To many the confederate flag means heritage. But to others it means hatred, white supremacy, and slavery. That's what the whole ordeal is about, a pure symbol.
The events that have been happening in South Carolina have occurred for more then one reason. The problems date back to 1962 when there was a confederate rally in South Carolina. The state said that they would fly the battle flag during the days of the rally only. But days turned into years. The flag flew on top of the state house for 38 years until the N.A.A.C.P had a tourism boycott that cost South Carolina lots of money.
On August 1, 1999, the Southern Party had a confederate rally in front of the South Carolina statehouse. This rally was to register a bona fide political party in all thirteen original confederate states and also the five bordering ones. "Were kind of a nation within a nation." Stated George Kalas president of the Southern Party. He also said "We had four years of independence as a nation to develop that separate culture that is not co- opotable. You can't co opt our southern heritage, you can't co opt our drawl, our southern cooking, southern music, our deep religious faith." Party leaders insist that the group is not racist, but talk of southern heritage stirs up some disturbing thoughts. The confederate rally began with the reading of the names of 26,000 soldiers who died during the "War of Northern Aggression (civil war)." The next day re-enactors participated in a two mile march.
Supporters of the flag say that it stands for courage and for the men and women who died during the civil war. Some people say that the flag has been given a bad name because of all the hate groups such as Ku Klux Klan.
Texas Governor George W. Bush said "My advice is that all of the people that do not live in South Carolina should butt out of the matter." The N.A.A.C.P says "Bush should take his own advice." Bill Bradly said " I wouldn't fly it. I think that it offends a large part of the population." Patrick Buchanon, a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, stated that "The southerners ought to be respected and so should the flag under which they fought and died."