I’m simply going to start with this, because it’s the point of all of this really:

Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. – Roman 14:20-21

Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that everything you are arguing about the Confederacy and the “heroes” (in your words) of that time is true. Let’s also say, for the sake of argument, that the only part of that time in history you are trying to celebrate is your heritage, Let’s also say, for the sake of argument, that the history of slavery and oppression of people is not part of that heritage you are trying to remember and honor. With all that, how do you still answer Paul’s charge about stumbling blocks? How can you, knowing what the imagery looks like to other people, especially those not of the caucasian pigmentation, continue to hold it up and fight for it?

Paul says that it is better to not eat meat or to abstain from drinking for the benefit of those that might struggle with those things and their pursuit of God. So as a Christian, how can you go about trying to uphold something that is so much more grave and important then eating meat and drinking wine when you know it causes a stumbling block to your brother?

So please, if you consider yourself a Christian, I implore you to wrestle with the words that Paul wrote: “But rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.” – Romans 14:13b