Is USA Today encouraging the shaming of Rebels in a small Virginia town?

[murphyc]

At Hurley High, Confederate battle flag is everywhere and means everything

So USA Today finds a small Virginia town where the high school mascot is the Rebels. Not only that, but rebel flags are seen everywhere throughout the school. Why, even the lone black student at the school has a tattoo of the Confederate flag!
To me, it came across as the writer trying to encourage readers to see these backwood rednecks as racists. Some examples from the story:

That’s the party line in Hurley, a tiny coalmining community tucked into the southwest corner of Virginia, south of Kentucky and west of West Virginia, where longtime citizens say they just want to be left alone to rally around a symbol that’s been with them for as long as they can remember.

Much of the rest of the nation sees the battle flag as an unfurled symbol of slavery and segregation.

What would Smiley think about statehouses and high schools retiring the battle flag? “You can’t print that,” says Varney, who’s pleased local sentiment is to keep it flying high in Hurley.
“To change it because someone else doesn’t like it,” he says, “goes against the grain of mountain independence.”

The vibe is small-town sweetness, but as the night winds down Rebels fans Darwin Bailey and Roger Hurley introduce themselves to a reporter to ask some pointed questions. They wonder why USA TODAY Sports is here. They worry that any publicity will be negative publicity, because outsiders can’t truly understand their love of town, team and flag.
“It has nothing to do with hatred or anything else they want to say,” Bailey says. “We’re one big family here. You can see that tonight.”
Roger Hurley says a national story can only lead to no good. “When this hits USA TODAY, we’re ruined,” he says, predicting protesters from elsewhere will arrive before this season is out. “Why punish the kids?”

Thoughts?

 

[LongTimeListener]

To me, it came across as the writer trying to encourage readers to see these backwood rednecks as racists.

In journalism terms, that's called "accuracy."

 

[Mr. Sunshine]

In journalism terms, that's called "accuracy."

Sounds like the kind of statement made by an individual who has lived a sheltered life.

 

[Vombatus]

Bailey and Hurley should have grabbed the reporter, and made him disappear. End of story.

I swear, the South isn't what it used to be. The wussification of American heritage continues.

 

[Riptide]

On the interstate on the way to work Friday, I passed a beater pickup with a topper and a sign in the back window that said: "You will NOT hold down MY SOUTHERN HERITAGE!" Couple of Confederate flags flapping on the front fenders at 70 mph, and two bearded, out-of-state old farts avoiding eye contact with anyone as they barreled down the highway.

They looked like a pair of stubborn old rednecks. Why advertise for trouble like that on a road trip?