Saw 4 large Confederate flags flying at a house today,

[winterman]

The fact that Andrew Johnson (who was from the "hillbilly" area you disparaged) was elected president of the U.S. in the reconstruction period should have told you that there was something wrong with your statement.

Andrew Johnson was not "elected" president. He was elected vice president to Abraham Lincoln's second term as president. He did not receive the nomination when he tried to run 4 years later.

 

[asta]

"The fact that Andrew Johnson (who was from the "hillbilly" area you disparaged) was elected president of the U.S. in the reconstruction period should have told you that there was something wrong with your statement. Hillbilly and the Confederacy makes as much sense as blaming Canadians for slavery."

Actually...Johnson was never elected President. He became President when Lincoln was murdered. He only served out Lincoln's term, and never ran for President after.

Sorry wrong choice of words. Should have said served. That does not change the fact that the region of the south he was from was actually very against seceding. They tried to form a separate state and stay in the union. To say that the confederate flag reminds you of those people (I prefer to not use hillbilly) is just wrong.

It amazes me that people are so quick to form hateful opinions of others that they don't let facts or history stop them. That says a lot more about the nature of hate than any insults they express toward others.

 

[declansdad]

As a Canadian you could be excused for being uneducated about US history. I won't form an opinion about the quality of that education based on your uninformed statements. What I can't excuse is that anyone would form and post ridiculous, judgmental statements when they haven't bothered to become educated about the topic.

The fact that Andrew Johnson (who was from the "hillbilly" area you disparaged) was elected president of the U.S. in the reconstruction period should have told you that there was something wrong with your statement. Hillbilly and the Confederacy makes as much sense as blaming Canadians for slavery.

Seem like you were a bit confused on your history as well.

As for the definition of white trash

white trash

• Word Origin

noun, Slang: Disparaging and Offensive.
1.
a member of the class of poor whites, especially in the southern U.S.
2.
poor whites collectively.

Origin of white trash
1850-1855
1850-55, Americanism

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2015.
Cite This Source

See

 

[disneyjunkie]

I am truly amazed that someone from NYC has to see it so much to be so offended by it. When here, its rarely seen. At memorials, the home of Jeff Davis and a few trucks at truck/car shows and thats about it.

I see that flag/symbol every single time I'm in SC, NC or VA. On shirts, cars, hats, houses...

I do not see it here in NYC.

It's kind of funny that you seem to think that since I don't see the freak flag that often, it shouldn't matter/offend me.

 

[asta]

Seem like you were a bit confused on your history as well.

As for the definition of white trash



See

See my prior post, sorry for the wrong word. That does not change the point that what the OP was basing their hatred on is just wrong.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I believe the term white trash is no better than other words that are banned. Highly offensive to label a group of people. You can call an individual trash but you bring race into it. If this was reversed, the monitors would have deleted the racists posts. Very discriminatory for this board.

The word ghetto isn't deleted here. Any time there is a thread here about a negative news story involving black teens or young adults, the word ghetto is thrown around. I don't recall people getting their undies in a twist over that.

I don't recall people complaining about the term white trash when the thread is not about that flag. That term has been used here on threads about crazy neighbors, clueless parents, nutty people at local amusement parks, Walmart...

 

[asta]

Seem like you were a bit confused on your history as well.

As for the definition of white trash



See

I think the definition of white trash from Merriam-Webster is better than Wikipedia:

Definition of WHITE TRASH
usually disparaging
: a member of an inferior or underprivileged white social group

Still offensive unless your point is to insult southerners. Anyway you use it, it still says more about the user of a word like that than anyone they are trying to insult.

 

[declansdad]

I think the definition of white trash from Merriam-Webster is better than Wikipedia:

Definition of WHITE TRASH
usually disparaging
: a member of an inferior or underprivileged white social group

Still offensive unless your point is to insult southerners. Anyway you use it, it still says more about the user of a word like that than anyone they are trying to insult.

I didn't quote Wikipedia but don't let that get in your way. The point is that given the common definition of the term, it is quite natural for someone to think of the same terms as the person you are disparaging when hearing the term white trash.

 

[Disneychick75]

I think the definition of white trash from Merriam-Webster is better than Wikipedia:

Definition of WHITE TRASH
usually disparaging
: a member of an inferior or underprivileged white social group

Still offensive unless your point is to insult southerners. Anyway you use it, it still says more about the user of a word like that than anyone they are trying to insult.

That is what I would call the old-fashioned definition. I've heard Brittany Spears and Christina Aquilera, for examples, called White trash. They're far from under privileged. It's more of a behavior term. As I said though, more and more, people's bad behavior who are of any race is referred to as trashy.
It cracks me up too that some think or at least act like racism only exists in the South. Is anyone else here old enough to remember Boston after a judge ordered busing? This was in the mid 1970's. There were violent protests. People were killed.

 

[Shmily1]

it was in the white trash section of Sanford Fla. It was really strange to see this and sad in a way. They were large on very tall flag poles. Looking at the property it looked like the guy spent his last bit of money putting them up.

I believe this is one of the most racist and prejudiced remarks I've seen in a long time. And then you wonder why he had the flags. The flags aren't nearly as prejudiced as your comments. SMH

 

[asta]

I didn't quote Wikipedia but don't let that get in your way. The point is that given the common definition of the term, it is quite natural for someone to think of the same terms as the person you are disparaging when hearing the term white trash.

I may be misunderstanding you but are you saying "hillbilly" and "white trash" mean the same thing? Unbelievable! Is the point here to disparage as many people as possible?

I am sorry I wrongly assigned your definition to Wikipedia. It appeared to be very similar but is not the exact wording. Without knowing your source I would still go with Merriam-Webster.

 

[SirDuff]

I may be misunderstanding you but are you saying "hillbilly" and "white trash" mean the same thing? Unbelievable! Is the point here to disparage as many people as possible?

I am sorry I wrongly assigned your definition to Wikipedia. It appeared to be very similar but is not the exact wording. Without knowing your source I would still go with Merriam-Webster.

His source was right in what you quoted:

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2015.
Cite This Source

 

[declansdad]

I may be misunderstanding you but are you saying "hillbilly" and "white trash" mean the same thing? Unbelievable! Is the point here to disparage as many people as possible?

I am sorry I wrongly assigned your definition to Wikipedia. It appeared to be very similar but is not the exact wording. Without knowing your source I would still go with Merriam-Webster.

I'm not trying to disparage anyone; I'm trying to explain that the terms have become somewhat inter-changeable in our society. As SirDuff pointed out to you, my source was right in the post.

 

[asta]

I'm not trying to disparage anyone; I'm trying to explain that the terms have become somewhat inter-changeable in our society. As SirDuff pointed out to you, my source was right in the post.

It appears there are different definitions to what is still an offensive term. In light of the hate supported in this thread it is no surprise that the the definition that disparages the most would be sourced and used.

I am still absolutely amazed that you think hillbilly and white trash describe the same people. That takes the insults to whole another level. I feel very sorry for you if the society you have been exposed to think this is OK.

 

[declansdad]

It appears there are different definitions to what is still an offensive term. In light of the hate supported in this thread it is no surprise that the the definition that disparages the most would be sourced and used.

I am still absolutely amazed that you think hillbilly and white trash describe the same people. That takes the insults to whole another level. I feel very sorry for you if the society you have been exposed to think this is OK.

First off I never said it was ok yet you keep trying to say that. I simply pointed out the reasons why some people could see them as being the same, it certainly doesn't mean they would be a racist.

 

[asta]

First off I never said it was ok yet you keep trying to say that. I simply pointed out the reasons why some people could see them as being the same, it certainly doesn't mean they would be a racist.

Once again sorry to misunderstand you. Maybe you could tell me why someone would equate someone from a mountainous region (hillbilly) with white trash. How are those the same? I think you are saying that is not OK so that is good. But it would never be OK to call someone trash. And especially bad to call someone that just based on where they live.

I haven't called anyone racists but throwing ethnic slurs at others comes very close.

 

[Kalliope]

It is the flag of traitors who lost a war they fought to maintain their desired right to own other human beings. Why anybody wants to associate with defeated traitors makes no sense to me, and while those who do so have the right to make a statement, so do others have the right to denounce that statement with statements of their own.

As to getting over it, one could say the same thing for those still flying the Confederate battle flag more than 150 years after the Confederacy was defeated and surrendered. The admonition to get over it rings a little hollow in that light, in my opinion.

The first flag from the Colonies was a flag of traitors.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Hey, about hate speech and being PC, etc...
People like to have it both ways...
It is not okay for others to make a statement (verbal or otherwise) which is prejudiced against another type of people.
But, it is okay for that person to use negative and prejudiced terms against another type of people.

I understand the OP's concerns about the Confederate Battle Flag.
But, they have to understand that they are going to lose a lot of people when the do the same thing that they don't think others should do.

And, about the Confederate flag.
It stands for one thing, and one thing only.
The South's battle to try to defend and maintain their right to practice slavery.
Anyone who is missing that is missing the one major and key point.

It does not matter to me, at all, that there there may be a few unwitting and misguided young people who think they see a different meaning.
I can try to say that a Swastika represents peace and love and unity.
But, in reality, I would look at anyone who were to think that way and want just to roll my eyes... (if not try very hard not to laugh!!!)

In the end, unless something is regarded as true Hate Speech, then hey, it is fair game.

Like the old quote says. (something like this...)
I might not agree with what you have to say...
But, I would defend, to my death, your right to say it.

As far as this flag being flown on government properties.
I agree that this has been changed.
I really don't think the Confederate flag, or the Gay/Lesbian flag, or the Christian flag, swastika, or any other flag that represents an ideal held by only a fraction of the citizens (and specifically excludes other citizens) should be displayed by our Government.

I would rather see 1000 huge Confederate flags going down the road on poles attached to pick-up trucks, than one Confederate flag being flown in front of, or from the top of, my Government buildings.

 

[Wishing on a star]

The first flag from the Colonies was a flag of traitors.

Not true...
That changed the minute the Colonies won the war, and their ideals triumphed.

 

[Kalliope]

Not true...
That changed the minute the Colonies won the war, and their ideals triumphed.

That doesn't change the fact the first flag was a flag of traitors.