flying the Confederate flag?

[HedgeVeg]

We've just seen that a neighbour of ours has decided it's a great idea to fly a Confederate flag proudly in their back garden.

AIBU to think that it's spectacularly bizarre and complete dickish behaviour to fly any flag outside of sporting events fly a the Confederate flag?

(We're within the UK)

Surely they can't be ignorant of it? It's a very choice decision to fly any flag, least of all such a controversial one

Do we have the same neighbour? (Surrey)
I thought to myself the other day, why not just put it out front, if you're proud. 🤔

@HedgeVeg

Surely they can't be ignorant of it? It's a very choice decision to fly any flag, least of all such a controversial one

Unfortunately I think there are many who don't understand the connotations. American family members find the confederate flag abhorrent, as do I. The ones that display it are no doubt the gun toting white supremacists.

If they really are confederate sympathisers, or similar, I'd be concerned about their observance of things such as drink driving laws, wearing seatbelts and where required, face coverings. Also worth checking if they have a gun licence (unlikely).

If they really are confederate sympathisers, or similar, I'd be concerned about their observance of things such as drink driving laws, wearing seatbelts and where required, face coverings. Also worth checking if they have a gun licence (unlikely).

Really? Why?

Because they're clearly not v bright....?

Maybe they're just really big Dukes of Hazard fans

They must have at least some understand of the flag though? They're not flying it because they like the colours.

Confederate flag items are actually banned on Amazon apparently

It's the height of twattery, yanbu.

IIRC, the confederate flag as we know it today didn’t really exist during the American Civil War so doesn’t have the historical meaning that a lot of these people think it does.

Makes them look even more stupid 😂

IMO in the near future this will be as acceptable as a flying nazi flag.

@ChainJane

The confederate flag is only partly negative

Wrong.

It's the flag of the slave states which formed a confederacy to fight against the Union for the right to decide for themselves to keep on being slave states. They cared only about the right to remain slave states, i.e. states where human beings could be bought and sold, gambled away in card games, raped, whipped, shackled, and counted as property.

This is what that flag stands for.

@ChainJane

While it has negative connotations in the USA until recently most people outside of America associated it with the Dukes of Hazzard more than any "I like slavery" position.

The confederate flag is only partly negative. It embodies rebellion against "the man" and the pursuit of freedom, very much like the Scottish flag being waved as a big "fXXX you" to England.

That said, I wouldn't associate myself with anyone who waved a confederate flag in their garden, just as I wouldn't someone displaying a USSR flag or picture of Che Guevara.

Erm, it’s totally negative not partly and nothing like the Scottish flag being waved at the English.

Unless they were born and raised in Tennessee, I'd find it odd.

And even then I'd be assuming they were redneck and racist.

A bit of mixed feeling on this, as it is the UK maybe they don't know the meaning?

I live in Switzerland and I know an American themed burger restaurant that has the Confederate flag all over it. I genuinely doubt these people know the meaning in modern day America. To be honest even 10 years ago, I think it would have been seen by fairly educated people as just s bit of Americana.

@WhatTheFlap

IIRC, the confederate flag as we know it today didn’t really exist during the American Civil War so doesn’t have the historical meaning that a lot of these people think it does.

Makes them look even more stupid 😂

Wasn't it a battle flag, rather than the state flag?

(As a complete btw, it's also a saltire. I don't understand why Scots don't use the traditional name for their flag: the St Andrew's cross).

@DeathStare

Bidens been and they started out confederate so he’s probably just a democrat/huge Biden fan

I doubt anyone flying a confederate flag is either a Democrat or a huge Biden fan.

This.

That's a bizarre reading. YANBU, OP.

Flag flyers in the UK at any time except sports being on are usually best avoided. There's something so try hard and look at us about it. You've got the right message OP, avoid

Its depressing that some replicate what is US practice with flag hanging and love of flags. 30 years ago if you'd had a flag outside your house the neighbours would have assumed you were a fruitcake. To me, its still the case!

(As a complete btw, it's also a saltire. I don't understand why Scots don't use the traditional name for their flag: the St Andrew's cross).

And why do the British say Union Jack when that's maritime?

It's really handy. It lets you know that they're racist idiots, without having to interact with them.

@tttigress

A bit of mixed feeling on this, as it is the UK maybe they don't know the meaning?

I live in Switzerland and I know an American themed burger restaurant that has the Confederate flag all over it. I genuinely doubt these people know the meaning in modern day America. To be honest even 10 years ago, I think it would have been seen by fairly educated people as just s bit of Americana.

Glad you say that. Ds had a birthday cake of the general Lee about ten years ago. I was very proud of my flag. Only learned more about it recently.

Bidens been and they started out confederate so he’s probably just a democrat/huge Biden fan.

Biden is from Delaware. Though that state didn't have a stellar early record on slavery, it had few slaves by 1860, and was definitely a Union state rather than a Confederate state.

Although there were far-right, white supremacist, pro-Confederacy Democrats in the past, mainly in the South, such people are essentially all Republicans nowadays (if they vote at all).. And usually Trump supporters.

YANBU. Why would British people have a Confederate flag? Either they're totally ignorant of what it means, or they're deliberately identifying with the worst parts of American history.

I have to admit I had no idea about the connotations when I had a bday party for my son 7 years ago and we had one! Thanks to mumsnet I do know now but I still think a lot of people think Dukes if Hazzard

It was a dukes of hazzard party by the way