Confederacy of the determined - (Southern heritage buffs vow "Confederate History Month")

WASHINGTON TIMES.COM ^ | APRIL 24, 2005 | Christina Bellantoni

[CHARLITE]

Highly recommend proud Virginian, James Atticus Bowden's powerful article, "GUNS, GOD AND THE AMERICAN FLAG," posted on Free Republic, several months ago. It is enjoying a "revival" of interest and the thread has picked up again, as well it should for such a stirringly patriotic and elegant piece of writing.

It makes a terrific companion piece to this one which I've just posted.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1350510/posts?page=37#37

[BenLurkin]

April would be a good month.

[Capriole]

I wish the SCV had a different spokesman. Brag Bowling does not speak or write in a professional way. This makes the SCV appear to be a bunch of rednecks, which they assuredly are not. I heard him speaking once and he made it sound as though Jesus Christ specifically endorsed slavery. It's difficult to believe that there is not someone in that large organization who could better represent the legitimate views of the descendants of Confederate soldiers.

[Mongeaux]

I think it's a great idea. We should recognize the losing side of wars more often! I have some ideas:

Maginot Line Month - dedicated to the brave Frenchmen who stood for a few long seconds in front of the German Army.

British Colonial Month - dedicated to Cornwallis and the British Army who fought their way to surrender in the American Rebellion of 1776.

Carthaginian Month - dedicated to Hannibal who managed to kill a lot of elephants and Romans before being slaughtered in the Third Punic War by Scipio Africanus in 146 BC.

[Martin Tell]

I understand - might makes right. Thanks for clearing that up.

[Martin Tell]

Oh, another thing. You ought to check your history. Hannibal was the second punic war. And he wasn't slaughtered by Scipio. He escaped the battle of zama (202 BC BTW) and was killed (in a cowardly act) years later.

[Mongeaux]

I understand - might makes right. Thanks for clearing that up.

"Right" huh? Let's look at some numbers:

Total American Deaths for all wars except the Civil War: 641,800

Total Deaths During the American Civil War: 623,026

The Confederacy tore this nation apart and got 623,026 of our ancestors killed so you could keep your slaves. That's neither right nor might.

[Mongeaux]

Oh, another thing. You ought to check your history. Hannibal was the second punic war. And he wasn't slaughtered by Scipio. He escaped the battle of zama (202 BC BTW) and was killed (in a cowardly act) years later.

My bad. You're right it was the second.

[Martin Tell]

So we fertilized our southern soil with some Yankee blood? Good.

[Mongeaux]

So we fertilized our southern soil with some Yankee blood? Good.

It was American blood which makes the ground sacred, no matter where it was spilled.

[Martin Tell]

Well I can't disagree with the tragedy of all those deaths, but I have very little patience with those who reduce any southern reverence for our dead to "you guys lost" which is what your first (I'm sorry but there is no way to characterize it but ignorant) post says.

I don't want to get into the big argument about whether the war was about slavery or not. Suffice it to say that many (traditional) southerners view all those deaths as Lincoln's fault. We were merely defending our homes against overwhelming odds, and even though might ultimately prevailed, it does not in slightest sully the honor of those men who fell for the south. And your post did impugn their honor. Frenchmen indeed!

[RightWinger]

The Politically Correct Northerners will never allow us to honor our war-dead.

[Mongeaux]

Well I can't disagree with the tragedy of all those deaths, but I have very little patience with those who reduce any southern reverence for our dead to "you guys lost" which is what your first (I'm sorry but there is no way to characterize it but ignorant) post says.

Yes I apologize - my satirical sense overwhelmed my judgement. As a New Englander it's easy to forget that feelings about that national tragedy are still fairly raw in certain areas of the nation. I should not have impugned the honor of the brave souls who risked all for their causes.

I had a namesake who fought on the Union side in the Civil War. He was a sergeant. We have this story about him:

In bivouac one damp, rainy day an officer rode up to a group of soldiers trying to warm themselves at a tiny campfire. The officer (recently arrived from military school) began complaining about the shoddy state of the soldiers' uniforms, a natural consequence of months in the field. The solidiers ingnored him, sending him into a wild rage, whereupon he began beating them with a riding stick.

My ancestor, a grizzled veteran of many campaigns, snuck up behind the Officers horse, hooked a glowing coal from the fire, lifted the horses' tail and stuffed it into the equine's rectum!

It was said that the organ swelled around the coal, spasmed, sucked it in and then puckered up around it. The horse reared and took off for the timberline bucking and twisting with the Officer cursing and screaming on its back.

Neither ever returned.

That's MY FAMILY! We are so proud!

[csmusaret]

I returned about 3 hours ago from a 12 hour drive through NC, Tenn, Ga, and SC. I saw approximately 10 rebel flags displayed in front of homes. Most were run down, junk strewn trailers or shacks. One was flying in front of a well maintained property.

[Martin Tell]

Great story. And I am proud that Americans managed to come together after the horrible slaughter to be one nation and let our common foes beware.

Peace be with you and your honorable dead.

[Martin Tell]

You don't see many Confederate battle flags anymore. SCV types will generally fly some other flag, like the original Stars and Bars. I fly the Bonnie Blue Flag myself; it has no racist connotations. Most people don't even know it's a Confederate flag.

[stainlessbanner]

ping

[CHARLITE]

I asked my good friend, Linda, who was born and raised in Atlanta, how long it took the south to recover from the Civil War, and she replied, "Subtract 1865 from 2005. . . . That's how long it is taking........."

I don't know if all true southerners feel that way or not.

I was born and raised in Baltimore, but that's not southern enough for me to have an accurate sense of what southerners really feel, still.......to this day.

Char

[4CJ]

I saw approximately 10 rebel flags displayed in front of homes. Most were run down, junk strewn trailers or shacks. One was flying in front of a well maintained property.

And I've drove through Orange Beach, Fl and other segments of the panhandle into Alabama, and seen huge Confederate flags over multimillion dollar beach homes.