The secession documents all refer to the north as non-slave states, and the south as slave states. Slavery absolutely was the issue of the war. The Corwin Amendment backs this up. Lincoln didn't really promise to get it passed, he just acknowledged its existence.

No. The confederate flag is a symbol of oppression and slavery because it was A FLAG FLOWN IN THE NAME OF DEFENDING SLAVERY AND OPPRESSION. A riverboat floating down the Mississippi, or a Florida orange, or an alligator, or a swampboat, or a cowboy hat, or any other potential symbol from the south doesn't have slavery…

Actually, considering the slave trade from Africa to the Americas is literally the largest forced migration in the history of the world, with 10-15 million Africans taken, it's pretty comparable.

Hey, listen...if you want to show me that you're an inbred, racist as fuck hick, then go right ahead. I like when people wear ...ahem...they ignance...on their sleeves.

I guarantee you that 98% of people put it on their truck, car, shirt, or whatever because they think its cool or saying "hey I'm proud to be Southern." NOT because they are racists crazies as everyone seems to infer.

You can be proud and not wave the Confederate flag around. The moment you start doing that you lose any claim to simple "Southern Pride."

I think this is the best point against the flag. There are plenty of ways to show pride in your home state or the South or whatever, without causing angst to others. Its just a fact that the stars and bars flag will ALWAYS no matter what be associated with slavery. Every single time I see it, I think slavery and why…

Will I, really? Your statement sounds like the usual victim mentality, which is common among people who lose. We call them losers.

I grew up out in the country in Georgia and have dozens of relatives and their friends that still live there that proudly wear confederate battle flags, have bumper stickers or the like - and all of them claim they are "celebrating heritage" and "aren't racist".

"Being proud of your Southern heritage does not mean that you are racist or condone slavery."

Why not show the Nazi flag as well? Surely that's a similar pride of heritage?

Of all the things the south could be proud of, why pick a symbol of oppression and slavery?

How about an image of a southern plantation owner whipping his slaves? Or perhaps a nice image of a lynching? Or maybe, a picture of Robert E. Lee surrendering, like the gutless coward he was.

Improper use of the mind-blowing guy GIF. You can't put it on your own post, dammit!

For proud losers?

"Don't like rape? don't get raped"

When you love your country so much, you'd rip it apart for the legal right to oppress other citizens.

Because after the war, a lot of the south basically convinced themselves that the war wasn't actually about slavery.

I get so sick of this "heritage" bullshit.

Not if we keep taking their license plates.