Why are there thirteen stars on the confederate flag?
410922
13 confederate states.
611955
Stripes and blocks are used so they can be seen.  A flag is a signal, not a picture, and it has to be seen miles away.
662985
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederate_States - Thats the confederate picture I'll help with Union soon.\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:USA_Map_1864_including_Civil_War_Divisions.png - Thats for the entire United States but not labeled.
1020698
I am sick and f*cking tired of black people playing the race card every time they don't like something or another that happens in their life. Get the hell over it already! I mean hell, when you think about it black people almost have MORE rights than white people do. How do you think it was that OJ got away with murder? And for another thing, I hate to break it to all the people who associate the confederacy with slavery, but guess what? There were people who had slaves up north, too! Not to mention that racism didn't stop at the southern half of the Mason Dixon line, as racism was once just as plentiful up north. But anyways to answer your question, like the other person said, the rebel flag is a piece of southern history, so as far as the states that were a part of the CSA I say let them have it. If black people can get reparations for the treatment of ancestors they probably wouldn't even care about if  it wasn't for the money, and that they never even had to experience personally,  then southern people should be able to still fly the rebel flag as a part of their history. So long story short (I know, too late) I would have to say that it is heritage, in just the same way that we have In God We Trust on our money even though so few people in this country believe in, let alone put their trust in God.
755731
What do you think the Confederate flag stands for? Most people think that it stands for slavery and racism. It doesn't. All the Confederate flag stands for is some states wanting to have more of an equal voice in government in the 1800's. We should embrace the fact that it's part of our history and honor all the men who died fighting to keep our wonderful country together and those who died trying to have a voice.
773208
It's symbolic.  In battle, the flag should always be visible to the troops as an inspiration, and an indication of where the front line is. If the flag bearer goes down, someone else immediately picks up the flag and carries it high.  So we carry that over into all displays of the flag.
447725
[ LARGE PRINT VERSION ]    [ LARGER PRINT VERSION ] \nEarly designs of the flag are attributed to many including Joanna Troutman, Sara Dodson, Charles Bellinger Stewart, Peter Krag and William Wharton, but it was long held that the actual designer of the Lone Star Flag was not known. The Texas House "may" have put an end to the mystery in 1997. House Resolution 1123, Commemorating Montgomery County as the birthplace of the Lone Star Flag, declares, in part, that: \n\n...WHEREAS, At the request of President Mirabeau B. Lamar, Dr. Charles B. Stewart of Montgomery County created this inspirational banner, and the elegant simplicity of his design truly exemplified the united will of the citizens of the new Republic of Texas; and...\n\nHouse Resolution 1123\n\nOfficial artwork created for the Lone Star Flag approved by President Lamar was drawn by Peter Krag.
552090
Well, I can't draw it online, but it would have a color from every counrty [sort of like the Olympic Rings symbol has] because America is a melting pot of nationalities. I would try to make the stars do an outline of the US on the field [the blue part] with the red stripes remaining as is. The stars would be different colors.
962358
It is a representation of heritage. Asking southerners to not display it or wear it on their clothing is like asking someone who moves here from Africa or Italy or wherever, not to display their flag or heritage. It's the same thing. So I guess the people who hate seeing the confederate flag should also get angry when people display their state flag or their home country's flag.
912204
The yellow fringe is only found on military flags, and the gold-fringed American flag is a military flag that represents Martial Law which is not subject to the Constitution. The one without is known as the peace flag of the United States and it symbolizes that the Constitution and the United States is alive and well.
619484
The large blue triangle represents Ohio's hills and valleys, and the stripes represent roads and waterways. The 13 stars grouped about the circle represent the original states of the union; the 4 stars added to the peak of the triangle symbolize that Ohio was the 17th state admitted to the union. The white circle with its red center not only represents the "O" in Ohio, but also suggests Ohio's famous nickname, "The Buckeye State."
1185641
The reason is "Propaganda". \n\nThere was NEVER any slave ships that flew the Confederate flag. In fact, the Confederacy outlawed the slave trade before the U.S. did. Also, the Confederacy didn't fight the war to maintain the institution of slavery. It fought to preserve States Rights and to fend off an illegal military invasion from the North.
206792
I am from the South, and I have ancestors who fought under that flag (some lost their lives and everything they had).  They fought for what they believed in, wrong as they were.  I feel that the subject is very complex.  I personally feel that it represents history, stagnation, prejudice, pride, shame, lots of things (good and bad, depending on who you are and where you come from).  It doesn't represent just prejudice or just pride.  For me, it's prejudice, shame and history.  I think it belongs in a museum, not displayed on a public building, for historical purposes.  Since it does bring about bad feelings for a lot of people, it has become a symbol of hate, but should be allowed to be displayed by private citizens on private property because we live in a free society.  And all that it represents should not be forgotten, lest it's history be repeated.  A good number of people who take pride in that flag seem to forget that the South lost the war, and that the loss was a good thing.  On the other hand, a good number of people who condemn it don't understand the significance of history and its preservation, or the other issues that were involved in the war.  It's definitely a gray answer, not black and white.
317826
In the depiction of the the 'Southern Cross' itself (i.e. the stars to the right of the union jack), Australia depicts the 5 stars that are recognized as the brightest. In fact the majority of countries/states/regions that include the southern cross on their flag include 5 stars (e.g. Brazil, Samoa, and Papua New Guinea). New Zealand only depicts those stars (four) that indicate the points of the cross, leaving out the smaller fifth star which is outside that alignment. \n\nThe large star on the Australian flag below the union jack is the Commonwealth Star or Star of Federation. It has seven points to denote the six states and the combined territories of the Commonwealth.
1036845
13 stripes, 50 stars\n\n13 original colonies & 50 states
960607
I see nothing wrong with it.. it represents the South ... not slavery, not racism.. the South wanted to succeed from the United States and that is why they had the Civil War... the Confederate Flag represented the South in the Civil War-It's part of our history, and some people just like the way it looks.. it's not the Symbol of the US
392718
The colour makeup of the stars (which represent the points of the southern cross) reflects that of the Union Jack. Red interior with white borders on a blue background.\n\nIf you refer back to the maritime origins of the NZ flag you will see that this has invariably been the case. Prior to the current flag, there was a flag that included the letters NZ in the bottom right hand corner (no stars); these letters were also in red with a white border. Additionally, a prior 'signalling' flag consisted of four red stars on a white disc.