This is the inevitable result of historical ignorance. What other conclusion can there be if we start from the premise that the War Between the States was fought merely about ending slavery? The Confederate battle flag can then only be a symbol of slavery, which translates to racism and hate, etc. One bad “fact” leads to several others. I blame the schools, and I mean all of them, K thru college.
I blame Confederate leaders for telling us they were fighting a war to maintain the institution of slavery
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/06/what-this-cruel-war-was-over/396482/
“...A geographical line has been drawn across the Union, and all the States north of that line have united in the election of a man to the high office of President of the United States, whose opinions and purposes are hostile to slavery. He is to be entrusted with the administration of the common Government, because he has declared that that “Government cannot endure permanently half slave, half free,” and that the public mind must rest in the belief that slavery is in the course of ultimate extinction. This sectional combination for the submersion of the Constitution, has been aided in some of the States by elevating to citizenship, persons who, by the supreme law of the land, are incapable of becoming citizens; and their votes have been used to inaugurate a new policy, hostile to the South, and destructive of its beliefs and safety.”
“Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery—the greatest material interest of the world. Its labor supplies the product which constitutes by far the largest and most important portions of commerce of the earth. These products are peculiar to the climate verging on the tropical regions, and by an imperious law of nature, none but the black race can bear exposure to the tropical sun. These products have become necessities of the world, and a blow at slavery is a blow at commerce and civilization. That blow has been long aimed at the institution, and was at the point of reaching its consummation. There was no choice left us but submission to the mandates of abolition, or a dissolution of the Union, whose principles had been subverted to work out our ruin…”
You can find more and more. It is actually pretty easy