I think you're exactly right. I'm trying to see it from that perspective. What if it were named Adolf Hitler High School? Would you feel differently about changing the name?
Would I feel differently? Probably not. But, then again, I'm not most people!
If it were a German school? It might make me raise an eyebrow, but I would hardly get unnerved by it. I still think Adolf Hitler has a different impact on history than the American South, or antebellum South. The racial injustices are terrible- from ALL episodes in history.
Using the names of Confederate icons was something that was honorable when they were named. I don't think the Germans ever felt honored by, or honorable toward, the Nazi regime after WWII. I could be wrong because I've never been there. This recent swath of guilt is possibly like a delayed reaction to what they had immediately after. I'm not sure. It's also not as universal among the public as what appears to have occurred in post-WWII Germany. Also, Germany was essentially occupied by Allied forces after the war, so it was even more forbidden to show any kind of favor toward the Nazi regime. Southerners have been reluctant to feel like their people died for an immoral cause. And, truthfully, the Southerners that fought and died, are now, literally, all dead and gone. I don't understand this perpetual need for "I'm sorry for what they did." I recognize it, I've never been on-board with it, and I never exhibit or display it in my personal interactions in my daily life. i don't believe racial inequality is an acceptable notion. The Rebel Flag, nor any other flag or symbol, doesn't make me change my mind.
This thing with names and symbols is peculiar to me. For example, with flags; I don't look at the Stars and Stripes and
see "Liberty" or "Freedom" or any other trait or attribute in that piece of cloth. Colored pieces of cloth don't do that to me. At most, on a peripheral level, I just relate a geographic location to flags. No more, no less. Now, from an artistic perspective, which is instinctive for me, I'll think "man, that looks cool" or "who green-lit that design?" I have a friend from New Jersey that is in his 60's now, he recently told me "When I was a kid and first saw that Rebel flag in history class, I remember thinking 'man, I wish our flag was as cool looking as the South's flag!' " The sensitivity to race and other associations was totally absent from the visual of the flag for him!
Racism and prejudice originates from people believing they are superior to other people based on some aesthetic trait. I think it's a lot more effective making that very clear and emphasizing that manifestation of racial prejudice, in order to end it, instead of playing with scenery like street names and flags. Stop naming buildings and streets after people at all! You never know when popular opinion will go against them! And, stop building monuments to people, too! Same goes for them.
