The “confederate flag” was manufactured in the 20th century by bigots in response to the civil rights movement.

The confederacy was created in the 19th century by bigots in response to a call to abolish slavery.

This flag is not a facsimile of any flag used by the confederate states. It’s based on a flag used by the Tennessee Army from 1863-1865. That flag was square, unlike the one that is seen today.

The Confederate States lasted for a half decade. The flag this one is based on lasted two years and was used by one state’s army in battle.

This failed state existed for the purpose of preserving slavery and the idea of white supremacy.

My point in saying this, is that claiming “history not hate” is a useless argument. The rebel flag is based on something that existed for two years.

It’s a flag used by nobody, resembling a flag used by a few that was created in the 20th century by bigots in response to the civil rights movement to protect a failed state that existed only to keep people as property and perpetuate white supremacy.

My eldest son hasn’t gone to school yet and he’s already been on this earth longer than the confederacy. My youngest son is barely potty trained and he’s been around longer than the rebel flag was.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a 35 star American flag celebrating the United States civil war era. If celebrating heritage were the point, you’d think the victor would want in on some of the displays rather than just the loser.

What’s unfortunate is that because it was created in the late 40’s the rebel flag is something that has been a fixture for most or all of the lives of basically everyone living in the United States. I believe that “history not hate” seems legitimate to many people, but it isn’t.

However, it is a history with layer upon layer of bigotry, white supremacy, murder, hate, and oppression. From tje creation to the revival, all of the flag’s history is a direct response to the growing call for equality of all people. By definition, this is hate.

For some who grew up with the flag, I’m sure it reminds them of their youth or good times they had when younger, but that’s not what it IS. What matters is what the flag IS; a symbol of centuries of suppression, oppression, abuse, and hate based on race.