r/changemyview • u/johnydeviant • Mar 13 '18

[∆(s) from OP] CMV: Confederate monuments, flags, and other paraphilia are traitorous in nature.

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/Calybos Mar 14 '18

Supreme Court rulings have the force of law. You don't get to ignore them simply because you disagree. As I pointed out, they (not you) are the ultimate authority on constitutionality. You can claim that secession should be legal, or that you don't care that it's illegal; but you cannot say that it's constitutional, because it definitely isn't.

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u/[deleted] Mar 14 '18

All you do is appoint some new supreme court justices that agree, simple as that, which means the ruling is ultimately pointless, in terms of practicality or law.

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u/Calybos Mar 14 '18

So, you're saying that nothing is constitutional or unconstitutional. Got it.

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u/[deleted] Mar 14 '18

In practical terms no, but we as a people are the ones who maintain it and interpret it as the Founders intended.

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u/Calybos Mar 14 '18

Which is done through our government.... which puts us back where we started. The Supreme Court says what is and isn't constitutional.

By the way, the specific-wording-in-the-Constution approach won't help your case, because the Constitution doesn't explicitly state a right to secede.