Celebrating Secession Without the Slaves

[groovedaddy]

ATLANTA — The Civil War, the most wrenching and bloody episode in American history, may not seem like much of a cause for celebration, especially in the South.

And yet, as the 150th anniversary of the four-year conflict gets under way, some groups in the old Confederacy are planning at least a certain amount of hoopla, chiefly around the glory days of secession, when 11 states declared their sovereignty under a banner of states’ rights and broke from the union.

The events include a “secession ball” in the former slave port of Charleston (“a joyous night of music, dancing, food and drink,” says the invitation), which will be replicated on a smaller scale in other cities. A parade is being planned in Montgomery, Ala., along with a mock swearing-in of Jefferson Davis as president of the Confederacy.

In addition, the Sons of Confederate Veterans and some of its local chapters are preparing various television commercials that they hope to show next year. “All we wanted was to be left alone to govern ourselves,” says one ad from the group’s Georgia Division.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/30/us/30confed.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=a23

[Ozymanithrax]

1. In the U.S.A., even the descendants of treasonous bastards have something to celebrate. n/t

[The Wizard]

2. It's about time we left them alone

to stew in their own juices and end reconstruction.
Secede and leave us alone. We're tired of supporting their lazy bigoted asses.

[mudplanet]

3. Time for another "Burn the Confederate Flag Day."

[DavidDvorkin]

4. I remember the 100th anniversary

Before 1961, a lot of people were expecting lots of events, nationwide, in commemoration. It was expected to be really big. As I remember, it was a bit of a bust. The average citizen didn't care much about it.

It's ironic that now, with the war that much further back in history, certain segments of the population are preparing to make a much bigger fuss about it.

Or maybe it's not ironic but telling.