Do you think the song "Dixie" is racist and/or offensive?
I read that the songwriter did not support slavery and was angered that the confederates used it as a rally cry. Do the origins of such things matter, or is it more about what they've come to be associated with?
The lyrics don't have any racial references at all - with the possible exception of "Injun batter" which may offend Native Americans, but it's a reach.
A song's origins are unimportant, neither is who appropriates it - look at the song itself. I liked quite a few of Rolf Harris's songs, it was a shock to discover he was a paedophile - but that wasn't the fault of the songs.
This post was edited by Slartibartfast at July 3, 2017 6:24 AM MDT
Many variations, I know. Would you agree that generally speaking, the swastika has become associated with anti-Semitism? I think it has, just as the confederate flag has become synonymous with racism in the US.
Well, they screwed with the wrong symbol anyway. They got it right in the FACE. LOL
They still tried to pattern it after the Hindu swastika believing it had POWER. Well, it sure does. Be careful what you do in the name of God. God will answer you.
It certainly sounds as if the songwriter was appalled that the south hijacked it. I read that he responded by writing something for the Union army.
My question stemmed from a recent experience where the driver of a shuttle car seemed to be enjoying a rendition of the song on the radio, but quickly turned it off when he picked up another passenger who was a black woman. I was glad that he seemed to recognize that regardless of it's initial intentions and catchy tune, the song became a symbol of racism in the US.
Do you disagree that despite it's initial intent, the use of it by the south during the Civil War, and it's continued use by racists has rendered it to be a symbol of racism?
Nope. The song was written by a Yankee and was meant to be the words of a former slave who missed the land he was raised in while making fun of the slave owners that was the reason he had to leave.
Slartibartfast 