History is politics, politics is history

[capri0mni]

This being The South, aka "The Land of Dixie," American Civil War (erm, excuse me, that's not the proper term, down here -- the War Between the States) is still a big deal around here.

Apologists for the Confederate view of history often say that the war wasn't really over the issue of slavery, but over the issue of States' Rights, and differing interpretations of the Constitution. That is certainly true, to an extent; Abraham Lincoln didn't give the Emancipation Proclaimation until after the war was well underway (when the Union Army could use more soldiers, and a boost in morale).

But if that were the whole truth, then why, in the recent TV news report about Suffolk's mayor deciding not to declare April "Confederate History Month," several (white) People-on-the-Street were giving the opinion that we need Confederate History Month to "balance out" Black History Month?

Huh? Huh? Tell me that, why doncha?

If the Confederacy was really formed over the issue of States' Rights vs. Federal Government, and slavery was just a late addition, and periferal, than wouldn't the Southern Confederate Veterans Conference (held the 22-23 of April) be a balance to the Fourth of July, instead?

Regardless of what your textbooks and atlases may say, I have become thoroughly convinced that the states south of the Mason-Dixon line really do form a different country than the states north of it.

Comments

[ianmcin.livejournal.com]

In Lies My Teacher Told Me, the author makes the point that the whole "states' rights" rationale for the Civil War is a pretty flimsy justification. The states that would eventually secede from the Union were perfectly in favor of a strong Federal government... right up until the point when it became clear that the Federal government would be coming down on the side of the abolitionists. (And here, he cites a Supreme Court case at the time, even if I've forgotten it.)

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know it's flimsy.

I've always suspected it was flimsy, as a youth, receiving my Liberal, Yankee, education in New York.

But, after living in the midst of this Confederate-based culture for several years, I am shaking my head in disbelief at how people can, repeatedly, say the war was all about States' Rights, and in their next bresth, complain about Blacks and Affirmative Action with a completely straight faces. And these people are quoted on the TV news, and in newspapers, and even local PBS historical documentaries, without once being challenged.

It's like some sort of historical psychosis.

It's one reason why I've pretty much given up hope of ever being really connected to the local community, or forming strong ties here; I'd have to become slightly psychotic, myself, to even come close.

[leenah.livejournal.com]

i started a US history class at W&M when i first got there, and promptly dropped it.

the professor preferred the term "the war of northern aggression".

ok, i can understand 'war between the states' rather than 'civil war'. at this remove from it, yeah, big fat deal, but if you're being really picky over it, sure, you can argue about the meaning attached to 'civil war' and how it might not apply.

but war of northern aggression? that's just being perverse.

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

Yeah. And now, the people who really wish the Confederates had won are in control of the federal government.

Sings:

[leenah.livejournal.com]

honestly, if the confederates had won and been able to make their world in their image, the south would not have been in a position to be winning much of anything, except maybe 'best crops award'. agricultural countries just don't cut it in the world - they're generally *third world* countries. no history of tech, no history of progress in the modern sense.

stupid idjits. sometimes i really would like for the blue states to take their marbles and leave the south to fend for itself. i know, that would be wrong, but it SOUNDS appealing.

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

Heh. I was just thinking of all the positive things and experiences I've been exposed to since I came here, and they're all FOODIE things: Pulled pork sandwhiches, BBQ fish right from the ocean, red velvet cake, sweet potatos, fresh figs right off the tree (So much better than dried)*.... and the climate's nice.

If I could just stock up on local cookbooks and teleport this house to a blue neighborhood, I would be a happy bunny.

*I admit it: I'm a carnivore with a sweet tooth.

[leenah.livejournal.com]

crab boil. fresh whole crabs, get some pepper vinegar and beer and NAPKINS, wear old clothes, and go to. YUMMM.

and peaches. lived next to peach orchards for a year when we lived near gloucester (VA). OMG. such marvelous peaches.

sheesh. i'm getting out of the office now. i'm hungry.

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

One year, my dad noticed a peach tree growing in our back yard, with ripe fruit -- he hadn't planted it. We figure it must have sprouted from a discarded peach pit after a family picnic. He decided to let it grow wild, and not prune it, so the peaches will eventually be out of reach for human harvesting, and only available for the birds.

But that one year? A taste of Heaven!

And what are you doing still in the office after 6 pm? No wonder you're hungry!

[scarfman]

"But, dear, every month is White Supremacist Month."

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

COL (chuckle out loud)...

There are quote marks around that line. What's it from?

[scarfman]

Nothing. It's a paraphrasure of a Peanuts cartoon.