Doyle, I think you have completely missed the point that the letter writers were making. None of the letters I read expressed fear about what some nameless others would think about the use of CBF. All of them were making the point that they were PERSONALLY offended with the misuse of a symbol they hold dear. They are standing up, tall and proud, for what they believe in. What's wrong with that? To many people, a flag -- be it the Confederate or the United States flag -- is not a mere tool, as you stated. It is a symbol of their country, their history and their heritage.

Let's remove the CBF from the equation, and say that the man had mounted a cross with the image of the crucified Christ on it upside down, to protest the way people voted in the last election. Can you imagine the letters of protest from devout people who feel that the crucifix is not a tool, but a symbol?

NOTE for those who think they smell blood in the water and are circling for the attack: I am NOT making a direct comparison of a flag with the Cross. I am merely making an analogy that what are tools to some, are cherished symbols to others.

Pam made an excellent point. If she doesn't mind my paraphrasing it, far too many people view the CBF as a symbol of racism, or at least resistance to civil rights for all. They're dead wrong, of course, but how does it help educate them about the heritage and symbolism of the CBF to flaunt it in a way that you know ahead of time is going to be misconstrued? Is it the right tool for the job?

If you want to change people's attitudes about the CBF, but are bound and determined to wave it in their faces, how about displaying it in positive circumstances, rather than in negative protests? Serve meals on wheels to shut-ins in a van displaying the CBF. Organize a blood drive and display the CBF. Or literacy workshops. Or soup kitchens. The point is, if you want people to see the CBF as a positive symbol instead of a symbol of protest, don't use it for protests. You have the right to use it that way, of course, but if you do, don't be surprised if you succeed only in reinforcing negative stereotypes, and we all have to live with the consequences.

No, Doyle, it is not shame that prompted those letters; it is pride.

I have a Confederate flag displayed on the wall above my desk, along with a photo of my great-great-grandfather dressed in gray homespun, holding his musket. They are daily reminders of who I am and where I came from, and an encouragement to try to be a better man than I am.

I guess that's all I have to say on the subject. You and I may have different opinions, but as far as I'm concerned we're still in the same gang on the playground.