Confederate Heritage Groups Dismayed by Warner's Decisio-No proclamation marking April for Civil War

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ ^ | 3/14/2002 | William Branigin and Michael

[HHFi]

Whenever I see people condemn the actions and morality of those who lived in a completely different time and circumstance, and judge them harshly and solely by their own personal contemporary standards, it really makes my blood boil. But I usually calm myself by imagining that 100 years from now, people will have envolved enough reasoning power to look back at today's effort to rewrite history and censor other peoples' heritage with the horror and scorn it deserves; and to judge those who did it, by standards of the future, to have been narrow-minded, self-righteous, uninformed, politically-correct limp-weenies.

[ravinson]

The war didn't start over slavery, it started over tariffs. Slavery became a handy excuse somewhat later...

Nonsense. If you don't believe me, take it from the infamous Confederate cavalry general Nathan Bedford Forrest:

"If we ain't fightin' fer slavery then I'd like to know what we are fightin' fer." Sandburg, Storm Over the Land (Harcourt, Brace 1939, 1942), p 246.

[Jimmy Valentine]

Sad note to the people of Virginia. Mark Warner lied about EVERY political issue during his campaign.

He is a typical DemocRAT. Say anything to get in the office then do what you want.

Watch you taxes folks, they are going to go up like a rocket.

Regards,

[rdb3]

There's no shame in slavery.

Excuse me?

[RightWinger]

I think it's important to honor Confederate soldiers who died defending their homes & families from an invading army from the north.

[shuckmaster]

Aw, Shucks!

[Blake#1]

Modern slavery is the Democrat Party and its hold over the American Blacks. The Dems are the plantation owners and the Blacks are out in the cotton fields (inner city slums) again. They must like it?

[4CJ]

Thank you for your comment.

[sola gracia]

BUMP

[Captain Shady]

Warner's refusal to issue the proclamation should not discourage true Sons and Daughters of the South. Heritage is deeper than mere words or paper and ink.

[Ward Smythe]

Mark Warner lied about EVERY political issue during his campaign.

Some of us knew that during the campaign. But we fought many a battle right here on free republic over the fact that Mark Earley would "abandon" southern heritage.

[Non-Sequitur]

One man's view.

Many men's view. Read the Declaration of the Ordinance of Secession for Texas, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Georgia. Read the cornerstone speech of Alexander Stephens or his address to the Georgia legislature. Look at the tariff revenues for the southern ports prior to the war. It all makes a mockery of your claim that slavery played no part and that tariffs were the whole reason.

[Wm Bach]

How about we proclaim a Constitution and Declaration Day, wherein we celebrate the victory of the Constitution and the principles of the Declaration of Independence over slavery and separatism?

ROTFLAYE!!! If The Declaration of Indepence (BTW, it already has a day - July 4th)doesn't stand for separatism, then it's a pretty meaningless document.

[billbears]

And if your reference is Carl Sandberg, need I aquaint you with the term "Stalinist Ass Kisser"

LOL!! True, so true. Our official day here in NC is May 10. It's not only a declaration, officially it's a state holiday. But we've had a string of liberal governors for so long I doubt anyone remembers it

[Tank-FL]

Never Forget!

MIND OUR OWN BUSINESS!

In the 1690's my ancestors came to America, landing in today's Suffolk, Virginia. My Family fought in the Revolutionary War as North Carolinians. In the early 1800's the son's of my Virginian ancestors traveled to Georgia and Florida, starting out a new life, but born of Virginian blood they never forgot Virginia.

In the 1860's my g-g grandfather and his brother traveled back to Virginia with a ragtag infantry company from Florida. The brother (my g-g uncle) was mortally wounded and died in a Virginia hospital. His grave site is still to this day unknown. I visit "The Crater" in Petersburg, the place where family folk lore has he was wounded. I do this to honor my family's and the many others memory who gave so much in name of Honor and Duty.

My Family came back to Virginia at the request of General Robert E. Lee a great American and a great Virginian. They did not turn their heads and ignore Virginia's request then, as Governor Warner today wants to ignore their memory today. This man may be the Governor of the wrong state.

I am not ashamed of what my ancestors did in the name of Honor and Duty, as a matter of fact I am proud to be of their seed. You may be ashamed of your lineage, you may attempt to hide behind lies, you can not change the fact that these things happened! I am not going to turn my back on the memory of so many GOOD men for today, this April or any other month for that matter.

I have hope for Virginia, as I prepare to send my son this fall to the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) as a Freshman, and as he struggles to make it through the "Rat Line", I know he will do right by those who have gone before him. There are others with son's and daughters who have instilled in these children values that will continue to make Virginia a proud and honorable commonwealth of people. A place where "Duty" and "Honor" are remembered not forgotten.

I believe as long as we Honor those who died in the Civil War, there were no looser's in the battle, for we today, are stronger because of the conflict, those who died, and the country that emerged.

But to forget and not remember - such a disgrace.

So this is not about you who live in Virginia, it is about the United States of America, a country that had a Civil War, where we live today.

 

[Colt .45]

'How about we proclaim a Constitution and Declaration Day, wherein we celebrate the victory of the Constitution and the principles of the Declaration of Independence over slavery and separatism?'

Hey Homer! Its amazing how you Yankees even managed to build fire. You spout the principles of the Declaration of Independence and that is what the South seceded under! Of course you Yankees only recognise what you want to and only stand by the Declaration when you think it suits your purposes. And while your Bull Sh*tting, what the heck do you think the original 13 colonies did in regards to Great Britain? Have a grand ball?

But obviously if one succeeds at secession, then it becomes legal. Winners of battles always write their own brand of history! The war wasn't about slavery ... blue belly, it was about State's Rights of Self Determination!