Politician's and snake oil salesmen  using smoke and mirrors to deceive and  hide what they are really doing.  The flag is an icon. Just like the Eagle, and money of each country with pictures of presidents or dictators. They always bring out the flag when wanting to send others to war to protect themselves and their power. The Confederacy used their flag as an emblem to subdue and conquer the poor and bonded people as well and sent thousands to their death to save their rights to be plantation barons. Just old rich nasty white men and their twisted ideals of what's important to them over the rights and needs of others beneath them.  Nothing about that has changed. The flag is a piece of material. A nations people's right are above giving worship status to an idol icon.