LFS: The Confederate flag is acknowledged by the vast, vast majority of Americans as symbolic of racism.  Those who fly it know that.....that's why they fly it. It's rather weak to attempt to trivialize flying it.  Certainly, flying it is Constitutionally protected.  So is the use of racial and ethnic epithets.  Driving around town flying the Confederate flag isn't even remotely like enjoying Southern barbecue...... As you say, it's like driving around "flipping the bird", and I add, flipping it, specifically,  to every African American you pass....Gary Crum