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Americans Owe Confederate History Respect
Confederate States of America Page ^ | 6/10/2003 | CHRIS EDWARDS

Posted on 12/16/2004, 2:48:26 PM by cougar_mccxxi

Americans Owe Confederate History Respect

By CHRIS EDWARDS

The Time Has Come To Take A Stand After attending the Confederate Memorial Day service on June 1 in Higginsville, I found myself believing our nation should be ashamed for not giving more respect and recognition to our ancestors.

I understand that some find the Confederate flag offensive because they feel it represents slavery and oppression. Well, here are the facts: The Confederate flag flew over the South from 1861 to 1865. That's a total of four years. The U.S. Constitution was ratified in April 1789, and that document protected and condoned the institution of slavery from 1789 to 1861. In other words, if we denigrate the Confederate flag for representing slavery for four years, shouldn't we also vilify the U.S. flag for representing slavery for 72 years? Unless we're hypocrites, it is clear that one flag is no less pure than the other.

A fascinating aspect of studying the Civil War is researching the issues that led to the confrontation. The more you read, the less black-and-white the issues become. President Abraham Lincoln said he would do anything to save the union, even if that meant preserving the institution of slavery. Lincoln's focus was obviously on the union, not slavery.

In another case, historians William McFeely and Gene Smith write that Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant threatened to "throw down his sword" if he thought he was fighting to end slavery.

Closer to home, in 1864, Col. William Switzler, one of the most respected Union men in Boone County, purchased a slave named Dick for $126. What makes this transaction interesting is not only the fact that Switzler was a Union man but that he bought the slave one year after the issuance of the Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. Of course, history students know the proclamation did not include slaves living in the North or in border states such as Missouri.

So if this war was fought strictly over slavery, why were so many Unionists reluctant to act like that was the issue?

In reviewing the motives that led to the Civil War, one should read the letters soldiers wrote home to their loved ones. Historian John Perry, who studied the soldier's correspondence, says in his three years of research, he failed to find one letter that referred to slavery from Confederate or Union soldiers.

Perry says that Yankees tended to write about preserving the Union and Confederates wrote about protecting their rights from a too-powerful federal government. The numerous letters failed to specifically say soldiers were fighting either to destroy or protect the institution of slavery. Shelby Foote, in his three-volume Civil War history, recounts an incident in which a Union soldier asks a Confederate prisoner captured in Tennessee why he was fighting. The rebel responded, "Because you're down here."

History tends to overlook the South's efforts to resolve the issue of slavery. For example, in 1863, because of a shortage of manpower, Lincoln permitted the enlistment of black soldiers into the Union Army. Battlefield documents bear out the fact that these units were composed of some of the finest fighting men in the war. Unfortunately for these brave soldiers, the Union used them as cannon fodder, preferring to sacrifice black lives instead of whites.

These courageous black Union soldiers experienced a Pyrrhic victory for their right to engage in combat. However, history has little to say about the South's same effort in 1865. The Confederacy, its own troop strength depleted, offered slaves freedom if they volunteered for the army.

We know that between 75,000 and 100,000 blacks responded to this call, causing Frederick Douglass to bemoan the fact that blacks were joining the Confederacy. But the assimilation of black slaves into the Confederate army was short-lived as the war came to an end before the government's policy could be fully implemented.

It's tragic that Missouri does not do more to recognize the bravery of the men who fought in the Missouri Confederate brigades who fought valiantly in every battle they were engaged in. To many Confederate generals, the Missouri brigades were considered the best fighting units in the South.

The courage these boys from Missouri demonstrated at Port Gibson and Champion Hill, Miss., Franklin, Tenn., and Fort Blakely, Ala., represent just a few of the incredible sacrifices they withstood on the battlefield. Missouri should celebrate their struggles instead of damning them.

For the real story about the Missouri Confederate brigades, one should read Phil Gottschalk and Philip Tucker's excellent books about these units. The amount of blood spilled by these Missouri boys on the field of battle will make you cry.

Our Confederate ancestors deserve better from this nation. They fought for what they believed in and lost. Most important, we should remember that when they surrendered, they gave up the fight completely. Defeated Confederate soldiers did not resort to guerrilla warfare or form renegade bands that refused to surrender. These men simply laid down their arms, went home and lived peacefully under the U.S. flag. When these ex-Confederates died, they died Americans.

During the postwar period, ex-Confederates overwhelmingly supported the Democratic Party. This party, led in Missouri by Rep. Dick Gephardt and Gov. Bob Holden, has chosen to turn its back on its fallen sons.

The act of pulling down Confederate flags at two obscure Confederate cemeteries for the sake of promoting Gephardt's hopeless quest for the presidency was a cowardly decision. I pray these men will rethink their decision.

The reality is, when it comes to slavery, the Confederate and United States flags drip with an equal amount of blood.

Chris Edwards is a local musician and MU graduate student of history. He is a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and of the board of Missouri's Civil War Heritage Foundation.


TOPICS: History
KEYWORDS: americans; blahblahblah; condeferateneos; confederacy; confederate; confedobsessors; csa; dixie; dixiecranks; dixietrash; dixiewankers; flagobsessors; graylosers; graylost; greyisgay; hate; hicks; history; kkk; neoconfederate; owe; rebelnutballs; redneck; rednecks; respect; respectmyass; respectthispal; segrigation; southmoronics; weoweuanotherwhuppin; youlostgetoverit
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To: stand watie
[sw] i suspect that the closest cvn76 has come to an aircraft carrier is the model boat in his bathtub.

I would suspect he is prior Air Force and has seen aircraft carriers in Southern California.

301 posted on 12/28/2004, 7:52:25 PM by nolu chan
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To: cvn76
[cvn76] just curious. do you know what time it is? lol!!!!

I know it is not yet time for gunnery mates in the U.S. Navy.

302 posted on 12/28/2004, 7:55:21 PM by nolu chan
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To: cvn76
[cvn76] i require the sidewalk to be warm for full functional capability nowadays:)

That sounds positively reptilian.

303 posted on 12/28/2004, 7:56:25 PM by nolu chan
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To: nolu chan
LOL!

free dixie,sw

304 posted on 12/28/2004, 7:56:47 PM by stand watie ( being a damnyankee is no better than being a racist. it is a LEARNED prejudice against dixie.)
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To: nolu chan
i wondered about that too.

BUT as i said, i know nearly ZILCH about the USN, though a bit about the CSN.

the CSN called such persons POWDER MONKEYS,GUNNERS & MASTER GUNNERS.

but GUNNERY mates? NOPE.

fyi, a friend of mine from the Company of Military Historians found the service records of the ONLY Australian Aborigine in the CS service, who was a MASTER GUNNER aboard one of our commerce raiders from 1862-65.

free dixie,sw

305 posted on 12/28/2004, 8:01:47 PM by stand watie ( being a damnyankee is no better than being a racist. it is a LEARNED prejudice against dixie.)
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To: nolu chan
TRUE! as in, venomous serpent on a rock.

free dixie,sw

306 posted on 12/28/2004, 8:03:06 PM by stand watie ( being a damnyankee is no better than being a racist. it is a LEARNED prejudice against dixie.)
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To: nolu chan

why thank you mr chan!!!!

it's very white of you:)


307 posted on 12/29/2004, 12:08:35 AM by cvn76 (F=GMm/r2 this actually works!!!)
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To: stand watie

THE EYES OF THE COVEN ARE WATCHING YOU PROFESSOR WINKIEPAPA!!!!

from our supersonic carrier based c17/c5a interceptor fighters!!!!!LOL!!!!!!!!

ROFL!!!


308 posted on 12/29/2004, 12:13:56 AM by cvn76 (F=GMm/r2 this actually works!!!)
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To: nolu chan
"I know it is not yet time for gunnery mates in the U.S. Navy."

302 posted on 12/28/2004 11:55:21 AM PST by nolu chan

you know mr chan......(in my desire not to torch another confederate issue regular such as yourself) i elected to let you have your say.

"in point of fact" .... LOL!!!!! (sorry professor winkiepumperpapa for borrowing your oft used "intelligent" phrase) both terms are and have been used interchangeably in MY navy as well as the mc on board usn fleet.



you didn't know that from the books you read did you? LOL!!! ROFL!!!!!!


oh yes, i need to detail my service since all your "southroner" action hero / supercommando paper tiger
comrades can relate.

as one of the few cpo/fadm/ltjg/gunnery mates aboard cvn76 my duties were varied. the highlight was flying a helicopterized but submersible variant of the hybrid p38 lightning/fa-18. later i moved on up the chain of command as bm2/sgtm/a1c aboard cvn74 where i flew the turbocharged vstol kc10 interceptor off the deck during it's sea of lake perris tour.

of course , rumsfeld has personally attempted to recommission me what with the way things are in the world, but i am resisting because, like commander/mikepapa (LOL)/business mogul/college professor extraordinaire dr freewilliedixie, my schedule of wonking policy and directing corporate staff just won't permit it:(

you are a sharpie!!!!!LOL!!!!!!!!!
309 posted on 12/29/2004, 3:52:55 AM by cvn76 (F=GMm/r2 this actually works!!!)
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To: nolu chan
simple within the spoken lexicon

gunner's=gunnery

but since i see you are a voracious reader, you can tell me i should have addressed navy vs mc personnel separately as per their formal title/rank.

it's ok.

the books tell you this but you know those sailor's from what youv'e read... they just don't always tow the line. what can you do!

well. i'll leave you to return to the fly fisherman's maritime section at the library now.

LOL!!!!!
310 posted on 12/29/2004, 4:27:40 AM by cvn76 (F=GMm/r2 this actually works!!!)
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To: nolu chan
well by golly mr chan, that google search thing is really cool!

somehow though when "nolo chan / freerepublic" is googled, virtually ALL of the ~400 instances of fr postings and smoky backroom stuff addressed to or referencing you by your jethro associates is related to the "southron" (SP) issue. i didn't take the time to view all 400 in detail but............don't you have another pony you ride?

i know you read maritime books and now it looks like the civil war section is a fav........are there other sections in the library where you live? or is it at DR WINKIEWONKA'S
UNIVERSITY? LOL!!!!!!

oh..... i see you are from arkansas and professor wonkie's university/ corporate policy institution (LOL!!!) is based in south carolina. both fine places to be white in, yes they are! LOL!!

zaijian mr chan!
311 posted on 12/29/2004, 5:00:14 AM by cvn76 (F=GMm/r2 this actually works!!!)
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To: cvn76
yet ANOTHER stupid,meaningless post from our resident BIGOT/idiot.

free dixie,sw

312 posted on 12/29/2004, 5:29:40 AM by stand watie ( being a damnyankee is no better than being a racist. it is a LEARNED prejudice against dixie.)
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To: nolu chan

More popcorn please.


313 posted on 12/29/2004, 5:30:56 AM by investigateworld ((! ))
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To: cvn76
suggestion from an undercover spy in the THE COVEN OF SNAKELIKE "NORTHRON" INFIDELS SEEKING TO SUPRESS THE "SOUTHRON" NATION OF WINN-DIXIE and all it's valiant warrior/sstroopers!!!!!

psst, fellow troopers...

choose more mundane monikers so you can't have your your history uncovered by the nefarious minions in THE COVEN......try jethro tull.....lynrd skynrd.....molly hatchet.....john doe.....dog spot. LOL!!!!

and the mirth continues.......
314 posted on 12/29/2004, 5:31:16 AM by cvn76 (F=GMm/r2 this actually works!!!)
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To: cvn76
and yet ANOTHER stupid/ignorant/hateFILLED post from our resident RACIST.

free dixie,sw

315 posted on 12/29/2004, 5:31:42 AM by stand watie ( being a damnyankee is no better than being a racist. it is a LEARNED prejudice against dixie.)
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To: stand watie
"yet ANOTHER stupid,meaningless post from our resident BIGOT/idiot.
free dixie,sw"

NO!!!!!!, dr winkermoppapachief!

use your creativity or don't bother to post.....did i somehow sweep up all your creative genius as i strolled through the corridors in your head? LOL!!!!!

YOU CAN DO IT!! you are an esteemed policy wonk and college professor!!!!!how can you wonk to your students without the creative fire???ROFL!!!!

i may have to drop my responses to you in favor of our latest contributor , mr chan, who (just like you) is on both this and the "Student files lawsuit over confederate flag ban" thread. actually he may not be....i can't remember since the "southron" septic systems seem to be disgorging like minded one-issue sswarriors......

find some ashes in the ruin of your FAKE PERSONA to work with professor standingwater, or i won't send you any more of my alleged "anti white bigotry" messages.......or whatever you are talking about......not even in the white typeface that only you can view....i mean it!!!!!...no more......remember......BUCK UP jethro!!
316 posted on 12/29/2004, 5:53:33 AM by cvn76 (F=GMm/r2 this actually works!!!)
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To: cvn76
lunch is over here in the LOS.

i'll be back in a few, COVEN and all!!

have your staff/students/fellow tire repairmen check the skies though in my absence business titan/wonkdispenser for those c5a/c17 spying interceptors!

all your brain corridors are belong to "THE COVEN" lol!!!!!
317 posted on 12/29/2004, 6:27:08 AM by cvn76 (F=GMm/r2 this actually works!!!)
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To: cvn76; stand watie
[cvn76 #309] as one of the few cpo/fadm/ltjg/gunnery mates aboard cvn76 my duties were varied

Translation of gibberish: "As one of the few [chief petty officer (E-7)] / [fleet admiral (O-10)] / [lieutenant junior grade (O-2)] / ['gunnery' mates] aboard cvn76 my duties were varied"

Enlisted paygrades are E-1 thru E-10
Officer paygrades are O-1 thru O-10

[cvn76 #309] later i moved on up the chain of command as bm2/sgtm/a1c aboard cvn74

Translation of gibberish: "later i moved on up the chain of command as [boatswain's mate second class (E-5)] / [sgtm*] / [Airman First Class] aboard cvn74 (USS John C. Stennis)"

* "sgtm" is a mystery.

STG is a Sonar Technician, Surface

SGT is a Sergeant, but the Navy has few of them.

MSGT is a Master Sergeant, but the Navy has just as few of them.

[cvn76 #309] ["in point of fact" .... LOL!!!!! (sorry professor winkiepumperpapa for borrowing your oft used "intelligent" phrase) both terms are and have been used interchangeably in MY navy as well as the mc on board usn fleet.

On this you are full of crap, FRAUD.

[cvn76 #309] you didn't know that from the books you read did you? LOL!!! ROFL!!!!!!

On this you are correct. I did not have to look it up. nolu chan, USN, (ret).

"Gunner's Mate" is used at pay grade E-7 and above. Leading to GM: GMG (Gunner's Mate - Guns) and GMM (Gunner's Mate - Missiles)

318 posted on 12/29/2004, 2:27:21 PM by nolu chan
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To: nolu chan; stand watie
[cvn76 #309] ["in point of fact" .... both terms [gunnery mate / gunner's mate ] are and have been used interchangeably in MY navy as well as the mc on board usn fleet.

Only if one considers your navy to consist of you in the bathtub in the basement of your mother's house, accompanied by your fleet of rubber duckies.

Nobody serves "on board" a fleet.

In civilian parlance, some folks are "aboard" a ship.

In proper U.S. Navy parlance, a sailor serves "in" a ship.

Fire up your google engine again and search on "served in uss" (with quote marks).

If you insist on making believe you are U.S. Navy, at least learn some of the jargon.

The cvn76 navy

319 posted on 12/29/2004, 3:02:28 PM by nolu chan
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To: investigateworld
More popcorn please.

Here ya go!


320 posted on 12/29/2004, 3:04:14 PM by nolu chan
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