Racism. Ignorance. I believe the flag belongs in a museum with the rest of the American heritage. 90% of the flags I see are on big trucks coupled with racially charged bumper stickers, missing teeth, and a can of skoal.

From idrewthis.org -- On one hand, i get being proud of your heritage. But I'm German, and I don't go around with an east german flag on my car (although I do own one, folded up in a box somewhere). I fly the flag of the country it became.

Heritage. However, my great-something uncle was Robert E. Lee, so I would say that. It still makes me mad when I see what happened to him. Did you realize he actually supported the northern cause, but sided with the south because his home state was Virginia? In those days, states were more important than your country. Actually, in his will, all his slaves were to be freed, and he spent many years trying to convince others to do the same - he was an abolitionist, but favored a more peaceful resolution. After the war, his family residence was stripped from him - a home that had been in his family since the American Revolution. It was turned into Arlington National Cemetery - he wasn't allowed to return home. His citizenship - his most prized posession - wasn't returned to him until a century after his death. He died a sad, lonely man; much of the fault for the war was unfairly placed on his shoulders, and still is to this day. You know what they say, "The victor writes the history books." Well, here's proof of that fact. So, is the Confederate flag heritage or racism? Well, I ain't racist, but I see nothing wrong with flying the Confederate flag. I view it as heritage.

Dude when i moved to Texas from California 6 years ago, i saw a black dude driving a pickup truck with a big confederate flag in the back window

I used to think it was total racism. Now after being called a moron, in a serious way, I see it as heritage. I do wonder what people's motives are for displaying it though. Someone should get down on the KKK for using it if they don't want it associated with racism.

Being one of the "da*n Southerners" mentioned above, I personally don't think the flag is a symbol of racism. Whereas the South had more slaves than the North, they were present in all of the states/colonies. Yes, we have some southern rednecks with big trucks waving the flag like its some sort of idol. But, I have visited many states, and while I love upstate NY, I met more rednecks and racially biased people there than I know here in GA. I don't fly the "Southern Cross" at my house, but if I did it would not mean that I was a racist. Stereotypes are not fair and I try not to make them. *steps off her soap box* LOL

It simply stands for Southern heritage. People who make a big deal about the flag are implying that the South is the most racist place in the world. Lots of people are racist under the American flag and every other flag. As a group, Southerners are no more or less racist than anyone else, including northerners and blacks. Five states that stayed in the Union were slave states, and didn't free their slaves until after the war. Blacks are still enslaving blacks in Africa in the 21st century. People should quit looking for easy targets and scapegoats.

I think it represents a very important time in American history.

Apparently, these dumb rednecks either haven't heard that the lost the damn war or think that losing the war was actually a good thing

i think it represents a past best left forgotten. we killed our brothers and sisters in the civil war over the slavery issue and the right side won, thankfully. every time i see that flag i am reminded of that separation and violence upon each other. i associate it with a bad time in american history. i know that the confederate states aren't the only states that had slaves but i still dont like seeing the flag. to me it feels like by carrying and waving this flag people are trying to wish for separation and fighting. i see no other argument for flying it.

I've seen it displayed with a sign that says "Heritage not hatred." I think it is important to make that distinction if you plan to display it. Otherwise, you could be misunderstood.

Heritage.

It represents heritage. It represents the old south. I don't care what the left feels about it.

I think that it is similar to the union flag of the U.K., which was adopted by many political groups with racist overtones in the 80s, and so was tainted for years. It seems to have been slowly reclaimed by people who just want to display the flag of their country, and perhaps the confederate flag will be reclaimed in the same way.

Depends how it is displayed. Some displays definitely signify hatred. Most of the time it signifies and symbolizes where one came from, and the hardships involved. Everyone is entitled to their own views and opinions, and some people tend to get offended because it objects to their own viewpoint.

It represents heritage to most..though admittedly some do show it as a sign of hatred/ignorance :)

Both. while some people look at it as a reminder of slavery and racisim others fly it because they are related to the soldiers that fought in that war. To each his own I always say.