the modern confederate flag is a modified version of the flags the confederates displayed during war. the one we’re most familiar with was popularized and displayed in response to 50s/60s civil rights action. it’s LITERALLY a symbol of white nationalism + visceral anti-blackness.
my point here is that the confederate flag we all know and recognize is undeniably representative of white supremacist solidarity so arguing what the civil war was about with prideful southerners is basically just a derailing cuz really you don’t even have to go back that far