Take the Confederate Battle Flag Down Because It's Offensive?

A strawman argument occurs when, instead of taking on an opponent's actual argument, one attacks a position that was not in reality advanced by one's opponent, but makes an easier target. By disproving a position that has not really been advanced, the illusion has been given that one's opponent's argument has been successfully refuted. This is a common logical fallacy in politics and other public discourse.

One of the strawman arguments put forth by supporters of the Confederate Flag (technically the battle flag of the Army of Northern Virginia, but hereafter referred to simply as "The Confederate Flag") is that (1) opponents of the flag want it banned because (2) it is offensive. This is incorrect on both counts. In general, those who oppose the use of the Confederate Flag do not want to ban its sale or private use. While reserving the right to characterize those who glorify it as glorifying racism and treason, they are seeking to stop its use in official government capacities. In other words, "Cooter" can still sell his Confederate Flag memorabilia and individuals throughout the country can still parade either their ignorance of its symbolism or their outright racism, but that official, that is, government, use and approval of this flag must stop. The second part of this is that the objections stem from Confederate Flag opponents simply being offended. Many of the Flag partisans reply that they are offended by the rainbow flag. This isn't about beong offended. This is about the appropriateness of giving official government sanction to an image that originated in an armed insurrection against the United States that had its roots in the desire for human beings to own other human beings.