Extra Stout: I fully agree that the war was about slavery but there were other issues and the majority of the men who fought and died for the Confederate States were not slave holders. The majority of those boys were fighting for the reason stated by that unnamed private Shelby Foote spoke of. Consider this, and remember I speak as an American who served country and flag in combat, there is no flag that is not stained with the blotch of bigotry. The factories of the North were as vile as the slave pens were. Particularly when you factor in that lovely little idea of the company store. Ask the Native Americans if they don't think the U.S. flag is a symbol of racism. All flags are symbols of the hopes and aspirations of their people and the Confederate battle flag is no exception. I stand by my statement above. PLease read Banjer's statement above your s. He is absolutely right. I have met several people intimently involved with both issues in Miss. and South Carolina. The majority are not racists. Let's do something more constructive to fight bigotry rather than fighting over a flag. How about housing initiatives? What about, gee, I don't know getting the other person's view with out getting in a tizzy or mentoring some of these kids who need help with their school work so they have a leg to stand on when they try to escape the ghettoes or shanty towns they live in? Again, my apologies for the soap box, I'm just brainstorming outloud as it were, Kindest reguards, Neil