This whole thread is about public schoolchildren wearing the Confederate flag in school. I am surprised that the Navy named a ship after Stonewall Jackson. I disagree with that act. Jackson took up arms against the United States. His name has no place in the armed forces. Has it ever occurred to you that indiscriminate use of the Confederate flag demeans the memory of the Confederate war dead? If we only brought out that flag in solemn remembrances of the dead, the Confederate flag might not be so controversial. Instead, it is associated in the modern era with hostility to blacks. I have known a few Southerners; those who displayed the Confederate flag by and large turned out to be racists. Now, there are all kinds of racists, from the harmless to the irritating to the dangerous. But my experience has been that attachment to that flag is a good sign of racial hostility. Now tell me this: what would you think about someone obsessed with the Wehrmacht, and who wore clothing displaying the Wehrmacht emblem, which I believe is an eagle? No swastikas; just the eagle. In response to questions, my hypothetical man says that he honors the military prowess of the regular German army, and that he has no hostility to Jews or other groups. Believable?
Obviously you've never served in the armed forces. It is quite okay to honor an opponent's valor, yet despise the ideals they fight for. This is something a military man would understand ... you would not. It is amazing that a piece of cloth disturbs you so much. What is it about that flag threatens you so much? You obviously don't believe in the right of self-expression, nor do you believe that Southerners were capable of fighting for something much bigger than slavery. Do you believe in the right of self determination? Do you know enough about what the Founding Fathers' intent was when they drafted the Constitution? Do you believe that once the states ratified the Constitution they signed away all right of self-determination to the Federal Government? Do you know what "Limited Government" means? And I have a Confederate Flag on my vehicle ... so does that make me a racist?
As far as your hypothetical man goes, I would suppose that he would have the attributes you would give to him. Do I think he could admire the fighting prowess of the Wermacht and not be bigoted towards Jews ... YES. But IF he is admirable of the Warrior spirit, yet capable of compassion. What I believe is that you need to dig deeper into the ideals of the Founders and discover what they intended for government. I'll give you a little hint ... self-determination was to be paramount as well as individual liberty. It was to be a country where man-over-government was the ideal. Anything else is not in their vision. Lastly ... no ... I am not a racist, and I think slavery was wrong, but I DO feel the Southern States had the right to determine their own course and domestic institutions ... FREE FROM OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE!
Oh ... and psssssssssssssst ... I spent 20 years in the US military.
I am surprised that the Navy named a ship after Stonewall Jackson. I disagree with that act. Jackson took up arms against the United States. His name has no place in the armed forces. It is quite obvious, maro, that you are rather ill informed in regards to the traditions of the American armed forces.
Throughout American military history, brave and honorable men who “took up arms against the United States” have been honored by the American military. It is a fact of History that America is made up of the descendents of ancestors that may have fought against each other during the course of American History. Hate-mongering Bloody Shirt wavers may call some of these men “enemies”. The American military considers them American warriors and it honors them.
Take the case, for example of Chief Tecumseh. Chief Tecumseh dedicated his life to fighting the United States. Yet, he was and still is recognized by the American military as a noble foe fighting to defend his homeland. As a result, he was and still is admired and honored.
The honor shown Chief Tecumseh was such that children such as the future Union General William Tecumseh Sherman were named after him.
The honor shown Chief Tecumseh was such that a Union warship was named after him during the Civil War. USS Tecumseh
The honor shown Chief Tecumseh was such that a U.S. Navy ballistic missile submarines was named after him. USS Tecumseh (SSBN628)
Another brave and honorable men who “took up arms against the United States” that was so honored was Chief Osceola who led his Seminole Tribe in the Seminole Wars against the United States. USS Osceola
If you are indeed “surprised” that the American military would honor Stonewall Jackson, let me surprise you some more, maro:
Fort Lee, named after General Robert E. Lee, CSA.
Fort Benning, named after General Henry Lewis Benning, CSA.
Fort Bragg, named after General Braxton Bragg, CSA.
Fort A.P. Hill, named after General Ambrose Powel Hill, CSA.
Fort Hood, named after General John Bell Hood, CSA.
USS Robert E. Lee SSBN601
Has it ever occurred to you that indiscriminate use of the Confederate flag demeans the memory of the Confederate war dead?
Not any more than the indiscriminate use of the Stars and Stripes demeans the memory of World War Two vets. During the massive Ku Klux Klan rallies in Washington, D.C. during the 1930’s, the flag that were carried by the thousand was the Stars and Stripes. Should we design a new flag so that some people with thin skins won’t be offended?
Now tell me this: what would you think about someone obsessed with the Wehrmacht, and who wore clothing displaying the Wehrmacht emblem, which I believe is an eagle? No swastikas; just the eagle.
So now you again equate Southerners with Nazis. You don’t give up do you?
But, to answer your question: After World War Two, West Germany became a NATO ally. Many in the post-war German Army had fought and had been decorated in World War II. The World War Two Iron Crosses were recalled, the swastikas were taken off and the Iron Crosses were then given back to the veterans to wear on their German uniforms. To this very day, the symbol displayed on the aircraft and armor of our German NATO allies is…..the Iron Cross. The symbol of Germany and the Bundesluftwaffe is still …..the Eagle.