"You must study to be frank with the world:
frankness is the child of honesty and courage.
Say just what you mean to do on every occasion,
and take it for granted that you mean to do right."
Are Virginians celebrating Nat Turner's Rebellion this month in their great state? Nat Turner's Rebellion was a Slave Rebellion-August 1831 in Southampton County Virginia that left 60 white people dead; the rebellion lasted just a few days-the rebels were easily defeated. Would it be appropriate to celebrate a rebellion that ended with 60 deaths? How many deaths does it take to make an official History month in Virginia 2010? Perhaps 6,947? This-the number of soldiers who Died in during the Civil War from battle wounds or disease from Virginia.* Just Imagine the outrage if this month was Nat Turner's Rebellion History Month, Would there be outrage? This month in Virginia is Confederate History Month (read this)The toll the Civil War took on the people of Virginia was great. The history of the state's role in the war is apparent to all Virginians. Why an official Confederate History Month?
"What a cruel thing is war:
to separate and destroy families and friends,
and mar the purest joys and happiness God has granted us in this world;
to fill our hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors,
and to devastate the fair face of this beautiful world."
The absence of acknowledging Slavery as a chief cause of the Civil War-still with out greatest casualties of war as a nation. The 2010 Virginia Proclamation made by Republican Governor Bobby McDonnell said he did not include a reference to slavery because "there were any number of aspects to that conflict between the states. Obviously, it involved slavery. It involved other issues. But I focused on the ones I thought were most significant for Virginia." To deny the obvious- to glorify the war in the way this governor has done-sets the great state back-about 50 years. This is the first time in about 10 years the state has marked the war in a way to promote tourism.the State's slogan was once VIRGINIA is for LOVERS. McDonnell issued an apology the next day here
"So far from engaging in a war to perpetuate slavery,
I am rejoiced that Slavery is abolished.
I believe it will be greatly for the interest of the South.
So fully am I satisfied of this that I would have cheerfully lost all that I have lost by the war, and have suffered all that I have suffered to have this object attained."
As a proud child of the South and the 60's, I find romanticizing the devastation of the Civil War to the South and its loss of life futile. Many of the generals on both sides had studied at West Point-Lee was offered the command of the union forces. His devotion to Virginia and his family outweighed acceptance and Lee returned to Virginia to his fate.
My ancestors in North Carolina fought in the Civil War- they were Southerners. My ancestors from Maryland-fought for the union -and brother fought against brother-where is the glory?
more:
*In North Carolina over 20,000 casualties of war.
The Civil War here.
quotations are from Robert E Lee, Virginian, General of all the Confederate forces.
image is of a slave block (from wikipedia)
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