I’m going to preface this article with a little disclaimer: this is most assuredly an opinion piece and I am most ASSUREDLY opinionated, especially when it comes to the Confederate Flag.

For a region teeming with such fantastic things, I cannot for the life of me understand why so many people cling to this symbol of racism, of hurt, of deep prejudice that TO THIS DAY is unapologetically rampant. Think of the great Southern literary tradition. Think of the vast and unusual spirituality that runs through the blood of many Southerners the same way the Mississippi cuts through the land. We have REAL SWEET TEA, ya’ll. Why on earth would anyone want to bear a symbol that is actively used to oppress when instead we could tout a culinary masterpiece?

I’m not saying that we should shove the Confederacy under the rug and forget the Civil War ever happened. No, to forget would be to say that we learned nothing and that we’re okay with minimizing all the supremely bad side effects that are still readily apparent OVER 150 YEARS AFTER THE WAR.

I’ve heard so many people say that they support the “heritage of the flag,” not its hate, but you can’t pick and choose which parts of a history you’re going to support. Consider this: during Hitler’s time, the swastika became a universally recognized symbol for anti-Semitism and the Nazi movement. Before his election, however, the swastika was known for its use in other religions and for other groups, such as the Navajo, as a positive symbol, representing the sun or promoting general well-being.

If today you were to take up the swastika as your sigil and wave it around town, do you think people would think to themselves that you’re only associating yourself with the connotations of the symbol pre-Hitler? Can you honestly believe that, because you are more or less a decent person, anyone seeing you sporting that symbol would understand that of COURSE you aren’t anti-Semitic and of COURSE you aren’t some Neo-Nazi looking to propagate your prejudiced ideologies? No one would look at your proudly borne swastika and think, “wow, they really believe in the well-being of others, way to go!”

WHY, then, is it so hard to understand that the Confederate flag represents the same sort of intentional hate?

Ultimately, I think we should stop donning this symbol in false ignorance — false because deep down I think all Southerners know of all the underlying messages communicated through the flag. I think we know of the messages each and every time we feel the need to defend the symbol, each and every time we bark out “Heritage, not hate.”

I love the South. My entire life I’ve lived here, among some of the best people on the planet. I love the accents, the sights, the weather, the landscapes, the communities… But seeing these jacked-up trucks — the very same trucks I’ve ridden in countless times, the same trucks that carry my friends to and away from me — and other vehicles sporting the Confederate flag every time I drive down the mountain to Home, I’m ashamed to call myself a Southerner.

So if this article made you angry, made you uncomfortable, please think about the reason you’re ill at ease. If something in it made you want to think more, the Huffington Post has a really great article here.