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As a resident of Georgia, I have had a lot of time to think about this, and it makes me sad. I’m sad for those who remember the ugly stain of racism that this flag represents, but I’m also sad for those who see it as a symbol of heritage and are angry that no one else can understand their specific cultural view of the flag. The problem is that no one stood up for it during the years that it was tarnished by public demonstrations of racist, ignorant, propaganda. If a large group had stood up in the 50s, 60s, 70s,... and said, “This is not a racist symbol”, then I would say that this whole controversy is unfair. The sad truth is that not many people fought for its sanctity, while klansmen and skinheads made it their own. It could have been a symbol of state’s rights and southern culture, but instead it has unfortunately turned into a hateful symbol of intolerance.

Bingo. As a resident of Georgia, I came to the same conclusion. It's not simply a historical artifact or celebration of ancestry anymore.

You might have a point, except that it isn't true. I was there at the time.

Many groups stood up in the 50s and 60s and declared that the Confederate battle flag was not a racist symbol. Not only the re-enactors and the Sons of Confederate Veterans, but quite a number of just ordinary folks. They were condemning the Klan at the same time. But that's all gone down the memory hole.

Moreover, the KKKers were far more likely to fly the United States flag than the Confederate flag. Stone Mountain was Klan Central, for some reason best known to them. Any Klan function, you saw Old Glory all over the place, multiple flags - very rarely a Confederate battle flag (or naval jack if you want to get technical).

Nobody contends that the United States flag has been rendered somehow unwelcome or unusable by the activities of the Klan.

To an extent, I'm afraid you've allowed your view of the situation to be colored by the liberals and race-baiters who decided to make the Confederate battle flag an issue. They are the ones who decreed that "no one stood up for it," even though people did, and they are the ones who decreed that everyone must be offended by it.

Don't know about you, but I don't let the liberals and the haters drive my opinions.

Another Georgian here, and I’m in full agreement with both of y’all.

There’s a pervasive obsession with “my rights” that used to be a bugaboo of the Left, but is found across the spectrum now. Yes, this guy has every legal right to fly the flag, and if it’s important to him, that’s fine. When asked politely to take it down, he chose to park down the street instead. That’s fine, too. There’s no battle and no controversy.

There are virtually unlimited things I could do or say that would be legally protected free speech, but I don’t because they would be rude and obnoxious. I’m not yet 40, but I’m old enough to remember when courtesy was a Southern value.