Modern society has developed different ways of looking at historical images, artifacts, and cultural antiques. In our American society, the flag of the former Confederate states has taken on a cultural role of its own. It is viewed as a symbol of hatred, a symbol of heritage, and a symbol of a way of life all at the same time. However, my personal view of the Confederate flag in today’s society is not in line with any of these. Personally, I am someone very much invested in United States history. I have always had an interest in the American Civil War and have visited the Gettysburg battlefield on over a dozen different occasions. Aside for my own personal wonderment in the American Civil War, I am also a History Major. So, for me, the first things I think of when I see the Confederate flag (the battle flag in particular) are not necessarily bigots, racists, or people in favor of bringing slavery back. Rather, I am quickly reminded of my various experiences camping, hiking, and touring the Gettysburg battlefield. I remember the vivid, detailed accounts of actual battlefield drama and horror that took place between neighbors at war. I am so consumed by the history buff culture of the Civil War (and Gettysburg in particular) that its difficult for me to think of anything else but the Civil War when I am confronted with the image or flying of a Confederate flag. Yet, like many things, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. While someone like me could find beauty in the Confederate flag for its intrinsic historical-significance, someone else could find utter evilness in the flag for its blatant connection with those who stood in favor of slavery, racial persecution, and hangings of African-Americans. It will always be difficult for those who immediately associate the Confederate flag with the awful inequalities and violent treatment bestowed upon African-Americans to understand the view point of others. Whether it is groups of people who consider themselves part of the “redneck” subculture, or history buffs like me who romanticize the Civil War, not everyone feels such a strong taboo as civil libertarians and the politically correct upon seeing someone displaying the Confederate flag in today’s society. Ultimately, like many other taboos in our society, the taboo caused by the Confederate flag is the product of political correctness. If we could shield ourselves from the heavy weight bearing down on us because of political correctness, then perhaps we could open up to other people’s viewpoints through frank discussions. And while there are always exceptions to the rule, I believe that people should try and give a person the benefit of the doubt when seeing an individual admiring or flying a Confederate flag. Let us not just assume the individual is a bigot, but rather, let us discuss with the individual their own, personal reasons for admiring or flying the flag in an environment where the taboo is not so burdensome.

I felt the activity to be quite interesting and provocative at the same time. It was interesting to observe the different levels of uncomfortableness experienced by the various participants. People take their racial identity quite serious for the most part and it was refreshing to see the two placers assume incorrectly regarding the participants’ racial identity. More importantly, by engaging the class in an activity that would perhaps otherwise seem inappropriate in a different setting, Sam successfully established a sense of openness and frankness in the class. If only other parts of society could allow such openness and frankness, then perhaps we could drop the political correctness that hampers progressive racial discussion. It is a society’s concept of what is and what is not politically correct that sets an arbitrary line that determines what can and what can not be said in certain situations, discussions, and institutions. Once the social norm of political correctness is scrapped, then people would feel much more comfortable openly discussing their differences. The key factor here is that political correctness tries to squash differences among populations under the facade of civility and unity. In my opinion, this has the reverse effect. If we break down all the different race categories to basic human physiology, then we would see how similar and unified we already are. It is simply evolution relative to a population’s geographical location that has resulted in the different, external physical characteristics that we see throughout different racial groups. If ever the majority of society could understand this, then perhaps political correctness could vanish and individuals could openly discuss differences without feeling the taboo caused by saying something that otherwise would cross the arbitrary line and offend someone. But, in today’s world of everyone gets a trophy, political correctness establishes certain discussions as taboo, which when these discussions are brought about, causes tension, anger, and resentment among people of different races. If we accept our external, physical differences as simply our ancestors’ adaptations to certain climates/weather conditions, then peoples of different races could rid the large elephant from the room and maybe create some genuine unity, and not just the phantom respect that is perpetuated through political correctness. Now, as far as the activity itself goes, I was actually quite entertained by the whole ordeal. I am what you would call a person of ambiguous race. In the summer, I get so tan that I can easily pass for 100% black. In the fall, I turn into more of the stereotypical Latino. Yet, in the winter and spring, I look mostly Caucasian. I though the participants were very good sports and I felt the placers were open and frank about what they really thought. Ultimately, the activity got me thinking of what race the placers would have put me, considering the ambiguity of my racial identity.

SOC 119