As a rule, I never post anything even remotely political in any of my antisocial media accounts. Here is where I break the rules.

I was born and brewed in Wisconsin, as far from the south as you can get without being Canadian. I hold no allegiance to the stars and bars, unless you consider that my high school mascot was the Rebel. A little cartoon general, sometimes depicted with a confederate flag.

That being said, I’m in somewhat of a conundrum over the issue of the confederate flag.  On one hand, I have no problem with it.  It is a part of the history of our great country,  a nightmare of a history, but a significant part. And like the confederate uniforms one finds in museums everywhere, it needs to be remembered. Those who choose to fly it in their private homes, display it on their vehicles, and/or  tattoo it on their bodies will not offend me.  Nor should it offend anyone else.  After all, I fly a jolly roger under my stars and stripes and pirates can be seriously offensive.  I should know – I married one!

But on the other hand I believe it shouldn’t be flown next to our stars and stripes over a government building.  I mean, it’s not nearly as offensive as perhaps the swastika flying over a German government house but it is certainly not right.  This symbol of a part of the country that tried desperately to secede from the union and failed has no place in our government.  And – here is where I’m gonna offend a whole slew of people – to me, this is NOT a part of your “heritage”.  In my mind, if you really want to have a symbol of that period of time, try a white surrender flag.  Face it.  You lost.

Let the slamming commence but be warned – I rarely check the comments….