July 10--Heritage or hate? As the Confederate battle flag came down Friday at the South Carolina Capitol, divisions remain deep over the meaning of the symbol.
Those who see the flag as an emblem of an era when African Americans were chained, whipped and traded as chattel cheered the move. Those who see the flag as a celebration of Southern heritage and respect for the soldiers who died fighting for the Confederacy did not.
The final vote by South Carolina legislators to remove the flag came in the early morning Thursday, the same day the U.S. House of Representatives fell into an uproar over a proposed plan to ban displays of the flag on national parklands.
While South Carolina's flag was taken down on Friday, the Confederate symbol remains part of several state flags, and the debate over what the flag actually represents seems far from over:
The flag means heritage
Everyone, let's cheer symbolic actions that change nothing, but erase history! Unearned sense of moral superiority FTW!
-- Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) July 10, 2015
Banning the #ConfederateFlag will not reduce American race hate any more than banning guns will stop Americans from wanting to hurt others.
-- DD 163 (@DD_163) July 10, 2015
-- Sabrina Marie (@SassyPrasse) July 10, 2015
I support the Confederate Flag, not because I think slavery is right, but because it is a symbol of the South, and our heritage.
-- MyConservativePony (@mlp_wholocked) July 10, 2015
I think half the country needs a history lesson on why the civil war was really fought... The confederate flag is heritage, not hate
-- Donovan Pipitone (@DonovanPipitone) July 10, 2015
they can lower the confederate flag all over the us but 1 place they WILL NOT lower it is in my heart, my house and my heritage #saveourflag
-- aeja (@aejadillon) July 10, 2015
Sad day for our confederate ancestors and those who sympathize and see the confederate flag as a sign of heritage and honor and not hate.
-- Greyson Jones (@grey720) July 10, 2015
Federal Goverment can do what ever they want, and politically correct freaks can say whatever, Confederate flag, my heritage forever.
-- Barry Pool (@Bepool10) July 10, 2015
My ancestors who fought under the confederate flag? Were actually Chickasaw Indians, my pride of heritage has nothing to do with slavery
-- Ms. P Henry (@patriotshollow) July 10, 2015
The Confederate flag coming down is a sad day for all Americans of southern heritage. It's like the north has gutted burned us down again.
-- Ron Wells (@LasVegasRounder) July 10, 2015
The flag means hate
It doesn't require an honor guard to remove a flag of treason hate. Anyone with thumbs can do it. Stop endorsing hate symbols.
-- Bree Newsome (@BreeNewsome) July 10, 2015
It is important that the flag came down today in South Carolina. Symbols of hate must be removed. The work continues, the fight endures.
-- deray mckesson (@deray) July 10, 2015
I get you love your southern heritage, but just fly the American flag instead of the Confederate one. It's really not that big of a deal.
-- Nathan Odom (@nathan_odom11) July 10, 2015
-- ShordeeDooWhop (@Nettaaaaaaaa) July 9, 2015
Those who argue the Confederate flag is part of their heritage, why do you have a need to commemorate a time when the country was divided?
-- vincent deblasio (@Vince_DeBlasio) July 10, 2015
Glad the Confederate flag was finally removed. It was never about heritage, never used until 1940s and was response to Civil Rights movement
-- Zak Williams (@WZWConsulting) July 10, 2015
Jesus Christ. If I hear another word about the stupid confederate flag or "heritage not hate," I'm gonna scream.
-- Ali (@Noles_AJ) July 10, 2015
If you're living in the North and complaining about the confederate flag being taken down claiming "heritage" you're an idiot.
Flying the confederate flag on a Southern building is like flying a swastika over a German one and saying its part of your "German heritage"
-- Uno Cinco (@AyyyLmao15) July 10, 2015
To every white person who says the confederate flag is a symbol of their heritage, I say your heritage is full of hate racism.
-- Gary Chambers (@GaryChambersJr) July 10, 2015
