Scott Neidich
Aug 8, 2017 · 2 min read

It seems like you’re disregarding evidence contradictory to a view you have asserted with no evidence.
As you can see in the poll, question 23 asssessed respondents’ personal views regarding the flag. And a majority of white Americans saw it as a symbol of Southern Pride.

A couple notes. Firstly, I don’t see the flag as such: Given its’ history, I do view the flag more as a symbol of oppression than a symbol of southern pride. So when I see a truck drive by with a Confederate Flag sticker on it, I do have questions I’d love to ask the driver. I once saw such a truck that had both a Confederate Flag and a Bernie Sanders bumper sticker on it: That one raised even more questions! But I’ve also sat with an elderly relative. He’s a farmer, over 70 years old, and despite losing a leg to diabetes, having a heart attack and gastric bypass surgery, still eats sufficient amounts of food to maintain obesity. He was sitting in his mobility scooter one Fourth of July a few years ago insisting that the Flag (and the Civil War)was “not about slavery,” but about States’ Rights. I pointed out that the Rights the States had been fighting for was the ability to keep slaves. That pretty much killed the conversation.

Secondly, it’s worth noting here that a person can believe the Confederate Flag to be a symbol of Southern Pride, and believe that Black people should be treated equally and with respect.

To return to the hijab, this would be analogous to a woman who believes that the hijab is a symbol of female empowerment, but believe that other women who do not adhere to it should be treated equally and with respect. They might argue (and in fact do argue) that just because some other folks abuse this symbol of empowerment and misuse it as a symbol of oppression doesn’t mean that it is oppressive to them. This is a valid argument, but here’s another: It is a position of privilege to view the hijab as optional.

I suggest you check out this podcast episode: It’s an interview between Atheist host Sam Harris and Ex-Muslims of North America’s Sarah Haider. They address these points and broader issues than I possibly can, and delve into deeper issues underlying conversations on the Hijab. After you listen, you might see the complexity of this symbol the same way I view it, and understand why the analogy to the Confederate Flag is so applicable.

    Scott Neidich

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    Postdoctoral Researcher working on HIV vaccine. Views are my own. If you are planning a public debate and would like to invite me, please email sdneidich@gmail