A previous poster(s) mentioned that a swastika was offensive to them. And that it hurt the feelings of some western people in the shi ming din area of Taipei Taiwan. With the world growing smaller and smaller (well travelling time) perhps we could have some sort of data base on what emblems and symbols are considered non pc hurtful racist chauvinist etc and just ethically unacceptable. Ok so anyhting to do with the german nazi party we have established that, now what about the confederate flag ? Not being American i may of got this wrong but isn’t wearing this emblem similar to wearing a nazi emblem ? Is it racist ?
Perhaps we can all list some non pc and unacceptable symbolism, as we all travel a lot it may be useful to the forumosa community to get some basics in non pc symbolism around the world. If everyone lists one then it will be the start of something great.
Everyone should sew a maple leaf on their backpack.
Let’s just ban all images,. That way none of the pc types will get offended, unless of course they look in the mirror.
Fenlander,
Are you gonna pull those pistols or just whistle Dixie?
Clint Eastwood, The Outlaw Josie Wales (1976)
When I tried that, it just dried up and then fell off after a couple days. What’s the point? 
Fenlander,
The use of the Confederate Flag and what it symbolizes now is a heated debate in parts of the US, especially in states like Mississpippi, FLorida, and Alabama where thier state flags still either contain the common Confederate battle flag or they strongly resemble it. To many in the South, white of course, this flag represents a time when the South was strong and proud. It is usually flown for reasons of “Southern Pride” or for history’s sake. For many, mostly blacks, in the South the flag represents hate, as it harks back to a time of slavery. Outside of the South the flag is rarely flown or seen, and if it is it is usually by some white, redneck who flys it because his favorite country music signer does or for some kind of “redneck pride” thing. In the North, the symbol is widely regarded as a symbol of hate or ignorance, because it has also been adopted by some “White Power” movements like the KKK. As a visitor to the US or when associating with Americans, it is usually smart to err on the side of caution and not display this symbol. It is by no means as taboo as the swastika, but it is still a symbol that conjures up a time most Americans would like to leave in the past.
Ahhh come one, the good ole boys themselves, The Duke brothers had it all over the roof of their car, its cool!
Didn’t understand the reference in the remake when they pulled onto campus, and still don’t really. Is it because the North was fighting to abolish slavery, and the South wanted to keep it?
Whats wrong with offending someone?
Then try wearing a swastica armband in Jerusalem, or fly a confed flag in Bronx or Brooklyn, and your question will be answered. 
Nothing in the law says you can’t be “offended.”
PC and the nanny state haven’t got that far…yet.
And I took this OT to be about the USA. I might be wrong on that.
USA…free speech…its the law.
Neo-Nazis marched in Skokie.
I think the public display of the swastika is outlawed in Germany…right/wrong?
In Jerusalem…I do not know.
Honestly I have a few twinges when I see the Buddhist swastika displayed. And also when I see the Germanic Nazi swastika.
But I thought this was about something else.
Its called ‘personal accountability for ones actions.’
Of course, if you do something stupid, and incite/provoke others, you will pay the price.
And by the way, are you aware that there were black soldiers who volunteered and fought under the Confederate Battle Flag?
I am not ready to call anyone who displays the Confederate Battle flag a “racist.”
And in case you’re wondering, I did have ancestors who had come over in time to fight in the US Civil War. They were on the Union side. Captured and imprisoned in Libby or Andersonville, I always forget which one, POW camp. Their names are on a monument there. Something about 60-70 people in one cell, all but 9 died. 2 of them were relatives (very distant).
I’m quite sure there is a lengthy and informed debate on all this in the US, but I haven’t heard it.
But why should the Confederate flag necessarily represent racisim? While the glib history meted out so school children can digest the salient points tells us the war was about ending slavery, I don’t buy it, I’d say it was all about a bunch of states refusing to adhere to the demands of the Federal government on a myriad of issues, among them abolishing slavery. To paint the flag as a symbol of would be slave owners seems, to me, to severely underestimate the reasons behind that conflict.
But then again, I know sod all about this.
HG
Only when a southern white person waves it. When a minority or a foriegner uses it, it is just fine.
[quote=“Huang Guang Chen”]But why should the Confederate flag necessarily represent racisim? While the glib history meted out so school children can digest the salient points tells us the war was about ending slavery, I don’t buy it, I’d say it was all about a bunch of states refusing to adhere to the demands of the Federal government on a myriad of issues, among them abolishing slavery. To paint the flag as a symbol of would be slave owners seems, to me, to severely underestimate the reasons behind that conflict.
But then again, I know sod all about this.
HG[/quote]
Possibly, but in this case you’ve sussed the nut right out. :bravo:
I don’t really like it when I see the southern cross displayed in most contexts, and when I see a person displaying it, to me that is a good initial indicator that he or she is a dumb redneck or a racist or both. I’m glad that my state’s flag (Tennessee) does not include any confederate symbols, and I don’t think too highly of those who support the retention of such symbols on their states’ flags. However, I’m against any sort of banning of the display of this or any other kind of symbol. Like TC, I cherish freedom of speech more than any so-called “right” not to be offended. I just don’t see the point in a country like Germany banning nazi symbols. What does that accomplish?
I guess most of it is about location location location. It all depnds where you are I guess, so the meaning of symbolism seems to change. I doubt a Jewish star of David would go down well in Syria or union US flag in Iran.
(Umm why do you call the confederate flag a “battle flag” and not just a flag and thanks for the other info you supplied about it?)
Also I have to agree with Tainan cowboy on the US civil war thing. I think it is highely unlikely that a war would of been fought over slavery in those days. Perhaps the union were saying this in order to recruit African American soldiers (as they were good fighters and had good endurance etc, the Amrican native indians were very scared of African american soldiers and respected them greatly (buffalo soldiers). Also most slaves fought on the side of the British during the AMerican war of independance as they were also promised freedom in return for their services. [/b]Britain i believe had already outlawed slavery before the USA. Well the USA was created by slave merchants (please correct me if I am wrong on this one). Anyways going back to symbolism we only have two at present. Most people on here generally agree that nazi synbolism should be banned but the confederate flag is a more fuzzy area. How about some others what about wearing a KMT hat in Kaoshung and why didn’t the Japanese change their flag after world war II and Nanjing ? Or did they ?
The original naitonal flag of the Confederate States of America was called the Stars and Bars, and looked similar, from a distance to the US flag. For that reason it was very confusing on the battlefield. In fact, during the first major engagement at Manassas, troops on both sides fired on thier own side because there were no standardized uniforms and the battle flags were so similar. Thereafter in 1861, what we call the Confederate Flag was adopted by Confederate forces as their battle flag. In 1863 the national flag was changed to include the “Southern Cross” on a whilte field, and then a white and red filed in 1865. You can read all about it here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flags_of_the_Confederate_States_of_America.
I was surprised to see how popular the confederate battle flag was with truck drivers in England and the UK. One of my Scottish friends suggested that it’s local popularity was due in part to antipathy toward the English and the UK, its’ being an easily recognisable symbol of rebellion, and its’ superficial resemblence to the St Andrew’s flag. As one who presumes that it is a symbol of racism, and for some good reasons IMHO, it came as rather a shock. After all, the battle flag was reincorporated into the state flags of some southern states (Missippi, Georgia, Alabama) as a direct reaction to the 1964 civil rights act. It’s not a symbol that I identify with or would care to display, but at the same time, I don’t believe in legislating it out of existence either.
Thanks again that site was interesting JW.
By the way aesthetically speaking (did i spell that right ? I cannnot find the spell checker on here) it is a very good looking flag (the battle flag). Very striking I think. But at the risk of being very non-pc (saying something positive about the USA) I do actually think both of the USA’s flags are nice looking. Yes and I watched the outlaw Jose Wells (is Clint Eastword PC or non pc ?). Yeah it was a great movie I loved it (did i just lose some pc points by saying that ?)
In UK it is basically non-pc to fly a cross of St George flag but ok to fly as St Andrew’s flag !!! Figure that one out, St George is non -pc but St Andrew is PC.
It is probably also non-pc to join in this thread as well !!! So i guess anyone who did is either non-pc or an anarchist type!
Oh by the way if you want to put yourself to sleep everyone and find out the exact descrition of what is PC then check here, it is explained for everyone to see even the non-liberal elite!!! (ah there goes some more PC points damn!)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politically_correct
Oh brother, here we go again. 
both flags? Last I checked there was only the stars and stripes, old glory, etc.
Hadn’t hear that before. Please explain further.
This is what I think of every time I see a Japanese flag.
I thought Lincoln freed the slaves to keep Britain out of the war. After the Trent affair, she was rattling her sabre pretty loudly.
Slavery was abolished throughout the British Empire by 1834.