What is the purpose of the "rebel" flag?
829852
Purpose of the flag?...\nIdentification on the battlefield. Which side is which? Plus any flag is a rallying symbol for troops. As long as the flag is up and flying, you keep the spririt of fighting on. In a sense, that is why it is still flown in many areas of the South, that flickering link to an idea that nearly was. \n\nAlthough you can finger slavery as the core issue behind the war, much more was seen at stake by those fighting on behalf of the confederacy, large federal govt. vs. states' rights, the North's attempt to bankrupt the South by focing immediate changes to their economic structure, etc. The civil war was really the beginning of our strong federal govt - income taxes, forced conscription, federal minting of money, federal banks, etc.\n\nBUT, as far as the History of  the "traditional" rebel flag goes..\n\nThe best-known of all Confederate flags—the battle flag—is often erroneously confused with the national flag of the Confederacy. The battle flag features the cross of St. Andrew (the apostle was martyred by being crucified on an X-shaped cross), and is commonly called the "Southern Cross." A large degree of the Southern population was of Scottish and Scotch-Irish ancestry, and thus familiar with St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland. The stars represented the eleven states actually in the Confederacy, plus Kentucky and Missouri. \n\nI hope that helps.
583764
Usually it is a distress signal, but foreigners living in the US do it to show how much they disrespect this country and spit on it. I have seen cars driven by turban-heads and spanish looking people with the flag hung upside down from their antenna, or with stickers of the flag upside down on their back window.  Of course, I am a "racist" for saying if they hate it here so much, they should go home.  \n\nI wonder what would happen if we went to their country and did that to their flag?  Or burned their flag on their soil?
587152
Meaning of the flag\nIt's very difficult to explain the real meaning of a flag; there are legends, actual stories, and outright misinformation about the reason of certain colors or designs were put on national flags. Also individuals may have their own interpretation of their own national flag. Religious symbolism can also be expressed via color, such as the crescent moon which is a traditional Islamic symbol. \n\nHistorical facts:\n"Red has been prominent in Turkish flags for 700 years. The star and crescent are Muslim symbols, but also have a long pre-Islamic past in Asia Minor. The basic form of the national flag was apparently established in 1793 under Ottoman Sultan Selim III, when the green flags used by the navy were changed to red and a white crescent and multi-pointed star were added. The five-pointed star dates from approximately 1844. Except for the issuance of design specifications, no change was made when the Ottoman Empire became the Republic of Turkey and the Caliphate (religious authority) was terminated by Ataturk. Many traditions explain the star and crescent symbol. It is known that Diana (Artemis) was the patron goddess of Byzantium and that her symbol was a moon. In 330, the Emperor Constantine rededicated the city - which he called Constantinople (today's Istanbul) - to the Virgin Mary, whose star symbol was superimposed over the crescent. In 1453 Constantinople (Istanbul) was captured by the Ottoman Turks and renamed Istanbul, but its new rulers may have adopted the existing emblem for their own use"\n\nLegends:\n"A reflection of the moon occulting a star, appearing in pools of blood after the battle of Kosovo in 1448, the battle during which the Ottomans defeated the Christian forces and established the Ottoman Empire in Eastern Europe until the end of the 19th century, led to the adoption of the Turkish flag by Sultan Murad II according to one legend. Others refer to a dream of the first Ottoman Sultan in which a crescent and star appeared from his chest and expanded, presaging the dynasty's seizure of Constantinople (Istanbul). There are other legends explaining the flag."
1039107
It's the only flag where the front and back are different.  Didn't know that till I just looked it up!
509410
White:  I'm not offended when I see it any more than I would be offended by someone wearing a T-Shirt that said "I'm dumber than a box of rocks"\n\nTo have it flying above state capitals and such is a public display of stupidity on behalf of the leaders of that state.\n\nRemember:  It is the symbol of a defeated movement (quasi "nation") born of bigotry and inhuman treatment of equals for personal gain.  The ideology was wrong, as was the cause and why they ultimately lost.
1103890
NO.\n\nBecause the very idea that the flag symbolizes is the freedom to do what I want, say what I want, and protest what I want.
211115
The symbol is from the Freemasons, who don't, as a whole, worship the Devil. Most of the founding fathers were Freemasons, this isn't a conspiracy though. It stands to reason that if you were starting a rebellion you would turn to fellow members of a society that values their privacy.\n\nHow it ended up on the dollar I can't exactly remember.
293794
The British flag is a union between the flags of England (a red St. George's Cross on a white background), Scotland (a white St. Andrew's Cross on a blue background, and Ireland (a red St. Patrick's Cross on a white background). The Welch flag was not incorporated because Wales had already been united to England when the Union Jack was created in 1606.
723243
Why do individual US states have their own flags when they are not known as countries?\n\nI honestly dont have an educated answer on this, but part of me thinks its because in the past they were seperate countries, but thats probably me talking crap (i dont know much history). \n\nMostly, why do you have to be a country to have a flag? Flags are used for all sorts of things. They are seperate parts of a 'United' country and the flags (with the exception of wales) put together do sort of make the United Jack.
135285
Today the flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, seven red alternating with 6 white. The stripes represent the original 13 colonies, the stars represent the 50 states of the Union. The colors of the flag are symbolic as well: Red symbolizes Hardiness and Valor, White symbolizes Purity and Innocence and Blue represents Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice.
514003
I don't know which flag you are asking about, but if any flag has to fly, that should be a USA flag. It was in USA when, 2 centuries ago, workers went on national strike because they were made to work over 12 hours a day. They demanded to work at least 8 hours a day. Many people had to die during that strike, fired at by policemen, before their demand was granted. So, that strike was supported by many people from all over the world, which is the reason why today May 01 is Workers Holiday all over the world.
353849
"Sentimental writers and orators sometimes ascribe meanings to the colors in the flag. The practice is erroneous, as are statements on this subject attributed to George Washington and other founders of the country. Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, reporting to Congress on the Seal of the United States, stated: "The colours of the pales [the vertical stripes] are those used in the flag of the United States of America; White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & valor, and Blue, the color of the Chief [the broad band above the stripes] signifies vigilence, perserverence & justice."
919188
It is a symbol ............. like the US Flag.  It is a representation of the "peoples".   And it is sacred.\n\n\nNative Pride!
206792
I am from the South, and I have ancestors who fought under that flag (some lost their lives and everything they had).  They fought for what they believed in, wrong as they were.  I feel that the subject is very complex.  I personally feel that it represents history, stagnation, prejudice, pride, shame, lots of things (good and bad, depending on who you are and where you come from).  It doesn't represent just prejudice or just pride.  For me, it's prejudice, shame and history.  I think it belongs in a museum, not displayed on a public building, for historical purposes.  Since it does bring about bad feelings for a lot of people, it has become a symbol of hate, but should be allowed to be displayed by private citizens on private property because we live in a free society.  And all that it represents should not be forgotten, lest it's history be repeated.  A good number of people who take pride in that flag seem to forget that the South lost the war, and that the loss was a good thing.  On the other hand, a good number of people who condemn it don't understand the significance of history and its preservation, or the other issues that were involved in the war.  It's definitely a gray answer, not black and white.
1111802
For 140 years (1819-1959), the Union Jack flew over Singapore. Then, on 3 December 1959, the National Flag, an important symbol of independence, was unveiled at the installation of the new Head of State, the Yang di-Pertuan Negara. Also unveiled that day were the State Crest and the National Anthem. The flag was conceived and created by a committee headed by the then Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Toh Chin Chye.\n\nThe Flag consists of two horizontal halves, red above white. Red symbolises universal brotherhood and equality of men; white, purity and virtue. In the upper left corner, a white crescent moon and five white stars form a circle. The crescent moon represents a young nation on the rise. The five stars stand for Singapore's ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.
182434
Wikipedia has a picture of the flag. It is a black flag with a red star centered on the banner: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapatista_Army_of_National_Liberation\n\nFrom the Declaration from the Lacandón jungle by the Zapatista Army of National Liberation:\n\n"We use black and red in our uniform as our symbol of our working people on strike."\n\nI am sure the colors of black and red in the flag symbolize the same.
550305
there should not be any more issues about the confederate flag, it is a great design. I am black and fly the confederate flag from my truck, i have confederate bumper stickers, confederate belt buckle and ny cell phone cover is the confederate flag, big deal. I once wore a confederate soldiers hat at Miami airport, saw people looking at me a pretended to be oblivious to the fact, let bygones be bygones