[beckmaster D]

Tuebor, I think you hit in on the head with the "redneck pride" observation. I grew up and live in Marquette(U.P.) and you do see quite a few Confederate flags adorning pickup trucks and tee shirts. Sometimes you'll see small bumper stickers, other times entire tailgates will be painted over with the flag- usually with a "redneck" graphic included. These people don't have southern heritage, it just seems like it's the cool redneck thing to do. If you asked these people why they display the flag, I doubt any of them could give you an articulate answer, other than, "If you don't like it, f-off!" Most of these dudes(and ladies) have probably never been south of Green Bay. I've always thought it would be fun to send a convoy of Confederate flag-sporting Yoopers down to the heart of back country Dixie. I wonder what true southern rednecks would think of a bunch of northerners( you can't get much more northern than the U.P. in this context) who have hijacked their iconic cultural symbol turning up on their turf? I don't think they would be happy about it. The MI- Confederate flag connection, at least where I'm at, just seems like BS based on ignorance.

[kcam213]

I used to notice the confederate flag a lot more in Redford Township about 10 years ago. Not so much now. I always thought it flown as a symbol of a rebel,... plain and simple.

[J'aimeDesVilles]

This thread surprises me. Maybe this is just a UP thing, a rural thing. I have lived in metro Detroit-Ann Arbor for over 20 years and I have very rarely seen the Confederate flag anywhere. Down in Ohio I see it a little more but still not that prevalent. I do see the Canadian flag or maple leaf emblem here frequently and this makes sense. I would think in the UP this would be common. Come to think of it, I see the Mexican flag more than the Confederate one.

[zthatzmanz28]

If one has been through or across the U P one would probably have a very good idea as to why it is flown there and what it represents...