What If.... The Trial Of Jefferson Davis

[cw1865]

So, in no way do you see any sense that post war was a time for reconciliation?

[Beowulf]

Originally Posted by cw1865

So, in no way do you see any sense that post war was a time for reconciliation?

A Contest of Arms in no way resolved anything...

How can we be reconciled when we have yet to address the problem, in the first instance.

Forgiveness wants a change of heart, or it cannot forgive. One of the myths of forgiveness is that it is required to be shown to the unrepentant. It is not. Christ on the cross did so, because they knew not what they did.... There was an innocence to their crime which
warranted forgiving...

This is not the case, here.

reconcile |ˈrekənˌsīl|
verb [ trans. ] (often be reconciled)
restore friendly relations between : she wanted to be reconciled with her father | the news reconciled us.
• cause to coexist in harmony; make or show to be compatible : a landscape in which inner and outer vision were reconciled | you may have to adjust your ideal to reconcile it with reality.
• make (one account) consistent with another, esp. by allowing for transactions begun but not yet completed : it is not necessary to reconcile the cost accounts to the financial accounts.
• settle (a disagreement) : advice on how to reconcile the conflict.
• ( reconcile someone to) make someone accept (a disagreeable or unwelcome thing) : he could not reconcile himself to the thought of his mother stocking shelves | he was reconciled to leaving.
DERIVATIVES

So, Reconciliation would include accepting the Southerners as fellow countrymen, which was disallowed by the radicals in congress...

They did not want reconciliation; they wanted to think CONQUERED, as Thaddeus Stevens wanted done...

How could one be reconciled with that, unless one is self-destructive to his own ends?

Today, it will require accepting the flag, accepting the Southern notions of voluntary union versus forced, and
it will require accepting the South as equals.

It will require believing that Davis was speaking his true mind, and not some apologist's doctrine for redemption.

It will be up to the North, if we ever reconcile. Winners always decide such things.

I think Grant wanted to reconcile, but he had paid too high a price with his own people, and in the way he had conducted the war against the South, such was not possible without a formal action, which has never happened. A great speech by Grant, full of remorse for all the lives lost, would have worked wonders. Perhaps.

But none was forthcoming.

To this day, there has never been a Reconciliation Day celebrated among all the states...

So, when do we reconcile?

And how?

The same political demagogues of disunion, as Davis called them, are still in power, today.

The last thing they want is the 'sides' of their own struggle reconciled!

Beowulf

[OpnDownfall]

So you see CW 1865, reconcillation is possible ONLY if you agree that the CW was a political plot to destroy the south And take their 'property' You must also admit the war was the fault of the North and the south was an innocent victim of this cruel plot.
As for me, I accept Beowulf's argument that there can be no reconciliation; but that is all right because I also will not reconcile with the half-baked theories and opinons of Beowulf.
It is a test of Beowulf's intelligence, if not his knowledge of the CW, that he believes the Union has Any reason to recant and (and turning history upside-down) admit that the south was right in every instance concerning the CW, including slavery. Common intelligence and any sense of humanity would argue against a reconciliation, on such terms as Beowulf considers necessary.

[cw1865]

Originally Posted by Beowulf

How can we be reconciled when we have yet to address the problem, in the first instance.

I am sorry, but seriously, the war is over.

The overwhelming majority of citizens, myself included, have no ancestors that even fought in the war. Most of the country stems from immigrants that came well after....

[timewalker]

Originally Posted by cw1865

I am sorry, but seriously, the war is over.

The overwhelming majority of citizens, myself included, have no ancestors that even fought in the war. Most of the country stems from immigrants that came well after....

Or, like my son, have numerous ancestors who fought on both sides. My ancestors fought for the Union, my wife's for the Confederacy. Despite this, Samuel has decided he's a Union man (I think because he feels an affinity for "Sam" Grant - hey, he's seven).

[trice]

Originally Posted by cw1865

I am sorry, but seriously, the war is over.

The overwhelming majority of citizens, myself included, have no ancestors that even fought in the war. Most of the country stems from immigrants that came well after....

Count me in this group. None of my great-grandparents ever saw this country. The same for my wife.

Tim