Sales of Confederate flags jump 5,000% on Amazon

[Superstreet]

Sales of Confederate flags jump 5,000% on Amazon | FOX2now.com

ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI) – On Tuesday, online retailer Amazon banned sales of the Confederate flag, joined other major retailers, including Wal-Mart, Sears, and eBay. Use and display of the controversial southern symbol has become the topic of hot debate in the aftermath of a shooting at a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina where nine people were killed.

Amazon had more than 25,000 listings for Confederate flag related products on its site, ranging from large and small flag to knives, hats, and swimwear. Sales of Confederate flags were up by 2,000-5,000 percent in the last 24 hours, according to Amazon data. One particular flag was listed as the #3 item on the site’s patio, lawn, and garden listings.

As of Tuesday afternoon, items baring the Confederate flag could still be found on Amazon.com. Many items sold on the site are posted by third-party resellers, not Amazon itself. The company uses a combination of computer algorithms, monitors and customer reports to stop banned item sales.

[sanchez]

Amazon, Etsy to Ban Confederate Flag Merchandise, Joining Walmart, eBay - ABC News

[Mike Mercury]

[sanchez]

[itsaz]

Do you know what the design of this flag means? What is actually on the flag?
The colors Red, White, Blue, ( which represent the same meaning as the colors on the flag of the United States), Thirteen Stars. Anything else? Think about what you are seeing. Examine every detail because the layout of the contents of the flag portrays the true message the flag was designed to send. First of all this is NOT the "Confederate Flag". It is the "Battle Flag of Northern Virginia". Through the years it has become the most synonymous with the Confederate States. It is also the one most hated by those who are totally ignorant of what it stands for. Do you see the big letter "X", the thirteen stars that are on the "X"? Those stars represent the thirteen original United colonies from which the United States began. The "X" actually lies on the stars allowing them to shine through. Each one of these colonies had its own system of self government, until the start of "northern aggression" when the northern states began trying to usurp authority over the southern states. THIS WAS THE MAIN CAUSE OF THE CIVIL WAR.
To put it simply the message of the flags design is CROSS US OUT of your Union! The southern states withdrew from the union in a movement called "secession" which led to the Civil War. That is the only message this flag is sending! It does not represent slavery, hatred, white supremacy or anything else as so many uneducated, ignorant people so foolishly believe and abuse its image. This flag represents a stand against oppression & tyranny by the federal government and its message is still appropriate today. The federal government has never liked this message and fears it to this day.

[DukeAllen]

Originally Posted by sanchez

You think they should ban the flag because he posed with it? Best ban jean shorts, striped shirts and flowers too. And don't forget the gat.

[sanchez]

Originally Posted by DukeAllen

You think they should ban the flag because he posed with it? Best ban jean shorts, striped shirts and flowers too. And don't forget the gat.

I have not stated anything should be banned.

[DukeAllen]

Originally Posted by sanchez

I have not stated anything should be banned.

You put the pic up because you liked it?

[DukeAllen]

Hate flags

[LATB]

...

[sanchez]

Originally Posted by DukeAllen

You put the pic up because you liked it?

I'm justifying the business decision if companies discontinuing it.

I'm agnostic on the issue.

None of you seem to realize that.

[LATB]

Originally Posted by sanchez

I'm justifying...

I'm agnostic on the issue...

[sanchez]

Originally Posted by LATB

Here's why they did it, is different than giving a shit.

None of you can see past that.

It's ok, I get it.

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by sanchez

Here's why they did it, is different than giving a shit.

None of you can see past that.

It's ok, I get it.

The head of WalMart said this morning that it was done because they do not want to sell items that are steeped in such deep controversy.

Great and understandable BUT, the controversy over gun sales is far louder and has spent more time in the media spotlight than the flag.

I would like to hear his take on that because it directly conflicts with his flag statement.

I am not anti gun. I am simply pointing out that if you are avoiding controversy, it does not apply to minimally profitable merchandise only.

Also, supporting the truth that this is a PEOPLE problem, what is the rate of homicide by flag vs homicide by gun?

[sanchez]

Originally Posted by aerovette

The head of WalMart said this morning that it was done because they do not want to sell items that are steeped in such deep controversy.

Great and understandable BUT, the controversy over gun sales is far louder and has spent more time in the media spotlight than the flag.

I would like to hear his take on that because it directly conflicts with his flag statement.

I am not anti gun. I am simply pointing out that if you are avoiding controversy, it does not apply to minimally profitable merchandise only.

Also, supporting the truth that this is a PEOPLE problem, what is the rate of homicide by flag vs homicide by gun?

They say controversy. They mean the margin isn't worth the potential risk to other sales.

But LATB and SS informed me it's because liberal are running walmart.


I've been trained. Don't worry.

[Superstreet]

Good gawd

Confederate flag stripped from ‘Dukes’ toys, but still flies on TV show | FOX2now.com


NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — As the debate wages over the Confederate flag, one of the most prominent places where it can still be found is atop the famed car from the legendary early 80’s TV series, “The Dukes of Hazzard.”

The 1969 Dodge Charger known as the “General Lee” is one of the most recognizable vehicles in TV history and has the controversial flag emblazoned on its roof.

The popularity of the cult show has turned the car into an icon and is being used in marketing by companies like Autotrader.

In the Autotrader ads, which debuted last year, the “Duke Boys” are driving the iconic “General” in a chase with the police. The two then use the Autotrader site to find a different car than the “General.”

“The whole point of the Dukes of Hazzard storyline was that the car is outdated in every way — and it needed replacing,” the company said in a statement when asked about the Confederate flag. “The characters have a clear need that Autotrader can solve by helping them replace their old car that can’t keep up with changing times.”

Autotrader was careful to keep the car’s roof just out of view.

“We purposefully did not show the Confederate flag in the commercials because it is not consistent with our values as a company,” an Autotrader spokesperson told CNNMoney.

Reruns of “The Dukes of Hazzard” have been in syndication on networks like CMT and TV Land. Both did not return requests for comment.

The Dukes of Hazzard is distributed by Warner Bros, a unit of Time Warner, as is CNN. Warner Bros. said in a statement issued late Tuesday that it would stop licensing General Lee toy cars and models that include the flag.

“Warner Bros. Consumer Products has one licensee producing die-cast replicas and vehicle model kits featuring the General Lee with the confederate flag on its roof — as it was seen in the TV series,” the statement said. “We have elected to cease the licensing of these product categories.”

Ben Jones, a former U.S. congressman and actor who played Cooter on the series, told CNN’s Ashleigh Banfield on Tuesday that the flag was used on the show in a positive way.

“The show did have a prominently featured Confederate battle flag in a very positive context in a place where there was no racism,” Jones said.

The 2005 film adaptation of the series also included the “General Lee” with the flag design.

The flag has become the subject of national debate in the wake of the murders at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and others have called for the flag to be removed from the South Carolina capital grounds.

As for “The Dukes of Hazzard,” TV historian Tim Brooks says the show has more to do with parody than politics.

“There was nothing remotely political about ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’… it was basically a cartoon,'” Brooks said. “It was in a context that dissociated itself from any kind of political meaning, or even any kind of racial meaning.”

One person on Twitter put the flag on the “General Lee” in perspective.

“The only place anyone should see the Confederate flag in 2015 is history books, museums, and ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ re-runs,” the user tweeted.

[DukeAllen]

[Iron Chef]

Originally Posted by itsaz

This flag represents a stand against oppression & tyranny by the federal government and its message is still appropriate today. The federal government has never liked this message and fears it to this day.

Well now Tom....let's be honest...those who believe in the cause of the Confederacy really have no business complaining about "oppression and tyranny."

That said, people in this country are WAAAAYYYYY too sensitive about things. You can't legislate away hate. If we did more ignoring and less protesting, we'd probably get more accomplished.

[Mike Mercury]

Originally Posted by Iron Chef

If we did more ignoring and less protesting, we'd probably get more accomplished.

[erickpl]

I'm wondering if there would be such an uproar if SC had the 3rd CSA flag above the capitol instead of just the battle flag.



I believe Texas has this flag flying at or in the capitol building as it was one of the 6 that flew over the state at some point (others include the Spain, France, Mexico, Texas Republic, and the US flag).

To go with IC's point, the Civil War represented a real and violent divisiveness in this country's history. By removing these flags, we're essentially burying our heads as to what happened during that time. But if we don't learn from the past and the mistakes that were made, we're going to be on a path to repeat it. Look at all the divisiveness we have right now along racial, religious, and economic lines. The covered pot is simmering and looks to be headed to a full boil.