The power to tax and spend still divides people along ideological lines as the current debate over the Bush tax plan demonstrates. Resistance to a national homogenization of thought is an element in what is known as the neo-Confederate movement. The Confederacy stands for a people's right to determine what sort of society, what sort of culture they want to build. Today, none deny that slavery was a part of Southern culture, but a fair appraisal, say many Southerners, acknowledges that there was far more to Southern culture, most of it a worthy heritage. Whereas most northern cities have neighborhoods flavored by cultural identities, that is missing in the South.
Southern cities have no European ethnic centers.
There is no Greek-town, no Little Italy and no German neighborhood. Hence, the symbolism for citizens is not connected with the racial strife of the civil rights movement. Southerners more typically recognize that battle flag, designed after the Civil War began, as an emblem of liberty flown against an invading army. It was never intended as a symbol of slavery, despite the meanings imputed to the flag by latter day detractors, black or white. St. Andrew, patron saint of Scotland, was crucified on an X-shaped cross.