Symbolism

My hometown is generally free of provocative displays.

This "Confederate" flag sprouted on a neighbor’s shed recently. This flag is a distillation  of various Confederate battle flags; since the Civil War it has become a divisive symbol often used by white supremacist groups and popularized by films (Birth of a Nation, Gone With the Wind) as well as in the TV show The Dukes of Hazzard.

Its appearance here comes at an odd time; there have never been so many minorities in our town, most of whom have assimilated very well.

I can’t see any good coming from this.

UPDATE: This Confederate flag has now been replaced by a US flag. Have more reasonable minds prevailed, or was it just a case of poorly chosen yard decor?