As an Australian, I see this flag as a symbol of failure. It was a failed attempt at war. They failed to keep their slaves. They failed to keep there 'Southern' culture. More recently, they have failed to keep there commemorative statues and are failing to suppress non-white votes. More should be done!
What's my point? The one you don't get. The KKK can carry American flags but they have not and can not coopt it to symbolize their cause because it represents all Americans. The Confederate flag on the other hand does not and the "radical right-wing" has purposely used the battle flag to symbolize white supremacy because the battle between the states was about white supremacy. As seen here on this forum they are not an "extremely small group of racist radicals" and there are plenty of rebel flags flying here in the north for just one reason, but you don't think that reason is important. Hmm.
Well there are lots who claim the Stars and Stripes does not represent them and the Confederate flag represents all Southerners who choose to honor those who died in defense of there state when it was under an invasion hellbent on it's total destruction. And the battle was about bringing those states back into the union with there slavery intact. Why do you let these very very few proclaimed white supeemist dictate to you? Why do you still support a flag the KKK when it WAS a significant force proudly carried throughout it's existence?
The American flag represents even those who turn their back to it because it represents the freedom to do that and still be part of America. If the majority of southerners think the rebel flag is racist why would they think it represents them? So it honors those that fought to keep slavery intact you say? Do you wonder why Black people see those people continuing to wave it as racist?
And the Confederate Battle Flag honors those who didn't turn their backs on their states and country and gave the ultimate sacrifice defending them and their families and their homes and their farms and their stores and their churches from an invasion hellbent on the total destruction. And the Stars and Stripes has been flown for decades by white supremist and used prominently in their marches so why hasn't it been banned? Black people in the South have flown it too ya know. Why do you claim the majority of Southerners think the Battle Flag is racist when it is not? What I wonder is why you let these extremely rare white supremist dictate to you.
Or your hyperbole aside, it honors those who attempted to tear the union apart in order to keep slavery and lost. 55% of southerners think the flag is associated with racism and 90% of blacks do. What I wonder is why you can't understand the difference between the American flag and the Confederate flag.
55% of people living in the South does not make them all Southerners. And like you the vast majority falsely believe it is displayed as such a symbol ignoring the fact that not only for the vast majority of the time slavery existed in those states when slaves looked up they saw the Stars and Stripes. That when the Democrats white supremist did have a presence and influence in promoting and protecting their racist ways it was the Stars and Stripes they were PROUDLY carrying. Why do you allow this handful of white supremist who exist today dictate to you what to think?
And as an Australian you apparently have no idea what the flag symbolizes to true Southerners or about which the Civil War was fought and who wanted a war. Of course many Americans no longer do.