down here in Alabama the flag is simply a statement against "the Federal establishment"....it's everywhere here in my area (right between Birmingham/Atlanta/Chattanooga.
for most it has nothing to do with race anymore, but a display of unhappiness with the Govts' refusal to let each state govern its self in any meaningful way.
it's a symbol of great PRIDE to the decendants of those who faught and died attempting to do what the Colonists themselves did back in 1776.

many Southerners simply don't like our gov't, they don't like having laws and taxes forced upon them that would NEVER be allowed by a State Congress, and the old battle-flag is a silent reminder of History.

my Great Grandfather, Evan James Hughes, Corporal, Co.C 6th Va. Cavalry. fought in no fewer than 12 engagements, including Gettysburg.

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You won't hurt its feelings boy, play it like you stole it!
ASPCA We Are Their Voice !
Speaking up for those that can't speak for theirself.....
Proud member of the ASPCA "Guardian Angel" program.

Youth has it's moments of confusion...

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

Great pic of your Confederate ancestor,Bender!
I had many ancestors who fought ,bled and died for the C.S.A.
I hold the flags of the Confederacy in high regard,and in the years since the war many lowlife people have desecrated it and the Cause it once stood for,and I can understand why some see it as a symbol of hatred....I usually stay out of discussions about it because they can get ugly....and this is a music forum.
I'm a proud member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.,and have been for over 25 years.

I think the flag represents, to lots of Americans, what the South valued during and prior to the civil war. And to my understanding, that was a slave-driven economy, which was one of the things they were fighting for. So it is easy to see why lots of people feel it is inappropriate and hurtful when flown today. There are people who had ancestors enslaved in the South.

They probably see a person flying the flag, as a person who validates the enslavement of their ancestor, and as someone who may be okay with their enslavement as well.

Being from Maryland, I don't know what the South values today. Do you think they would reinstitute slavery if we had a civil war in 2012, and the South won?

Really? What's the deal with it bein' wrong for a chick to have the stars and bars on her nails?

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"He who hates me hates my Father as well."
John 15:23

Talman Ibanez Inner City-Suizy Q
2002 American-Made Fender Telecaster-Vengence
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III

Her health. Plus, I didn't know she was a chick. If you drive a truck, you can handle it.

My health? how so?
and yes, I drive a truck. well, will. I 've got a 1978 Chevy that my dad and I are gonna rebuild to original. There's another thing most chicks don't do. work on trucks..

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"He who hates me hates my Father as well."
John 15:23

Talman Ibanez Inner City-Suizy Q
2002 American-Made Fender Telecaster-Vengence
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III

No one but you know what your intensions are. It's in bad taste, because it's insulting to a lot of us good citizens. Display it for your personal enjoyment and be considerate of the general population. We have enough hate and division among us, what's the purpose of adding fuel to the fire?

Which flag are you talking about? The Stars an Bars (7 stars in a blue field with two red and a white center stripe) the real Star and Bars or Confederate Battle Flag or a Bonnie Blue? Most people only think of the Battle Flag but there where others. The Battle Flag is often called the Stars and Bars which it was not, the one described above is the correct Stars and Bars. Latter years the battle flag design was used in the corner of a white field as the second national flag. ( The Stainless Flag)

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

My thoughts are that regardless of the variety of the Standard, the colors are of the old south. They represent a form of government and a way of life, that was tried and failed. Today it's original purpose is insignificant, primarily because for most, the idea has been long forgotten. today the flag has become representative of not the old south but white supremacy and the age old issue of slavery. Or probably the most popular is, that its become the symbol of (THE REDNECK) Not a raciest subculture at all. Just a bunch of good old Boys & Girls haveing fun and enjoying life the (American Way). In the beginning the thinking ran much deeper than that. Literally thousands died for, or against, what that old relic stood for. Except for the hand of fate either the "STARS AND STRIPES" or "THE STARS AND BARS" could be flying over Washington today. Or as some say Atlanta/Richmond/Savannah or Austin.
----Danny,