Other than slavery being abolished, and racism not being accepted in general society, (which is a very good thing imho) not much has changed here in the south since those times. The people are still every bit as rebellious at heart, as they were way back then, and still pretty much live the way they want too, regardless of what the established governments "laws" might be. The south is still a separate entity from the US, in many peoples minds here, and always will be.
While I can't say that I agree totally with everyone here, and their points of view (especially anything racist), I can identify with their wanting to rise up against, and fight a government entity which feels the need to fabricate, and force their own ideas of how life should be lived, onto the people. Because, in their eyes, If you are not willing to become a mindless unthinking drone like the rest of the sheep, which make up the mass of people in this place we call "America", and play along with this "American Dream" they have so conveniently set up for you, you are more use to them locked up in a cell.
For the people who live here in the south, the Confederate Flag has nothing to do with hate or racism, it has everything to do with freedom, and rebellion against an unjust government, and will always fly free and proud here in the south. We are still here, we still love this great land, and even up until the last breath we take, they will never take our freedom from us.