A new poll finds that conservatives are more comfortable with public display of the Confederate Battle Flag than they are with the display of the Rainbow Flag that has become associated with the gay rights movement and same-sex marriage:
Public Policy Polling found that the Americans polled were more offended by the rainbow flag than the confederate flag, the latter of which has remained a controversial image since the American Civil War and for many holds oppressive and racist symbolism.
The results stem from two questions presented to 649 American voters: “Do you think high school students should be allowed to wear confederate flags to school, or not?” and “Do you think high school students should be allowed to wear gay pride flags to school, or not?”
42 percent of the voters polled defined themselves as “somewhat conservative” and 34 percent said they were “very conservative,” while only 3 percent stated they were “somewhat liberal” and 20 percent identified as “moderate.”
Public Policy Polling found that
43 percent of people feel high school students should be allowed to wear confederate flags to school, while only 28 percent felt students should be able to sport the Pride flag. A whopping 57 percent of those polled felt that high schoolers shouldn’t be allowed to wear gay flags to school.
Jonathan Caphart puts it well:
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.
Capehart is right, of course, but is anyone really surprised by this?
