I disagree that the Confederacy was a “failed state.” there was never a recorded formal surrender of the Confederate States of America. And no symbols and flags would have endured this long unless they symbolized enduring beliefs.
My g-great grandfather was a CSA soldier, 54th Georgia, Co. K Army of Tennessee, along with many other ancestral relatives. None had slaves and worked the cotton fields and sugar cane themselves in southeast Georgia.
The issue for most southerners was states rights under the constitution and that is still an issue with many in Dixie. Deo Vindici
One of my wife’s GGG uncles was what was called a Mountain Rebel. He was Major General John P McCown who was at the Battle of Murfreesboro. He and Bragg got into a difference of opinion LOL. My GGG grandfather was a Union Major. Another GGG grandfather was in it on the Union side and lost a leg. In the area I live in loyalties were mixed.
The Confederate States of America ceased to exist as a country shortly after the surrender at Appomattox. Its military forces were disbanded and/or interned, the members of its government were arrested, and its territory was occupied for several years afterwards. The lack of a "formal surrender" is thus moot.
That its symbols and flags are still occasionally used to adorn bumperstickers and such is as little evidence of the continuation of the C.S.A. as the frequent sighting of Nazi symbols in graffiti, etc. is proof of the continued existence of Nazi Germany.
As for the beliefs those symbols actually symbolize: I'm sure that there are almost as many different opinions on that as there are people who display them.
Regards,
My g-g-grandfather was Colorbearer for 33rd Mississipppi Regiment, Co. E, Holmesville Guards, killed at the Battle of Franklin. My g-g-grandmother took all of her children from Mississippi to Texas after the Unpleasantness.
I love the Battle Flag, but I fly the DeZavala Flag. From a distance, it looks like the Bonnie Blue, so I get two-in-one, as it were.