These people on here are too much, you're correct they are completely out of touch and living in the past. This flag represents the past more than any other flag I can think of, with the exception of the Nazi flag. You sure as hell don't see German's going around hoisting it proclaiming it is still part of their patriotism, as these southerner's are attempting to do. The Nazi flag is recognized as an offensive racist flag as is the rebel flag. In public they only belong in museums.