One response to the "My Confederate flag is Heritage, not Hate" folks:

[Coyote_Bandit]

21. So.................

You find it acceptable that my family was plundered and made refugees - even though they were barely able to eek out a living in their Southern mountain abode and did not have slaves or support the Confederacy?

Would you find that a tragedy if my family had been black freedmen?

Assuming it were wrong to plunder and make refugees of civil war era black Southern freedmen, would it be acceptable to do likewise to white Southerners who did not have slaves or support the Confederacy? If so, why? Were they not entitled to due process of law? Are they to be presumed guilty simply due to the color of their skin or their place of residence?

Do you find civilian casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan acceptable?

I don't find it acceptable to judge people based on where they live or their place of national origin. Nor do I find the plundering and displacement of innocents and civilians acceptable. Nor do I believe that one family or individual is less significant or less important than any other group or race. That is the kind of belief that ultimately concludes that individuals are subserviant to the state or the church or whatever other group is seeking submission. It is the same type of belief that eventually concludes that the corporation and the profits and tax dollars it generates is more important than the welfare of the consumer or the safety of the corporate worker. I don't consider any of these things consistent with liberal and progressive political beliefs.

I'm not advocating or defending the display of the Confederate flag. I'm pointing out that there were civilians who did not support the Confederacy and who did not have slaves who were killed, displaced and pillaged. To deny that is to deny the reality of war. To defend that is to embrace injustice IMHO.

Just my opinion. Your mileage may vary.