Rational response to controversial symbols in media turns into insanity

[TheHuckster]

Apple Pulls Civil War Games from its Store because it contains images of the Confederate Flag

For some, the flag is a symbol of Southern US Culture, and claim it has nothing to do with racism, but rather the historic heritage of the south. For others, it's a symbol of the south wanting to keep slavery as the status quo, not to mention having been General Lee's army battle flag during the bloodiest war to have taken place on American soil, when half of the US wanted to become their own sovereign nation.

I definitely side with those who consider the flag offensive, and while I always respect first amendment rights, I think it's a disgrace to have the flag over the South Carolina capitol. Especially considering it was raised in 1961 as a response to the civil rights movement. For this reason, I disagree with those who say the flag doesn't directly correlate with racism. Especially in recent decades it has been adopted by racist organizations in some sort of claim that the war isn't over yet.

I understand eBay and Amazon's new rules prohibiting Confederate Flag merchandise. I support removal of the flag from public spaces.

But once you get to the point where you're censoring games which use the flag solely as a historical symbol, it crosses the line into ridiculousness. It's no different than showing Nazi's using swastika symbols in historical media or portraying Ku Klux Klan members with their white robes. Yes, those symbols carry a message of hate and intolerance, but just portraying historical figures with those symbols is simply displaying the truth of what those symbols were (and are) used for.

Once you go from rational "Let's not sell merchandise that symbolize racism and hate" to irrational "Let's censor any and all uses of the symbol regardless of its intent or how it's used" it just really irks me.

[Andara Bledin]

I wonder if this was a blanket filter and they'll review and return items which are historical in nature.

It's hard to say what they're up to since whatever it is just happened today.

[Kheldarson]

They're removing the flag from the Dukes of Hazzard too.

[s_stabeler]

In general, i don't care if people use the Confederate flag. however, it should not be flying above the Capitol- as generally, that is taken as a sign of allegiance.

[Aragarthiel]

I'm with s_stabeler on not really caring if someone displays it. It means something different to everyone, so it's really a personal decision. But what gets me are people who are so defensive of their right to display the Confederate flag, claiming free speech and all, then claim that it's "just historical." If that's so, what's wrong with taking it down if you know it offends someone?

[wolfie]

They're removing the flag from the Dukes of Hazzard too.

How long before some entrepreneur starts selling various sizes of Confederate battle flag decal, with the size not only being given in inches, but also as "to fit the roof of a 1969 Dodge Charger in $scale"?

The copyright on the "Stars and Bars" has long since lapsed (and it would have been a copyright under a jurisdiction which no longer exists), and they wouldn't be selling unlicensed DofH merchandise (just flag decals).

[HYHYBT]

There is (or at least ought to be; the problem in SC's case is the history of how their example came about) a difference between flying the flag from the top of the capitol and flying it on a nearby war memorial. However: the real flag of the Confederacy would be more appropriate for the latter unless the purpose is to offend.

[Andara Bledin]

The copyright on the "Stars and Bars" has long since lapsed (and it would have been a copyright under a jurisdiction which no longer exists), and they wouldn't be selling unlicensed DofH merchandise (just flag decals).

The Stars and Bars and the Confederate Battle Flag are two completely different flags. The latter came about because the former was so close to the Stars and Stripes that it was hard to distinguish between the two on a battlefield which led to ... difficulties.

[s_stabeler]

There is (or at least ought to be; the problem in SC's case is the history of how their example came about) a difference between flying the flag from the top of the capitol and flying it on a nearby war memorial. However: the real flag of the Confederacy would be more appropriate for the latter unless the purpose is to offend.

actually, in terms of flying the flag on the war memorial, the Battle Flag probably IS more appropriate, since the Battle Flag has come to symbolize the Confederacy.

As for it being offensive: on the war memorial, it is appropriate- just like, if it was a memorial to those who died on the Nazi side in WW2, I would support the Nazi flag being flown. However, it is probably a good idea to make it a memorial to those who died on both sides, and fly both the Confederate and Union flags.

[Kheldarson]

I keep hearing how we're "ignoring our history" by taking the flag down. I'm just like no, the idea is to not show government support for a time that is one of the most racially charged moments in our history. Keep it at memorials and museums. Leave it in the images and movies from the earlier times. But let's move forward.

[BlaqueKatt]

They're removing the flag from the Dukes of Hazzard too.

Um, no. They're just not making anymore, Warner Brothers is no longer licensing the merchandise. Which is a huge difference. And considering the show is 35 years old(you still see any chips or mash merchandise being sold? or anything from any other TV show from the 70's for that matter?), I'm actually surprised they were still making it.

[Hyena Dandy]

And considering the show is 35 years old(you still see any chips or mash merchandise being sold

Yes, I do. I got a friend a M*A*S*H shirt a few months ago. When it comes to hugely popular shows like that, the merchandise has been chugging along. CHiPS I don't think so, but I don't thin CHiPS quite reached the level of cultural saturation Dukes or M*A*S*H did. I'm definitely not surprised that the Dukes stuff was still being sold.

[Kheldarson]

Um, no. They're just not making anymore, Warner Brothers is no longer licensing the merchandise. Which is a huge difference. And considering the show is 35 years old(you still see any chips or mash merchandise being sold? or anything from any other TV show from the 70's for that matter?), I'm actually surprised they were still making it.

I saw a different article. Is all.

[Hyena Dandy]

I saw a different article. Is all.

'69 Chargers are still being sold, without the confederate flag on it because that's a license thing. So you weren't wrong.

[protege]

How long before some entrepreneur starts selling various sizes of Confederate battle flag decal, with the size not only being given in inches, but also as "to fit the roof of a 1969 Dodge Charger in $scale"?

It's already been done with other "controversial" items in the modeling world. You can't even get WWII-era armor or aircraft kits with full swastikas on the decal sheet. Usually, those emblems are cut into four L-shaped pieces (which are a bitch to align), or left out totally. I don't know about anyone else, but the sight of a Messerschmitt BF 109 without a swastika on the tail looks a bit odd.

Same thing with alcohol and tobacco-sponsored race cars. These too had their logos yanked, mostly because "children would see them." Never mind that such cars were readily available to view on TV

In stepped the aftermarket, which sells decal sheets to accurately model such things. It sucks that we have to resort to that, but oh well.