The debate over the Confederate flag was ignited when Dylann Roof, a white man who was accused of fatally shooting nine black people at a church on June 17, appeared in photos holding it. This lead to the Confederate flag to be removed from the South Carolina state Capitol.
Wednesday, the Pew Research Center released a poll based on a survey of 2,002 Americans from all across the country that reveals several things, including:
- If they agree or disagree with the removal of the Confederate flag in South Carolina
- Why they feel it should or shouldn’t have been removed
- If they had a reaction to seeing the Confederate flag, and if so, was it positive or negative
Some of the results may not be terribly surprising to many of the liberal persuasion, but others may cause you to think.
So, how do Americans feel about the Confederate flag removal?
Surprise, surprise, a majority of Americans support the removal of the Confederate flag from government property in South Carolina.
Most Americans (57%) support the recent decision by South Carolina’s government to remove the flag from the statehouse grounds; 34% see this as the wrong decision. Though majorities of whites (56%), blacks (76%) and Hispanics (52%) say the flag’s removal was the right decision, there are more substantial partisan divides: Fully 74% of Democrats say this was the right decision, while Republicans are more divided (43% right decision, 49% wrong decision).
Clearly, there is a division along party lines and race. Also worthy of note, people more likely to support the removal include those between the age of 18-29, college graduates (76%), those in the Northeast (65%) and those in the West (61%).
Why do Americans support or oppose the removal?
You probably guessed this one - it comes down to the racism vs. heritage debate. This time they were asked an open-ended question about their feelings on the South Carolina decision. About 20% of those who thought it was the right decision said they thought it was divisive or offensive, while 36% thought it was associated with racism, slavery, or hatred. Some memorable quotes of supporters include:
- “The Confederacy represents slavery in my eyes.” Black male, 25
- “Because I think it does more to promote racism than to conserve heritage.” White male, 58
- “I think it just perpetuates an open wound…it is not a symbol that represents all of the people of that state.” Asian female, 45
- “I think that it represents something very negative and hurtful to a lot of people. And taking it down is small and beginning steps to undoing and rectifying some of that hurt.” Mixed race (White/Native American) female, 32
Of those opposed to the removal of the flag, 27% said it was a misunderstood symbol, and over half (54%) mentioned its historical significance. Some memorable quotes of opposers (almost all of whom where white) include:
- “Because it is not a symbol of racism, it is a symbol of the government fighting for freedom.”White male, 56
- “People have the right to honor their ancestors.” White female, 32
- “Because the flag had nothing to do with the shootings; it represents Southern history.” White female, 48
- “Nothing is wrong with the flag, the flag didn’t do anything.” White male, 31
Does this mean most people have a strong reaction to seeing the Confederate flag?
You might think so, but you’d be wrong. Although it varies based on race, education, region and party lines, most people claim to have no particular reaction to the flag.
People’s reactions to seeing the Confederate flag displayed are little different from opinions four years ago, on the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. A majority (56%) continues to say they have no particular reaction – either positive or negative – to the display of the Confederate flag. As was the case in 2011, negative reactions outnumber positive reactions (28% vs. 13%).
You might be wondering why a majority support the Confederate flag being taken down if they have no strong personal reaction to it. The answer to this may be in the comments of those surveyed, which could be summed up as:
“I think it comes to a time when you need to move on. This country has come so far, it shouldn’t be an issue.” Black male, 41
No one is trying to erase our history. It is what it is. However, most people seem to feel that this part of our past belongs more in museums and history books, where it can be put in its proper context, than displayed on public property. Let’s move on America.
Featured image via Pixabay
Good job Kai, a balance presentation of a fairly telling poll. I think the fact that 76% of college grads backed the removal of the flag, and the content of the arguments for and against show it was the correct decision.
We know how Clinton feels, don’t we?
Based on something you pulled out from 1992 that may or may not be real….you know how Clinton feels today…about the topics in this news story.
Explain.
He sure changed his mind quick! here is another one. Please explain!!!
This was addressed by The Daily Beast. Each star represents a government that had occupied the land. Two of the starts represent France and Spain.
So I guess Clinton was a secret Franco-Spaniard sympathizer?
Since I don’t want the moderators to wait to approve this message, instead of posting the link I’ll just give you the name of the story to look up whenever you feel like sitting in your wrongness.
The Clinton-Confederate Flag Conspiracy Theory Is a New Low
So what was that that Clinton signed?
You’re not the smartest guy in the crowd, are you?
I already addressed this. You still didn’t answer my questions. Why do you support white supremacy and racism?
And why do you keep lying?
When Clinton wrote / signed that underscored sentence he was refering to France and Spain? Could have fooled me! I could have sworn he was talking abou the CS…That could be just me though…
Wow. You are not smart at all.
You didn’t even read the article, did you?
Answer the questions.
Or maybe this is you…
As for what you say about me supporting racisme, you are wrong. I do not own a CS flag nor do I care much about the CS. I do care about a nation of comunists who are doing just like the good old days of Stalin. Erasing history! What a bunch of Mansie Pansies you libturds are. You have to respect people’s free speech, no matter how much you disagree with it!!!
This is you and all libturds who are trying to supress free speech!
And there you show your ignorance of the Constitution.
The First Amendment only protects against punishment from the government for speech. It has nothing to do with private citizens voicing their objections to your speech.
Even this website, as much as I hate it, won’t let me curse without their permission. It’ll post my comment, and about twelve hours later, after all the moderators have gone through it and decided that dropping an f word isn’t all that big a deal.
They have the right to do that because it’s their own property. I also have the right to complain about it without being persecuted by the government.
So if you’re really so dumb that you don’t know how free speech works, let me suggest that you go to your local community college and ask to take a basic course on political science.
So if it’s all a matter of opinion my opinion is that you are all a bunch of idiots for trying to deny people’s free speech.
Now you’ve shown yourself as so dumb that you don’t know the difference between stating an opinion and stating something as a fact.
When you claim that liberals are trying to suppress free speech, you’re simply lying. Claiming that it’s an opinion is also a lie, since you’re stating it as though it were a fact.
You’re just hiding behind the First Amendment because a) You’re too stupid to know that it doesn’t apply between private citizens, and b) It’s the only way you can defend your abhorrent stances on race issues.
The real question is: How do you feel about the flag?
Given your frequent comments in support of white supremacy, it’s clear that you are trying to use political cover for your disgusting point of view.
Isupport Clinton’s views. Am i wrong? 😉
Their views from 23 years ago? Yep. Very wrong.
Do you think Clinton was right?
I’ll change my mind as soon as they publicly recant… That good?
You didn’t answer the question.
If it had been made up why all the silence? No way… Oh, and was this also made up?
I just addressed this. Can’t you read?
The flag is nothing more than a piece of cloth. For some it represents hate, For some it represents heritage. For some it is a cool looking sweatband. It is a symbol, and like all symbols it is subject to the eye of the beholder. The assumption here once again is that everyone that supports the Confederate flag is a racist or supports it for racist reasons. You cannot determine someone’s intent in flying one and no one has the Constitutional Right not to be offended. I personally. as a veteran, am offended by the burning of the American flag in political protest yet understand that the Supreme Court declaring this as an exercise in freedom of speech shows the strength of the Constitution it represents. Trying to eliminate every symbol that is potentially offensive to someone is a slippery slope and is only sweeping the dregs of history under the rug where they are hidden but still exist. Taking it off of public property is ok in my mind as it is funded by everyone’s taxes. Amazon for a time banned a book about Confederate Flag bearers at Gettysburg, That and the call for removal of statues of Jefferson Davis and Nathan Bedford Forrest or eradication of Stone Mountain is going too far. Not all Confederate soldiers were traitors as has been repeatedly said. Many were simply common folks swept up in the tide of history. The Confederate government instituted a Conscription Act in 1862 that required the service of virtually all southern males. Those already in the army like Lee, Longstreet and many of the other Confederate Generals had to choose between their country and their families. They made their choice and they suffered the consequences. As someone who has taught history for many years the eradication of historical symbols is the beginnings of Balkanization.
We know Clinton loves the flag… Any of you libturds care to comment?
People who say, “It’s just a flag” are full of it. You know it’s a symbol of treason and slavery.
Losers are supposed to take down their flag(s) at the end of the war. In that regard, this was a long time coming.
Well said Michael L. Sutton. You saved me a big long speech because you and I are in total agreement, Thank You!
In a poll you get what you pay for, or in this one, CNN did a live all open poll and got just the opposite results, 57% say the flag is okay and should remain while 33% say it should come down. The flag to some represents the south, the memories of the south, to others it represents racism, to me it represents the thousands of men who died for their ideas,