I don't see the "confederate flag" as a disrespect to our country.

It's because that flag literally was flown by troops fighting to keep people as property. (Side Note: I'm from New England, but always found it...odd. I mean, we don't exactly fly the "Red Ensign" as a sign of "Northern Pride".)

It's a common phrase that "History is written by the winners", but the U.S. Civil War is unique in that History was allowed to be written by the losers. The South was devastated by was & the Confederacy was a complete failure that faced total defeat/surrender. Then the 13th/14th/15th amendment to make everything they fought for...useless.

So how do you explain a half a million casualties/a devastated economy/scarred society & populace/entire cities & states destroyed? Well it couldn't have been about slavery, because the 13th-15th amendment just made all that pointless. Also, history will hold a negative view of literally fighting for Slavery so it had to have been about something else. It was about defending honor, it was about "state's rights", it was about all-these other things to help explain why all these people would fight/die for nothing.

It's just southerners being proud of being from the south.

It's fine that you view it for Southern Pride: But to ignore the history behind it & why some people might hold a negative view of it, is just naive at best.

I'm glad you got love in your heart for the region, that when you look at that Flag you feel genuine pride. You sound like a great American, who loves his region/State/fellow Americans & I'm glad that you're fighting to help change the narrative.