i don't know why there is such defense of the symbols of the confederacy, and it's something that always bothered me growing up (yes in TX as a matter of fact). if someone thinks they reserve the right to leave the US, maybe they should follow through on that and go somewhere more to their liking. pretending that one can simply declare themselves above the federal government by flying the symbols of the losing side of the Civil War is delusional. we don't see swastikas in Germany any more because people rightly banned their public display. but in America it's somehow ok to fly the banner of an antagonistic republic which lost the damn war and then create myths to pretend it doesn't stand for the thing it actually stands for. South Carolina, by flying the flag in front of the state capitol building -- and Texas, by trying to produce license plates with that emblem on it -- are sending a message that they prefer to live as a state in open rebellion against the US government, and that it's ok to be in open rebellion against the US government. that should not be allowed, no matter what history and mythos you assign to the symbol to skirt its history as a sign of racism and slavery.