I don't understand; why do people defend things such as the confederate flag

[henryp]

I never implied everyone in the south is bad merely that this specific period of history while should be studied and acknowledge just is not something that should be honored as a glowing notion of heroism

I'm guessing there weren't a lot of slave owners in the ranks of the confederate army.  For the rank and file in most military throughout history, they're all in the same boat.