Sep 28, 2021
seen from Germany
seen from Azerbaijan
seen from Norway
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from Russia
seen from Australia
seen from Germany
seen from Philippines
seen from Kazakhstan
seen from Germany
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Russia
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from Australia
seen from China
seen from Malaysia
seen from Germany
This flag, an inverse of the Stainless banner, is associated with forces under the command of Samuel B. Maxey.
Confederate States of America Remnant
Here is a Historical scenario where ex-Confederates flee to Central American islands and reestablish the Confederacy (a la Taiwan). Keeping a low profile for years, this Remnant planed for an eventual Reconquista of the U.S. This changed after 1896, when the need for skilled workers for industrialization led to the abolishment of slavery. While segregation laws (somewhere between U.S Jim Crow Laws and South African Apartheid) were quickly put in place, a rising black population, influx of Central Americans, combined with non-white service in World War II (with the Confederacy stating as an Axis, than Allied member), led to a repeal of these segregation laws in the 1950s, 10 years before the same in the U.S. Today the Confederacy has a middle-income economy, dominated by farming (cotton, bananas, sugar cane), and Mining (Phosphates and Gold). There is small industrial sector, and high-tech industries (especially genetic engineering and computer software) are growing. It appears that the “South will stay,” though U.S non-recognition, coupled with environmental problems and a slowing economy, might be troubling.
The original flag of the “Remnant,” as it became known, was the Bottom Left flag, an ensign of the Confederate Naval Jack defaced with a seven-star circle; the stars represent each of the seven inhabited islands that make up the remnant; the colour of the stars is a tribute to the Knights of the Golden Circle, whose members were instrumental in the survival of the Remnant; later, they founded the Golden Circle Party, which ruled the Remnant for 12 years. The remnant continued to fly the “Blood Stained Banner” (bottom right) as a civil ensign.
The controversy over the Confederate Flag in the States quickly spread to the Remnant. In an attempt to curry recognition by the United States, as well as placate those who were offended by the current flag, the Confederate Government promulgated the current flag; inspired by the “Stars and Bars” flag, as well as the flag of the Army of Central Kentucky (Flag can be found here:http://fav.me/d89b9hl); The idea was acknowledge the historical roots of the country, while at the same time creating a unique, and uncontroversial flag. The plan wasn’t as successful as the government hoped, with some angry over the flag change, and the U.S still not recognizing the country, especially since the Remnant still uses the Blood Stained Banner as an ensign (it was kept as a compromise).
The Thin Line of Race Relations, And Why We Should Cross it Often
My old coach inboxed me on Facebook the other day. (Sidenote: These were the last years the Knicks were consistently good, so they’re fond years. I digress..) This is someone I chat with regularly on FB, a person I’ve had a real relationship with. A little background. To protect this persons Identity we’ll use the name Coach, and I’ll call myself Ron because that’s my name.
Coach is from Metro Atlanta when that meant mostly white people. I’m from Brooklyn, NY when that meant the Crack Era. We met in Jonesboro, Ga. through my juvenile probation officer who forced me to play football. Coach had a son that played on the team as well but he was a good boy and not their by mandatory order. We won the championship that year like all good black stories and Coach asked me to play on a basketball team because I was a pretty good athlete.
Thus started our friendship that continues to this very day. Now that we have some context I’d like to share this conversation with you. Other than names nothing has been changed.
Coach,
Hey Ron,
I just needed to get something off my mind. I know there has been a lot of controversy in the news regarding black men being shot and killed by white men. However, there is also a lot of whites being killed by blacks, whites being killed by whites and blacks being killed by blacks. The majority of your posts are attacking the white race and the condoning of the riots. I think you know that I am not racist by any means and I try not to put anything on Facebook that could be construed as such. I do not condone any type violence nor do I condone the looting of businesses that typically hurts the poor in all races. I understand that everyone has their own opinions and I respect that. However, it would really hurt me to think this is your view for all whites. I pride myself in seeing you prosper in life because I do feel that I was there for you during some difficult times. You have a special place in my heart and I would hate to be judged by the color of my skin.
Coach
Ronald Emile
Dear Coach,
You are and will always be my friend. I wanted to get that out of the way. When I see you or Chris(spouse) I'll hug and kiss you just like I would any aunt or uncle.
I went back and looked at my posts just to make sure I've never said anything inflammatory, racist or sexist in my post and I haven't. I just wanted to make sure what I'm about to tell you is accurate.
The posts I put up are not about you or any other specific white person. It's about the systematic oppression of people of color. No matter how tired some may get of listening to the perceived rage of brown people, it's nothing in comparison to the reality of those living it.
As a parent I want you to think about this. When Dave & Sarah( Coach’s children) were teenagers and they were not with you for whatever reason, school, a party, etc.. You probably had normal parental anxiety but never in your mind did you ever think " I hope no cops pull them over because they might end up dead." But as a parent of a brown child I do.
Your point about all races killing all races is a moot point because this country was founded on violence and disenfranchisement. High crime and high poverty amongst brown people isn't a coincidence, it's a business model. Example below: http://financialjuneteenth.com/these-facts-about-prisons-will-scare-the-sht-out-of-you/ Take me for example. I have had relatively great dealings with white people through out my life. I have white friends, family members and business partners. But should I sit back and be happy that I was one of the lucky ones or should I speak truth to injustice when I see it ? I firmly choose the latter.
These are facts that I'm reposting from credible sources. I'm a journalist and film maker, father and son, husband and friend, happy and ambitious, and definitely not immune to the ills that have plagued people of color in this country for centuries. Again I reiterate, this isn't about you, Chris, my business partner, your grand baby or any other person regardless of color that treat others with respect and dignity. It's about not being killed by a system that takes a huge chunk of my money to "protect and serve" us but may kill me if I reach for my wallet. Slavery ended 150 years ago, my dad is 84, things have gotten better for some but not many. And I want to see that change.
Ron Emile
Coach
Hey Ron, I think very highly of you and that friendship will never change. I cant wait to receive those hugs!!!
Did I receive criticism from whites when I took an interest in your life? Absolutely! I endured many attacks on my character from both races. However, I stood my ground and did not waiver in what I felt was right . In the end I believe I made the right choice and would do it all over again. I truly loved you kids. I did not have to act out to get my point across.
Did I have normal anxiety when my kids were out? Absolutely not, I was in fear every time they left the house. Dave was harassed by the police every time he left the house. He was physically assaulted and his rights were violated. Sarah was pulled over and harassed because the "pupils of her eyes" were larger than normal. She was left on the side of the road in an isolated area to find a way home as the police threatened to lock her up if she drove. She was not intoxicated and passed every sobriety test thrown at her all while wearing 6 inch heels. These incidents were by white officers so I understand some of where you are coming from.
Do I agree there needs to be change? Absolutely! Do I believe there has been progress? Absolutely! I also believe that change can come without additional violence. I am proud of you that you do have a voice and are not afraid to use it. However, there are some that use their voice just to incite violence.
I am not debating that your posts are not creditable but I believe that there are creditable sources on both sides. I think we can both agree that ignorance on both sides are making this change way too hard. I look forward to the day when we can all walk hand in hand.
God Bless You my friend!!
Coach
This conversation got me thinking about how the realities that we are co-existing in are galaxies apart. With the influx of highly publicized stories of unarmed brown people dying at the hands of the police streaming at me, I share the info that I deem worthy to be shared. Never thinking that some of my white friends may see these posts as attacking them. That shit came out of left field.
The post that I shared which compelled Coach to inbox me is a Huff Post piece titled, ‘The Ferguson Protests Worked.’ The title alone had to set Coach off because the content of the piece never condoned the use of violence for any circumstance. Ferguson equated to riots and looting for Coach. But to me the article reaffirmed the Justice Department reports condemning St. Louis County for profiteering off poor citizens of color using the judicial system. The article was about change through protest but Coach had seen it as another one of my affronts on white people.
All Coach had to do was open the url and read the story. Coach caught flack for coaching black kids in the nineties. The nineties!! This is well after Oprah and Bill Cosby was still America’s dad. So Coach knows that discrimination and racial prejudices still exist despite positive and negative images of blacks.
It’s 2015 and many have the opinion that race relations have gotten worse. I don’t agree with this premise. I’m of the opinion that information systems have gotten better, allowing for more transparency, which has forced all to deal with uncomfortable truths about race in America.
I’m a pragmatist who understands that environment and family are two things we don’t choose. So I never thought about giving Coach hell for this unwarranted attack on my social media behavior. Instead, I welcomed it and wished that racial perceptions could be discussed logically as the norm.
Where is this magical racial line and when is it fair game to acknowledge it, talk about it, attempt to change it, etc? I personally don’t have one. These kind of conversations are needed between everyday, regular folk and not just pundits. I only worry about the respect factor between those involved. We should all desperately try to keep the levelest of heads and truly try to learn from one another. This almost never happens on online forums. Facebook is a great example of this.
The best way to cross the racial line is by yourself. Read publications that you usually wouldn’t, watch a documentary on a subject you know nothing about, view several news channels that differ in styles and editorial content. Like all change, it has to come form within first.
I know that Coach and I have a relationship because of sports and other than that we probably wouldn’t know each other, but it’s up to people like us to bring others into the fold. We all have to talk about these uncomfortable racial barriers that keep us separated and ignorant to the other sides point of view.
Never will I speak for all black people but I truly feel the majority of us only have the reciprocal to what we have been given by American society. Better schools would lead to less jail time, more economic opportunities would lead to less violence, and the list goes on.
Personal responsibility is vital but so is equal protection of the law. This applies to banking, the criminal justice system and every facet of our society that is covered by jurisprudence. Wanting those things for everyone isn’t an attack on white people.
Coach doesn’t speak for all white people but the disconnect is real. If we all could put ideology aside for a healthy dose of facts, we could make a ton of progress as it pertains to race relations. Facts should unite us, and the oppression of others should incite us.
The tight rope of racial insensitivity is slim and highly flammable. Pragmatism is lacking in major ways that can only be fixed through conversations like the one Coach and I had.
I am a realist and I realize that Coach and I may to just have to agree to disagree on some topics. We are firmly who we are but that shouldn’t stop us from expressing ourselves and opening up about our thought processes where it concerns race. We desperately need it on an interpersonal level.
Andre 3000 sung it best when he bellowed,” We’re oh so close, but yet so far.
Outlaw the confederate flag please I do not want to see a symbol of the violent hatred my ancestors received daily and the war southerners fought to keep their slaves ever again
I made someone on Facebook see the light that the confederate flag is in fact racist. 👏🏻👏🏻👌🏻
In response to the Sandra Bland situation
See, they all work together from the police all the way up to the coroner’s offices and what we need to understand is that it is not the system that has failed, but the the people who are running it. They’re putting their own personal beliefs and inflicting pain on others. First of all, it is not about race, it is not about black or white. That is what they use to divide us as people. Until we come together as people, this will continue to happen. It was people that came together to get the confederate flag pulled down.
I go on FB and see all these “love my country, happy 4th” on so many people’s walls and I just want to say “yo, new rule: You can’t support the Confederate flag for it’s history and celebrate Independence Day” . . . y’know, cuz the Confederacy was about not loving America.