It Is A Good Question.

[abaris]

Patriotic fervor is so helpful to a warmongering government.

When the Bush warmongering machine was running hot, I always had this quote in mind:

Oh, that is all well and good, but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country. - Hermann Goering

But flying the confederate flag as some symbol of patriotism is beyond ironic, given it's history.