Politics & Policy

More Republicans favour allowing Confederate battle flag to be worn by High School students than LGBTQ Pride flags

RALEIGH -- A poll released by Raleigh based Public Policy Polling last week shows that more GOP voters were tolerant of the display of the Confederate battle flag being worn by high schoolers than a similar display of the rainbow Pride flag that signifies LGBTQ equality rights and people.

The poll's results, which primarily focused on prospective presidential candidates for the 2016 elections, prompted immediate reaction including a harsh rebuke of the results by Washington Post political pundit and columnist Jonathan Capehart, who wrote in his column in Wednesday's edition:

"Folks, the Confederate flag is no better than a Swastika. It is a symbol of white supremacy, hate and oppression that has no place in American political discourse. That Kanye West wants to co-opt the rebel banner is as noble as it is futile. 

Meanwhile, the rainbow that is the gay pride flag symbolizes inclusion and acceptance. Oftentimes, usually in other countries, the words “pace” or “peace” can be found emblazoned on it. The rainbow flag is the very antithesis of the Confederate flag. That the latter is deemed more acceptable than the former is deplorable."

The Confederate Battle Flag was designed in 1861 by Confederate General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard, to replace the Confederate national ensign known as the Stars & Bars, which had been carried during the initial land battle of the civil war, the first battle of Manassas. The Stars & Bars close resemblance to the U. S. Stars & Stripes had caused confusion to the troops on both sides during the confusion of the fighting.

Display of the battle flag has generally been fraught with racial tension particularly after it was co-opted by elements of the Klu Klux Klan and other white supremacy groups, who often used it to intimate minority groups after the civil war up to the present day. 

Most Black Americans view its display as distasteful and symbolic of racism while others, principally white southerners and others view the flag as a "heritage" issue regarding southern states rights and their perceptions of the history of the "war between the states," defending its use as southern troops fell in battle fighting under the banner.

Q3 Do you think high school students should be
allowed to wear confederate flags to school, or
not?
Think they should............................................ 43%
Think they should not...................................... 37%
Not sure .......................................................... 19% 

Q4 Do you think high school students should be
allowed to wear gay pride flags to school, or
not?
Think they should............................................ 28%
Think they should not...................................... 57%
Not sure .......................................................... 15% 

Q5 Do you think it’s more appropriate for high
school students to wear gay pride flags or
confederate flags to school?
Gay pride flags................................................  9%
Confederate flags ........................................... 38%
Not sure ..........................................................  52%