[labard1]

I was just reading your earlier post literally. Virtually every country "codified enslavement" at one time or another. It wasn't until the 19th Century that England led the anti-slavery crusade. The CSA was in no way unique (or even unusual) over the long sweep of history. Given that history, it's somewhat questionable for the CSA's emblem to be almost uniquely reviled.

Many blacks who came to this country in slavery were not free in Africa. It's easy to romanticize about "Roots", but the reality of life there was hardly idyllic. This is NOT a justification of slavery, but few complain about African slavery (which, indeed, continues to this day) or decry such emblems as existed for African "countries" which sold their subjects (and neighbors) to traders who shipped them to the West Indies and the US.

(I hope you'll agree that I've not " twisted and intentionally misinterpreted" your posts. I've certainly not tried to do so.)

[CobaltBlue]

The Confederate flag was, and is, flown defiantly by those who opposed, and continue to oppose, the abolition of slavery, and the full integration of blacks into Southern society. That's why people associate it with slavery.

It's like Germans wanting to keep flying the Nazi flag, or Japanese wanting to keep flying the rising sun flag. Their intentions may be innocent and purely historical, but they should not be surprised if their intentions are misunderstood.

[wtc911]

Everything you say is true in a de facto not a de jure sense. I do not recall anything in the US Constitution that codifies the right to own slaves as eternal. I am of course aware of the 3/5ths language but that is not the same as a clear codification. Had the CSA continued to exist the legal institution of negro slavery would have been protected by its constitution. One can argue that there would have eventually been a legal challenge and a likely amendment but such an argument falls under the heading of idle speculation.

The thread though is about one particular flag and as I said, I can see legitimacy in both camps. As long as there is political gain to be had by posturing one way or the other the intentional misunderstanding and the resultant head-butting will continue and everyone loses.