Millions of Americans still embrace the Confederate flag. Should we dismiss them all as racists?

I do not see what the big deal is. The South is fabulous!

We all have to some degree racism, bigotry, and prejudice within us. If we were to get rid of everything that offends us there would be nothing left.

I don't think I should, necessarily, but I usually do.

As military folks we should not dismiss the great military feats that were accomplished by confederate officers. The confederate army held off the union army for 4 years while a much larger Mexican army could not. Regardless of our views on a flag let's not forget the men
Abraham Lincoln once asked US General (Winfield) Scott the
question:

"Why is it that you were once able to take the City of Mexico in three months with 5,000 men, and we have been unable to take Richmond with 100,000 men?"

..."I will tell you," said General Scott. "The men who took us into the City of Mexico are the same men who are keeping us out of Richmond."

I was born in Charleston Navy Hospital, Charleston, S.C. and have spent the past 37 years as a soldier, sworn to protect and defend the Constitution. The First Amendment of the Constitution states very clearly that individuals have the right to express themselves, associate and practice any religion they choose. So, two of the main components of the First Amendment (expression and association) are relevant to this discussion.

There is a group of people, who are beset on growing government control while restricting the rights of individuals. Often, they use the premise of security or 'greater good' as the basis for the restriction of liberties (Patriot Act, Sedition Act, Japanese Internment Act, etc.). The result is rarely greater security but greater control.

So, a group of people are calling for the removal of the Confederate flag. They are doing so by claiming the flag is racist, when such attributes cannot be attributed to inanimate objects but can be attributed to humans. But, where does it stop? Do we ban all those things that offend the majority or only a certain group of people in power? If we ban the Confederate flag, do we rename military installations, streets, cities, counties and buildings similarly named for Confederates? Do we burn books about Confederates? The First Amendment is necessary to protect that which we disagree with the most because what we agree with does not need protecting.

By the way, as an Ohio State University graduate, can I have the University of Michigan flag banned? It offends me!

Many have posted comments similar to the view expressed in this article ...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/backlash-over-confederate-insignia-is-for-some-an-attack-on--our-heritage/2015/06/27/4b1821cc-1b75-11e5-93b7-5eddc056ad8a_story.html?hpid=z4

That flag represents hate, as the swastika is to Jewish people

Why- it was not a Nat'l or even state problem till the last generation. CSA dead/veterans were recognized as US Veterans long ago. Hell My family fought for the Union, I live in E. TN which was a union center, and I don't think harassing/belittling the CSA is right. My family suffered under the oppressive Union Reconstruction Gov't just because we moved to TN. I full understand the reasons for the succession and many of those problems are still here- the constant battle of the Federal govt to control everything and steadily erode the States rights under the Constitution. This started when Thomas Jefferson was elected, and has been a bone of contention since the Constitution was written. Those skinheads, Neo-Nazi are spouting crud that was not even in the Civil War, nor the Southern Gov't line, yet idiots want to bash the CSA because of it. The current KKK is not the same animal that Bedford Forrest started in 1868 to oust carpetbaggers and thieves and then dis-banded several years later.

No, they should not be considered or dismissed as racists. The Civil War did not begin as a slavery or black/white issue. It began as a States Rights issue, and a Fair Trade issue. Many valiant warriors, who were not slave owners, fought bravely the entire war to protect their land and their businesses. My Great Grandfather was one of them. He fought from Day One until the formal surrender in Raleigh , NC. ( William Keith Nix, 14th. Georgia Regiment) His employees, both black and white, served with him.
Such being said, there were indeed malicious persons and factors involved, as with any protracted conflict. Yes, there were racists afoot. However, the Confederacy had the Constitutional right to secede. That right still exists by Constitutional Amendment.

The flag represents a moment in time, and it has historical value. To many people are ignorant of the history it represents. They do not understand the true meaning of slavery because they have never studied why there was slavery in the first place. The difference between now and then is then slaves were given room and board for their work currently they are given a small amount of money to mow the yard, and other necessary but meanly work. They are given a more palatable name other than slave- field worker, roofer, landscaper, fast food preparer, maintenance man, housekeeper. All these titles cost less than maintaining a salve. The word salve was a poor choice of names. My family history was like many others wre to poor to own salves they just worked like salves and paid for their own needs as they do today. Each generation has improved over the past generation just as slaves have.. Anything representing history should remain intact. Semper Fi