There are no concrete meanings or ideas that can be attached to symbols.
The signifigance or meaning that an individual attaches to a symbol is an entirely personal choice and does not actually reflect anything inherent about the symbol itself.
Yeah, until tens or hundreds of millions of people start applying the same meaning to said symbol. There are only three options for those who hold this flag in any regard other than contempt: you're either a traitor (secession), a libertarian (states rights) or a racist (slavery). In regards to the states rights argument, if someone can't honestly find a better symbol through which to idolize the notion of states rights,
then that certainly explains a lot. Pray tell: what did the Confederate Flag stand for prior to the Civil War?
Therefore, the Confederate flag can both be a positive or negative symbol at the same time.
No, it can't.
The Confederacy was formed over states' rights.
No, it wasn't. That's what the Daughters of the Confederacy wanted you to believe - and it's worked. I recall seeing somewhere that a few years ago and for the first time ever, a majority of high school students referenced states rights as the cause of the Civil War, as opposed to the correct answer of slavery.
Slavery was bad, though so was invading the South over them trying to form their own country. It's government of the people, by the people, for the people...except if the people want out, in which case it's just tough [inks].
I don't recall any slaves having a say in whether a new country in which they'd be kept in perpetual servitude would be formed. Oh, right: of, by and for (61% of) the people.
Poll
