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

[Gawdzilla Sama]

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.

Only one in 10 Southerners owned more than 10 slaves. Most of the remaining 90% didn't own any.