> Who are you to define a cultural symbol for other people?

I don't think they are. My impression was merely they're attempting to convey the general perception. Their's to be sure, but also what they believe to be the accepted consensus.

> This is only true if you live in an urban bubble. The confederate flag represents more than racism and slavery to southerners, frankly, you are narrow minded. And your interpretation is, ironically, offensive to those who live in the south.

This isn't the first time I, an urbanite have heard this. I thought it was stupid then, and I still do. I've never seen a single person wave the confederate flag that wasn't also in the best possible interpretation for them, at the very least, ok with with the confederacy generally. The amount of willful and intentional ignorance as to the reason the confederacy exists, itself is egregious enough. The confederacy exists to promote human slavery. Totems and emblems of it, are inexorable tied to slavery. To fly the confederate is to condone the one of the worst mistakes in American history. "But it doesn't mean racism to me!!!!" You're flying the flag, you should know why it exists. Why did the confederacy exist? "States rights!!!!" States rights, to... do... what? You can continue to lie to both yourself and to me, but that's my point about willful and intentional ignorance of reality.

But I'm more than willing to be convinced I'm wrong, or mistaken. What does the confederate flag mean that's so important, or so valuable that it's existence as a symbol of the group willing to kill to protect the ability to own human slaves should be ignored?

> All symbols must be considered alongside within the context of intent.

I completely agree with you, only I think the responsibility to consider the context and intent lies with both the listener, *and* the speaker. Se why are you willing to ignore the negative connotation or context of the culture?

> I am offended by such people telling me I am not allowed to use certain symbols or language

That's one interpretation of it... I'm not sure it's reasonable. I'd frame it more like: "I wouldn't let someone scream racist obscenities in my ear." Only I'm willing to go farther than that, I'm not willing to let someone display a symbol I believe to be in existence to promote racism at my coffee shop. If the owner agrees, good, if they disagree. Then it's really not my coffee shop. I'll go somewhere else. It just happens to be that there's more people unwilling to tolerate racism than there used to be. And those that are willing to tolerate it are now outnumbered.

> under penalty of termination of employment or blacklisting, since ultimately this is a unilateral imposition of culture.

No, it's the rejection of a harmful culture. I wouldn't willingly work with someone constantly threatening to harm someone. I wouldn't work with someone constantly exclaiming that I'm going to hell because I'm going to the wedding of my gay friend. And I won't willingly work for someone I know owns a slaves. The difference is that instead of me leaving the community, it's me refusing to allow someone spewing such toxicity from joining one I'm already a member of. I'm not saying you can't fly your symbol of racism. In fact I'm glad if you do fly it. Because it makes it easier to know where you stand on the importance of racism. It saves me the trouble of wondering how you feel about racism and slavery.