"However, you can't deny that the rebel flag has been taken over by some pretty creepy racist elements in the 20th century. Most people associate it with these elements, not with the civil war."
Yes, but is that a reason to ban it? We can find that just about everything is offensive to somebody.
Slavery also existed under the US Flag for far longer then it existed under the Confederate Flag. And lord knows, many Libs consider the US as a racist, repressive nation, here, and around the world. The American Flag is offensive to many leftists in this country. What about their feelings??
This is a case where spineless officials, empowered by a liberal media, allowed a few radical whiners to tell us how we should live. Political Correctness is not just out of control, it's getting worse.
As for me, my great grandfather was an abolitionist officer of a black regiment, who fought the Confederates at the Battle of Petersburg, the Battle of the Crater, and was killed at the Battle of Ft. Fisher. If any one should feel offended, it's me. But that symbol doesn't bother me in the slightest. This flag wasn't a problem until over 100 years after the fact. Some people are just too thin skinned and full of hate toward some other people honoring their heritage.
I never said it should be banned. I did imply, however, that blacks might have good reason to get a little agitated at the sight of a rebel flag, because of what it has stood for in this century.