THE REBEL FLAG

[Blindgreed1]

They were fighting to retain the right to own slaves.

They were fighting against Lincoln and the Unionists who were moving to do away with slavery.

They wanted to secede from the Union because they did not want to give up slave-owning rights. Even those who didn't own slaves were culturally accustomed to blacks being defined and treated legally as lesser and inferior to them.

They were fighting because they were regionally loyal.

Plus, there was all that cotton picking to do and even white folks who didn't own slaves feared that their economy would be destroyed if slave labor was abolished.

I don't see the Confederate Flag as being solely a racist symbol today. I think it means different things to different people. I think a lot of people don't even know the history behind it and what the Confederates themselves described as their sole reason for fighting to secede, though it's all clearly documented and not subjective.

Historically speaking, it's not debatable that the Confederate Flag was the symbol of those fighting to keep slavery alive and keep blacks from achieving equal legal standing in this country.

And then there was that whole "States Rights" thing too which is conveniently left out of EVERY conversation about the Civil War. SC even issued a "Declaration of Causes" along with their "Article of Secessession."

I think supporters of the flag and those who want it taken down should both protest.