I have never lived in any southern states, and never want to, but I agree that at the time it did not stand for anything "bad." The modern politics use it for racist, hateful purposes though. It's sorta like making a save of a Swastika, and saying it was never hateful. It is true that at one point it was not, and to many it still isn't, but for the majority it is veiwed as Germany's worst days, and the hate of an evil government.
On the community, it can be taken down as offensive
This is so true your a good person