Discussing the Civil War

[shanniereb]

I understand we are talking about a subject where many people still have open and raw feelings, but we are not re-fighting the war we are discussing it. At this time in the history of our country we need to be countrymen even if we don't agree with the politics of the CW or anything else. This board is suppossed to be fun with a few occassional "skirmishes" but not ones that leaves people wounded! The WWII generation WWI, Korean, Vietname generations fought "together" and now we have some brave men and women (even on this board) that are making sacrifices for us. We can do NOTHING about 150 years ago but we can do everything about tommorrow. What will the next generation say about us? Let's set the example on this board and show them that we can get along as fellow countrymen. Even in the Revolution we fought "together" let's celebrate the good on both sides. Gotta run for the weekend soon to see my "pop" in Conway, SC so I will not be that active on the board till Monday, until then let's share each other's burdens and be nice to each other. It goes a long way. If you see an argument you don't want to be involved in just leave it alone. Remember you are not going to change any one's mind arguing. Facts, and if you are wrong say I am sorry and move on, let's learn and grow together as a team!

 

[CSA Today]

Definitely discussed the "War" in the North Carolina and US history courses I taught impressionable young mind for seven years.

If we were wrong in our contest, then the Declaration of Independence of 1776 was a grave mistake and the revolution to which it led was a crime. If Washington was a patriot; Lee cannot have been a rebel.
Wade Hampton

 

[shanniereb]

I guess I see it different because of the Christian school aspect of my upbringing. We never did get into the nitty gritty of the matter because they mainly focused on the Christian parts of history. Basically I was left to make up my own mind.

 

[ForeverFree]

Ok, I am an advocate of Confederate Heritage, and I will define what I am celebrating: My ancestor's courage. I can not for life of me understand why we label 80% something percent of Southernors in with the rest of the slave holders? OK, no baiting or flaming just a question because I realized yesterday that some of our feelings are "raw" on the board and I don't want to start another battle. Anyways back on subject, Their courage in overwhelming odds and numbers, their love of family and state, the same reason I celebrate my patriot ancestry.

I wanted to give you some food for thought, based on this comment which is from another thread.

First, let me say that it's great that you are researching your history, and making a connection to your family's past. But there is a downside to this, when it comes to engaging in discussions about the past.

Simply put, there is a very thin line between between celebrating one's ancestors, and having a partial, non-objective view of the past. At times, the desire to celebrate our ancestors devolves into a desire to "defend" them from perceived instances of "blame" or criticism.

A perfect example: Someone brings up (the fact) that the secessionist leadership, in letters, speeches, secession declarations, etc, made it clear that secession was based on the desire to create a separate, sovereign state where the institution of slavery can be protected and preserved. Almost immediately, the response comes: "Wait a minute... my family fought for the South, and they didn't own slaves!!!"

The thing is, that response is irrelevant to the issue: it's perfectly possible - and it was the case - that the secessionist leadership (which was dominated by planters) did see secession as a means to protect the institution, even as the majority of southerners didn't themselves own slaves. (And we'll ignore the fact that non-slaveowners might have benefitted from slavery in various ways.)

So what we have is, an objective discussion about what secessionist leaders believed becomes an angry screed that someone's ancestors are being "blamed" or "demeaned" or "falsely accused." People who've been on this board for a while know exactly what I mean. And of course, this kind of reaction can from either side of the sectional divide.

I'm just offering this as food for thought. I think it's great that you ask for civility in our discussions. But when people feel that their people/their families are being attacked, passions can boil to the surface. I'm just saying, lots of times, ancestor or heritage celebration is the enemy of detached, dispassionate, and objective conversation. And I'll admit that I can sometimes feel those passions myself.

- Alan

 

[shanniereb]

I wanted to give you some food for thought, based on this comment which is from another thread.

First, let me say that it's great that you are researching your history, and making a connection to your family's past. But there is a downside to this, when it comes to engaging in discussions about the past.

Simply put, there is a very thin line between between celebrating one's ancestors, and having a partial, non-objective view of the past. At times, the desire to celebrate our ancestors devolves into a desire to "defend" them from perceived instances of "blame" or criticism.

A perfect example: Someone brings up (the fact) that the secessionist leadership, in letters, speeches, secession declarations, etc, made it clear that secession was based on the desire to create a separate, sovereign state where the institution of slavery can be protected and preserved. Almost immediately, the response comes: "Wait a minute... my family fought for the South, and they didn't own slaves!!!"

The thing is, that response is irrelevant to the issue: it's perfectly possible - and it was the case - that the secessionist leadership (which was dominated by planters) did see secession as a means to protect the institution, even as the majority of southerners didn't themselves own slaves. (And we'll ignore the fact that non-slaveowners might have benefitted from slavery in various ways.)

So what we have is, an objective discussion about what secessionist leaders believed becomes an angry screed that someone's ancestors are being "blamed" or "demeaned" or "falsely accused." People who've been on this board for a while know exactly what I mean. And of course, this kind of reaction can from either side of the sectional divide.

I'm just offering this as food for thought. I think it's great that you ask for civility in our discussions. But when people feel that their people/their families are being attacked, passions can boil to the surface. I'm just saying, lots of times, ancestor or heritage celebration is the enemy of detached, dispassionate, and objective conversation. And I'll admit that I can sometimes feel those passions myself.

- Alan

I agree to a certain point because I do defend my family often. At the same time I realize that leadership and the common soldier are two sets of people. Slavery did in fact exsist under the Constitution and we could blame the fore fathers for that, but once again it is the common man in the trenches that count.

 

[ForeverFree]

...but once again it is the common man in the trenches that count.

Well, everybody counts... the common man counts, so do Jefferson Davis and Abraham Lincoln... they're all part of the big picture...

- Alan