In article et, "Dan/W4NTI"
w4nti@get rid of this mindspring.com writes:

The flag of the confederacy is NOT the battle flag being displayed as the
flag of the Confederacy.

When the Tennessee Battle Flag is flown in the South, by real Southerners,
it is meant as a sign of respect for the fallen and a symbol of STATES
RIGHTS.

Dan:

When you "real Southerners" fly your Tennessee Battle Flag or whatever
you call it, everyone who isn't a "real Southerner" views it as waving a
banner of racism under their noses. Whether it is right or not, and whether
you like it or not, your flag is a problem for the rest of the country --
especially American Negroes (the proper term for black people in America --
considering the fact that none of them was born in Africa or ever lived
in any African country long enough to gain citizenship there). The white
"real Southern" rednecks with the "Tennessee Battle Flag" on their pickup
trucks are living in the past, at the expense of modern race relations.

No one advocates seccession from the Union, or starting another war.

That's comforting.

But....we get real tired of Northerners and blacks trying to tear the flag
down, especially since the reason they want to tear it down is they believe
it is a racist symbol.

While I was in the military, I had the saying "perception is reality" drummed
into me. The way we present ourselves to others forms their opinion of us
from the very start. In most cases, that's the only opinion they ever use to
judge us from that point onward. I think it's time for you and your fellow
"real Southerners" to face the fact that your flag needs to be taken off
your flagpoles and replaced with the real American flag -- the Stars and
Stripes. No one is questioning the fact that the South is part of the United
States, and it's time for the "real Southerners" to stop fighting the Civil War
and living in peace with the rest of their country.

If it IS a racist symbol to them. Then they have fallen for the big lie.

One man's lie is another man's truth. If I were you, I'd concentrate on
making sure no one mistook me for a real American. Being a "real
Southerner" only leaves the impression that you don't feel as though
you belong to the greater whole of our nation.

Govern yourself accordingly.

I do -- and I'm not the one flying any sort of state-specific "battle flag."
I fly the flag of the UNITED States. One of the stars on the field of that
flag belongs to Tennessee -- a beautiful state filled with free, united, and
loyal Americans -- of all races, ethnic, and religious groups. They are
my fellow American citizens, and I expect them to view me as one of
theirs. I am living in the unified present-day reality of America -- not in
the divided, suspicious, and hateful past. I invite you, my fellow American,
to do likewise.

73 de Larry, K3LT