"confederate history month"? how about go racism month?

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:...The history of the US Civil War cannot be provided in a few sentences. If you are interested in studying it, there are few better places than Washington, DC. Some of the most famous battlefields are just a short drive away. Go to Harper's Ferry and find out about John Brown. Basically, the Civil War was not a choice by the Federal government, but one forced upon it when southern states seceded from the Union. The issue at that time was not even ending slavery. Rather, it was the resistance to extending slavery to new areas that provoked the succession movement. Ending slavery was more an outcome of the war rather than a cause.

The Union was formed by a voluntary agreement and the states of the South believed they had the right to withdraw voluntarily; Lincoln disagreed.

It's ironic that the South fought for their right to voluntary withdrawal while denying their slaves' right to voluntary withdrawal, and that Lincoln freed the slaves but would not grant freedom to the states of the South.

[Anonymous]

They may have thought they had a right to secession, but none existed in the Constitution. Any legal agreement, no matter how small, contains a termination provision if it is not meant to be perpetual. It is inconceivable that they merely overlooked this.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
It's ironic that the South fought for their right to voluntary withdrawal while denying their slaves' right to voluntary withdrawal, and that Lincoln freed the slaves but would not grant freedom to the states of the South.

This is ironic only if you consider slavery and statehood to be equivalent. The southern states all had two senators and multiple representatives who could make their case in the Congress. Indeed, those legislators were successful at holding off most anti-slavery legislation. Slaves had no such say in their lives.

And, again, it must be said. Lincoln did very little to end slavery. The Emancipation Proclamation had little more than symbolic effect. Slavery was ended by the 13th Amendment which passed both houses of Congress and ratified by 36 states. Lincoln went to war over succession, not slavery.

[Anonymous]

Ha Ha haaa
You gave me a lot to laugh about.
Honor a contract even at the expense of war
Sounds like Lincoln could easily have avoided the whole civil war. Was it in the best interest of the north to send so many to die?
I now agree with the Confederates.
A legal agreement is nothing, avoiding war is something

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ha Ha haaa
You gave me a lot to laugh about.
Honor a contract even at the expense of war
Sounds like Lincoln could easily have avoided the whole civil war. Was it in the best interest of the north to send so many to die?
I now agree with the Confederates.
A legal agreement is nothing, avoiding war is something

What are you talking about? I think you might have a point in there, but you sound nutty in this post.

[Anonymous]

confederate does not equate to racism!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:confederate does not equate to racism!

umm, yes it does. confederacy was founded on the right to hold slaves. holding slaves is, along with being an abomination, racist. therefore, confederacy is racism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:confederate does not equate to racism!

Well then just go with traitor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:confederate does not equate to racism!

Well then just go with traitor.

Are we still talking about the war that could easily have been avoided, in a time that was very different, when the rest of the world was getting rid of slavery and there must have been other ways to get rid of it, as you can see by reading the history of other countries.

Is everyone whose opinion differs from this board a traitor?
I do not think Lincoln was a saint

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The southern traditions of hospitality, manners, rich cuisine, music, architecture are all things to be proud of, but if my ancestors were slave owners/traders I'd be depressed.

What a stupid remark. Why would you feel depressed? Do you own slaves? How can someone alive today be responsible for what their ancestors did or did not do? Do you think all Germans born after 1945 Germans should have collective guilt because of World War II?

Should we scrap the US Constitution and Bill of Rights because some of our founding fathers owned slaves?

Maybe we should burn Mount Vernon, Monticello, and other historic homes because the original owners owned slaves? How about ONLY Virginians are allowed to attend Virginia colleges and universities? Thomas Jefferson founded UVA. He owned slaves and had an affair with one of his slaves. From now on, only native born Virginians will be allowed to apply and attend Mr. Jefferson's school.

How about eternal guilt for Americans for the atomic bombs?

You are a moron!!!

[Anonymous]

The "Civil" War or the "War Between the States" was a matter of States' Rights. The right to secede from the Union. Slavery was a major issue but NOT the only issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The "Civil" War or the "War Between the States" was a matter of States' Rights. The right to secede from the Union. Slavery was a major issue but NOT the only issue.

Correct. It was not about slavery, but about states' right to secede so they could keep the right to allow their citizens to own slaves. And Rand Paul is not in favor of discrimination, just in favor of the right of private businesses to discriminate. A fine distinction, but an important one -- unless you are interested in reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The "Civil" War or the "War Between the States" was a matter of States' Rights. The right to secede from the Union. Slavery was a major issue but NOT the only issue.

Correct. It was not about slavery, but about states' right to secede so they could keep the right to allow their citizens to own slaves. And Rand Paul is not in favor of discrimination, just in favor of the right of private businesses to discriminate. A fine distinction, but an important one -- unless you are interested in reality.

See J Steel "...Basically, the Civil War was not a choice by the Federal government, but one forced upon it when southern states seceded from the Union. The issue at that time was not even ending slavery. Rather, it was the resistance to extending slavery to new areas that provoked the succession movement. Ending slavery was more an outcome of the war rather than a cause."

Read and try to comprehend what you read.

"Calling a tail a leg, don't make it so", A. Lincoln.

Likewise, saying the American Civil war was only about slavery, "don't make it so."

[Anonymous]

Most wars are about control over limited resources or money and power.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most wars are about control over limited resources or money and power.

All wars are about control and power.