There’s Only One Flag Real Patriots Should Fly

The Great American State Fair revived an age-old political controversy when a privately organized North Carolina booth drew condemnation for displaying a Confederate flag. It’s time for conservatives to have an honest conversation about the flag and its proponents. 

The Confederacy stood for slavery, secession, and an armed rejection of the American experiment. Its banner represents neither American conservatism nor respect for the constitutional order.

In 2025, the Mississippi Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans invited supporters and those with Confederate ancestry to commemorate Confederate Memorial Day and “honor those who served.” Give me a break. You’re honoring your ancestors by flying the flag of our defeated enemy?

Of course our ancestors weren’t all evil. But some of our ancestors supported some things that were evil. There’s no need to play the false dichotomy game where we pretend that either our ancestors were unmitigated monsters or that they all walked on water and committed no sins.

It’s no different from someone of Russian descent flying the Soviet flag or German descent flying the Nazi flag. These were enemies of the United States. They stood for things we do not stand for. That doesn’t make you responsible for their sins. We’re all Americans now. Leave your ancestors’ bad ideas behind or hit the road. 

Before anybody gets all bent out of shape about government control and freedom of expression, let me be clear: Something can be disgraceful without needing to be illegal. I am not advocating for any bans or restrictions. Just some common sense and honesty.

The Sons of Confederate Veterans are hardly alone in their sympathies. Mississippi governors have a tradition of issuing Confederate Memorial Day proclamations. Alabama and Mississippi officially observe several Confederate holidays.

A lot of Republicans feel compelled to defend positions sympathetic to Confederatism since they have long been associated with self-proclaimed “conservatives.” But let’s examine it on its own merits for a moment.

If we look at the issue objectively, it actually reeks of leftist mentality. Once upon a time there was a group of people on this land who stood opposed to the United States. They fought a war over it and lost. But now we’re still going to privilege their antiquated symbols over American ones because anything else would be discriminatory against their indigenous culture. Sound familiar?

What are these people doing on our side?

Most ironically, these are the same people who will then call themselves “patriots” and claim to be fighting to “take back America.” No, actually, there’s nothing patriotic about backing secessionists. That’s the polar opposite of patriotism.

Nor can any compelling argument be made that Confederatism is deeply rooted in our nation’s history. It’s not. The moment the Confederacy was founded, it was identified as an enemy of foundational American values and crushed with sweeping force. This was not some misunderstood regional tradition later corrupted by outsiders. It was rejected by the United States from the beginning. 

There was never a time in American history when it was seriously regarded as remotely compatible with the American way of life, let alone a key element of it.

Those who would argue that the flag is paramount to the American South are also minimizing the rich Southern history that was positive and worth commemorating. The American South is responsible for a myriad of great music, literature, and traditions. The South was also the birthplace of some political movements that actually were in line with American values, such as the Civil Rights Movement.

If you believe that all of Southern culture amounts to a failed rebellion from over 150 years ago, you’re telling on yourself. 

Even stranger than the Southern Confederate flags are the ones that show up in states that weren’t even members of the Confederacy. There was a prolific display of them at last year’s Maryland North East Christmas Parade. Even in rural upstate New York — just about as Northern as it gets — it’s not uncommon to see them flying high. 

Congratulations, guys. You switched to the losing side that America pummeled. That’ll show ’em just how much you love America.

No, we don’t need to ban the flag (or any other flags) from private property. If you want to fly a Chinese flag or an Aztec flag or whatever else, go right ahead. But don’t call yourself a patriot, and don’t expect others to call you a conservative. 

Real patriots fly Old Glory. Always have. Always will. 

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