SeaJay
Contributor
I really like that flag, too. It was actually RavenC's idea... Or rather, what I thought of when she described her idea to me (I'm not sure if I got that right or not, gorgeous... Is that what you had in mind?)
Anyway, I really, really dig it.
I'm imagining a bunch of dive flags floating down the river while we have a Scubaboard all-together drift dive... Then there's this ONE flag with a blue stripe and some stars... I just think it's too cool.
Kinda funny, in a southern sort of way.
I don't think that people are really going to look at that flag and put together the whole "ohmygod I'm offended" statement. I mean, it was debatable with the actual, real flag in the first place... I don't think that anyone's going to take a "sorta looks like a Confederate flag" flag and draw up that whole baloney argument. I mean, they'd really have to stretch it even more than they already did...
Hey, look: Is anyone here offended by that dive flag?
Hey, here's an even better question... Is anyone here a descendant of a former slave? To put it more broadly, is anyone here African-American? If so... Can you give us your opinion? Do you think that this flag in these colors might draw unwanted attention? Does it offend you?
Me, personally... I don't care what color you are... But it's occurred to me, too, that the controversey that surrounded the Confederate flag might wash over to our lowly dive flag logo.
...Of course, that said, I'm not really a fan of catering to the lowest common denominator; and those that, after more than 150 years of flying that flag, suddenly ignored history and the meaning of the flag, attached their own self-proclaimed excuse for their inadequacy, and ran around telling everyone else they were offended... Well, those people are the lowest common denominator, no matter what color their skin is. It matters not to me the color; but I've drawn my conclusions about those people who sat on the steps in Columbia to protest a flag out of sheer ignorance when it was their own feelings of inadequacy that made them feel the way they do.
I believe I was working that day... And I went home with a paycheck. Those who sat and cried on the steps that the world owed them something and that the Confederate flag was somehow a symbol of that... That's just hogwash... And a very good example of how the government can be swayed by a very vocal minority interested only in playing the martyr.
I don't want to bend to those people... If I went through life worried that I might offend someone, then I'd never accomplish a thing. I say let the South show it's pride. Fly our colors.
...And for those people that it might offend... Understand that that flag represents my history - my culture. I am not offended when you show your culture; why do you have to pee on mine?
...And before you go and tell me that it was a white vs. black thing, remember that it was a black man that sold your ancestors into slavery, and it was a white man that freed them. Many of my relatives died on both sides of the Civil War.
...But frankly, that does not change your situation today, nor mine. I have worked to get what I have today, and you have too. Slavery did not happen to you, and it did not happen to me. Today, I couldn't care less what color skin you have - especially since many of us are a big mix anyway.
We need to get over this, people. Like Rodney King said, "Can't we all just get along?" I'll stand on his side any day. This transcends color or race, and y'all need to do the same.
I say hoist the flag and dive, black brother and white brother, and enjoy what you have today that your ancestors didn't, and what my ancestors fought and died for: Freedom.
Anyway, I really, really dig it.
I'm imagining a bunch of dive flags floating down the river while we have a Scubaboard all-together drift dive... Then there's this ONE flag with a blue stripe and some stars... I just think it's too cool.
Kinda funny, in a southern sort of way. I don't think that people are really going to look at that flag and put together the whole "ohmygod I'm offended" statement. I mean, it was debatable with the actual, real flag in the first place... I don't think that anyone's going to take a "sorta looks like a Confederate flag" flag and draw up that whole baloney argument. I mean, they'd really have to stretch it even more than they already did...
Hey, look: Is anyone here offended by that dive flag?
Hey, here's an even better question... Is anyone here a descendant of a former slave? To put it more broadly, is anyone here African-American? If so... Can you give us your opinion? Do you think that this flag in these colors might draw unwanted attention? Does it offend you?
Me, personally... I don't care what color you are... But it's occurred to me, too, that the controversey that surrounded the Confederate flag might wash over to our lowly dive flag logo.
...Of course, that said, I'm not really a fan of catering to the lowest common denominator; and those that, after more than 150 years of flying that flag, suddenly ignored history and the meaning of the flag, attached their own self-proclaimed excuse for their inadequacy, and ran around telling everyone else they were offended... Well, those people are the lowest common denominator, no matter what color their skin is. It matters not to me the color; but I've drawn my conclusions about those people who sat on the steps in Columbia to protest a flag out of sheer ignorance when it was their own feelings of inadequacy that made them feel the way they do.
I believe I was working that day... And I went home with a paycheck. Those who sat and cried on the steps that the world owed them something and that the Confederate flag was somehow a symbol of that... That's just hogwash... And a very good example of how the government can be swayed by a very vocal minority interested only in playing the martyr.
I don't want to bend to those people... If I went through life worried that I might offend someone, then I'd never accomplish a thing. I say let the South show it's pride. Fly our colors.
...And for those people that it might offend... Understand that that flag represents my history - my culture. I am not offended when you show your culture; why do you have to pee on mine?
...And before you go and tell me that it was a white vs. black thing, remember that it was a black man that sold your ancestors into slavery, and it was a white man that freed them. Many of my relatives died on both sides of the Civil War.
...But frankly, that does not change your situation today, nor mine. I have worked to get what I have today, and you have too. Slavery did not happen to you, and it did not happen to me. Today, I couldn't care less what color skin you have - especially since many of us are a big mix anyway.
We need to get over this, people. Like Rodney King said, "Can't we all just get along?" I'll stand on his side any day. This transcends color or race, and y'all need to do the same.
I say hoist the flag and dive, black brother and white brother, and enjoy what you have today that your ancestors didn't, and what my ancestors fought and died for: Freedom.
She'd say, "Howard, you'll never believe what YOUR son did today." Man, I'd start runnin' right then and there. 
