Confederate History Month in Virginia???

[Cyrano]

Today's "Washington Post" reports that the Governor of Virginia has declared this Confederate History Month. Civil rights leaders are outraged about it, as should be every decent human being.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/06/AR2010040604416.html?hpid=topnews&sid=ST2010040604979

Is there also going to be a cotton picking contest, a faux flogging and a faux lynching?

When is the South going to stop this crap once and for all?

I know there are many decent people living in what was once the Confederacy. There must be some way to protest this disgusting insult to basic human decency.

[CTLawGuy]

1. it's pathetic

where is the Republican party denouncing this blatant anti-American action?

[JHB]

2. It'd be a great idea...if they kept to the Confeds' actual history...

"Here we are before the war, when we didn't have any qualms about federal power overruling state laws -- as long as it was enforcing Fugitive Slave Laws on northern states..."

"Here's where our gasbag politicians kept rebreathing their own hot air about Lincoln, to the point where reality was irrelevant compared to their scare'em stories, and declared him a damnable tyrant long before he arrived in Washington to take office and actually do anything...."

"Here's our cities lying in ruins because listening to our own hot air and delusions of granduer were more important than dealing with reality...."

[timtom]

3. Thanks for educating me.

I was prepared to argue that the Confederacy wasn't just about slavery, but about states' rights, as well. I hadn't considered your first point. After reading it, I quickly abandoned that lame argument. Sometimes I'm denser than I give myself credit for being.

[JHB]

6. Glad to be of service

Don't berate yourself as "dense" for not seeing that point earlier -- it's not really part of the 'standard arguments'.

Not surprising: the balance of federal and state powers remain issues to this day, but who thinks of fugitive slave laws anymore?

Then as now, people (especially politicians) can conveniently ignore their talking points or supposed ideology if it's to their advantage. Just because "state's rights" was the nobler-sounding rallying cry and martyr's mantle doesn't mean it was holy writ in practice.

And it's nice to know that every once in a while, I do manage to persuade someone, so thanks back. :toast:

[FarLeftFist]

13. Hmmmm, I wonder if the Japanese celebrate V-J Day. n/t

[annabanana]

4. Nothing succeeds like total, crushing, humiliating defeat, I guess.

:shrug:

[Cyrano]

7. Yeah, the South was defeated. But humiliated???

Slavery was humiliating which is not nearly a strong enough word.

[Are_grits_groceries]

5. McDonnell and Cuccinelli seem intent on

turning back progress in any area they can. The voters of VA ignored the warning signs that were found in McDonnell's early leanings.

There doesn't need to be a day much less a month devoted to "Confederate History." It is designed to appeal to the people who never let go of the war and to arouse those who may have been silently turning it loose.

"Confederate History" is here 24/7. When Mcdonnell and his ilk make such proclamations they bring it back to the forefront loudly. It is an invitation to discuss it as a noble cause and not a horrible tragedy.
It was brought about by arrogant men like him who couldn't let go of slavery. They appeal to the worst parts of our nature.

He is an effing disgrace just like some people in my state. McDonnell will stir the pot no matter what witches' brew he unleashes.

[mitchum]

8. "We're number 2! We're number 2!"

[Brewman_Jax]

9. More losers' resentment

They've always resented the fact that the people they went to war to keep enslaved not only have rights, but also have a commemorative month--and they don't.

[stray cat]

10. Lets not condemn knowing history - it depends on how its handled

[Are_grits_groceries]

11. Please.

It will be an excuse for the fools who won't forget to rally for a whole month. It does need to be remembered, but not celebrated. I don't want to keep it up front and in people's faces.

Every year people will see that on the calendar. Off we go again!

[Cyrano]

12. Knowing history and celebrating it are two diffent things.

Exactly what is there to celebrate about slavery, and more than 600,000 people dying in the Civil War?

This governor is playing to the Republican base. He's playing to every bigot, know-nothing, and imbecile that still won't let go of the "States Rights" crap. And this makes him a miserable human being who is whipping up hatred and bigotry.

[unapatriciated]

14. +1

from someone living in the south who cringes every time I pass my neighbor's confederate flag proudly displayed in their front lawn.

It's a symbol of hate to me.