"I am not saying that the Civil War was as simple a case as good versus evil. And yes, I know that most of the South who fought the war were largely ordinary who believed that it was their homes and freedom that they were defending, and many of them fought bravely and even heroically."
Actually this isn't true. Every state which seceded stated explicity it was due to the grave offense of black people getting civil rights and made it clear that there were no other real causes. Causes which had been explicitly stated over nearly a decade - which were central to the Lincoln Douglas debates and on and on. The "other reasons" claim only came up after the war when Southern whites were trying to whitewash their cause - and most never provide any proof of these other reasons. The few they do - like whining about taxes - weren't claimed at the time and, again, go back to slavery.
That many of the soldiers didn't own slaves themselves means nothing - the implicit and explicit racism and slavery worship of southern soldiers is documented and in the rare uncensored Civil War songs, the hatred of blacks and pride in slavery exist.
Nazi's fought bravely and heroically as well - they're still Nazis. Slavery was evil, and Southerners fought for that. They were wrong, they lost and the south should feel shame over it.
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Date: 2010-11-30 07:52 pm (UTC)Actually this isn't true. Every state which seceded stated explicity it was due to the grave offense of black people getting civil rights and made it clear that there were no other real causes. Causes which had been explicitly stated over nearly a decade - which were central to the Lincoln Douglas debates and on and on. The "other reasons" claim only came up after the war when Southern whites were trying to whitewash their cause - and most never provide any proof of these other reasons. The few they do - like whining about taxes - weren't claimed at the time and, again, go back to slavery.
That many of the soldiers didn't own slaves themselves means nothing - the implicit and explicit racism and slavery worship of southern soldiers is documented and in the rare uncensored Civil War songs, the hatred of blacks and pride in slavery exist.
Nazi's fought bravely and heroically as well - they're still Nazis. Slavery was evil, and Southerners fought for that. They were wrong, they lost and the south should feel shame over it.