Media Framing: Confederate Battle Flag versus Confederate Flag
For the past few weeks the media has been giving a lot of attention to South Carolina and the removal of an offensive flag. That flag is a battle flag from a Northern Virgina Battalion, but the media has beem framing it like it is the Confederate flag. The word battle is overlooked which causes confusion to the non-historian, either they do not know the difference, or they do not care.
On Friday, July 10, 2015 the Confederate Battle Flag on the statehouse grounds of South Carolina came down ending a decades-long battle, but it does come with conssequences:
-For example the tv channel TVland stopped showing the show "Dukes of Hazzard" because the offensive battle flag on the main car. One stars of the show, John Scheider, who played Bo Duke, is not happy with the move. He said, " “I am saddened that one angry and misguided individual can cause one of the most beloved television shows in the history of the medium to suddenly be seen in this light. Are people who grew up watching the show now suddenly racists?" this to the Hollywood Reporter.
-Another celebrity who is not happy is Kid Rock uses the same battle flag in backdrops and other things associated with his music is being asked to stop. He responds, "Kiss my ass."
This is a distraction to the real issue of racism. The battle flag was outlawed under the union's occupation of the defeated Confederacy. The flag was adopted by the Klu Klux Klan in the late 1800's- to intimidate black and white Republicans in the south. This flags association with the KKK has overshadowed its history. It has come to symbolize racism and does not belong on federal and state property. But I will not presume to tell private citizens what flag they can or cannot fly on their own land. It is time for the nation to look forward.
On Friday, July 10, 2015 the Confederate Battle Flag on the statehouse grounds of South Carolina came down ending a decades-long battle, but it does come with conssequences:
-For example the tv channel TVland stopped showing the show "Dukes of Hazzard" because the offensive battle flag on the main car. One stars of the show, John Scheider, who played Bo Duke, is not happy with the move. He said, " “I am saddened that one angry and misguided individual can cause one of the most beloved television shows in the history of the medium to suddenly be seen in this light. Are people who grew up watching the show now suddenly racists?" this to the Hollywood Reporter.
-Another celebrity who is not happy is Kid Rock uses the same battle flag in backdrops and other things associated with his music is being asked to stop. He responds, "Kiss my ass."
This is a distraction to the real issue of racism. The battle flag was outlawed under the union's occupation of the defeated Confederacy. The flag was adopted by the Klu Klux Klan in the late 1800's- to intimidate black and white Republicans in the south. This flags association with the KKK has overshadowed its history. It has come to symbolize racism and does not belong on federal and state property. But I will not presume to tell private citizens what flag they can or cannot fly on their own land. It is time for the nation to look forward.
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