Reply #20: free speech [View All]

[Bertha Venation]

The rebel flag symbolizes hatred to you the same way the rainbow flag symbolizes hatred to others.

You seem to think that one who displays the rebel flag hates at best just persons of color and at worst the U.S.

Others think (I have been told this to my face by four different people in the last ten years -- anecdotal, yes, but no less true) that one who displays the rainbow flag hates at best just heterosexuals and at worst the U.S. (not to mention "God" and "The Traditional Family" and "The American Way"). (on edit: -- I display the US, CA, and rainbow flags on my desk at work. I am out everywhere.)

It's a matter of freedom of speech, IMO. You're welcome to think me a bigot for not thinking "rebel flag automatically = hatred," but you'd be wrong. I despise symbols taken as hatred for what they connote -- rightly or in our imaginations -- just as much as I despise bigotry.

I like what Brett Butler said on the topic of bigotry: "I hate bigots so much I am one."

on edit: "every time I bring up the fact that the rebel flag = hate, no one disagrees"

Count me as cordially disagreeing. It's not a fact.