When I was a young boy in the South and on one of my first Fourth of Julys here in America, I remember being given a large box of fireworks. Bigger than I was, at the time. I so enjoyed it. One of the cans in this box depicted a soldier on it, dressed in grey, with the words "REBEL" proudly displayed on him. Not "Patriot", not "Revolutionist"... And the purpose of this firework was not to burn the image on the can nor in some way sully this soldier's rebellion. I asked someone what it meant because I was still an idiot, but more so as a little boy.
"The rebels are the good guys" I was told. Completely ignorant of the Civil War. But, I knew that that uniform wasn't what Americans wore when they fought for Independence. Though, I'm sure the people who wore that uniform thought it was one.
And rebel does indeed have some kind of good connotation in American culture. In a way, I suppose the Founding Fathers were perceived as Rebels by the British Empire. Though, I don't think even they carried that title across their lips. "Traitors" more likely.
Still, this strange can of explosives with the Confederate soldier on it eluded me until I was much older. And understood why there were two flags for our country. Why one flag seemed to evolve with time, while the other remained stagnate but proudly waved by white men and scornfully glared by black men. It feels like this country never got over that war. And it seems like no one wants to give it up.
"The South shall rise again."
Words spoken with conspiratorial conviction
Once thought a harmless threat
Remains