Some people seem unwilling to celebrate the 147th anniversary of Robert E. Lee’s surrender to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House. I’ve heard, for example, that some “Confederate heritage” folks actually fly their Rebel banners at half-mast. Really.
For them I have a message.
See, I can display a Confederate flag, too.
Crossroads 
Brooks I feel like the only thing extra you could have added would be a picture of you in the center either giving the middle finger or simply laughing. This ought to stir some responses.
I’m just a little understated that way. 🙂
A fun part of the debate about secession is when the Confederate Romantics argue over the legality of the war. But it was never the Unionists claiming secession was illegal that spurred the legality question, but rather the Confederates and their apologists who were claiming secession was legal in order to assert that the war to put down secession was illegal. But civil wars and independence movements are *extralegal* by definition. There is no one to appeal to between sovereign states unless they agree to some sort of arbitration voluntarily in which case there’d be no war to begin with since the lawyers could work it out. No, Lincoln and others realized full well that the Confederates had a moral natural right to revolution that the Founders spoke of and said so. I also hold this view.
But the thing about revolutions is you have to win them. The Confederate Romantics who make this illegality argument are really arguing for the right of an *uncontested revolution*. It’s a plain contradiction at the core. Their opponents had the temerity to fight back, and the rest is history. Indeed they just have to get over it.
Brooks-I prefer
WE WON!!
GET OVER IT!
Well, I wasn’t there 150 years ago (or 147 years ago), so I don’t know who “we” are.
We the People of the United (or them stinkin’ Yankees). Of course, who’s they “You” you’re addressing, since the ones who actually joined in the rebellion a century and a half ago have long shuffled off this mortal coil?
I’m addressing those brave souls who are committed to continuing the good fight from the safety of their computer.
Hey …. that’s the best way to fight a war. 😉
No bombs … no bullets …. nothing to be afraid of except a big DC law firm or the Department of Justice hitting up your blogpage ….. 😀
…and Scott Norwood’s kick was wide right.
Some people are dismayed because history did not take the turn they thought it should have. Those with common sense accept it as fact and get on with life. Others shall dwell in the past forever and therefore will prevent themselves from experiencing the future.
Shouldn’t they simply fly the last confederate flag (the white flag of surrender)? ; )
A big part of the problem, as we all know, is that certain people identify themselves with the Confederacy, implying they were actual participants in the struggle and are embittered by personal losses they apparently suffered. Saying phrases like “You lost, get over it” is only playing into their hands, as it reinforces their martyr complex. Bringing neo-Confederates down to earth will require making them face the fact that they’re not real Confederates, that the people who actually fought the Civil War are long dead, and our supposed divisions are not as deep as some folks imply.
I doubt that anything anyone says will persuade these folks that they are simply playing at being Confederates. They need to feel like they are victims who have been evilized, demonized, and punished. Why this is would make for an interesting study. After all, some of these folks think African Americans should get over slavery, but they can’t ask the same thing of their Confederate “heritage,” real or imagined. You won’t eradicate their beliefs by using reason, but you can marginalize their influence on how other people understand American history.
I’ve read very serious online “heritage” discussion groups where the only thing they found wrong about enslaving Blacks is that it was ever abolished.
I’ve seen that also, but I’ve seen a lot more who held normal, modern views on slavery and were glad it was abolished. Most Heritage people I’ve encountered are not racists.
I agree. But these folks don’t always make themselves visible, so guess who fills the empty spaces (and guess who gets press attention)? It is one of those things that a few folks tend to be taken as representative of the whole.
Besides, I think there’s a difference between family heritage and Confederate heritage, and that one can look to an ancestor who happened to be a Confederate while not honoring Confederate heritage. I see that in my own family, for example.
Well said.
I may have hit the wrong reply link. I was replying to Brooks’ 9:52pm comment.
So you’re giving up your entitlement to Southern heritage. Great!
Whew! That was close!
There you go again.
First, southern heritage is far more than Confederate heritage. It is more inclusive in many ways.
Second, many Confederates accepted defeat. Unlike you, they actually fought. That you confuse yourself with Lee or Longstreet or Mosby or Gordon is your problem. One can honor Confederate heritage while accepting defeat; these men honored it by accepting defeat and dedicating themselves to being good Americans. That you have a problem doing the same … well, one wonders why you dishonor Robert E. Lee.
Accepting defeat and being happy about it are not the same thing. Lee was not GLAD to surrender and even said as much later. Just because Confederate descendants weren’t “there” doesn’t change the emotional effects that linger.
Especially when some of us are still pretty closely connected to the conflict. My grandfather (age 91) grew up knowing old vets and ex-slaves, making me just 1 or 2 degrees of separation from the actual event. It’s not as distant to some of us as it is to the rest of America.
Though I’m hardly a “Heritage advocate” anyway. I have strong Confederate heritage, but I’m a lot more interested in World War 2 which was more recent, and in my opinion, more imporatant.
I only consider myself “Confederate” in the same sense that I would identify as “Scottish” — because of my ancestry, but I’m no more a Confederate citizen than I am a British subject (I don’t think anyone is rationally claiming they are).
That said, there are a few wackos that make everyone else look bad. And I’m not in favor of “flagging”, which just seems to be forcing our politics on other people who don’t want to hear it.
I never said they were glad … although in later years Gordon (and others) said it was for the best. Time heals some wounds.
All you Yanks drink from the same stagnant well ! I bet you’re all voting for Obama, too. Enough said.
In your case, perhaps you shouldn’t say so much nonsense. But it’s funny to see someone named Still talk about drinking.
Lol how original. Yet the flags still fly high and proud no matter what trashy ass yankees.say or do. U cant make it go away now get over that.
Nice
No. Just no. You get over it. And resign yourself to the fact that not only do your ideas belong in the proverbial dustbin of history; that is where they are headed.
You do not know a thing about the South.
And oh, one other thing: you consider yourself a Christian? Then I am sure you are praying for the men and women who were murdered in Charleston.
God bless you.
Brooks,
In case it was not clear, my comment was in response to Lee. You have the patience of Job in putting up with some people.
Gang members rep their gang colors to show where they are from and shit. I rep the flag because I was born in the south so it’s like my gang color except I don’t kill people and say fuck the police