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Have We Reconciled
Old Virginia Blog ^ | April 13, 2011 | Richard Williams

Posted on 04/16/2011 6:27:28 AM PDT by Davy Buck

This is a perplexing question, as it relates to the WBTS. In some ways, yes. In others, no. I, like many of you, recently (and for the 3rd or 4th time), watched Ken Burns' PBS documentary, The Civil War. Even though I have several criticisms of the Burns' film, I still find it a fascinating piece of work and very educational. I've always thoroughly enjoyed watching the film, despite its shortcomings. One of the more moving parts of this film comes near the end, as shown below. Pay close attention at about 30 seconds in and listen as historian David McCullough narrates the moving "reenactment" of Pickett's charge at the 50th anniversary reunion at Gettysburg. I believe one can detect the emotion in McCullough's voice as it sounds like he almost chokes up in recounting the emotional event. I don't think he's acting. I don't mind admitting that I too was moved with emotion in hearing McCullough recount the story . . .

(Excerpt) Read more at oldvirginiablog.blogspot.com ...


TOPICS: Education; History; Military/Veterans; Politics
KEYWORDS: civilwar; confederacy; thecivilwar; union
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To: ohioman

Nice way to take the conversation all over the place. You think you’re the most opposed to Obama because you live in the South? Thats conceit alright. So you’re going to tell me you’re one of those Rebs who loves The Stars and Stripes? Irony is lost on you alright. So as you see it only you Southerners are good and true Americans? And only you have ‘’ancestors’’? Mine served this nation too, from The Army of the Potomac to the US Army in WW2 and Korea. What’s your point?


41 posted on 04/16/2011 5:25:43 PM PDT by jmacusa (Two wrongs don't make a right. But they can make it interesting.)
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To: Tupelo

I have all the ammunition I need Johnny Reb. It’s called “American History’’ and it shows the South lost.


42 posted on 04/16/2011 5:27:09 PM PDT by jmacusa (Two wrongs don't make a right. But they can make it interesting.)
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To: jmacusa; Tupelo

Tupelo’s original suggestion, the one you first commented upon, was that an objective documentary detailing the Civil War Reconstruction era “would go a long way in explaining just why we are so defensive and defiant.”

Your responses are rather . . . bizarre.

Would have been kinda interesting had you criticized her suggestion rather than rambling about something she nor others were writing about. The punitive nature of Reconstruction created a political and cultural divide which lasted for decades, and for some lingers still.


43 posted on 04/16/2011 6:43:31 PM PDT by Racehorse (Always preach the Gospel . . . . Use words if necessary.)
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To: jmacusa

Being that I do not live in the South (as most recognize due to my name), you are the one all over the place. I never elevated the South above everyone else, I just refused to denigrate the South. I do not understand your hatred for Southerners, when we all are on the same political side (we being most of us on FR). Never forget that this country was founded on rebellion. We could use some of that spirit right now- together- against the left.


44 posted on 04/16/2011 7:08:16 PM PDT by ohioman
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To: Tupelo

I really do not want to get into it too much, but he raised his hand on the parade ground at West Point and swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. He did not swear an oath to Virginia. He did not swear an oath to support and defend the constitution of the US after defending Virginia.

I understand why he did what he did. I understand that he did what he thought was right. He paid for his “sin.”

But the oath he swore before God was the same one I took. It is the same type of oath you swear before God when you get married.

Do I think he was a traitor?


45 posted on 04/16/2011 7:15:47 PM PDT by Vermont Lt (How long before the Mall becomes Tahifir Sq?)
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To: rockrr; wardaddy

“There was nothing “conservative” about the confederacy.”

Oh, it was extremely conservative in the opinion of two of Lincoln’s fans in London, journalists Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. The South represented the forces of reaction against the progressive agenda of the Radical Republicans.

But I can see how you would prefer that it were otherwise.


46 posted on 04/16/2011 7:16:11 PM PDT by Pelham (Islam, mortal enemy of the free world)
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To: ohioman

I don’t ‘’hate’’ Southerners. I’ve a sister-in-law from North Carolina. I’ve been there dozens of times. What my beef is Southerners still fighting the Civil War, still carrying a cross for the damned Stars and Bars. There is no one on this web-site who understands the Left and hates it more than I do-BECAUSE I USED TO BE ONE OF THEM!! And yes, we need to band together and fight them and save this nation before we really lose it.


47 posted on 04/16/2011 7:16:25 PM PDT by jmacusa (Two wrongs don't make a right. But they can make it interesting.)
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To: Racehorse

Of for Gods sake! Reconstruction? You’re still fighting over that!?! You’re hopeless.


48 posted on 04/16/2011 7:18:29 PM PDT by jmacusa (Two wrongs don't make a right. But they can make it interesting.)
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To: jmacusa

Well,at least those Southerners still fighting the war as you say direct their fight to the Federal Gov- something most of us would like to see brought under control.


49 posted on 04/16/2011 7:26:19 PM PDT by ohioman
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To: gunnyg

“somewhere i read—must’ve been Dr DiLorenzo—that prior to the so-called civil war, the federal gubmint received 80% of its revenue from the south—dishonest abe certainly would never let that go...”

And Fort Sumter was a tariff collection point. If the North lost this fort then Lincoln wouldn’t be able to impose taxes on all trade going into the port of Charleston.

South Carolinians weren’t going to tolerate being taxed by Lincoln any more than their fathers were willing to let King George continue to impose taxes on them once they had declared independence.

The South had long been aggrieved over bearing the burden of taxes that primarily benefited internal improvements in the North. This complaint went back at least 60 years to Jefferson’s administration. In 1832 it nearly resulted in war over “the Tariff of Abominations” and the Nullification controversy. President Jackson was going to use armed force to compel South Carolina to comply.


50 posted on 04/16/2011 7:37:24 PM PDT by Pelham (Islam, mortal enemy of the free world)
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To: jmacusa

“I have all the ammunition I need Johnny Reb. It’s called “American History’’ and it shows the South lost.”

Lol. What is that, the “my side won so it’s therefore right” argument?


51 posted on 04/16/2011 7:41:59 PM PDT by Pelham (Islam, mortal enemy of the free world)
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To: jmacusa; Tupelo
Of for Gods sake! Reconstruction? You're still fighting over that!?! You're hopeless.

Thank you for confirming your initial attack upon Tupelo was . . . thoughtless. You're a giggle.

52 posted on 04/16/2011 8:08:22 PM PDT by Racehorse (Always preach the Gospel . . . . Use words if necessary.)
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To: Vermont Lt

I think you confuse allegiance to Lincoln with allegiance to the Constitution. At West Point during that era they used Joseph Story’s Commentary on the Constitution to teach government. Story, of Massachusetts, taught what most Americans of that time believed, that secession was a right held by the States. Unsurprising since the New England states had flirted with secession in 1814 with the Hartford Convention.

Moreover the authority of States to overrule the national government was a belief expressed by both Jefferson and Madison in the Virginia and Kentucky Resolves which they authored in 1798. Those Resolves are a basis of the States Rights doctrine which was espoused by the Confederacy.

In a similar vein Jefferson Davis was never brought to trial for treason despite his repeated requests that he either be charged or released. Davis was certain that he had broken no law and it appears to be a belief shared by his captors who refused to charge him.

The belief in an all powerful national government is something that is taken for granted only after Lincoln. It was an era of triumphant nationalism and not just in America. Lincoln crushed the South’s attempt to leave the union. The German states unified. Italy unified.


53 posted on 04/16/2011 8:23:58 PM PDT by Pelham (Islam, mortal enemy of the free world)
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To: ohioman

Yeah and so would I. That’s what the next elections for. And as to this ‘’fighting’’? Under which flag is this being done, or would it be done? That’s what concerns me the most. I don’t want to live in a divided and Balkanized country. Such an America would be in some way no different than it was one hundred and fifty years ago. Ripe for foreign powers to muscle in and take over or form alliances with God knows what state or territory. Hells Bells, once the secessionist band-wagon gets going, what’s to stop it? Can you imagine this happening today? The central government collapse’s and the nation becomes divided, even broken beyond a simple ‘’north’’, ‘’south’’. And with no super power, no Untied States of America to keep the peace in the world the scumbags of it rise up and all Hell breaks loose.


54 posted on 04/16/2011 9:20:04 PM PDT by jmacusa (Two wrongs don't make a right. But they can make it interesting.)
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To: Racehorse

And you’re a scream. Hows it going down yonder in your antebellum whatever it is you folks keep romancing?


55 posted on 04/16/2011 9:21:35 PM PDT by jmacusa (Two wrongs don't make a right. But they can make it interesting.)
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To: Pelham

No it’s because your side lost. Interestingly though your question has often been used by Americas former enemies.


56 posted on 04/16/2011 9:24:10 PM PDT by jmacusa (Two wrongs don't make a right. But they can make it interesting.)
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To: Pelham

Amen scratch the surface of almost any south basher here and you ll find a yankee with either an axe to grind over their own skin color or a “fiscal”conservative who says “what culture war”


57 posted on 04/17/2011 12:59:09 AM PDT by wardaddy (ok...Trump---Sarah----Michelle.....any of them are ok for now---tain't picky)
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To: jmacusa; ohioman; Pelham
I've a sister in law from North Carolina

poor her...that sound just like the "but I have black friends"defense

58 posted on 04/17/2011 1:05:06 AM PDT by wardaddy (ok...Trump---Sarah----Michelle.....any of them are ok for now---tain't picky)
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To: wardaddy

So is your wife going to leave when she recovers her eyesight?


59 posted on 04/17/2011 7:06:45 AM PDT by jmacusa (Two wrongs don't make a right. But they can make it interesting.)
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To: Pelham

There was never a dime in tariffs collected at Fort Sumter.


60 posted on 04/17/2011 8:56:03 AM PDT by rockrr ("Remember PATCO!")
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