The Heritage Preservation Association (HPA) has encountered many arguments against Southern culture and its symbols. Some border on absurd and others appear, on the surface, to have merit, at least to those who pander them. In this website, we will present the most common arguments given for removing, changing or censoring a Confederate symbol. Immediately following each argument, we will present a logical response that successfully refutes the argument, demonstrating why it usually fails in its mission to convince.

This publication is copyrighted by the HPA 1996-1997. All Rights Reserved.

Argument
"Since the Ku Klux Klan fly the Confederate flag, it has become a symbol of hatred, racism and intolerance. We cannot let our state (or school or whatever) project an image of racism by flying a Confederate battle flag or something that contains the Confederate battle flag."

Argument:
"Confederate symbols represented history at one time, but Confederate-Americans have not acted to protect the sanctity of their symbols from use and abuse by hate groups, thereby Southerners have forfeited their claim to these symbols."

Argument
"Confederate symbols should not be honored because they are cruel reminders of the by-gone era of slavery and slave-trade."

Argument:
"Confederate symbols should not be tolerated because they represent a government that fought a war to keep blacks in bondage and to preserve the institution of slavery."

Argument:
"Since Confederate symbols were erected and raised in defiance of court ordered integration during the 1950's and 60', they should be removed."

Argument:
"Confederate flags are un-American and they do not represent all Americans."

Argument:
"What's the big deal? It's only a flag. Besides, you have all of those monuments, memorials, markers, etc. to remind you of the Confederacy - Can't we find a compromise?"

Argument:
"The Confederacy committed treason when it seceeded from and fought against the Union. Why should we tolerate the symbols that serve to glorify this treasonous regime?"