[Melas]

But even as a long haired southern lefty back then, I never had to be defensive about the Confederate Battle Flag, Lynyrd Skynyrd, guns, hunting etc.

That's just geography. I've never cared much for the confederate flag or what I grew up with understanding it stood for. Out of the South, at best, it's percieved as a symbol of the Dukes of Hazard type bumpkin. At worse of course, racism. In the South, of course, it means something entirely different. I doubt those twains will ever meet.

[wardaddy]

The demonization of the Confederate Flag is a recent phenomenon from around 1986-1990 maybe.

It coincides with the Left's rise of political correctness and it's attack on the South for political favor with minorities it had harnessed.

I first heard the term politically correct in about 1986 or 87 I believe from some Columbia students at the time.