Congress has never adopted an official name for the war. The Confederate government referred in official documents to the "War between the Confederate States of America and the United States of America." Southerners generally refer to it as "The Wahr". It's never mentioned that: Slavery existed under the Confederate Flag for 4 years (1861-1865). Slavery existed under the US flag for 89 years (1776-1865). Slavery existed under the French flag in North America for 93 years (1710-1803). Slavery existed under the British flag in North America for 163 years (1619-1781). Slavery existed under the Spanish flag in North America for 370 years (1516-1886) So why is the Confederate flag being singled out as a symbol of slavery?
Well, I would say that those flags never flew over a war that has been defined(mistakenly) as being about slavery. Slavery certainly played a role, but was hardly the motivating factor behind any soldier that fought in that war. Most people are too lazy to do anything except take what is spoon fed and therefor the perception exists today. More telling is that Lincoln was resistant to signing the Emancipation Proclamation and it did not go into effect until 1863, if I remember correctly. Fairly certain we had been killing each other for a few years before that. Lincoln was quite clear that his only intent for the war was preservation of the union. Slavery was a political concession and an afterthought. As it turned out, it was a morally correct one, but it was certainly not what the war was about. But we are a country of people that need simple headlines, and to be able to point the finger at one person/party/segment of society. Anything else requires thought and time, and that is in short supply in today's society of mtv, microwave popcorn, minute rice, cell phones, etc. Geez, I have turned into my father...
More than anything the flag is so despised because it has been adopted by the Klan and other white power hate groups. The question you should ask is why are the American flag, and cross, not equally identified with the Klan as they are equally used.
I don't really care if people think the south is full of ignorant racists. They also think everyone in Louisiana is from New Orleans and ride alligators to school. All people are prejudiced. Pretty funny in light of that other coach's comments.
In January of 1985, I was 16 years old and in the middle of my Jr. year. We moved from Baton Rouge to Long Island, NY as my Dad changed jobs. When I went to school, the teachers were afraid that I'd be "behind" all of the other kids (I had been going to Scotlandville Magnet, in the engineering program), I actually had kids ask me if Louisiana was like "The Dukes of Hazzard" (no joke), and would people shoot at them if they drove down here with New York plates. Of course I was asked why we were so racist, which I thought was ironic, considering the school I went to up there had over 2000 students, and maybe 10 of them were black. Talk about ignorant. :nope:
I had the same response when I moved to Ohio. I was actually ahead of the class and got bombarded with the same question and labeled a racist by default from being from Louisiana...even though I was best friends with the only black kid at school.
I had about forgotten this but this thread brought back memories from my high school history. (yeah, I know, Moses and I sat next to each other.) As I remember it, congress was having a hugh debate over allowing the slaves to cast a vote. There were two plans before congress. One was called the "New Jersey" plan and the other was the "Virginia" plan, if I remember correctly. One plan called to allow one vote for every three slaves. The other called for one vote for every five slaves. The southerners wanted one vote for "each" slave. Were they trying to be fair to these slaves. NO!!! The southern slave owners knew they could control how the slaves voted and thus would have more political clout. Finally, the South and North went to battle. At first, the South was doing real well. It was said that they had the best officers and the southern armies seemed more willing to fight. The Rebs felt like they had a cause. With the Yanks doing poorly, Mr. Lincoln made a decision which turned out brilliant. IMO He introduced the "moral" aspects of slavery. The Yanks seemed to rally with this moral cause.
First of all, let me say that although I'm born and bred a Southerner, I regard Abraham Lincoln as the only true genius ever to have served as President. He was very adept at focusing upon a goal and reaching that goal by whatever means necessary. (He also had little use for politicians in general. Of one Washington politico he said "The only thing he wouldn't steal is a hot stove.") Mr. Lincoln wrote: "My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union (Letter to Horace Greeley, August 22, 1862)." This Lincoln quote demonstrates his determination to SAVE THE UNION. All other benefits were secondary. From this statement, I wouldn't say he was positioning himself on the moral high-ground. ldskule:ldskule:
