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

[Gawdzilla Sama]

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

Really, it's much the same way the Republican Party attracts the same working-class people it makes a point of screwing over: appeal to tradition and convince them it's somehow in their best interest that they work to protect the wealth of a small cadre of people. Only this time, the percentage of the wealthy people pulling the strings is a lot smaller.

Yep, the "protect what little we have from the Democrats" voters. Been that way since 1932.