Some comments are best not answered. If you agree with this writer, he's already made your case very well.

If you don't agree with this writer, your best arguments and most reasonable assertions will fall on deaf ears.

Better to say nothing at all.

If people are offended by this flag who are you to say "you really shouldn't be". Don't you think that there is a reason? If you are going to get into the history of the flag, you should look at it from all sides.

Hear! Hear!! Let's hear it for J. David & Lee!! I am a proud southerner and proud of our flag! If you find it offensive that's fine, I respect YOUR opinion but don't try to influence others with YOUR beliefs. That flag is a part of the south (which last I checked Miami isn't) and part of our heritage. It upsets me greatly to see all the Mexican, Puerto Rican, Dominican, etc. flags flying, if your countries were/are so great why did you leave? You are American now - take your flags down. But these flags are a part of their culture just as the Confederate flag is a part of MINE.

What does handing out flyers trying to get new members to your church have to do the Fouth of July??

Laura - The flag represents succession from the Union, The KKK, White southern people, and nothing more. If you defing your "southernness" by a flag, then I ask you can this represent all southerners? No, it can not. A flag does not define you. This flag is a direct representation of sesseccion and brokenness in the United States of America. We hand our information about our veterans groups along with a number of other things to help support the community. The only flag that counts is the American Flag period.

Go read a book. Go learn that southern states sought to secede from the Union,that the disloyal Robert E. Lee & Co. murdered tens of thousands of the nation's soldiers who were defending our soil and many of its civilians in what was a heinous treasonous act — and one that failed. As in, failed. As in, the South lost. Southern apologists need to accept that they lost 150 years ago. Go learn, Laura, that Puerto Rico is not another country. Go learn that any flag is just a symbol, and a flimsy, flammable one at that. It does not guarantee your rights; the Constitution does that. God doesn't guarantee your rights; the Constitution does that. The Constitution, and not any flag or deity, deserves your pledge of allegiance.

Dan,

Thank you for taking the time to post. First, let me say, that your friend's experiences make me very sad. That being said, a flag is just a piece of cloth. The flag in and of itself, does not cause a bad or unthoughtful act to occur. It is the person performing the act that should be accountable. The flag of tens of thousands of southern soldiers, incidentally integrated – black and white – is not causing any one to be violent. It is just a piece of cloth. By the way, yes, there were thousands of southerners of color who stood for the defense of the south. It is thought provoking, and I hope you’ll take some energy into becoming acquainted with the subject. One resources is a series of well documented scholarly books on the subject that you can obtain from www.blackconfederates.com

Secondly, let me correct you on one point. The flag established by battlefield generals to protect against friendly fire that was actually nicknamed the "Southern Cross". Many are unaware that the primary country of origin of the southern people was Scotland. The southerners identified with Scottish roots and adopted a symbol honoring St. Andrew and the flag of Scotland. It was a fitting tribute by a deeply Christian southern people.

- con't in next post

Finally, those who forget history are condemned to repeat it. The cause of the South was simply to be left alone. Northern economic and political interests, like the interests of the British vs. our colonial ancestors were the cause of secession. We celebrate July 4th for the same reasons that Florida and her sisters seceded from the United States. Compare the Morill Tax act the Southerners reacted to vs. the British Tea tax and you will understand more about this subject.

Its simply lazy thinking, Dan, to say a flag that which can do nothing to no one but which symbolizes the valor of veterans, the cause of Constitutional liberty, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ should be banned because of what violent individuals 150 years later did with it….again just a piece of cloth.

Look forward to seeing you there and thanks for your help in making the event a tremendous success again this year.

-Lunelle Siegel

It is obvious you have but one concept of the struggle which took place 150 years past
and one that is very shallow.. I hold no malice towards your ignorance because the Federal Governmemt dictates what will be taught and I assure you there is a vast difference from my background and yours. The Constitution guarantees our right to assemble and express ourselves within the boundaries of respect. Your whiney defence of a minority is so pathetic but the dialogue must continue. My people fought under that flag and I take it as a personal attack on me and my ancestors when you condemn without a solid arguement. The Federal colors have presided over thousands of prejudical issues compared to the Battle Flag. When we march by be sure to salute!!!

How can you attack something that you obviously no little about-your article about the Battle is to say the least purely one-sided and very uneducated-but nothing anyone writes here or later will try to educate or tell you will go anywhere as unfortunately you mind has already been made up by poor northern educators and politaclly correct cowards whom serve in all parts of media

sorry I meant battle flag-
p.s. one could very strongly that marching for a church or any other religious enity is truely unconstitutional. And as far as murder during the war of northern aggression-I suggest you read a detailed report on Sherman war against civilians.

I find your post to be most uneducating and appalling, as you are representing your church with your comments and hatred of the symbol my Confederate ancestors fought for. Many who did not return home, who are buried in mass graves. I take offense that you spew your slander without proper information and some semblance of knowledge of a subject you obviously have no idea of. Bless your heart.

The Battle Flag is not the "Stars and Bars" as you have misspoken, it is known as the "Starry Cross", the First National Flag is the "Stars and Bars" .

I have lived in this area for many many years and see NO incidents where the Battle Flag has been responsible for the actions you assigned to it, people commit crimes, not a Flag. I am sure you would be most appalled to know that according to the KKK, they recognize the "Stars and Stripes" as their official flag... yes your beloved Old Glory, which also flew over every slave ship that harbored in the ports of America. That same flag, Old Glory flew in the hands of criminals like Sherman, Butler, and other nefarious Union generals who committed war crimes against Southern civilians on a scale that assures me their place in Hades alongside Lucifer is most assured. Sherman, himself, in his memoirs confessed that if the South had won, he and most of the Union generals would have been arrested, tried and sentenced as War Criminals.

Mr. Segale,
While I do not agree with your opinion; I most certainly support your right to freedom of speech. I hope that you will support my right to express my opinion. I support the displaying of the Confederate Battle Flag and the Government Flags of the Confederate States of America. You stated that the only flag that counted was the "American" flag. I assume that you meant the United States flag. The Confederate States of America flag is also an 'American' flag. Confederate Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines are also considered 'American' Veterans. This was accomplished through many Legilative Acts in the 20th Century. In fact, Confederate Veterans are entitled to recognition extended to all other 'American' Veterans.( of which I am one) I will let others explain the difference between the 'Stars and Bars' and the Confederate Battle Flag. Or maybe you could look it up yourself. Deo Vindice

I proudly fly the Battle Flag, I am proud of every one of my ancestors, the sacrifices made by them, including their lifeblood to protect the Constitution and the Founding Fathers' vision of what America WAS to be, and it is nothing like what we have now.

I pray that you take this to heart, and learn more about the South and the Confederacy.You would find that these men have been gravely slandered and grievously wronged.

God bless the South!

and yes mr segale above posters are right every slave ship that ever sailed from America sailed under the US flag, and which "american" flag was still flying over every segregated US military post until after WW 2, which "american " relocated the indians, slaughtered the indians and waged a holocaust upon them ? which "american" flag flew over japanese-american concentration camps during ww 2 ? Which "american" flag flew over the execution of an innocent Mary Suratt ? which "american" flag delivered blankets containing small pox and yellow fever to the indians ? which "american" flag swept thru the state of Ga,Al, and SC with a swath of rape,burning , plundering, stealing and other crimes against humanity ? Ask yourself all these questions as you sit in your blessed pew condeming a great people, and their history and heritage.

That's the American spirit...deny our citizens the right to honor their forefathers and heritage. It is good your article was not written in the presence of those who dreamt of a land where free speech would be the bulwark on which it stands. Shame.

Dear Americans,
I applaud your opinions, and I pray that each and every one of you will be blessed this year with peace and prosperity. The one thing that I reiterate here to all, especially those who seem to think there was no treasonous act done by states succeeding from the Union is this. To fly and be proud of the confederate flag during a parade that celebrates the Independence of The United States from England in 1776, is not only disrespectful to the honor of the American flag, but it is simply reprehensible in the hands of those who choose to honor it in an event that reserves honor to those who fought in the "Revolutionary War". All other dialogue on the subject is mute, null, and void of legitimate debate because there is no debate.

In Hoc Signo Vinces,
Dan

Well, since everyone else has given you a very brief education on both the Battle flag and the American flag, I will only bring to light but one error in your writing. "When the South's bugler would sound the retreat, often the southern army would retreat the wrong way and end up face-to-face with Union soldiers." I find it funny that you decided to use "retreat" in your reasoning for creating the Battle flag. Actually, it was just so they didn't shoot fellow soldiers when they were forming lines of battle on the fields. If you read about the battles, you will learn that there was a lot of back and forth in them. You will also learn that casualties on the Union side were quite often greater than those of the undermanned CSA units.

Dan,
Did the colonies not secede from England? Would you please show me where, in the Constitution, secession is forbidden?

Dan,

Sadly, it appears that you are unwilling to consider the possibility that your views of American history are a myth.

Do you know what the Great Seal of the Confederacy looks like? Probably not.

Well, sadly despite your unwillingness to become educated, Deo Vindice!

You need an education,my boy. First the Stars and Bars is not the Battle Flag you are referring to. The Stars and Bars is the First National Flag of the Confederacy. That is the first indication of your lack of education. But a lot of people call it that. Not educated Southerners. You also think that secession (learn how to spell it) was treasonous. It wasn't. It was perfectly within the Constitution to secede. Don't believe me? Look it up. Secession was taught at the service academies as perfectly legal. Our founding fathers even said it was perfectly legal. Only until after the was was a law passed outlawing secession. You think the war was about slavery? Think again. Look up Corwin Amendment. It was an amendment proposed by Senator Corwin of Ohio allowing slavery to continue in the South if they would not secede. The Southern legislators said it wasn't about slavery. Yes, Alexander Stephens says something about slavery, but it wasn't the cause of the war. Unfair taxes was the reason.
Also, not one slave was imported under the Confederacy. In fact, it was against the Confederate Constitution to import new slaves. Slavery was going to die a natural death. Not by the deaths of over 600,000 people. Slavery was wrong, no doubt. But the North had slaves,too. So they are not immune to criticism about that either. If slavery was the issue, why did Lincoln wait 2 years to even mention it? Because he . He wanted to ship blacks to Africa. Now you have a bit of education.

Dear Sir: The Battle Flag has been carried by US soldiers, of Southern descent, in every war since the War Between the States, including Iraq and Afghanistan. It is an American Battle Flag, unlike the Stars and Stripes, which is a National Emblem. The US Battle Flag is the Blue Eagle Flag which was carried up to WWI. Naval Ensigns were worn on Commissioned US Warships by order of SECNAV from 1830 to the present, for recognition at sea. I suggest you research vexicology before making further statements about which American Flags are carried in the 4th of July parades; Would you also ban the Bennington Flag or the Serapis Flag?

To Dan Segale, I leave you with a quote from the book The Founding Fathers' Guide To the Constitution. From Page 9.

' Patrick Henry, the most dominant political figure in the State of Virginia and possibly the best orator in the United States, asked in the Virginia Ratifying Convention, " My political curiosity, exclusive of my anxious solicitude for the public welfare, leads me to ask, Who authorized them to speak the language of We, the people, insead of, We, the states ? States are the characteristics and the soul of a confederation. If the States be not the agents of this compact, it must be one great, consolidated, national government, of the people of all the states. "

By the way, at least two of Patrick Henry's grandsons and many other relatives fought for the Confederate States of America under the Confederate Battle Flag, which, by the way, is NOT the " Stars and Bars " !!

People.
The flag as we know it - the confederate flag has nothing to do with the revolutionary war period. Therefore, a parade celebrating our independance has no need for such a flag to be carried in it. If you carry any thoughs past this general thought, you have missed the point. The confederate flag was and is a flag of the south, which lost in our nations civil war. If we have a civil war parade, fly it all you like. I don't think I could possibly make this point any more clear. I seriously hope you get the picture here.

Dan Segale,
Your inference that the Confederacy engaged in treasonous activity (in other words, were "traitors") compels me to ask you to explain several things. If the Confederates were traitors, how is it that the U.S. Military has named so many major U.S. military posts for Confederates - Fort Hood, Fort Polk, Fort Benning, Fort Gordon, Fort Bragg, Fort A.P. Hill and others. Why did Pres. Wm. McKinley appoint four former Confederate generals to the rank of general in the U.S. Army at the beginning of the Spanish-American War. Why did Congress in 1958 adopt P.L. 85-425 recognizing Confederate veterans as American veterans entitled to all rights and privileges thereof. Certainly these are strange things for the national government to do if, indeed, the Confederates were traitors. The answer, of course, is that they were traitors only in the uninformed and misinformed minds of people like yourself. I just wonder how a self-proclaimed Christian like yourself can be such an intolerant person. Oh, I think I get it, you are one of those all-knowing liberals who wish to espouse tolerance for everyone else but firmly cling to your belief that you can pick and choose what YOU must tolerate. How Sad!
Bob Hurst, Tallahassee

Sir, I believe you to be an honourable, servant of Christ who truly wants a good community and peace with your neighbors. You are basing your beliefs on the information taught to you, and fed to you by the government and media. If you would like to know the truth about history, about our republic, and how we got where we are today, I'd be glad to share my research with you. "Truth, though crushed to the ground by overwhelming force, remains the truth." Contact me, and I'd be glad to share the author of this quote with you. Remember, Jesus is Truth. Those who feed you lies are NOT working for his kingdom. "Lies are from the pit of hell, and smell like smoke" is a favourite quote of mine from Steve Brown. We talked on his radio show once about history. I've learned so much more since then, and it's fascinating. If you are not interested in learning, please go back to church, and pray for enlightenment.
Sincerely,
Brett
Southerngent1555@aol.com

Dan Segale,
It has been said that "It is better to be thought a fool than to speak up and remove any doubt". Sir, ...you are the 'Poster Boy' of fools! You are being pummeled to death on this blog by individuals who know the true history concerning Lincoln's illegal, immoral, unholy and undeclared war against his own American countrymen. Pray tell....why did Lincoln not attempt to defer the secession issue to the Supreme Court of the land for their considered opinion concerning the legality of secession instead of ordering up 75,000 Union soldiers to invade the South? Treason? you say. If treason was the answer, then why was President Jefferson Davis never charged with any crime?...much less treason. You are flying down the interstate of ignorance, traveling in the wrong direction...ignoring all of the attempts from the oncoming traffic (Horns blaring, lights flashing, vehicles swerving, etc.) to enlighten you. You have been drinking the kool aide of liberalism and political correctness for too long and it appears that your brain has been pickled and for all practical purposes.....you are brain dead! How Sad!
Henry Russ, Jacksonville

I am surprised But then again, I'm not that surprised that yet another is attempting to remove and ignore some parts of our americam history. Also Mr Dan I hope that you take the time to research your own family history and you may find that some of your own family could have served in the confederate army But would you hold your head down and be ashamed or like me and many others who take the stand proudly for those who made sacrifices for the cause. Now that we are on the subject of Causes- I believe that we should not try to remove, distort or ignore certain parts of American history. Also on this 4th of july parade in Brandon (and many other cities) watch the crowds cheers as the colors of the Confederate Color Guard pass by. Thank You John Elmore

Were the slave states concerned about Lincoln's election enough to secede. You can bet your bottom dollar. He was elected as a regional president. The South did not trust Lincoln.It was later found the South was justified in the feelings of... distrust. It had been established that slaves were personal property not by the South but by the United States.

In 1860, The United States was the largest slaveholding nation in the Western Hemisphere, and one of the last.
Its nearly 4 million slaves were an asset valued at $3 billion, worth as much as all the country's factories, railroads, and live...stock combined.
Cotton was the single largest U. S. export, and New York City was the financial capital of the Cotton Kingdom. (Book-Complicity)
The slave state...s at this period of time also included Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, and Delaware. The District of Columbia, Washington City.
Washington City had 2,989 slaves in 1862. This was 7 months after Union forces had illegally invaded the State of Virginia on July 21, 1861, for Lincoln's stated purpose of maintaining the Union.

Lincoln had previously expressed his opposition to the expansion of slavery into western territories but conversely, he actively supported the Corwin Amendment, a measure which would permanently allow slavery in the states where it was presently legal. Nobody should have been surprised by Lincoln’s letter. He had made his position known many times. His primary purpose in conducting the war was clearly the preservation of the Union. Lincoln was peripherally interested in slavery but was quite willing to leave it in place and allow it to die a natural death. His strong support of the Corwin Amendment which (failed only because the South had left the Union) illustrates Lincoln's slavery position both pre-war and well into the war. The Corwin Amendment (would have forbidden) any attempt to amend the Constitution "to abolish or interfere with the domestic institutions of the states, including persons held to labor or service (slaves)." In the beginning, the end of slavery as a result of Lincoln's war had not been anticipated. It was a secondary happening

We feel that our cause is just and holy; we protest solemnly in the face of mankind that we desire peace at any sacrifice save that of honour and independence; we ask no conquest, no aggrandizement, no concession of any kind from the States with which we were lately confederated; all we ask is to be let alone; that those who never held power over us shall not now attempt our subjugation by arms." President Jefferson Davis - April 29, 1861

People.
The flag as we know it - the confederate flag has nothing to do with the revolutionary war period. Therefore, a parade celebrating our independance has no need for such a flag to be carried in it. If you carry any thoughs past this general thought, you have missed the point. The confederate flag was and is a flag of the south, which lost in our nations civil war. If we have a civil war parade, fly it all you like. I don't think I could possibly make this point any more clear. I seriously hope you get the picture here. Anything after 1776, Lincoln et all is purely irrelevant to the flag in question in our national independance parade. Wake up

From your statement, Dan, nothing that has anything to do with a post 1776 time frame should be in the parade? Guess that would exclude all of the other veterans organizations and anyone not dressed in colonial attire. I understand what you are saying but you have to realize that not everything in a parade is themed to the parade's theme. Look at the Strawberry Festival parade. Not every participant has a strawberry theme. You have youth athletic teams, high school bands and dancers, etc. that are there representing themselves, not strawberries.

It always amazes me how some folks can so easily dismiss the place of honor and dignity earned by Black folks under the Southern Cross. This man who condemns the Southern Cross from the St. Andrews Church better learn something about Andrew and the Confederate flag. The Confederate flag in any of its forms is an American flag, and it rightfully belongs to any Southern Black who has the desire to embrace it as a Southerner. Yankees continue to try and cover up their complicity in the economic institution of slavery, and it don't wash. As Southern Blacks we have a whole lot to be proud of from that era. We help build this nation and move many other nations from the caves of darkness. Yet we have been cursed just like our Southern White family because we joined them in defending our homeland against an illegal invader who has come again to steal our lands, wipe out our culture, and continue the reconstruction strategy of dividing and separating us from our Southern White family with great distortions from the body politic. They have given the Northland of America to just about every foreign enemy that we have fought, and now here they come again with their invasion of the South, using the Black man as their weapon of choice against our Southern white family that they despise. Go home and leave us in peace, and we will show you just how America can be as great as we want to believe.And take your Poverty Pimps too, I am HK Edgerton, a loyal Black from the Southland of America.

Once again, the focus is on 4 July 1776 vs. the confederate flag. The parade celebrates the victory of all Americans as a sovereign land on 4 July 1776. You may celebrate anything you like at any other time, but the confederate flag has no place in a parade that celebrates the accomplishments of 4 July 1776. All other discussion about the north and south is mute to that fact. I hope all of you proud southern folks see my point. Have a confederate day parade if you want, but 4 July 1776 supersedes anything from the 1860's. There is a time and place for everything, and somethings don't mix.

Dan,
While I have no real interest in the Confederate flag and to some degree the history of it, I do however disagree about the flag.
July the Fourth, Independence Day, is about freedom. Using your argument I could say that Santa has no right to appear during Christmas or the bunny at Easter. We do not simply celebrate the signing of the Declaration seeing that happened over a period of months from August to November, but we celebrate whole idea of freedom that makes our Country so great.
Also, too many people get bogged down in what public schools (especially in the North) teach about the Civil War; that is was simply over slavery. This is a complete fallacy and has caused great damage in race relations in this Country. In simple terms the Civil War was fought over state's rights. Slavery was only one of those issues. i cannot speak to the KKK using it as their symbol as I am unfamiliar with that, but Swastika is still in use in the orient today even after the Nazis used it and made a symbol of hate out it to the Western world.
The fact that we can even have this discussion is a testament to our Freedom.

Bubba,

Please clarify what you mean by "
I joined the chapter at The Citadel when I was a senior cadet in 2010, and only recently in the past few weeks I had discovered you. Since then, you have made my flames stronger."

I was replying to Mr. H.K. He is the president of Southern Heritage 411. He is a leader among us, the Sons of Confederate Veterans and all other Southerners who have been led astray. I joined in 2010 the chapter of Sons of Confederate Veterans at The Citadel: Military College of SC. The camp is called Star of the West.