Ah, when the Confederate flag is mentioned - everyones blood pressure goes up. Let me say - I do not want to hear from any Clan member which happened the last time I expressed my thoughts on all of this. At that time I mentioned I had half of my family CSA from Arkansas, and half as Union from TN (originally from NC). I lost one of the Union ancestors, he is buried in Mobile where he died on the march to Andersonville prison. My Arkansas CSA men spent some unpleasant time at Point Lookout Maryland prison.....so....I figure I am a pure American. (Not a half breed or something as the clan member told me since I had "Yankee" blood). I have always respected the Confederate flag, and honored my ancestors regardless which side they fought on. I figure they were all doing what they thought was right - and none of them were slave owners. They just got sucked in to a horrible war - because people were unable to sit down and talk. People were unable to put aside their pocket books and talk about what was right - the end of slavery. It was not the only reason for the war, but a very big part of it. The agression between Northern New England (who got rich transporting slaves to America and then saw the light), and southern slave owners began when they all set down to write the Constitution - the war 1860-1865 was just a final end to the debate.... How so many non slave owners in the south got sucked in is a complicated story. But about the flag - I always felt it should be shown honor for the men who died for it....they were only doing what their ancestors had done during the Rev. War and War of 1812 - fighting for their freedom. But....I finally realized somethng. Think about how a Jew feels seeing Hitler's flag - which was originally a Christian symbol. Or a Chinese or Phillipino seeing the rising sun flag. I don't think the Confederate flag began as a symbol of slavery, but while I still honor it....I do not honor how it has been used in the recent history of our country - as a symbol of a group of people called the KKK who wave it around and shout about the rights of the white race over others. I feel they are the ones who have dishonored the flag. Well, now I will get the hate mail but good gosh folks.....don't we all live in the same country and share a past? How long does it take? Someone mentioned southerners not trusting Yankees....or Yankees making fun of southerners. I am just so happy my ancestors were able to put their guns away after the war, and allow their children freedom to have whoever they wanted as friends, and marry where their hearts took them - even if the in-laws had fought on a different side. I am so proud to have a southern heritage - beginning on the east coast and going througout the south. I think it is much more fun working on southern genealogy than northern - only because it is about MY people. Just had to throw in my two cents..... Mary