Confederate history deserves remembrance
May 10 is Confederate Memorial Day in North Carolina. Sadly, it will be observed only by heritage organizations such as the Sons of Confederate Veterans and United Daughters of the Confederacy. Why this lack of interest in one of the most defining periods in American history?
In 1860, the Southern states had a difficult decision to make following the election of a minority Republican (Whig) president, since that party's platform promised expanding federal powers and a prohibitive import tax, which would have a devastating effect on the Southern economy. They chose to exercise their constitutional right to secede, and formed the Confederate States of America.
The new federal president ordered an illegal and unconstitutional invasion of the South, which resulted in a four-year bloodbath as the Confederates fought valiantly, against overwhelming odds, to protect their homes and the constitutional government created by the Founding Fathers.
Six hundred thousand soldiers, North and South, were killed, the South destroyed, and the totalitarian, imperialist federal government of today created.
The courage and suffering of the Southern people in that terrible struggle should be a lasting inspiration to all generations of Americans.
William K. Oden Jr.
Greensboro
Comments (4)
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"Why this lack of interest in one of the most defining periods in American history?"
Because anything with the word "confederate" is outlawed by the PC police.
That being said, I think this LTE is unbalanced.
Posted on May 5, 2006 12:44 PM
The irony is that in Virginia, The 3rd (or is it 2nd) Monday in January is Lee, Jackson, King Day!
And for the record, my gg-grandfather is a Confederate Veteran. So, I finally have an ancestor that fought in one of the "old" wars of the USA. By that I mean that he is the first of my direct ancestors that I have been able to establish having fought in any of the early conflicts.
My immigrant ancstors were as I, pacifists, belonging to the Moravian & Friends groups. Now with me, it has come full circle!
Shalom
Posted on May 5, 2006 4:20 PM
Like it or not it is American History, I am not sure of the sage who coined the phrase: those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it. Those words are borne our when considering the war between the states. I am not bitter but I to say we must never forget or choose to ignore this stretch of history. Blame and conspiracy play no role here, let's learn from history and embrace our unique heritage and continue to be a great country.
Posted on May 5, 2006 10:03 PM
Yes, this letter is unbalanced. As a member of the UDC, a Civil War historian, and a teacher of history, we do remember The War of Northern Aggression, The War Between the States, or whatever else you might want to term it. We remember it in our school curriculum. And if educators are doing their jobs, students leave the classroom with a balanced understanding of slavery, economics, and politics and how these issues collaborated to create a situation that was, indeed, America's bloodiest of conflicts. BUT, most of the Confederate Rememberance celebrations I've seen in recent years smack of white supremacist rhetoric and hate mongering by persons with a pigeon holed education, waving a flag they think was flown by every regiment to wear butternut and grey.
Remember our fallen soldiers, yes. Remember honorable men, yes. Encourage the perpetuation of one sided viewpoints that do nothing but stagnate waters that are very slowly but surely healing some of the divide in the south, in particular...I think not. If, Mr. Oden, you think the South was destroyed then you, my sir, long for a South marked by hatred and segregation, intolerance and ignorance; one that embraced the chasm between the haves and have nots. My forefathers fought to defend their mountain homes - an oddity given the strong Unionist leanings of NC's mountainfolk - but I do not think they would yearn for the South of old. Just what exactly is it you seek to glorify or remember?
Posted on May 6, 2006 3:06 PM