Quote:I still don't understand the insistence on using the stars and bars as representative of Southern heritage.

 

Let's put aside the racism and slavery associated with it for the moment.

 

The Confederacy lasted 4 years-give or take a few months-between 1861 and 1865.

 

To form, it tried to dissolve its association as part of the United States of America, the country we all claim to love.

 

It tried to defend itself against what it considered to be tyranny from Washington.

 

It failed.

 

It tried to defend the Southern way of life.

 

It failed, and many of its best cities were burned to the ground in the process. 

 

It lost 300,000 + southerners, and over 600,000 Americans total their lives.

 

The South predated the Confederacy and existed after the Confederacy disappeared.

 

Those who were old enough to fight for the Confederacy had existences prior to the formation of the Confederacy, and survivors of the Civil War had existences after the Confederacy.

 

Was the South so nondescript and devoid of culture, were your ancestors so devoid of distinction and accomplishment that a symbol of THIS four year period of failure, treason, and bigotry represents something with which you wish to commemorate them? 

 

Is that flag the BEST you can come up with to celebrate the South and honor your heritage?

 

You can probably find the answer in your very own post.  300,000+ southerners lost their lives and countless more seriously injured which means they have a lot of descendants who relate with the "Don't tread on me" mindset.  If the North had lost and the South annexed the United States, you would probably see war memorials tributed to the North and US Flags by groups of people.  The history would probably be different too - probably along the lines of how we rose up against tyranny twice in 100 years.  The victor writes the history.

 

Just because someone doesn't like something, doesn't mean they should try and take it from people who do.  Live and let live and get over it.  I don't fly the Confederate Flag, nor have me or my family ever owned anything Confederate related, but I respect the right of people who do.

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