From my completely detached situation here in the UK I can kind of understand the argument that the flag represents heritage and an implicit Southern spirit of freedom of speech, independence and not being dictated to by a detached government located far away. This is especially the case given how the Union flag and St. Georges Cross of England have been associated with the far right here. The fact is, however, that the Confederate flag is intrinsically linked with the US Civil War and what you cannot ever detach from the Civil War, from fight for some concept of "rights" is the implicit right to continue exploiting people as slaves.
I can accept that of all the people who choose to wear or fly the Confederate flag not all of them are racists and are trying merely to hark back to some romantic ideal of what the South represents, but from my limited time in the southern states it does seem that the majority of people I saw flying the flag did fit the stereotype of the bullish, knuckle headed redneck. Hardly the most inspiring of role models.
Surely you have to ask if the Confederate flag represents the spirit and heritage of South and perhaps has simply been hijacked by a minority for racist purposes, why so few, if indeed any, black people fly it on their houses, drape their cars with it and wear clothing with the flag all over it? Even if you maintain a romantic view of the Confederate flag it surely only represents the heritage of white people in the South? Is there any positive message regarding the history and heritage of black people in the South connected with the flag?