Flying the Confederate Flag

Its use throughout the twentieth century means that it has had a longer shelf life than merely the duration of the Civil War. During the Civil Rights movement of the fifties and sixties, it became a standard for those wishing to stage some kind of simple-minded stand against what they saw as corrupting civil rights progress. But though it remains part of modern symbolism, its presence is fading:

In fact, over the past few years, white and black southerners have become less tolerant of the public display of the flag, which has relegated its supporters to the sidelines and a much more defensive posture. Last year, the city of Lexington, Virginia, banned the flying of the flag from public fixtures. This past spring, the Museum of the Confederacy opened a new branch at Appomattox that did not include the display of the flag outside its doors. Finally, late last year, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond removed Confederate flags flying on the grounds of the Confederate Memorial Chapel, which the museum oversees.

(Image: Reuters, via The Atlantic)