If preservation of heritage is their goal, fly the Confederate national flag. It would be historically more representative of the state's heritage, since it was the national ensign of the Confederate States. It was, however, the official flag of the Confederacy. The red Confederate battle flag came into use after the war began. It later became the symbol of murderous bigots, i.e., the KKK, years after the Confederacy fell.
Flags are strong symbols.
They were not flying the Japanese national flag, but their notorious battle flag from World War II, showing red rays streaming up and out from a rising sun. Bitter rumblings rose from the Americans around me. They spoke of the memories of fathers and uncles killed and tortured by those who flew that flag in battle. I am sorry for Katherine Davis' letter, Jan. 15, complaining about the Navy planes flying over Corpus Christi. I grew up on an Army post.