Honestly, who cares? I think it's being blown out of proportion and instead of solving a problem they are drawing attention to it and making people feel 'oppressed' and creating even more animosity towards not only the establishment but those who would see the flag banned outright. If people who displayed the flag were borderline racists before this, they are full on converted by now.

Sure it can have negative connotations, and I think everyone acknowledges that, but these things only have power when people give them power, otherwise it's just another piece of cloth with a design on it.