Someone please explain confederate loyalty

So living where I live, I’ve heard a million times that its not racism; it’s heritage. First off, part of the heritage was racism. You can’t just pick what parts of the heritage it represents. But thats a small fragment of my point. Lets say racism isn’t part of it at all. Most of the people I see toting this flag claim themselves as the “truest Americans”. Do you not realize that the confederacy was attempting to fight/separate from the United States? You’re essentially representing racist traitors, all while claiming to be the elitists of the group you were trying to betray. And while we’re bringing racism back into the mix; have you ever seen someone toting a swastika that was like, “oh no man, I’m not racist. I’m just a proud German”… Just a thought