Confederate Flag

The Man Behind the Flag, Robert E. Lee

Did you know that the first amendment of the United States Constitution allows for the Confederate flag to be freely displayed? Did you also know about the outstanding leadership abilities that General Lee possessed? The Confederate flag, also known as the “Stars and Bars,” is commonly mistaken as an “evil” monster that promotes hatred and racism. With recent events, such as the Charleston, North Carolina shooting, the flag has been scrutinized. This flag is extremely symbolic, shows heritage, and is not racist. There is a common misconception that is very often seen. The flag and the General behind it have changed the way generals and soldiers were remembered, have made people think about how they

wanted their rights to be in the early United States, and have shown some outstanding leadership abilities.
The flag and the people that fought for it took a stand for something that they strongly believed in. The flag really has a meaning and a value that represented what the Confederate Soldiers and their supporters believed in. There was one rare situation that started all of this controversy that is surrounding and pooling around the “Stars and Bars”. After a racism based shooting, the Confederate flag was removed from many courthouses and state houses in the southern states. The flag is really just a battle flag that shows regard to everyone that lost their lives for the South.
Starting in 1961, the flag had been flown at the State house of South Carolina.

In 1954, Georgia dedicated the Confederate flag to be the state flag. The flag and its supporters point out that there will always be traces of slavery. It is an important part of our heritage. There are many representatives that are fighting for the flag to stay. One former U.S. Representative, Ben Jones, wants the flag to stay. His argument is that the flag is doing a job. That job is to keep the Confederate Soldiers in our hearts and in our memory. The flag is really just a symbol to what people have stood for in our country. The flag shows the resistance of the Southern states when they were trying to succeed in 1860

(Brown).
There have been several other states, departments, and towns that have used the flag as their “representative” or as their “symbol.” One in particular is the Gettysburg police department in Gettysburg, South Dakota. The flag is the symbol of the department and is located on all of the squad cars and uniforms of the department. According to Mayor Bill Wuttke, the mayor of Gettysburg, the patch is nothing more than something that pays respect to the previous soldiers. The town was founded and started by a soldier of the Confederate Army after the Civil War. Many members of the town also believe that the town shows that people can put controversial things behind them. Racial prejudice can be put behind everyone. The town has had several African-American families who have lived there. There were never any accounts of being mistreated by the town and its members even though the confederate flag was the representation of the town in which they lived in (Nord).
The man behind the flag, General Lee, was seen as an extraordinary leader. Lee had gained respect from a lot of people he dealt with. Everyone, including the people that fought against in wars, had the upmost respect for Lee and the abilities that he possessed.
Many popular historians have looked at all of Lee’s accomplishments.

Most have come to a conclusion that is quite noble. Lee was known for being the man that Americans looked to for answers. He also was the representative that the Americans from the South looked to. He was very well qualified to take part in this task that he followed. Lee spent many years in very intense schools and other military institutions. When it came to generals, Robert E. Lee was regarded as one of the toughest. Lee had an attitude that brought him popularity and fame. He fought for ideas that were going to represent himself and the South in the best possible way. If there was a situation where there was a very unpopular idea that no one was going to favor, Lee fought for it because he thought it was the United States needed. A well known historian, Douglas Freeman, stated that General Robert E. Lee was an extraordinary leader who fought for his beliefs. General Lee did not like to give up very easily, either. He allowed the civil war to last four years before leaving. This is an example of his “I will not give up” attitude

(Myers).
“I cannot but believe that Lee’s cause was good, and that meeting as he did satisfactory the test of true heroism in all its required he was a hero. For my part I am not ashamed to say that though defeated, he was a hero of his age in which he lived” (Tyler).
Most people think of the war efforts that Lee pushed when they think of Lee. Lee should be thought of a little bit differently and consider how they think of him. Maybe he should not only be thought of for his war efforts, but for his character skills and qualities that built the name he has today. Historians also have begun to realize this. They have actually begun to ignore his war efforts and focus on the things that made him the leader he was. His abilities have made other leaders and generals think about their styles and traits. Anti-confederate media and generals have even reported and communicated on the goodness of the general. There were always groups that absolutely did not support his beliefs, but supported him.
Lee was regarded as many different “names” or reputations. Many magazines and other media referred to him as a traitor, an American hero, and as a remembrance. When Lee had the idea that the South should secede or split from the United States, the media and other people viewed him as being a traitor and for being unpatriotic towards the U.S. Once again, the “I will not give up” attitude comes into play. He originally started out as a Northern citizen. He did not like the way things were run and he wanted to keep the belief in slavery, this later caused him to head to the South. So, this once again gave him some well respected hate. The Prairie Farmer made many claims about General Lee and his life choices. They made one statement that indicated that Robert E. Lee’s decision was a choice based on his personality more than anything else. Another claim that the Prairie Farmer made stood up for Lee. This claim suggested that Lee was not an unpatriotic man, but that he advocated and was a supporter of the states’ independent rights.
This general, along with the flag, is a very good depiction and representation of an earlier America. The attention he received has truly made him the American hero of his time. In Lee’s obituary, it stated that “because of his modesty and aspect of life, he was respected and liked by many.” In the final days of Lee’s life, the NY Times ran an article that claimed, “The entire community is sorrowful.” This was in regards to his illness and the possibility that he was going to pass away (Meyers).
Lee has changed the way wars have been fought. The leadership abilities that Robert Edward Lee possessed have been something that many have looked into and tried to apply into their own lives. One of his leadership characteristics was his method of choices. He made informed decisions and put thought into his judgments. His choices were most definitely not based on just instinct alone. Lee was just an all around leader. Lee wanted to show that the South should not and could not coexist with the North. He believed it would just be the best possible option for the South. With this belief in mind, he started to gain a legendary status. He was seen as a “macho man.”
“I don’t hate anyone, I love everyone. I have a daughter in law who is actually black. I love her.”- anonymous. At a rally to protest the flag, there were many supporters and many that disliked it. Both had very valid points but even African- American people supported the flag and the pride and heritage that it provides (Szkotak).
The flag shows a lot of heritage and pride as it backed one of the upmost leaders to possibly ever live. The flag and the general have taken lots of criticism and hate, but continued to push through. The general was not a racist even though he was depicted in this unfortunate way. The flag stands under the same category. People do not truly appreciate the meaning of this flag, who it represents, and who stands behind it.