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When I first got involved with any of these WBTS threads I was struck by the level of enmity from the Lost Causers. I kinda blundered right into the middle of it with an expression of surprise at one of the claims.

I quickly learned that I was a damnyankee not because of where I was born (Washington State) or raised (Alabama) but because I didn’t drink the Lost Cause Koolaid. I learned that, even though I loved my years growing up in the south and still regarded it fondly I must hate the south and southerners because I disagreed with a tiny (but belligerently vocal) minority. Once I got over the sheer horror of that revelation (ha!) I settled in to view the hilarity.

I must admit that I do love much of the desperate rationalizations that I read here. I knew of the dixie spirit from my youth but had no idea that otherwise grownup people (mis)behaved like this. I’ve learned, in a nutshell (no pun intended) Lost Causers believe that:

States have an expressed right to secession even though it is not enumerated.

Secession is a perfectly acceptable solution to disagreements (even though it results in cataclysmic disaster every time it is attempted).

Secession can be invoked at any time and for any reason (even though it has never been done successfully).

The Civil War is known as The War of northern Aggression even though it was instigated, initiated, and escalated by the south.

The Civil War was fought to defend “states rights” although the only specific right they expressed any interest in protecting was the right to own other human beings.

The confederacy had no interest in The United States and only wished to be ‘left alone’ even though they attempted to intimidate every border state and seize power in every territory of the southwest, west, and northwest.

“First to shoot” means aggressor, except in the case of SC rebels who were duped by the ever popular “We wuz so stoopid we done fell for Linkum’s trap” defense.

Emancipation Proclamation couldn’t have “freed the slaves” even though the Emancipation Proclamation freed the slaves.

Robert E. Lee definitely wasn’t a traitor who waged an illegal war although he was never tried or convicted...or acquitted.

Abraham Lincoln definitely was a dictator who waged an illegal war although he was never tried or convicted.

The rebels felt that they were within their rights to resort to secession even though there has never been a court ruling that confirmed any such right. Lost Cause Losers believe that the confederate rebels acted legally even though the Supreme Court has ruled to the contrary.

Stupid men will ask absurd questions like “Shall government be bound by law, or by morality?” when they demonstrably do not respect the answer.

I look upon such men and shake my head. It must be terribly lonely to hate ones own country as these men do. To regard oneself as a prisoner in their own nation and feel the need to deny ones own history.

rockrr's constitution 101

States have an expressed right to secession even though it is not enumerated.
Right, because the constitution enumerates states rights not the federal governments. How twisted is that excuse for logic?

Secession can be invoked at any time and for any reason
Sure, put more words in other people's mouths to build up your case. Prudence requires declaring your reasons for such as action as Jefferson did and the states each did before secession. But I guess that right of self-determination in the face of tyranny died once it was used successfully in the 18th century and they built a new union prohibiting it.

even though it was instigated, initiated, and escalated by the south.
Just sad, but I'm enjoying the fact you're putting this all down for everyone to see.

although the only specific right they expressed any interest in protecting was the right to own other human beings
Wasn't the only one, but unfortunately through your rosey lenses you forget that it was in fact legal at the time, and a law not delegated to federal juridistiction, thereby being a "state" right. you're also forgetting secession of course, since that's why lincoln raised the troops. and equal taxation, representation, etc. but stick with the "only" story...works well for you.

they attempted to intimidate every border state and seize power in every territory of the southwest, west, and northwest.
do tell. by "seizing power" you mean not allowing the federal government to usurp rights retained by the states, exclude those rights from new states, and permanently force the balance of power to the north? if that's the south "seizing power" then sure, i guess so.

“First to shoot” means aggressor
and the child returns his fingers to his years, closes his eye and shouts 'i can't hear you'. keep ignoring the armistices lincoln violated so make sure your "aggressor" theory holds water.

EP - uhh, no comment. pretty sure you're making stuff up now.

R.E.L. - yeah, traitor. just ask DDE (that's eisenhower for the simple)

Lincoln - uh, when tyrants gain control, rarely do they then face legal proceedings against them...since they have control. but especially so after they're dead.

resort to secession even though there has never been a court ruling that confirmed any such right
Nor would there need to be since they never delegated the right to anyone else, and all such rights were reserved to them. perhaps you need to pick up an ESL class or two before you get out of school to help you understand the law?

even though the Supreme Court has ruled to the contrary
wait, didn't you just finish saying they never ruled on...oh, i get it, you mean after the war with a packed court. got it now.

Stupid men will ask absurd questions like “Shall government be bound by law, or by morality?” when they demonstrably do not respect the answer.
Founders were stupid - check. They asked the same question, and chose rule of law. What "answer" is it they didn't respect?

I look upon such men and shake my head. It must be terribly lonely to hate ones own country as these men do. To regard oneself as a prisoner in their own nation and feel the need to deny ones own history.
You won't find anyone "hating" their country here, but why not fish strong with another strawman. We all love the principles the country was founded upon and the men who've defended them. we don't care for those who killed hundreds of thousands to subvert them, yet get praised as heroes. But thanks for clearing everything up for us.

I'm used to responding on these secession threads with the knowledge that there's no way I'll convince any of LCers to give up their absurd positions. They reason backwards, if reason is the right world. What I do wish to do is put stuff out for the casual observer who might be persuaded by their insane "logic" that maybe secession is the way to go. They, LCers, will never accept the reality of what caused the civil war, slavery, and the fact that no oppression of the south was going on.

It has been written about, even by many of them, for decades that Lincoln was not going to touch slavery. Until they forced his hand. In short, the south shot itself in the foot. If they didn't rebel, the "peculiar institution" would have gone on for at least a few more decades. The secessionists are responsble for whatever destruction occurred. And rest assured, if anybody in my state of Wisconsin tried to organize some sort of secessionist movement, I'd gladly favor the feds to come in and hang each and every one of them. I'm a citizen of UNITED!!! States of America, but just a resident of Wisconsin, a state I love dearly.