When the Confederate flag is used to intimidate, it's all about hate (LTTE)

[struggle4progress]

... In 1998, the predominately black church my family attended moved to a location in Northeast Roanoke City. One Sunday a few weeks later, as I was pulling out of the parking lot, my 12-year-old daughter pointed and said, "Look." Her brothers, ages 6 and 17, and I looked up to see a white male standing on his front porch. His hand was on a flag pole, upon which a Confederate flag had been hung. He was glaring down at us with a scowl on his face ... Recently, a relative was going back to work from lunch on Melrose Avenue. A vehicle of young white males, with a Confederate flag waving, called her a n----- bitch. None of this has to do with heritage, but with intimidation and hate ...

http://www.roanoke.com/opinion/preston-when-the-confederate-flag-is-used-to-intimidate-it/article_5dab21b3-57a1-5818-a9ec-376a877acd64.html

[Igel]

1. Yes. Agreed.

With the caveat that intimidation is defined by intent, not perception.

Calling insults? Intent's relatively clear.

Often intent's not clear, esp. across age, class, ethnic, cultural lines.