It is actually quite worse than stupid. I have had a problem with Georgia's state flag for a long while now, but with Texas Governor Rick Perry talking about secession lately I thought this a good time to actually write this article.
The flag above is Georgia's current state flag. It looks harmless enough I guess. Except even the briefest look into the history of this flag reveals it is a symbol of hate, repression and slavery. From 1951-2001 this was Georgia's flag:
That of course contains the much more recognizable Confederate Battle Flag, flown by Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Quite a few southern states have incorporated Confederate symbols into their state flags since the end of the Civil War. Mississippistill has the Battle Flag present. The various southern legislatures like to play games and pretend that they really never came back into the Union.
So after years of people protesting the 1951-2001 Georgia flag and rightfully pointing out that it was a symbol for slavery, the issue came to a head. And the flag at the top of this entry is what they chose in 2003. Now, here is why I still have a problem with Georgia's flag:
The flag right above was the Confederate States of America's first national flag, called the "Stars and Bars," flown until 1863. Scrolling quickly back to the top you can see it is EXACTLY THE SAME as Georgia's current flag, minus the Georgia's coat of arms in the blue field. Again, Georgia's Legislature decided to play games. Just because it is less recognizable than the X of the Battle Flag does not mean it is less of a symbol for hate and slavery. It still represents the same thing, even if fewer people recognize that fact.
I have heard all the excuses before. From "Heritage Not Hate" to the Civil War was about State's Rights. Those are all bogus slogans and rationales. Don't believe me? Well, don't take my word for it. Here is native Georgian Alexander Stephens, the Confederacy's Vice President:
The new constitution has put at rest, forever, all the agitating questions relating to our peculiar institution — African slavery as it exists amongst us — the proper status of the negro in our form of civilization. This was the immediate cause of the late rupture and present revolution. Jefferson in his forecast, had anticipated this, as the "rock upon which the old Union would split." He was right. What was conjecture with him, is now a realized fact. But whether he fully comprehended the great truth upon which that rock stood and stands, may be doubted.
Stephens went on to say:
(Jefferson's) ideas, however, were fundamentally wrong. They rested upon the assumption of the equality of races. This was an error. ... Our new government is founded upon exactly the opposite idea; its foundations are laid, its corner–stone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery — subordination to the superior race — is his natural and normal condition.
No talk of State's Rights there. And even though the slogan "Heritage Not Hate" bumper stickers may be somewhat catchy, that heritage is solidly based on hate. Don't take my word for it. Take Stephens'...
This was cross posted here.