Back in high school, when I first got my parking pass, I remember seeing something that I thought was really strange and unusual. In the back corner of the lot, there were usually two or three trucks that had Confederate flags painted on them. I remember, at the time, thinking how odd it was to see this in Wisconsin of all places. After all, Wisconsin was a member of the Union during the Civil War, and according to the Wisconsin Historical Society, the state sent more than 90,000 men into battle over the course of the conflict. Although the Confederacy died more than 140 years ago, there remains a certain mystique of nobility and righteousness surrounding the cause of the South. To this day, a misguided version of history continues to influence many people's thinking about the American Civil War. Many southern states such as Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi recognize the month of April as Confederate History and Heritage Month. After all, April 9, 1865, saw the surrender of the main Confederate army under Gen. Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Courthouse in central Virginia. Now, a bill in the Georgia Legislature is proposing to permanently assign April as Confederate History and Heritage Month. While I am somewhat leery about the merits of the heritage of such a place as the Confederacy, I don't have a big problem with it. What I disagree with is the depiction of the Confederate States of America as a noble alternative to the tyrannical oppression of the North. What I abhor is the idea that the Confederacy is something that should be fondly remembered. An Associated Press news story disclosed that the Georgia bill has language in it honoring "all those millions of its citizens of various races and ethnic groups and religions who contributed in sundry and myriad ways to the cause of Southern Independence." It seems to me that this sentence is just a little bit off. While it might be worthy to remember the citizens who labored to do this, it is also important to remember what they were fighting for and how it runs against the very foundations of the United States of America. The Sons of Confederate Veterans is one of the main organizations behind the push to preserve Confederate heritage. Take a look at the second sentence from their website's homepage. It says, "The preservation of liberty and freedom was the motivating factor in the South's decision to fight the Second American Revolution." Of course, the funny thing about this sentence is that the real motivating factor behind this decision was a desire to preserve the exact opposite qualities in southern society. The desire to continue the system of slavery was the prime motivation behind the secession of the South. In other words, the South was fighting to preserve a system that enshrined oppression and restrictions. Another argument used to defend the Confederacy is that the South was fighting for states' rights. While the South may have been fighting to defend states' rights, they were defending them to maintain a way of life that made millions of men, women and children no more than common property to be sold or traded at will. If states feel that they must declare April Confederate History and Heritage Month, then they also need to recognize the entire history of the Confederacy, including the unjust system of slavery that ruled there. As April comes closer, we need to remember the true story of what happened when the United States fought against itself. The Civil War remains the bloodiest war in American history, and its effects reverberate to this day. While it is important not to forget the citizens who fought and died on both sides of the conflict, we cannot let sentiment get in the way of facing what is always an uglier reality. Andrew Wagner ([email protected]) is a sophomore majoring in computer science and political science.