I agree: nuts to the South!

“The idea that white and black southerners willingly joined together to fight northerners simply isn’t supported by the available evidence. What little joint fighting and effort that occurred is insignificant”

But you presented no evidence. How do you know it is insignificant? Why don’t you look up the facts, then you will know?

And why focus on such a narrow issue as the number of slaves fighting? The real issue is that Georgia cherishes her confederate history instead of acknowledging that they were on the wrong side of the war.

come on stop this lie that the civil war was over slavery! It was over economics, the north wanting to move to a more industrial economy tried to undermine the agricultural south. Slavery was stripped not on morals but as a way to take revenge on the South for the civil war. The whole point of the lie of slavery is because it makes history black and white and not over something as complicated as economics and the NY and Boston fat cats v. the Southern plantation owner.

If you would study a little history you would know. Slavery was used in the North too. The U.S. government even contracted slaves from local farmers. Do some research, slaves worked on the U.S. capital building during and long after the war.

Tommy Aaron

Son, the South and those who understand what ACTUALLY happened - as opposed to what the winners and their apologists SAY happened - aren’t trying to “rewrite” history. They are trying to CORRECT it.

Of course, you cannot be blamed for your lack of knowledge since you are merely another victim of “public education”, but the facts are out there if you are willing to get past the prescribed “orthodoxy” and seek them out.

I would also suggest that if you are seeking facts, you must be willing to ignore the ad hominem attacks by academia and “orthodox” historians made against those bringing those facts to light. If you cannot do that, then you will be forever mired in ignorance.

The choice, of course, is yours.

Hey Mr. Wagner, don’t try and write about something you obviously know nothing about.

” I have no doubt that other states will likely issue these sorts of proclamations as well. Hopefully none of them will be as ludicrous as Georgia’s.”

You would be correct. There are many other Southern states, counties, etc. that issue procliamations, this is nothing new. To only have you now discover Georgia and Mississippi do it shows your lack of insight and research.

I see they taught you well at one of the most liberal institutions in the United States, keep up the “good” work.

I’d suggest NEVER visiting the South for not only do we not want your ideolgoy here but you wouldn’t take too kindly to the fact that we do re-enactments despite the fact we “lost” that is something that you just wouldn’t understand.

Maybe you should look up the Lost Cause as to why many people still today, including myself remember Confederate History month and still fly its colors. If you studied that and took some Southern History classes (which I am sure are barred from your fine politically correct left wing campus) you would soon learn that there are many reasons to be proud of the era much of which goes beyond your narrow, biased Northern mind.

Did it ever occur to you that the South fought valiantly and for FOUR long, excruciating years despite the fact that they were outnumbered in almost every major statistic including-guns, able bodied men, money, munitions, factories, transportation, food, total population, etc?

Did it ever occur to you that maybe holding stable with those odds makes remembering this time so important?

Did it ever occur to you that the South was fighting for its home state first before country, on ITS OWN LAND in their own backyard? There is some honour, loyalty, and determination to cultural and regional ties like this in defending what one owns.

The war was so much “more” than just slavery which is pumped through academia. As a graduate history major I studied all this. Look up the tariff, trade, nullification crisis of 1832, and contrast the two different economic systems (agricultural South vs. Industrial North) for starters as other legit reasons why there was a war.

Andrew Wagner, I just looked at the topics of your other columns and see the grip of public education and liberal teachings are tight upon you. Sadly, you are beyond hope to ever make a positive impact on this great nation, but I wish you well. (Some individuals have been known to grow out of this delirium, but they only do so by reading American history - not propoganda). Good luck.

What a joke. Read this ‘expert’s own quotes when dealing with this subject.”I bet the slaves…”,”I suspect the many…”,”In fact, I suspect they…”. In other words, it’s all speculation,not facts, on what he thinks may or may not have happened. If 4 years of CSA slavery bothers Andrew, I would love to hear his take on 89 years of USA slavery.And keep in mind there were 4 Union slave states, West Va making it 5, before,during, and AFTER that war.Also,Andrew,tell us how the contraband,i.e. slaves,were forced into the US military service and why the Underground Railroad went to Canada,and not, say, Illinois.Tell us why Ill,Ohio,Ind, and other Union states passed laws forbidding Blacks to ENTER their states.(Canada!!) Tell us about the Emancipation Proclamation that kept Union Blacks in bondage.Tell us how West Va came into the Union as a slave state 6 months AFTER that proclamation. And by all means, tell us about the Corwin Amendment.The original 13th amendment to the Constitution that was to make slavery legal in the US forever. This was offered to the 7 seceded states to entice them back into the Union.But they refused!What about that,Andrew? Legal slavery in the US. Guarded by the Constitution and the South still wanted out.Fought over slavery? Right.

Yikes, 11:06-

“Did it ever occur to you that the South fought valiantly and for FOUR long, excruciating years despite the fact that they were outnumbered in almost every major statistic including-guns, able bodied men, money, munitions, factories, transportation, food, total population, etc?”

You seem to suggest that fighting is inherently virtuous, no matter the end - nothing could be further from the truth. You could say basically the same thing about the Nazis, the Mongols, the janjaweed, but I don’t think I’ll see public proclamations honoring them in this country anytime soon.

“Look up the tariff, trade, nullification crisis of 1832, and contrast the two different economic systems (agricultural South vs. Industrial North) for starters as other legit reasons why there was a war.”

Hmmm…I wonder what can explain the South’s agricultural profitability? That cheap labor couldn’t have hurt! The Southern economy was a SLAVE economy, so don’t even try to put its maintenance forward as a “legit” causus belli any more than the maintenance of slavery itself is.

And the rest of you backwards Southern sympathizers,stop blabbering about the supposed evils of “liberal campuses, public education, propaganda, etc., etc.” It’s quite ironic that you accuse Mr. Wagner of not knowing his subject, as you yourselves are simply volleying tired, empty catch phrases with nary a “legit” fact to back them up. You are perpetually an embarrassment to this nation.

My friend, you would do well to set aside all you have been “taught” regarding American history, specifically as it relates to the South, and do your own research. If you have the integrity and resourcefulness to do so, you may be utterly surprised at what you’ll find.

In part, you’ll find the words of Abraham Lincoln in 1858:

“I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in anyway the social and political equality of the white and black races - that I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race.”

Read the Emancipation Proclamation and you’ll find that Lincoln “freed” those he had no authority over while keeping in slavery those he did have the authority to set free.

How do you and your egalitarian friends reconcile the following written remarks by yankee General William Tecumseh Sherman? Writing to his wife in 1862, Sherman informed her that “the war will soon assume a turn to extermination not of soldiers alone, that is the least part of the trouble, but the people… There is a class of people, men women, and children, who must be killed or banished…” In a January 1865 letter to General Grant, Sherman once again explained his philosophy of mass murder: “We are not fighting against enemy armies but against an enemy people; both young and old, rich and poor must feel the iron hand of war…”

Lastly, if you are such an ardent opponent of slavery in all forms, I challenge you to look at what this Lincoln-worshipping nation has become. Rather than a society in which “40 percent of the population was once enslaved” we’ve become one in which 100 percent of the population is enslaved via intimidation and coercion for tax purposes, Federal regulation of anything and everything, and an educational system which proudly produces “students” such as yourself.

May God help us.

Collin Houseal

It is none of your business what other states do. This is precisely what caused the War.

Brock Townsend

You’re an idiot who knows nothing about history. I attended a lecture just last night about NB Forrest’s staff. A number of whom were blacks —listed in the 1860 census as “FMC” that is, free men of color. The Confederate Army was integrated in 1861 compared to the yankee army in 1947.

Before you thumb your nose, boy, look at the black codes of your own vaunted yankee land. You may discover what a hypocrite you really are. Assuming you can see past the end of your nose, do some research on Black Confederates.

So Mr. Wagner, by your "consideration" only 1.5% percent of the South's Population was free blacks. Let me give you some FACTS, per the 1860 census. There were 240,747 FREE BLACKS in the slave States, ONLY 225,244 in the so called Free states. Imagine that, more FREE MEN of Color in the South than the North. Look at the census college boy, you are obviously writing about YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT. Let me give you a little "EVIDENCE" of the Service of blacks in the Confederate Army! Maybe it will ease some of your "doubts". These are documented FACTS!!
One of the first companies organized in Virginia was a company of free blacks, complete with Confederate national flag. When the 3rd and 4th Georgia paraded through Augusta, Georgia, the parade included a company of free blacks from Nashville, Tennessee. In Petersburg, Virginia, a group of blacks VOLUNTEERED to work on the fortifications. Their spokesman, Charles Tinsley, a bricklayer, accepted a Confederate flag and responded, “We are willing to aid Virginia’s cause to the utmost of our ability and we promise unhesitating obedience to all orders that may be given us.”
Professor Edward Smith, Director of American Studies at American University, says Stonewall Jackson had 3,000 fully equipped black troops scattered throughout his corps at Antietam. In fact, Smith has calculated that between 60,000 and 93,000 blacks served the Confederacy in some capacity.

If the War was to “Free the Slaves” then why was the 13th Amendment not ratified until December 18th of 1865, nearly 8 months to the day of Lee’s Surrender at Appomattox. Ohio Native, Gen. U. S. Grant stated in 1862 that “If I thought this war was to abolish Slavery, I would resign my commission, and offer my sword to the other side.” And he kept his three slaves until the 13th Amendment went into effect. In 1864 General Patrick wrote, “Surrender means the history of this heroic struggle will be written by the enemy; that our youth will be trained by Northern school teachers; will learn from Northern school books their version of the war; will be impressed by the influences of history and education to regard our gallant dead as traitors, and our maimed veterans as fit objects for derision”. Sir, that’s exactly what’s happened. To the victor go the spoils. As Ms. Valerie posted above, you are merely another victim of “public education”, but the facts are out there if you are willing to get past the prescribed “orthodoxy” and seek them out. I AM A PROUD DESCENDANT OF SEVERAL CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS. I AM PROUD OF MY SOUTHERN HERITAGE, AND PROUD OF MY STATE OF TENNESSEE!! Only disappointed that our governor hasn’t declared the Proclamation of April Confederate History Month. By the way, bring the Badger Football team back South again next Fall so that our Tennessee Volunteers, or some other SEC team can kick the tar out of them AGAIN!!! UNRECONSTRUCTED Joey Savage Tennessee

yikes…I can’t seem to figure out why all these people are reading and responding to articles printed for a student newspaper at a “liberal” university in wisconsin.

I didnt know they had the internet in the South.

Unemployment’s high enough in the South that some people have nothing to do but troll the internet for articles they can get indignant about. But hey, beats sitting in a lawn chair in front of your trailer home, drinking Bud Light and beating your wife. And 1:50, I’m just as surprised as you that these inbred hillbilly good old boys have access to computers. Looks like the North winning the war benefitted the pillowcase-wearing rednecks more than they give credit for.

1:03, Mr. Townsend, is precisely right and concise.

We sure do kowtow to the federal government more than the constitution prescribes. Our “united states” have charity-powers compared to the mighty federal government.

Next time your state tries to legalize medical marijuana or raise the drinking age, which it has the constitutional right to do, see what happens. Along the same line, Roe v. Wade overstepped its bounds.

Why so many Anonymous respondents??

Tommy Aaron

If the Civil War wasn’t really about slavery, then why did the states wait until an abolitionist was elected president to secede? In fact, why did they cite the election of said abolitionist as the reason for their leaving in their documents of secession?

Hey, I’m all for a Confederate History Month. Unfortuantely, all we get is a Confederate Glamorized Hagiography Month.

Brock @1:03pm: Amen, brother.

@1:47pm: Because a young pup writing for a “‘liberal’ university in wisconsin” is, once again, meddling in that which is none of his business, with an air of inflated moral superiority to boot. It’s the typical yankee mindset, unfortunately now spread to the majority of the US: meddle in the affairs of all (worldwide), with the intent to mold them into that perfect picture of egalitarianism, industrialized profiteering, and arrogant pride that is so… becoming?

@1:50pm: You’re hysterical. And your silly superiority complex backs up the statement I just made above.

CH

Perhaps the reason Tennessee’s governor hasn’t issued a Confederate proclamation is that Tennessee actually supplied as many Union soldiers as Confederates. And unlike the conscripted Confederates, the Tennessee Unionists were true volunteers. East Tennessee never bowed the knee to the Confederate slave empire.

The Confederate soldiers were brave, but misguided, men fighting for the slaveowning power that had no use for them in peacetime.

The fact that so many are confused about the true causes of the War Between the States is a tribute to the notion that “the winner gets to write the history” - and interpret, it, too. The author of the article should take the time to read about the subject he is commenting on, including its history, before ejaculating an article. I would recommend ‘Time On The Cross’ and Robert Louis Dabney’s ‘A Defense Of Virginia And The South’, both of which are masterful works. Admittedly, both are flawed in their own ways; but all of life and indeed, all of history, must be interpreted as the lesser of two or more evils. That is a lesson we learn from the tenets of Calvinism, and a worthy lesson it is. I appreciate the fellow’s enthusiasm, misplaced and ill-informed as it may be, and hope that some large degree of his ignorance will disappear when he develops the mentality of a scholar. Perhaps a few years of maturity will benefit him as well; and he may yet move beyond the conceit that the young so often have; namely, that they know it all. Should he one day learn the way in which those he seeks to defend retroactively were treated by the people of the North, perhaps he’ll temper his view a bit. As for Confederate History Month, we in Louisiana enjoyed that two governors ago; and I’m sorry we don’t enjoy it still, along with the public observance of Lee - Jackson Day. While the young fellow who wrote the article upon which we’re commenting believes himself to be commenting from a position of moral authority, only men like Generals Lee and Jackson who demonstrated great personal integrity and high moral character can rightly lay claim to an elevated position of moral superiority. Go thou and do likewise.

If the War of Northern Aggression was about slavery, then why did lincoln wait until 1863 to spew his “Emancipation Proclamation” which btw did nothing to free the slaves in territories already under yankee control? Also lincoln wasn’t an abolitionist.

once again we are given a history lesson by a product of public stupid system by a nazi kinsman,wagner.knowing hitler was a fan of wagner opera,i suggest this nazi kinsman opens his brain instead of his mouth.

Anonymous (April 4, 2008 @ 2:38pm): Unemployment’s high enough in the South that some people have nothing to do but troll the internet for articles they can get indignant about But hey, beats sitting in a lawn chair in front of your trailer home, drinking Bud Light and beating your wife. And 1:50, I’m just as surprised as you that these inbred hillbilly good old boys have access to computers. Looks like the North winning the war benefitted the pillowcase-wearing rednecks more than they give credit for.

once again bestality loving,cheese cutting dairy boys.show that yankee brains are in their rear’s like their queer loving city boys.

“Lincoln, an abolitionist?????????”

We didn’t go into the war to put down slavery, but to put the flag back, and to act differ at this moment, would, I have no doubt, not only weaken our cause but smack of bad faith The Price of Freedom: Slavery and the Civil War, Volume I, p. 319 (Hans L. Trefousse, “Lincoln and Race Relations”).

I have no purpose to introduce political or social equality between the white and negro race. There is a physical difference between the two which probably will forever forbid their living together on the same footing of equality. I, as well as any other man, am in favour of the race to which I belong having the superior position. I have never said anything to the contrary. A.Lincoln

I am not in favour of making voters or jurors of Negroes,or of qualifying them to hold office…. A.L…9/15/1858

I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery… A.L 3/4/1861

If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, letter to Horace Greeley, A.L….” 8/22/1862

“What I would most desire would be the separation of the white and black races.” Abe Lincoln: From a speech in Springfield; 17 July 1858

This writer certainly has been Federally indoctrinated as to real facts, as have most Americans today. Before he writes such a bias report, he needs to look into the REAL history, NOT what the Federalists have ‘called’ “history” for the past 148 years! This Writer has just repeated what ‘invented history’ he has been taught in the Federal schools.It has been the Federal north who has re-written history and hidden the real truth and he also needs to know that the north had 4 times the slavery that the south ever did. The war had nothing to do with slavery as Lincoln himself made clear many times.In the north the slaves were really treated like slaves-while in the south blacks and whites lived, worked and played side by side and blacks were treated like family!The south NEVER had race problems until the Yankees infiltrated and brought their hate for blacks with them.

This statement below from a reply here, is so totally opening a can of worms they won’t like = Fact: The elections (both of them) that put Elitist Lincoln in the oval office, were fixed elections since Lincoln tried many times to get elected the right way - by vote of the people. The people of that day knew Lincoln face to face - and they hated him ! He could not get in office by a legal vote, so both of his elections were fixed, just like Bush’s were. Bush has just stepped into Lincoln’s war-mongering shoes, and has done the same UN-Constitutional things he did ! Y’all really do not know anything about REAL TRUE HISOTRY, do you!? You have to dig for it as the Federalists have it well hidden, and you won’t find it in any public print or in any “history books” - that are all Federally approved before they CAN be released.

Here is the statement from a reply : “In fact, why did they cite the election of said abolitionist as the reason for their leaving in their documents of secession?”

Oh, and by teh way - the real reaosn icoln’s ewar happened, as Licnoln said himslef - was to FORCE teh natoin of the south to join into the NEW FEDEAL UNION that Lincoln had just created (NOT “restored” - since Lincoln did not “restore” anything - he CREATED A NEW MARXIST GOVERNMETN - he seized our Foudner’s Free Constitutional Republic and REPLACED it with his own Marxist government that we are still under !) Now Before you jump all over that statement - be aware that Lincoln was a dedicated Marxist and good friends with Karl Marx, who advised him all through his presidency and the war. They were in constant communication. Be aware that Lincoln’s Republican Party was formed by a group of Marxists in 1854 with the goal of One World Government. They did nto call it that back then, but it was always their goal from day one. Lincoln was in office just weeks before he invaded the Confederate States of America nation. A nation that had existed since the beginning of the colonies and a nation all Presidents respected, honored and recognized - that is until Linoln was put into office. The CSA did not just “pop up” when Lincoln invaded it as so many today have been taught to believe. Our Founders (most of them from the south)never intended for America to be this ONE HUGE NATION UNDER ONE HUGE RULING FORCE OF A GOVERNMENT! They had just escaped a Europe like that, and did not want that for their new nation here. America was founded as TWO SEPARATE NATIONS AND CULTURES from the very beginning !! This is what most Americans do not realize ! Even King James I in 1606 put his “royal authority mark” on the whole thing by “officially” making the Mason Dixon line, even though the line had existed for a long time already. But you know England - THEY had to be the “official” everything on everything ! Just remember, no one has had ANY TRUE HISTORY in the Federal schools at any time in their lives here ! It has ALL been invented Federalist propaganda they call “history” ! So it’s no wonder when anyone hears the real truth for the first time, it shocks them and their natural defences go up and reject the truth. It is how the Federal schools have indoctrinated and programmed you to be !

The War was over the Constitution, freedom, independence, self-governing rights and in defence of our Founder’s government that Lincoln had destroyed and replaced with his own Marxist government. Not one of those reasons had anything to do with slavery ! Lincoln’s reason were his own power highs and wanting to be king and ruler over all under his new Union, that he worshiped like a religion. Lincoln was at the very least a cruel and brutal dictator.

If there had been no slavery I don’t think that there would have been a civil war.

If the South had won the war would they still be holding slaves today?

Here is another little tid-bit of real history: The CSA never surrendered and never got a peace treaty, so technecally, the Lincoln war is not over, as the Federalists keep reminding the south as they constantly oppress and attack them and their flags. There has only been ONE American flag that has ever represented slavery and the only flag that flew over the slave ships = the USA Federal flag ! The Yankee north is the only ones who had slave ships and did the slave trade ! The South never did ! The Confedearacy FORBADE THEIR FLAGS FROM FLYING OVER ANYTHING TO DO WITH SLAVERY ! THis was such a hard fact to hide that is why the Federalists began a campaign against the CSA flags in the early 1950’s Up to that time slavery was never attached to the CSA flags because everyone back then knew the real truth of it. Blacks in the south proudly flew the CSA flags as their forefathers proudly fought for the south under those flags ! The CSA flags belong to the blacks as well as the whites and we always proudly flew them - they are Christian flags as the CSA was always a Christian nation. The North was never a Christian nation - they were always Unitarian. That is not Christian, that is humantarianism, is what they call it today. The CSA Battle flag is the St. Andrews Cross - a Christian flag. But the North began a campaign to chagne it all around, which is why they began all their segregation in the south, after they infiltrated Yankees down here to pretend to be troublesome southerners. The north segregated the races in the south so they could brainwash and indoctrinate each better to turn them against each other, and they still do this ! But true southerners love their black poeple and always have, and we down here could tell immediately who the infiltrators were by their hate they showed for the blacks - and these are the ones that were deliberately shown on TV as “what was happening all through the south” (a lie, but part of the national mind manipulation), but the rest of the nation could not tell this was all invented lies. The Federalists took advantage of this fact to twist the truth and lies around about the south in the minds of the public. They use Hitler’s tactic - ‘Tell a lie to the public often enough and they soon accept it as fact and truth’.

Lincoln also made the mistake of thinking he could turn the blacks and whites against each other when he also set them up for it in his war. It failed much to Lincoln’s dismay. What the nation does not understand is that “slaves” and the “masters” loved each other in the south and were like family. Slaves were not treated like slaves by true southrons. The only mistreatment came when the carpetbaggers/Federalists came down and stole plantations and lands and set up their own businesses here and used slaves to work it all - these infiltrated “southerners” are the ones the Federalists use as the “southerners” who were cruel to the blacks in the south. But these were NOT true Southrons, they were Federalist imposters pretending to be southerners. They still are here and still do it - all to give the south a bad reputation. So every time you see some “news” report about a hangmans noose or some such garbage happening in the south, know it is NOT done by true Southrons ! It is just a set up against the south to make the country further turn against them. AS I said, the war is not really over. It is just being done in a way that serves the Yankee agenda. They need chaos and fear to have an EXCUSE to enforce more controls on the public and to gain more power for their own centralized Federal government and to take away freedoms FROM the people. All part of the Global One World Agenda plot. The CSA is STILL its own nation and has its own original functioning government - that you also are being kept from knowing. www.CSAgov.org

Attention social science dissertators: I suggest you examine the hypothesis that Confederate apologism and support for DR.RONPAUL are highly correlated, because I have never seen so many out-of-state morons commenting on a story since the last time Bassey ran a column on the rEVOLution.

This is a good time to remind everyone that “On, Wisconsin!” began as a battle cry to give these racist slaveowning rednecks a what-for. Next time we pay The Citadel to come up here and lose, we’ll be sure and put Bucky in a Union cavalry uniform and re-enact the burning of Atlanta for y’all. Go have a Coke.

It may interest you to know that the south FREED most of their slaves BEFORE Lincoln even invaded the south with his war ! Let’s hear from Lincoln himself - Lincoln stated: “We didn’t go into the war to put down slavery, but to put the (US Federal)flag back, and to act differ at this moment, would, I have no doubt, not only weaken our cause, but smack of bad faith. I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery… ” 3/4/1861 Abe Lincoln And he also stated many times : “My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union , and it is not either to save or destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that. What I do about slavery and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union ”…Lincoln

Now will you believe Lincoln when he speaks since you accuse the rest of us of being “red-neck” slavery lovers, which none in the south were. The north is who made the money on slavery, not the south ! Slavery was here for 189 years and there was no war about it or over it in all that time. So no, the Lincoln WAR had nothing to do with slsvery. And slavery continued in the north AFTER the Lincoln War. Lincoln himself never freed one slave ! When Kansas made a law to stop all slavery, Lincoln rebuked the law and forced it to be recinded. Lincoln did not want the slaves to be freed is the real truth, but you have all been taught to believe what the Federalists want you to believe because Lincoln was their guy who began the full Government control (OWG) over everyone and the Constitution destroyed, and freedom and self-government was out the window. Lincoln began the Republican ploy of invading natins and occupying htem and controlling them and they are still following Licnoln’s policy today !

To answer your question - YES there still would have been a Lincoln War even if slavery had not existed because slavery had nothing to do with it. It was all about creating Lincoln’s Fedearl Union, that he worshipped. Slavery was just a last minute EXCUSE to cover it all over and to keep his war going. Lincoln wanted everyone under HIM and HIS NEW UNION and that is what it was all about as he stated himself. Lincoln was a dictator ! He was a tyrant ! Read some real true history written by those who lived through it - “War Crimes Against Southern Civilians” by Walter Brian Cisco

The CSA was a peaceful nation that Lincoln just invaded for his own power crazed high to begin the OWG agenda making all ONE under HIM and his Federal Union. His Federal Union is still doing so today ! The USA Federalists have invaded and occupied 149 nations to date with their eyes on even more ! This vast nation-building empire began with Lincoln and his war !

Some of the GOOD folk of Wisconsin fought for liberty too! Wisconsin Division Sons of Confederate Veterans http://www.geocities.com/ad4os/WIDIVSCV/

You nit-wits don’t know crap.

You are a gem! A gem of a Government Sycophant who still spouts the Party Line of 140 years ago and an example of how young people today do not have a CLUE as to the real history of this nation.

If you only make enough money to afford food, shelter, and clothing, aren’t you equivalent to a slave? Is “illegal immigrant” a euphemism for slave?

So, everyone, rest easy at night knowing that slavery has been over for 140 years.

I’m gonna go read a book on the matter.

“Lincoln was a dedicated Marxist and good friends with Karl Marx, who advised him all through his presidency and the war.”

“Be aware that Lincoln’s Republican Party was formed by a group of Marxists in 1854 with the goal of One World Government.”

Do you have any evidence to back this up? The Communist Manifesto was only published 6 years before; the First International was founded a number of years later, and Das Kapital was written later as well.

Marx did write Lincoln to congratulate his election on behalf of the IWA, and Charles Francis Adams responded on behalf of Lincoln. But the language gives no indication that Lincoln was such a Communist himself. (Plus, it’s just funny that 40 years after redbaiting stopped being cool, you’re trying to paint a man who lived 140 years ago as a leftist to discredit him)

Do not take this personally and it is meant constructively—-you are not yet wise enough to write an informed opinion on this topic which cannot be understood without a broad understanding of the early years of the republic, the constitution, and the New England slave trade that brought Africans to our shores. Your views are emotional and a Northern-based history of the conflict, much the same as mine when I grew up in western New York and attended local schools. It has taken me many years to find the truth—-one heavily disguised by the victor in that war.

Lastly, if you feel that a society which enslaved 40% of its population should not be cherished, how do you view the United States in 1783 with a large enslaved population?

Read, study and look at both sides young man, start with DiLorenzo’s “The Real Lincoln,” and anything written by Clyde Wilson. Talbot Buxomly

Right on! Except the article is biased. The whole United States of America is abominable. The North, after all, was the monster that was in the business of shipping slaves for profit. Not just to the Northern States and Southern States, but to the whole of the Americas. As far as slavery is concerned, the North had slave plantations as well as the South. The North probably murdered more African Slaves than anybody. Just study the history of the North’s ivory trade. According to their accounting records, they killed at least one million African Blacks. Then there is the whole bloody invasion of America. Can you imagine that civilized people came and conquered America, slaughtered millions of men, women and children? Used modern weapons too. Gunpowder, germ warfare, destroyed their food supply (just like Sherman). The United States Government was especially good at this, using psychological warfare, torturing the natives mentally and physically, seperating families. Had fun playing games with the natives, too, such as pretending to make treaties with them. And you left out the Black Africans. The United States got the stupid Blacks, the ones that weren’t good enough to escape capture from their own people. But you can’t totally blame them. The Black Africans were experts in the slave trade, having practiced it for at least the last 1,000 years (and still do). It’s their business to sell their own people into slavery, men, women and children. Black kings actually made more money in the slave trade than many of the most wealthy Europeans. Thanks to them, Europeans always had a source of slaves. Funny thing that so many Blacks still “cherish” their society. Maybe it is only Whites like Andrew that can’t cherish what’s theirs. Maybe Andrew can’t cherish being White? Of course, slavery has been with mankind from the beginning, so all “cultures” have been involved with the practice. The industrialized North of the United States was just more modern and advanced than in times past, so they traded more Blacks than anyone else, they killed more Blacks than anyone else, they polluted the new Americas with more Blacks than anyone else. Guess there is a lot of credit to be given to the North for their technological advances. The Confederacy only existed four years, so they didn’t have those same opportunities. The real question is: why should anybody living today, especially in America, want to celebrate being American? Why would anyone want to celebrate being human? As Andrew correctly stated, “why should anyone cherish such a society…” Down with America! Down with humankind! You should all kill yourselves for your sins and abominations. Andrew, why argue about such stupid things as whether Blacks and Whites fought along side each other? The question should be how we can best all hate being human, how we can all hide who we are, how we can all just “cherish” going to hell. Why are you even in school? Why do you want to even participate in such an evil society? Or participate in mankind? By being human and participating in such evil institutions, as America, aren’t you as guilty, or even more so because you have the “truth?” Or is hypocrasy alright by you? Or maybe you could make it your goal to destroy the Federal Government of the United States. It’s done more damage, has practiced more slavery, killed more American Natives, etc., etc., than four years of the Confederacy. Why waste time on something in the past when you can do something about the present. Destroy the United States for a starter. Replace it with your illusions.

“Should anyone cherish a society in which 40 percent of the population was once enslaved?” does not equal “…proportion of slaves to freedmen was one to 25?” Your first two sentences discredit the rest of the article.

Andrew, I study with you at the University, and I really think you are walking into something you don’t know much about. Once you cross the Ohio River there is a whole new mind set and culture. It’s a culture you cannot grasp from within the bubble of Madison. Your article portays all people from the south as racists. I can understand you dislike people that discriminate, but you yourself don’t practice what you preach.

Coming from a rural town in Wisconsin, I’ve found many people in Madison that discriminate against rednecks, hill-billies, white trash, farmers, southerns, and people like me. It’s no better than racism or sexism. Remember, Wisconsin is considered the “most southern” state north of the Mason-Dixon line. So I’d like you to question whether or not you are truely tolerant or just say you are.

where were the dahmer bar b que’s? rather be a racist redneck,than a wisconsin cannibal queer. famous wisconsin fast food,baked boys.

Andrew is a product of modern America, a product of modern American education, so it is no wonder that he doesn’t know American history. Can we blame him? Unfortunately, he wants to condemn Americans who do know their true history for wanting to celebrate it. He calls it a “blatant obfuscation of history.” Andrew, learn your history. I’m not going to comment on all your mistakes, but just one blatant example. You said, “Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue has affixed his signature to a document that obscures and molds history into a parody of itself. The fact that something like this could officially happen in the United States government in the 21st century is mind-boggling.” Even today States are not considered part of the Federal Government, i.e. United States Government. Thus, a decision by a state government, i.e. Georgia’s Gov. Sonny Perdue, is not something that “officially happened in the United States government in the 21st century.” But yes, it would be “mind-boggling” because it isn’t possible. Maybe Gov. Sonny Perdue knows his history better than you. As far as the difference between State governments and the Federal government, State governments still do exist, even if as a sort of corporation under the Federal government. Until Lincoln used military force to overthrow the state governments, we did have “real” independent, sovereign governments. By the way, what do you have against a free people who fought against tyranny to remain free? I live in California, and if the United States military attacked me, I’d fight back. What is so dishonorable about keeping your freedom? Of course, some people don’t believe in freedom, and then your position would be understandable.

okay, here’s how we settle it:

whites in the south can have their little memory month, in wisconsin we can have a month dedicated to remembering that we kicked their ass back in 1865.

What is the point of submitting these forum comments to a monitor prior to publishing if you’re going to let people use foul language and engage in ad hominem attacks.

Race is a complicated topic, I would agree that Andrew didn’t do his homework.

In spite of what you say, Lincoln DID free the slaves, he was assassinated by an avowed segregationist, White Southerners systematically undid Reconstruction, enforced segregation and dismantled integrated government at the point of a gun.

The only mind that is boggling, is yours andrew wagner! Why is it you yankees whine so, when you can’t have your way.

Those who believe that the Civil War was fought over slavery probably still believe that all Indians are savages and all black people have rhythm.

If these myths are taught in our schools in this day and age, it’s no wonder America is academically slipping behind in the world.

Obviously, Andrew, you were educated in government schools. That line of thinking is clearly in direct line with the “great” socialist, Karl Marx, who spread those very same lies and propaganda literally around the world during the war, and as a result we have the “beast” that today is so out of control that our freedoms are literally chiseled away daily! Keep up the good work! Better yet, do some research and learn the TRUE history of this country and the Confederacy.

God save the South!

I was going to write a tirade about how people who write pieces like this are representing a painfully embarrasing brand of Northern elite ignorance and arrogance about an issue that they feel can be boiled down to such a sickening level of simplicity as to merit an “obvious” view.

I am thrilled to find that many of my fellow readers already pointed out the massive economic and social movements that made the Civil War occur.

Most of the individuals who fought and died for the Confederacy were patriots and most were not slave owners. They fought in ernest defense of their homes and families; something we should all respect even if we disagree with what they died defending.

Hey Andrew, Check out us Texas folks. We have Texas Senate Resolution # 526 that was created by the 76th. Texas Senate and signed March 30, 1999 by our Governor, Rick Perry when he was President of the Texas Senate. This resolution declares April as Confederate History Month in Texas. I hope it sounds as potent to you as our sister State of Georgia’s Proclamation. God Bless Dixie ! Thomas

Next thing you know, John Brown and “Bleeding Kansas” won’t have anything to do with savery either.

Ever hear the song “John Brown’s Body” (the original title of the “Battle Hymn of the Republic”?

Sure, slavery had nothing to do with the Civil War - I guess my great-great-grandfather was just a tool of the eastern capitalists when he served in the Union Army, but I don’t think that he and the other Wisconsin volunteers thought so at the time.

HAS ANYONE SEEN CONDOLEEZA RICE LATELY?

Here we are, debating the damn Civil War…

Badger Herald, it’s time to start holding our leaders’ feet to the flame on REAL issues.

Anonymous @ 12:40PM

“Remember, Wisconsin is considered the “most southern” state north of the Mason-Dixon line.”

I’d like to challange you on this “fact”. Inidiana is by far the most “Southern” state that is in fact NOT a Southern state. What are you basing this assumption on?

Wisconsin thru and thru is a Northern state. I should know, I used to live next door and absolutely nothing from culture to ideology represents it as such. Y’all have a DEMOCRATIC governor, 2 democratic senators, and the majority of your representatives are libreal democrats. On top of that, Wisconsin, almost always goes blue as it will in 2008. How the heck are they anything close to “Southernn”? Just because its rural and agricultural in some parts?

Fly a confederate flag in Madison or anywhere in Wisconsin and get back to me on how the locals react……..

A couple self-promoting out of staters usually complain about the anonymous posting… any other actual UW students think the comment boards here should be limited to just students? I’m not sure real names should be linked to posts, but at least require a valid UW email to post?

Wow, who woulda thought that unemployed souther drunks would find a new hobby in posting on the blog of liberal op-ed pieces produced by a relateivly small amount of people in the North. I guess u went and “figgr’d out dat whoale goooogly thang and am so darnd pist bout whattya herd that ya just GOTTA writ sumthiiin bout dem Yanks…”

Let those states go….we dont need them.

Slavery is still a real issue, at least to the slaves living today. But it’s mostly Moslems who hold slaves, so it’s not PC to talk about the issue.

“Slavery is still a real issue, at least to the slaves living today. But it’s mostly Moslems who hold slaves, so it’s not PC to talk about the issue.”

What the shit are you talking about? Human trafficking is a huge issue and lots of “PC” folk are concerned about it. There are Muslims in Africa, Buddhists in Asia, and Christians in America dealing in human beings, all of whom are equally evil.

But don’t let the facts stop you.

God Bless George Tecumseh Sherman and his glorious march to the sea.

Does anyone feel that the South wants a rematch? Bring it on…

As a proud descendant of at least seven(7) Confederate veterans & a Georgian by birth & choice, I too am offended by Andrew’s ignorance, but I understand it all too well because throughout my post-secondary educational career (which included the United States Military Academy, Armstrong State College - now Armstrong Atlantic Southern University, & the Savannah College of Art & Design), I was lectured over and over, time and again how slavery was the reason for the War of Northern Aggression. It was not until I investigated on my own that I discovered the other issues enumerated above. Lincoln, only in desperation to save the “Union”, and only after repeated lobbying by abolishionists like Frederick Douglas & Horace Greeley, issued the Emancipation Proclamation to free slaves held in the Confederacy ONLY and to demonize the South to bolster the distractors of the North calling for a treaty with the Confederacy & an end to the War. Even Ken Burn’s mini-series went to great lengths to illustrate this fact. Is it any wonder Georgians would favor a month of rememberance for fallen ancestors since only Virginia sent more men to fight?

George Crawford SCV Camp 1449 John B. Gordon Memorial

if you are writing this story for a grade. i hope that your teacher fails you for not studing what you write about. we are very proud of our heritage down here and yes to the comment above Yankee we do have internet down here. so next year cram your Black history month and keep it up north where you want it. i am a very proud member of the SCV and always will. i will teach my children and grand children of nothern aggression and how we should be the southern confederate states of America. also i very proud to say that none of my family was from the north. you need to get out the cold has frozen your brains in to stupidity

one day i want to visit the north i just want to piss on shermans graveto make me a very happy man. then i can truly say all my wishs have come true.

“although I question why anyone would want to publicly announce how much they cherish a slave society.” The Athenian society had slaves; the Roman society had slaves, and we cherish those societies. The original United States had slaves and slavery was provided for in the original US Constitution. The United States violated numerous treaties it had made with the with the Indians. Yet you cherish the United States, I suppose. You have a rather peculiar way of judging societies.

Sometimes it is hard to imagine the ignorance that some have on the issue of the civil war. IF they would study deep on the issue they would find out ol Dishonest Ab said more than once he did not want to end the institution of slavery. So that was not the issue the North was fighting for. The South was not fighting to continue with the institution of slavery. They was fighting for “STATE RIGHTS” If you would look at history New England threaten Secession from 1799 till around the mid 1800’s. Before you go and make yourself look dumber than a bag of hammers you should have reserched these things. NEVER WAS ABOUT SLAVERY North or South. That was the way Northern writers slept at night knowing that the government waged war on women and children when Sherman burnt the South. Every one in this country is allowed to be proud of who they are and their heritage EXCEPT the Sons and Daughters of the Confederacy. It is people like you who write this garbage that perpetuates the lies that have been told now for 143 years. If it offends you to know that your Yankee ancestors burnt, raped, and robbed the Souths women and children, and you don’t want that to be the front running issue, then maybe you should just allow the South to continue with it heritage and not try to change the facts or rewrite history to achieve your own liberal agenda.

Why so many anonymous posts? Could it be the South is tired of the persecution about their history? I’m proud to be a southern, and proud of my heritage/ancestors. I will not allow the politically correct or any arrogant/pompous person change how I feel. Slavery was common in the past, and different ethics were enslaved. You should research what happen to the AMERICAN Indian, under the government, and flag of which you are so proud.

Many blacks feel opressed today and they willingly join the armed forces to fight for their country. Is it such a stretch to believe that blacks in the 1860’s loved the south? Many slaves were treated as family by their owners, they were not all mistreated daily. Jefferson Davis and his wife raised a black child in their home.

One of the major problems with people posting to defend “the South” is that in these comments, “the South” only refers to elite whites.

What about the Southerners who sided with the Union? Did you know that one in ten white Southerners fought with the Union. That is 100,000 Southerners who you do not do justice to when you celebrate “the South” in this manner.

What about the black Southerners who fought for the Union? Over 185,000 black Southerners fought for the Union. You do not do justice to them by celebrating this glorious Confederate heritage.

You can pull quotes from Lincoln and argue about blacks fighting for the CSA until the cows come home. But, what is truly important to understand is how you are defining “the South” and “Southerners.” Your definition is not an inclusive one. It is one that only includes the elite and the white in the story of “the South.”

Goodness, I can’t believe what I’m reading from these comments was written in 2008. Do people still really feel this way? I guess so.

I’m a southerner and a U.S. history doctoral student. What is the real issue here? As a student of history, I think it’s important to remember and study ALL history, not just pick and chose what we want to remember or forget. I don’t have a problem with Confederate history month because the southern side of the story is just as important as the northern side. What was the Civil War without the Confederacy? So, it’s critical to study both the Union and the Confederacy to get a complete picture of the Civil War. How else will we learn?

That is what we teach at the so-called “liberal” institutions of higher education. We teach open-mindedness. We teach students to think critically and look at all sides of an issue. Is that considered indoctrinating students with liberal ideas? I would venture to assume that many of the post-ers will say “yes,” since I’m reading very close-minded, vitriolic, and prejudicial epithets, such as “queer.” It doesn’t surprise me that these are the same people who call the Civil War, the “war of Northern aggression.” At the same time, since I study history, it’s also very interesting that people still refer to it as such. I find it curious that these divisions still exist - maybe because I’m a southerner and I don’t refer to people in the South as ignorant rednecks, nor do I call people from the North socialist, government-loving Yankees. One thing is certain, the Southern folks posting comments are clearly proving themselves to be the very thing that northerners shouldn’t be calling them—ignorant. Again, I’m amazed that this is 2008 and the fighting and prejudices continue! I think a lot of the problem and obvious hatred of North-South lay in the fact that a good many of these people posting comments have not interacted at length with a northerner/southerner. I hope we can chalk this up to ignorance of different regions and often different cultures. Southerners and northerners are not all that different.

I don’t agree with Mr. Wagner’s critique of what is honorable enough to be considered history. We study history to learn—albeit not from our mistakes as history so woefully shows us; but it’s important to learn the good, bad, and ugly, nonetheless. Seek tolerance, folks!

-JB

9:02 AM May 1:

“What about the Southerners who sided with the Union?”

Well, I’d like to think real Southerners (not just you progressive Southerners in name only who refer to yourselves as “Southerners” when its conveinient), would consider these “Southerners” traitors.

“What about the black Southerners who fought for the Union?”

Technically, there is no such thing as a “Black Southerner” seeing how they are not native to the South or to this country for that matter. Rather there are blacks who live in the South as opposed to “Northern” blacks but as we all know, all blacks are not native to this country, therefore, there cannot be any “Southerners” or “Northerners” as such.

I am surprised no one has brought up Mr. Wagner’s goofy, overbite Badger-like buck tooth (beaver?) grin. Now there’s something we can all agree on.

Thank you, it is interesting to read as a foreigner.

Well, US historians up to the 1940s generally disliked the faceless, mechanicist capitalism, and until the 1960s they generally held that only WASPs should lead.

My own position is somewhere in between. The fight was not all about African-American liberty. Indeed, have any of you Americans considered that your entire discourse is intellectually informed by European thinking from late-18th to mid-19th century? I’m talking about Romanticism, nationalism and German idealism, i.e. that there exists a nation, that there exists Absolute Idea such as Freedom etc.

It’s a long story, but unless you may logically deduce that “freedom from Southern slavery” was universally a move toward the better in all its instances, it is difficult to claim that the ACW was positively great. This would presuppose that there exists a pure Idea “Freedom” we could prescribe to all cases just as we interpret it. Freedom is, thus, in danger to become covert ethnocentrism. Ultimately, the question would become a religion-like tautology, which would settle the whole question, scientifically/philosophically, for all eternity. Iraq etc. illustrate that using violence to promote Ideas is, to us non-idealist, post-Nietzschean Europeans, not necessarily THE way.

I would greatly recommend that people step out of the dialecticism between “the old ways of the South vs. the new ways of ethnic groups, take your pick”. Sande Cohen is an American author well worth mentioning who has investigated this problematics, though his text is perhaps too difficult for many Americans.

I think the South had both good and bad, and the North, too. It’s impossible to calculate “the nations” today, because in the concept again lurks the Idea “Nation” that, Benedict Anderson thinks, is a fiction. Polarizing only distorts history (not that it isn’t always distorted).

Also, correct me if I’m wrong, but has not the position of the Agrarians been conflated with accepting slavery? To my knowledge, not all of them loved slavery. They did, however, criticise the prevailing capitalism and techonology-endorsing. Perhaps, some of them are closest to my own position on the matter, i.e. “Agrarianism with brains minus slavery”. I must say, I haven’t yet read their texts virtually at all.

To conclude, I do not think that histories of ethnic groups supercede criticism of capitalism, i.e. the North. If they do, we’ll be entering into politics even further and “truth” gets ever more twisted. Of course, since Turner, Americans have sought “usable” past, which already by definition cannot be a priori true past so nothing new there.

Thank you for your attention.

Hello everyone. It’s obvious from looking at some of these comments that a lot of people are still fighting the war. It’s over, people. And I can grant you the fact that it’s hard to admit that your ancestors fought for the WRONG CAUSE. I’ll get into the WRONG CAUSE concept later.

Let’s examine some of the comments made earlier:

 "Maybe you should look up the 
  Lost Cause ... you would soon 
  learn that there are many reasons 
  to be proud of the era much of 
  which goes beyond your narrow, 
  biased Northern mind."

The primary reason, from my studies, is the attempt to reconcile the fact that so many good and noble men fought and suffered for the wrong reasons. Then, as in now, propaganda was rampant. The common soldier fought for “independence”, “home”, “the sunny south”, “to end ‘northern tyranny’”, etc. But have you ever read Charles Dew’s “Apostles of Disunion”? Have you read the states’ various Articles of Secession? THE reason the south seceded was slavery. Period.

The wealthy, white, male southern aristocracy was not about to give up its comfortable way of life. Just like in today’s war — a wealthy few are making money hand-over-fist regarding this “war on terror” — primarily people like Halliburton, private contractors, and the oil companies. Then, as in now, the wealthy aristocracy doesn’t care how many uneducated, easily-manipulated poor average people they have to kill to keep their standard of living.

Yes, it’s important to remember the Civil War. It’s important to remember so we don’t make the same irresponsible decisions again. And again.

As to the “tarrif, trade, nullification crisis of 1832” — yes, greed and economics were in play in 1832 as well. But the north did not secede. In the end, compromise was reached.

It’s hard to admit the WRONG CAUSE concept. My ancestors were from Poland. They all came to the US in the 1910s — long before WWII. But there are distant family still in Poland. One of them — I know fought AGAINST the Germans, and harbored Jews in WWII. But what of the rest of the family? I feel grief, sadness, and shame when I see documentaries talking about the concentration camps in Poland. True, Poland did not have a choice — the Nazis put the concentration camps there. But there WAS and IS anti-semitism in Poland. It’s tremendously painful and difficult to come to terms with the fact that one’s history and heritage is tied in with the dehumanization and murder of an “underdog” group of people.

It must be tremendously difficult for Southerners to come to terms with slavery. As it’s difficult for some older banks and insurance companies (in the north) to come to terms with it too. It’s hard to come to terms with the fact that ALL of our homes in the US are built on stolen land — that the US committed genocide against the native americans!!!!

So, should the Civil War be remembered? Yes. Was slavery the cause of the Civil War? Yes. Should there be Confederate Heritage months? No. Should the Confederate flag be flown in public? No (except at educational reenactments).

I whole-heartedly agree with Mr. Wagner that the South is, and has been, trying to re-write history. Trying to gloss over slavery. But you know what? Until we come to terms with slavery as a nation — the legacy of slavery will NEVER be healed. And we desperately need healing as a nation.

JR, Hagerstown, MD

Wow.

So, blacks are not “native” to the South but whites are?

How does that work?

It is hard to believe that this is 2008.

May 1 @11:03 pm:

My God, how f_ing racist can you be? You say blacks aren’t southerners nor are they native to this country. And you think you’re ancestors are? You’re an idiot! I can’t believe what I’m reading - I’m amazed that ignorant, racists like yourself exist today. You’re childish, stupidity is what’s wrong with the world.

Can we go back to earlier history? Lets not make the mistake of erroneously claiming the north to be a “safe haven” for slaves. A run away slave making it to Cincinnati was FAR from safe. The only reason slavery didn’t blossom in the north is because of the land. Had the north been fertile… hardly doubt that slavery would have been opposed. What is the main cause of war throughout history? Economics… its all about the money, Lincoln was a slave owner himself, he just wanted to preserve the Union. Even African Americans today resent and despise Lincoln for his false glorification as a slave freer.

Funny how none of ya’ll mention anything about today. Check out “Inside Game Outside Game” and learn something about racial justice. On the topic of racism, there is one undeniable truth: racism is just as rampant in the north as it is in the south. Don’t believe me? Chicago and Detroit are the two most segregated cities in America, with index levels of dissimilarity in the 90 percentile. They have the most issues with sprawling suburbs, inner city poverty, and budget deficits; all perpetuating the metropolitan color line. Compare that to Charleston and Birmingham, much more integrated cities compared to the north, with indexes of dissimilarity in the 60 percentile.

Southerners don’t claim to have won the war, but stand by their heritage. I for one am proud to claim the south and the conservative Christian value preached in the churches every Sunday. Left-winged liberals need not come south of the Mason Dixox.

Well first of all I need to go to bed now, but just you wait , I will deal with you tomorrow . Looking at your picture i can see that you are as goofy looking as your article is to read . Please i hope that you never come South and soil our land with your presence . If for some reason you ever do , I am sure i can come up with enough spare change to put you on a bus and send you to where you deserve to be , but I am not sure a bus goes down there. Just mark my words i will be back to take your goofy looking, silly little grin off your face

that’s all folks!!!! dosnt matter if we lost….GET THIS - we are the South…we still want to be left alone ….dont try to write about us….dont even think about us, please. Just MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS up there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The thing that always stands out in these types of discussions, is that when the people from the North run out of facts, they fall back on their hatred of anything Southern. Calling anyone from the South a racist and a redneck, and labeling a group of people based on their geographic location, is just as bad as making general degrading remarks based on their skin color. There is a post above here where someone said that they were surprised that there was internet service in the south. It implies that the South is uneducated, backwards and ignorant. It is bigoted remarks like these that keep the war between North and South alive.

To Mr. JR, If all your ancestors came from Poland in 1910, then you dont have a dog in this fight. My ancestors arrived in 1610, and yep, we stole the land from the indians and owned slaves too. My g-g-grandfather fought for the Union, and after the war, went off to fight more indians. You should read about what Gen. Sherman did after the war. Lincoln was an Abolitionist, and had the right idea when he tried to abolish all the blacks to Liberia.

Mr. Wagner I and many other people within the Southern states would appreciate it very much if you would not lreport on something you obviously know absoloutly nothing about I would advise you to dig alittle deeper you will find there where many blacks who fought for the CSA. It is your choice, however I certaninly hope you look. Do not let ignorance and Political Correctness consume you.

Get your facts right, antebellum blacks were around 15% of the population, close to current percentage.

The entire civil war was over state’s rights and not over slavery. Get your facts straight. No, you are reading one of those politically correct propaganda books called a “Modern History Book.”