You misunderstand how many Southerners "look at that symbol."
To most of us it just represents home--the South.
I am totally against slavery and prejudice. In fact I have been all of my life (and yes, born and reared in the South).
So when I see the flag I think of all the things that are good about my fellow Southerners--the friendliness, the strong belief in Jesus Christ, the importance of family and friends, the community atmosphere of the many small towns and rural areas, the love of nature and farm lands and football.....
I could go on and on. But the point is the flag to us is not slavery. We hate that slavery ever existed here or in the North or anywhere. We are against slavery.
When people say they honor their heritage, to most it means they are proud to be Southerners and all that represents (including ancestors); but never does it mean that they are proud of slavery.
Southerners understand this-----the rest of the country doesn't.
Cedar,
To me, the rebel flag is not about slavery. I know that Southerners today are friendly people who certainly do not support slavery and are not proud of that aspect of their history. I can also understand regional pride. What I don't understand is why Southerners would use a symbol of colossal treason against the USA to represent themselves.