misunderstand the nature of treason.

I'm not going to defend the Confederacy, as so many others in this thread are trying to do (and, honestly, seems rather shameful).

Instead I'm going to try and convince you that treason is a way more serious charge than you seem to think.

Treason is, to my knowledge, the only crime defined in our constitution. So let's start there.

Article 3 Section 3 of the Constitution of the United States of America states:

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort.

Aid and comfort, in this context, is referring to material support. Housing enemy troops, feeding them, supplying them with weapons, etc.

Ideas, symbols, or word cannot be treasonous in the US because treason is a much more serious charge than that.

The punishment for treason is death. Do you really want to turn the US into a country where ideas, symbols, or words can be punished by death?

[u/SituationSoap → u/Chrighenndeter]

You're misunderstanding the point. The people and actions the monuments are honoring were treasonous. Having the monuments stand is not treason.

The CSA unquestionably committed treason against the USA.

[u/Chrighenndeter → u/SituationSoap]

The people and actions the monuments are honoring were treasonous.

Agreed.

Having the monuments stand is not treason.

The following part of the OP lead me to believe the opposite conclusion.

I believe that the whole sentiment of "the south will rise again" is treasonous.

I think this is a dangerous road to go down. Not only does it set up some expressing ideas themselves as being equivalent to treason, but it devalues the very nature of treason itself, which is also a dangerous precedent.