I'm in the Rocky Mountain West (NW MT), and it is not uncommon to see a Rebel flag flying, especially out in the brush - But more importantly, it is pervasive in Country culture - It is very common to see Rebel flag stickers on trucks, patches on jackets, hat pins, coffee cups - I think you'd be hard pressed not to find it represented somewhere, somehow, in any country home.
And I rode rodeo back in my misspent youth - Been all over the Rocky Mountain West, and the Dakotas... I have kin down in Kansas and Missouri... In all those years, in all those places, 'teenage rebellion' from the country kids always involved that Rebel Flag.
So that 'Southren Pride' is part and parcel with 'Country Pride', right along with the 'Rebellion against Tyranny', both are intrinsic in Country Life... Perhaps not to the degree evident in the South, but enough to know what it means.
Its really an attitude thing.
People don’t realize it but there is a sizable minority redneck community in the wilds of Detroit. Just the other day there was a country singer on FOX and Friends who is from Detroit. Kid Rock says that the Detroit rednecks were a big influence on him, the same with Uncle Kracker.
Thanks...great post.