ATLANTA — The Civil War, the most wrenching and bloody episode in American history, may not seem like much of a cause for celebration, especially in the South.
And yet, as the 150th anniversary of the four-year conflict gets under way, some groups in the old Confederacy are planning at least a certain amount of hoopla, chiefly around the glory days of secession, when 11 states declared their sovereignty under a banner of states’ rights and broke from the union.
The events include a “secession ball” in the former slave port of Charleston (“a joyous night of music, dancing, food and drink,” says the invitation), which will be replicated on a smaller scale in other cities. - NYT: South celebrates Civil War, without slaves - U.S. news - The New York Times - msnbc.com
I don't think it's a big deal but, how can you "celebrate" the "Civil War" without mentioning one of it's main causes?
I find it peculiar to celebrate a war, period. Very strange.
Let's have a celebration to mark the start of WWII. Makes as much sense.
Honor the fallen? That I can understand. Commemorate the South's attempt at sovereignty? I can understand that. But celebrate the Civil War? How weird.
I think they are celebrating (or at least they say) the actual secession of the 11 states. Like it is more about states rights.
Like I said how can you celebrate secession during the civil war with know mention of one of it's main causes.
I think they are celebrating (or at least they say) the actual secession of the 11 states. Like it is more about states rights.
Like I said how can you celebrate secession during the civil war with know mention of one of it's main causes.
Pretty simple.
Its the same way we celebrate the independence of our country without mentioning the wholesale slaughter and near genocide of the natives in this land.
When you look back to study and learn from history you acknowledge and take to heart the mistakes history had. However, when you look back to celebrate history you focus on the good and worth while. History teaches us many things...both mistakes and virtues...and there's no reason that in every look back at history one must focus on all issues of it.
Don't agree. We celebrate our Independence from England. The native Americans were also not a cause of the rebellion.
It would be like the Germans celebrating the rise of Hitler, without recognizing the Holocaust.
If you do not focus on the bad parts as well, you will be doomed to repeat it.
I think this is sending the wrong message.
If you do not focus on the bad parts as well, you will be doomed to repeat it.
I think this is sending the wrong message.
ATLANTA — The Civil War, the most wrenching and bloody episode in American history, may not seem like much of a cause for celebration, especially in the South.
And yet, as the 150th anniversary of the four-year conflict gets under way, some groups in the old Confederacy are planning at least a certain amount of hoopla, chiefly around the glory days of secession, when 11 states declared their sovereignty under a banner of states’ rights and broke from the union.
The events include a “secession ball” in the former slave port of Charleston (“a joyous night of music, dancing, food and drink,” says the invitation), which will be replicated on a smaller scale in other cities. - NYT: South celebrates Civil War, without slaves - U.S. news - The New York Times - msnbc.com
I don't think it's a big deal but, how can you "celebrate" the "Civil War" without mentioning one of it's main causes?
Pretty simple.
Its the same way we celebrate the independence of our country without mentioning the wholesale slaughter and near genocide of the natives in this land.
When you look back to study and learn from history you acknowledge and take to heart the mistakes history had. However, when you look back to celebrate history you focus on the good and worth while. History teaches us many things...both mistakes and virtues...and there's no reason that in every look back at history one must focus on all issues of it.
I find it peculiar to celebrate a war, period. Very strange.
Let's have a celebration to mark the start of WWII. Makes as much sense.
Honor the fallen? That I can understand. Commemorate the South's attempt at sovereignty? I can understand that. But celebrate the Civil War? How weird.
i DO think it's a big deal, it disgusts me that people celebrate the attempted destruction of our union, at the same time ignoring one of the causes for the war.
We celebrate the founding of our country, a founding that could not have happened if we had not slaughtered and displaced the native people.
Godwin'ed in 8 posts. Woot.
So we're doomed to wipe out indiginous people because we don't continually focus on our treatment of the indians anytime we talk about history?
You act as if talk of Slavery never takes place in the south. It does. I grew up in the south, I remember routinely hearing about the horrors of slavery, how bad it was, how wrong it was, etc. Its not like its just not present. However, everytime you look back on history you do not have to focus on the bad at all times.
When we celebrate or talk about American History we don't focus on the fact the country as a whole was made on the back of slaves. We don't focus on our slaughter and displacement of native Americans. We don't focus on our internment of Japanese, Italian, and German people when talking about and celebrating our victory or our soldiers of WWII. And on and on. Simply because we don't focus on those things EVERY TIME we talk about or celebrate a facet of history that took place around them doesn't mean those things aren't brought up, taught, or learned from.
To be honest, the purpose of the message isn't meant for you and I dare say that many of those celebrating it don't really care what message you're getting from it based on your own biases and preconceptions of what those people think or feel. I'm pretty sure their celebration is meant in large part of those that are doing the celebrating, and for them the message is pretty clear.
Living in the south my whole life I know many southerners who feel they have "southern pride" or embody what it is to be a "southerner". I can't say I've ever met one that has stated they thought slavery was great, that they want to bring slavery back, or that slavery was perfectly okay.
The only people who seem to be getting that "message" from those type of people seem to be the ones who want to find "code words" or act as mind readers so as to tell those people what they're REALLY saying or what they're REALLY meaning.
Not sure it's "sending the wrong message". The celebration isn't so much over the Civil War itself; but the actual secession from the union itself. In general, it's not a bad thing. There is plenty of history which cannot be ignored, but at the same time we can't really apply the conditions of the Civil War to the current celebration which attempts to exalt State "rights". Slavery was a large reason as to why we fought the Civil War, but it's a dead institituion now and these people are not celebrating slavery or making some movement to reinstall it. Rather, they are celebrating the fact that 11 States broke off from the Union and essentially making the claim that secession is still valid.
You make it sound like racism in the South is just something people are imagining.
Doesn't matter what the cause is. I think people are being real stupid on this "OMG they didn't mention slavery!" kick. It's deflect and uninspired tripe. The cause for secession can be anything, including abusive power and force used against the States by the federal government. The point being, secession is valid for States wishing to exit the Union when the Union no longer serves a positive function to the State. Of course it will cause a war, you go into it knowing that. The federal government is charged with preserving the Republic. But secession is still a valid tool to be used by the States should it ever become necessary. In my mind, these celebrations are a reminder of that. Of our duty to the Republic, to our freedom; and the necessity for resolve towards our principles.
And really we get to the heart of it. Evil horrible racists hate the black people. Shocking, I couldn't have guessed that was really at the heart of the complaint and it was all based on stereotyping people.
But it's not valid and they did it for the wrong reasons. The first thing they did with the new Constitution after the formation of the confederacy was make it so slavery could not be removed. Yea for states rights.
They had the right to secede, it was certainly valid. The Federal government has interest in keeping the Republic together, so they fought and the North won. That's that. I don't see this new demonstration as anything to do with slavery. I think it's a stupid connection to make. Just because one mentions the Civil War doesn't mean they are talking about or to slavery. The demonstration is more along the lines of secession and the ability of States to engage in it when they no longer feel that the Republic is good for them.
They had the right to secede, it was certainly valid. The Federal government has interest in keeping the Republic together, so they fought and the North won. That's that. I don't see this new demonstration as anything to do with slavery. I think it's a stupid connection to make. Just because one mentions the Civil War doesn't mean they are talking about or to slavery. The demonstration is more along the lines of secession and the ability of States to engage in it when they no longer feel that the Republic is good for them.
According to the Supreme court they did not. So I don't know how "valid" that would be.
They are celebrating an illegal act that at it's heart was racist.
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