I have been busy since my post, and have just read through this. My comments:

Susan, you have a well established habit of trying to shift the premise when you are not sure how to answer. Your response to this was a grand example. You attempt to move to my "style", appearing a wise and gentle counselor, instead of responding to the post. It is patronizing and insulting. Deal with the issue and let me seek therapy for my well intentioned, but misguided ways, OK?

I have heard many comments about the motives of the Confederate soldiers, and the historical facts of the flag. All of them are correct, and as a person who has a bit of knowledge on the topic of armed combatants, I do not doubt any of it. But the initial question never introduced those subjects. What it asked was, "What is the meaning of the Confederate flag these days?......What does it mean to you? Is it a harmless symbol of rebelion? Is it a racist symbol? Is it just a fad? In that context, and IMO, with very few exceptions, it is the symbol of those that decry the civil rights movement. It is almost exclusively used (outside the re-enactor movement) by those who adopt a segrationist and/or and outright white supremacist viewpoint.

I am with Stringsinger on this. The use of this flag says to African Americans, Hispanics, and others of colour, as well as to white folks committed to the struggle for equality, the same type of message that one would get waving a swastika at Jewish folks. All of the rhetoric about its history is interesting and genuinely offered, but it simply cannot be allowed to somehow make this symbol of hate something other than what it is.

Just my tuppence worth,

All the best,

Mick