Which brings me to my second point. Alexander H. Stephens, the vice-president of the Confederacy made a terrific speech which lays out the argument of how important slavery was to the south. This also is a constitutional argument, and you sir, as a student of history should read it at some point. In fact, you may see the text here: http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?documentprint=76

The Civil War had very little to do with taxation, my friend.

The first amendment outlines that Congress can not make laws that restrict religion, the press, that the people have the right to peaceably protest and partition the government. It says nothing about attacking American soldiers, stealing tax-payer’s property and basically committing treason.

Now Treason IS in the constitution. Article 3 Section 3 states that “Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them.” Attacking a United States military base, IE opening fire upon Fort Sumpter is the very definition of Treason. It was in fact Treason in defense of Slavery.

The Confederate Battle flag, or the Rebel flag as it has been known as was then co-opted by the Klan and other racist organizations during the Jim Crow era. The flag was not intended to be a symbol of hate, however, after generations of African Americans were terrorized under that flag, it became to mean something else. Angry people who blame their neighbors for their problems and used that flag as a way to take out their frustrations became a different meaning. The history of the Confederate flag is very interesting to read about.

I grew up in Georgia and Texas. There are two different souths. I remember Stone Mountain being a great place to go in the summer, were as African Americans use to be lynched there. I remember climbing that mountain in 1986 to see Haley’s Comet. That place is more then just a sculpture on a mountain to me. I remember swimming in the lake there and the tire-swing. I remember the bullet I bought at the gift shop (Which I have to this day) that was fired during one of the many battles. I remember seeing the laser show there and seeing General Lee and his men riding off the side of the mountain. Yet, there have been many lynchings and cross burnings there.

There was never the rivalry of farmers versus industrialization like sport rivals. The south fought to protect their right to hold onto slaves, because the rich, who were in power wanted cheap labor. It is kind of like what Occupy Wall Street is about.

Hate is the heritage of the south. As humans and as neighbors we must not forget that different people have different experiences, and these experiences create different context of symbols. You are obviously white, as am I, and I will admit, we have lead a privileged life. But as Thomas Jefferson penned “All men are created equal.” In the Jim Crow era, people forgot that. I hope you investigate those Decoration of Succession and The Corner Stone Speech, and reflect on how the meaning of something can change depending on perspective.

Sorry for the delay in responding, I hope to stream line my projects so I am not split in 3 different places. I have been busy with my comic, http://right-about-now.com