Symbols Of Pain: Does The Confederate Flag Need To Be Removed From The South?

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Disclaimer: The views expressed in the debate below are of the authors’ and are not views expressed by The Thrill Society and its management.

On June 17, 2015, a scruffy barely-adult with a floppy mop of blonde hair entered the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, near the banks of North Charleston, South Carolina.

In his hands was a .45 calibre that he aimed at 10 attendees. Nine were murdered. Only one survived.

The man behind the mop is one Dylan Roof, a self-proclaimed “Last Rhodesian” and defender of white supremacy.

On his site, The Last Rhodesian, Roof published a manifesto which outlined the reasons for his stance against Blacks, Jews, Hispanics and East Asians.

According to his manifesto, African Americans are the “biggest problem for the United States”. “They” are “stupid and violent” and “view everything through a racial lens.”

His wishes were to have a history in which “every white person had an ancestor who owned slaves,” that every “n****** (was) treated terribly throughout history by whites” because the white population of America, as claimed by Roof, are “superior.”

 Pictured: Dylan Roof

His reason for taking arms, as written in his manifesto, was borne out of an obligation to maintain the “good of society.” That is, the ratio of “whites to blacks.”

Along with the manifesto, the 21 year-old also published a series of photographs that depicted an abhorrence towards the flag of the United States, a love for guns and an even bigger love for the old Confederate flag – or rather its battle issue.

Due to all this, the massacre was no longer a crime but a hate crime and, as a symbol adored by the perpetrator, the Confederate flag came under fire.

Since then, civic leaders have urged for the removal of the flag in front of South Carolina’s state capitol. Alabama held a flag removal ceremony. A procession of retailers, from Walmart to eBay, have discontinued any items associated with the Stars and Bars. Even the infamous Dodge Charger from the TV favorite, The Dukes of Hazard, is set to get a makeover that will remove the Confederate flag from its roof.

Image Credit: gadgetshowprizes.com

However, is the flag itself a “symbol of hate” as depicted by those who wish to see its extinction?

In A Thrill Society first, two bloggers will be pitted against each other to defend or dismiss the Confederate flag.

In the red corner, we have Stumbling Otis, TTS’s resident drunk philosopher, teller of tummy-tickling tales, content advisor, talent scout, and conduit to powers grander than most would know—which is a fancy way of saying that he’s a sarcastic smart ass that is equipped for the challenge presented to him today.

In the blue corner, meet Wild Child Of Style, also known as The General. With an extensive history of activism, the Wild Child believes that, while the flag did not insight the crime, its history and appearance at many race issues, should be reason enough to be removed from institutional/governmental buildings.

The first issue on the agenda will be claims that the flag in not a symbol of hate but a symbol of the history and heritage of the southern states….

ROUND ONE: HERITAGE OR HATE?

STUMBLING OTIS:

First I’d like to state that I’m drunk, thank you! Second, I’m not a bigot, you’re welcome. Third, hang on, I need to top up my glass before I wax philosophical.

Symbols have power, this I will not deny, but a symbol is only a symbol and not an act. Symbols and icons, totems, talismans, idols, zemis, amulets, images and charms. Each is only a brand name representing those of a legion of followers and each is only as powerful as the wearer.

For example, the Wan and the Swastika.

Tell me, if symbols rule the mind of the wearer then why is an ancient symbol of good luck and auspiciousness derived of Sanskrit and well documented before European pre-history, is most notably associated with the Holocaust and the Nazi horrific fuckery of the Jews???

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