How Should the Confederacy be Remembered?

[Andersonh1]

Why would a fellow who rents his small apartment and rides public transportation die for a country based on the ideology of capitalism? He has a material interest in capitalism. From birth he has been taught the good of capitalism. He hopes capitalism will be the tool for him to get rich, marry well and provide for his children. He has been taught capitalism is good. His preacher preaches on the wonders of capitalism. His leaders extol the wonders of capitalism. His newspapers and media have stories and opinions on the good of capitalism. Only outcasts criticize capitalism. His way of live is tantamount with capitalism ideology.

Substitute 1860 for the date and slave labor ideology for capitalism and that is how a common Southerner sees slave labor ideology.

Find me any soldier who goes out and dies for capitalism. This is absurd. People risk and give their life for abstract and concrete things: home, family, country, principals, freedom. They don't do it for an economic system. And neither did the Confederate soldier.

 

[Copperhead-mi]

Where did the North's money come from though?

A guess only, but on the eve of the Civil War and probably during a good portion of the war, I would say from grain and corn exports to Europe rather than manufactured goods.

 

[jgoodguy]

Find me any soldier who goes out and dies for capitalism. This is absurd. People risk and give their life for abstract and concrete things: home, family, country, principals, freedom. They don't do it for an economic system. And neither did the Confederate soldier.

That is one confusing statement. "abstract and concrete things: home, family, country, principals, freedom" are based on the economic system they live under.

 

[libraryguy]

Most Southerners were not slaveholders, thus its impossible to say the Confederacy was all about slavery.

The Confederacy should be remembered as a group that tried a build a nation based on its unique circumstances.

These were honorable men fighting for what they believed in, fighting for their homes and family.

This is a point that seems to be lost or berated here, particularly from the moderators. If you look at the letters and diaries of the common soldier in the CSA you would be hard pressed to see lines like "Well dear wife, here I am fighting to keep slavery alive".

 

[Andersonh1]

That is one confusing statement. "abstract and concrete things: home, family, country, principals, freedom" are based on the economic system they live under.

"Why are you signing up for the army, son?"
"I'm going to fight and die for capitalism, mom!"

Libraryguy beat me to it. Look how many of the letters and diaries of Confederates talk about home and family, or patriotism and country. Comments about the economic system of the South do exist, but are far less discussed.

 

[gary]

Neil put it best. American History.

 

[jgoodguy]

"Why are you signing up for the army, son?"
"I'm going to fight and die for capitalism, mom!"

Libraryguy beat me to it. Look how many of the letters and diaries of Confederates talk about home and family, or patriotism and country. Comments about the economic system of the South do exist, but are far less discussed.

Are you suggesting that if slaves were a dime a dozen, patriotic Southern Boys would be dying happily and gloriously in horrifying ways and numbers because the Yankees dared to elect a Republican?

 

[jgoodguy]

This is a point that seems to be lost or berated here, particularly from the moderators. If you look at the letters and diaries of the common soldier in the CSA you would be hard pressed to see lines like "Well dear wife, here I am fighting to keep slavery alive".

I know a thread is at the end of its shelf life when a Yankee advocates invokes a certain economic ideology of the mid 20th century and/or the Southern advocates play pin the blame on the moderator for their rhetorical and philosophical failures.

 

[Copperhead-mi]

This is a point that seems to be lost or berated here, particularly from the moderators. If you look at the letters and diaries of the common soldier in the CSA you would be hard pressed to see lines like "Well dear wife, here I am fighting to keep slavery alive".

No, this is a point that seems lost on many people that have never served their country. Regardless of the personal reason why Johnny signed up, as a member of the military his reason for fighting is to further the goals of his country's government.

 

[kevikens]

Probably something like adolescence. Happenings of much promise, foolish decisions, fond selective memories, broken hearts and darn glad to have moved on.

 

[jgoodguy]

No, this is a point that seems lost on many people that have never served their country. Regardless of the personal reason why Johnny signed up, as a member of the military his reason for fighting is to further the goals of his country's government.

Which is led by leaders with a particular economic ideology.

 

[jgoodguy]

Probably something like adolescence. Happenings of much promise, foolish decisions, fond selective memories, broken hearts and darn glad to have moved on.

And in the day to get out from the business end of a mule plowing daddy's field and see the world.

 

[CSA Today]

Are you suggesting that if slaves were a dime a dozen, patriotic Southern Boys would be dying happily and gloriously in horrifying ways and numbers because the Yankees dared to elect a Republican?

You do have wonder though, after all in some the more recent wars patriotic boys signed up to die for the oil industry.

 

[kevikens]

You do have wonder though, after all in some the more recent wars patriotic boys signed up to die for the oil industry.

I must respectfully disagree with that. Perhaps you meant to word it differently. The ones I know signed up because they concluded that this country was in dire danger of terrible attacks on her people and that it was necessary to put on the uniform for the same reason Americans have done so in the past from Bunker Hill to 9/11. If some industry or business benefitted from that military activity it was incidental to their enlistment, not the reason for their service.

 

[libraryguy]

I know a thread is at the end of its shelf life when a Yankee advocates invokes a certain economic ideology of the mid 20th century and/or the Southern advocates play pin the blame on the moderator for their rhetorical and philosophical failures.

Translation "How dare you disagree with my philosophical stance". I do. A lot of us do. Get over it. That does not make us "pro-slavery" or anything like that.

 

[CSA Today]

I must respectfully disagree with that. Perhaps you meant to word it differently. The ones I know signed up because they concluded that this country was in dire danger of terrible attacks on her people and that it was necessary to put on the uniform for the same reason Americans have done so in the past from Bunker Hill to 9/11. If some industry or business benefitted from that military activity it was incidental to their enlistment, not the reason for their service.

I was being facetious to another poster. I agree with you that most sign up because of attacks or threats against their people.

 

[Andersonh1]

You do have wonder though, after all in some the more recent wars patriotic boys signed up to die for the oil industry.

Of course they did. Why else would they die except for oil?

It makes the point. I agree with kevikens, and I think that to the extent that the Confederate soldiers' service benefited the slaveowner, it was incidental to the reasons that soldier signed up to fight. Slavery wasn't what motivated him.

Many of us remember the Confederate soldier with a lot of admiration, and there is a lot to admire about those men. Their part in sustaining the fight for independence was pretty sacrificial, whereas the slaveowners that some like make the face of the Confederacy didn't always sacrifice a lot. Congress sat around and ate peanuts while the army was starving, to paraphrase Robert E. Lee. I guess remembering the Confederacy depends on where you want to focus as much as anything else.

 

[kevikens]

I was being facetious to another poster. I agree with you that most sign up because of attacks or threats against their people.

Thanks for better explaining that. I hope my response was not too harsh.

 

[CSA Today]

Thanks for better explaining that. I hope my response was not too harsh.

You're fine, it's all part of the fun,

 

[libraryguy]

That was great, Andersonh1.