So there are those who still equate the Confederate flag with bigotry, prejudice, & hatred? I thought that mindset was long gone. Seriously.
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Hello from the land of the giant Rebel flag.
(or is it battle flag? I'm not sure even the flyer of the flag knows which is the "right" Confederate flag to fly, as there appears to be some controversy about this among the amateur historians and prideful Southerners. Don't ask me. I am related to Stonewall Jackson, but my ancestors fought on both sides.)
Not to single out your post, JR, but it got me to thinking for a couple of days. And I'm pretty sure that unless I'm out of touch, the answer is no. The mindset is not gone, not even close.
I am not accusing any particular flag flyer of any particular racist or bigoted views, but I do know a couple of guy friends about my age who, as teenagers and young college students, had so-called Rebel flags up in their dorm room. They pretty much grew up in a mildly racist, generally Southern environment, where black people were maids and lawn people and any black person who got on TV and comported himself (or herself) well was marveled at for being "articulate." The Rebel flag was a symbol of something probably very unpleasant, though a love for Bo and Luke Duke probably had a little bit to do with it too. Anyway, it was hung proudly.
So now these guys are grown up. The flag is long gone and they are well acquainted with diversity, and in their minds, the flying of this giant flag is ... disgusting. Embarrassing. You name it.
It is obvious to me that not everyone is flying this flag is doing it for purely historic reasons. So no, the mindset is not gone.
Here's what I think is reasonable if the daughters and sons of the Confederacy want to take back the flag that has been clearly misappropriated. They ought to wait about 10 years, until MLK has been gone for about 50 -- because you know it takes at least two generations to "get over" things like lynchings, mobs and assassinations -- then mount a massive, honest PR campaign in hopes of restoring whatever the original meaning of the flag was. (Again, what it is I'm not exactly sure, but there are a lot of people really passionate about it so there must be something to it.)
By honest I mean admit that the flag has been compromised, denounce these alternate meanings, and then let everyone know why they think it is so important. Then ... maybe ... MAYBE ... the mindset referred to by JR will slowly disappear.
I just don't see this happening, however. It is known as the "Rebel" flag you know. I don't know that its supporters would be up for a PR campaign. But it might be the only thing that works, IMO.
that is why my confederate flag sticker says "I'm offended that your offended" I had to get it at the peanut festival with some other good stuff...
I would have screamed laughing!!! heck, I am screaming my head off right now!!! 
:funn:
