It was those resisting expansion of civil rights in the 50s and 60s who chose the battle flag as the symbol under which they fought.
To my mind that’s a much better reason for removing it from public space than its Civil War history, where it was only peripherally associated with racism.
So in light of the current situation of racial “harmony” just how wrong were the segregationists? I am willing to go over that history. I have no inclination either way at this point.
The best reason for attacking the Confederate flag is that the scrimmage furthers the notion that racism is a “Southern problem” instead of a northern problem, or a worldwide problem. In this way we can avoid the need to discuss demolishing the Lincoln Memorial.
If we were to view Iran as a racist country, we would be obliged to oppose them. And that is definitely something we are not going to do. So let's busy ourselves - and congratulate ourselves - for desecrating memorials to our dead.