A couple of weeks ago I was assigned a Culture Analysis Essay in Comp II; I decided to go with a unique topic and choose to write an analysis on the Confederate Flag. I cannot claim the South as my physical home, but I gladly lay claim to it as my heritage - my entire family has roots in the South and we proudly uphold the morals and values that come with a Southern heritage. I want to allow you a chance to read my completed paper, which I'm quite proud of. Enjoy.
The Stars and Bars
A flag could be described as a cloth representation of a culture; it usually changes and evolves with the culture to reflect its values and beliefs. The cloth is rarely altered once a standard has been reached, but the meaning that the cloth holds is unique to the beholder and the culture of the time. Unfortunately time and culture can distort the true meaning of a flag. A prime example lies in the flag of the Confederate States of America. Today the Confederate Flag is viewed as a racist symbol of rebellion and rednecks when it was intended as nothing of the sort. The Confederate Flag was sewn as a proud symbol of southern values, a representation of a new government upholding old and powerful morals.
To fully analyze the original cultural meaning of the Confederate Flag, one must understand the true history of the South. History is written by the victors, and the South, unfortunately, was not the victor in this particular war; therefore, the truth concerning the War has been twisted to fit the viewpoint of the victors. First and foremost, the War Between the States (referred to inaccurately by many as the Civil War) was not fought over slavery. It started because of differing political and cultural views in which slavery played a very small part. Secondly the South formed a new and independent nation known as the Confederate States of America (CSA) when it seceded, thus the reason for a new flag. History as told by the victors would have one believe that the War was a civil war when in fact it was a war between two independent nations. Finally the Confederacy acted as the southern government for four proud years before officially surrendering to the northern Union. The Confederacy surrendered as a government but lived on in the hearts of the people; as a matter of fact, it can still be seen today; the South exists as a country within a country to the people who live in its glorious borders. Only by looking at both sides of history, as told by the victors and the defeated with weight toward the defeated as they have less reason to distort facts, can one form an accurate picture of a time, culture or event. Growing up in American schools provides history as told by the victors and the brief summary above gives insight into the history of the defeated. After reviewing the history behind the War, one can begin to analyze the symbol of the Confederate Flag.
A surprising fact to many people is that the flag commonly referred to as the Confederate Flag today was actually the battle flag of the CSA and was never officially adopted as their flag; over time, however, it has come to be accepted as the Confederate Flag and represented southern values from the first time it was proudly raised in October of 1861. The battle flag represented everything the Stars and Bars (the official flag of the CSA) had been created for: chivalry, manners, religion, kinship, and freedom. The South is a land unique in its preservation of chivalry; even today anyone traveling to a southern state is welcomed with a warm, sincere greeting in that wonderful southern drawl. “How ya’ll doing today?” or “Ya’ll enjoyin’ yourselves?”
The original and first offical flag of the Confederacy.
The Confederate Battle Flag - it was never offically adopted but has come to be accepted as the Confederate Flag. (This is the flag referred to for the purposes of this essay)
Under the proud banner of the Confederacy, chivalry was a much more prevalent force with southern gentlemen and southern belles abounding, providing a sense of security to everyone. Manners fell under a similar category, upheld and preserved by the CSA and demonstrated by its citizens, who are among the most welcoming and open people in the United States today. In the Old South, one could find help under the crimson banner regardless of where he hailed from; the heroes of the Confederacy demonstrated classic southern manners and perfect chivalry throughout the War and set an example for the citizens they fought for, both then and now. The government that adopted the Confederate Flag was a nation built on God and the people that adored the Flag held strong to their religious beliefs, allowing them to shape their lives. The constitution of the Confederacy was based closely on the original Constitution and mirrored the ideas of our forefathers, basing the CSA firmly on a Christian outlook. This religious base helped spur the chivalry and good natured South that remains today although it is a weakened compared to what it was under the Confederate Flag. Under the Confederate Flag, the South also solidified a kinship that stands firm today, insult the South and the southerner will react as if a family member were attacked. A citizen of Virginia will feel a kinship with a citizen of Georgia, much like they were distant family. This kinship is another legacy from the CSA; the War seared a common bond of values across the South, making a solid and proud nation even stronger, in heart and mind. One meaning of the Flag that has not changed over time is its reputation for freedom; the stars splashed across St. Andrew’s Cross have stood for freedom from the beginning. The Confederacy was formed to escape the noose of a powerful federal government and release its citizens to operate under a loose central government and personal local governing bodies. The people of the South fought bitterly to defend their freedom from northern aggressors and eventually lost the War, but the battle for freedom continues today through the strong conservative powers that reside in the South. Unfortunately much of what the Confederate Flag was created for has been forgotten by many and today it has been distorted into a symbol that was never intended.
Many today view the Confederate Flag as a symbol of slavery and racism, a flag waved by rednecks who meet wearing white robes; regrettably these groups often receive the spotlight and have twisted the meaning of a powerful southern symbol into something detestable and repulsive. Sadly the Confederate Flag has adopted another name over the years, the rebel flag. This is a name that does not fit the original Confederate Flag but is appropriate for the flag many see today. The Confederate Flag shares the same appearance as the rebel flag, but the two flags represent two very different cultures, the culture of the Old South and the CSA and today’s culture. The Confederate Flag has been shown to represent an honest and worthy culture, whereas the rebel flag is the symbol that many perceive today, a symbol of hate and rebellion. The minority has overshadowed the grand Confederate Flag with the rebel flag and today’s culture can only catch glimpses of the morals and values of what the original Flag stood for; in time, perhaps, history will shine through and paint an accurate picture of the Flag.
A flag is physically no more than fabric, but the power a flag holds through its symbolism is immense. The Confederate Flag is approaching its 150th anniversary and to this day remains a victim of recent culture; few can see beyond the rebel flag and the few people who support it causing the beauty of the Confederate Flag to remain hidden in the past. Perhaps, in time, history will catch up with culture and the Confederate Flag will be proudly flown throughout the South without fear. We should look forward to the day when southerners can join together and reject the twisted misinterpretation that culture has forced on the grand Flag of the Confederacy and salute those who choose to fly the colors in honor of the Confederacy, praying they will stand strong amidst today’s culture to rekindle the southern spirit. The Sons of Confederate Veterans choose to honor both the flag of the United States and the Confederate Flag, saluting the United States Flag and following it with a pledge to the Confederate Flag: “I salute the Confederate flag with affection, reverence, and undying devotion to the Cause for which it stands.”
(Grissom 82) Perhaps someday our nation will join in this secondary pledge returning to, and standing for, the values for which the Confederate Flag was raised.
*Grissom, Michael Andrew. Southern by the Grace of God. Gretna, LA: Pelican Publishing Company, 1990. 82. Print.
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