[highnoon]

>but the combination of the Southern cross and a gun rack always was seen as a harbinger of violence<

What an idiot. Go ahead and try to bring religion into the mix. I've lived my whole life in Texas, died in the wool southern, plenty of Rebel Flags down here. But my cross is the one that hangs in my church, not a flag.

Time to grow up.

[barkingdog]

I am a southerner who's great grandfather fought in the civil war. The flag is a part of my history. Am I ashamed of the fact that the South practiced slavery? of course I am. I'm equally ashamed of the fact that New York, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Vermont, Ohio, New Jersey... well, you get the point. There was a time that our entire nation practiced slavery. Something we should all be ashamed of. I'm also mad that some hate groups, such as the KKK have embraced this flag. My great grandfather did not own slaves. Over 95% of those who fought in that war did not own slaves. They fought against (what they believed to be) an oppressive Federal government. I have a right to be proud of my heritage, as well as ashamed of part of it. There's an old saying. Don't through the baby out with the wash water. I feel that some people will not be happy till they have destroyed everything southern.