From Cora in Maryland:

As a native Southerner who is extremely proud of her heritage, I find it bewildering and sad that you think that a Confederate flag– which symbolizes the worst period of our shared history– is the best way to honor and respect that heritage. Perhaps an analogy would make it easier for you to understand. Germans have much to be proud of: their wine, architecture, philosophy, theater, and numerous forms of cultural expression. However, the swastika is NOT a symbol of which they should be proud. It symbolizes a brief and tragic period in their history, and it would be ludicrous to make that symbol the focal point of love for their heritage. Like the swastika, the Confederate flag was a rallying emblem that stirred emotions of hatred which led to real pain and suffering for people of ALL races. There is much to love about the South and its culture and history– but the Confederate flag is emphatically not on the long list of things we should love and hold dear about our region. In short, love.

The Response from Dixie Outfitters owner Dewey Barber:

DEAR CORA,

YOU ARE MISTAKEN WHEN YOU SAY "Confederate flag– which symbolizes the worst period of our shared history"

THE CONFEDERATE FLAG SYMBOLIZES THE HEROIC STRUGGLE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE SOUTH TO FREE THEMSELVES OF THE OPPRESSIVE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OF THE 1860’S WHICH WAS ROBBING THE SOUTH OF ITS RIGHTFUL WEALTH. DO YOU KNOW THAT THE SOUTH WAS PAYING 80% OF THE TARIFFS COLLECTED AND THAT THAT TARIFF MONEY WAS BEING USED TO BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE NORTH? DO YOU KNOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT IN POWER AT THAT TIME WAS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE NORTH AND THAT THE SOUTH WAS BASICALLY BEING TREATED AS A COLONY WITH NO REAL REPRESENTATION? DO YOU KNOW THAT THE SOUTHERN STATES THAT WITHDREW FROM THE UNION DID SO FOR EXACTLY THE SAME REASONS AS DID THOSE AMERICAN PATRIOTS WHO REBELLED AGAINST ENGLAND IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION?

DO YOU KNOW THAT SLAVERY WAS A PROBLEM OF THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES NOT JUST THE SOUTH, THAT THE SLAVES WERE BROUGHT TO THIS COUNTRY BY THE NORTHERN SLAVE TRADERS, THAT THERE WERE MILLIONS OF SLAVES IN THE NORTH? DO YOU KNOW THAT THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION DID NOT APPLY TO THE NORTHERN STATES UNTIL AFTER THE WAR AND DID NOT FREE A SINGLE SLAVE IN THE SOUTH?

DO YOU KNOW THAT SECESSION WAS LEGAL AND THAT THE NORTH INVADED THE SOUTH WHO ONLY WANTED TO BE LEFT ALONE? DO YOU KNOW THAT THE NORTH RAPED AND MURDERED INNOCENT CIVILIAN MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE SOUTH AND DESTROYED THEIR CROPS, HOMES AND LIVESTOCK?

TO DRAW ANY COMPARISON BETWEEN THE SWASTIKA AND THE CONFEDERATE FLAG IS WRONG. THE SWASTIKA FLEW OVER A NATION WHICH KILLED MILLIONS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE. THE SOUTHERN PEOPLE NEVER COMMITTED SUCH HORRIBLE ACTS.

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF SLAVES DID DIE ON THE SLAVE SHIPS THAT FLEW THE AMERICAN FLAG, SO IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMPARISON OF FLAGS TO THE SWASTIKA AND THE KILLING OF THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE…USE THE AMERICAN FLAG!

YOU, LIKE MANY, HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THE NORTHERN VERSION OF THE REASONS FOR THE WAR FOR SOUTHERN INDEPENDENCE AND ARE ALSO LISTENING TO RACE BAITERS LIKE THE NAACP WHO HAVE A MONEY RAISING AGENDA WHICH IS HELPED BY VILIFING THE CONFEDERATE FLAG. THE WAR WAS WON BY THE NORTH AND THEY HAVE WRITTEN THE HISTORY BOOKS AND TAUGHT THEIR VERSION IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THEIR VERSION IS THE BIGGEST COVER UP IN AMERICAN HISTORY!

THE TRUTH IS AVAILABLE BECAUSE THE INTERNET IS FREE FROM GOVERNMENT CONTROL. PLEASE GO TO OUR WEB SITE, "WWW.DIXIEOUTFITTERS.COM" AND OTHERS WHICH ARE LINKED THERE AND DISCOVER THE REAL TRUTH. YOU WILL FIND THAT OUR SOUTHERN ANCESTORS WERE THE TRUE BELIEVERS IN THE U.S. CONSTITUTION AND BILL OF RIGHTS AND THAT THE CONFEDERATE FLAG IS AN HONORABLE SYMBOL THAT ALL SOUTHERNERS SHOULD BE PROUD TO DISPLAY.

THANKS FOR YOUR EMAIL.

BEST REGARDS,
DEWEY BARBER