Why are people in the South allowed to possess and glorify confederate paraphernalia?

Don't those in the south realize that this is why most of us think of them as racists? Why are they allowed to have flags of the conferderacy and celebrate as if it's something to be proud of? How can they consider themselves true Christians when they practice such evil? The liberals could have at least made an attempt to stop this while they had power instead of focusing on other issues. It really disgusts me!