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Anyone celebrating secession?

Kurt avatar
KurtAdmin
1,739 views
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/30/us/30confed.html

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.

That some ? even now ? are honoring secession, with barely a nod to the role of slavery, underscores how divisive a topic the war remains, with Americans continuing to debate its causes, its meaning and its legacy.

?We in the South, who have been kicked around for an awfully long time and are accused of being racist, we would just like the truth to be known,? said Michael Givens, commander-in-chief of the Sons, explaining the reason for the television ads. While there were many causes of the war, he said, ?our people were only fighting to protect themselves from an invasion and for their independence.?

Not everyone is on board with this program, of course. The N.A.A.C.P., for one, plans to protest some of these events, saying that celebrating secession is tantamount to celebrating slavery.

Replies

43
30ashopper avatar
30ashopperSoWal Insider
#4
Slavery is long gone, thanks for that. Secession however certainly shouldn't be tied to slavery. State autonomy played a critical role in the formation of our country, it's part of the heritage which makes this country so great. I understand it's significance in our first civil war, but I find connecting slavery and autonomy together a bit distasteful. (I'm not surprised however that the liberal left would try to tie them together, they are not fans of enumerated federal powers. It serves their interests.)
Douglas the Intrepid avatar
Douglas the IntrepidBeach Fanatic
#5
Since this thread is specifically about the civil war secession, slavery is indeed a major integral component of this discussion. If you want a political axe to grind, perhaps you should start your own thread on just secession in general...
Kurt avatar
KurtAdminAuthor
#6
Slavery is long gone, thanks for that. Secession however certainly shouldn't be tied to slavery. State autonomy played a critical role in the formation of our country, it's part of the heritage which makes this country so great. I understand it's significance in our first civil war, but I find connecting slavery and autonomy together a bit distasteful. (I'm not surprised however that the liberal left would try to tie them together, they are not fans of enumerated federal powers. It serves their interests.)

I didn't realize this was a partisan issue.
Lake View Too avatar
Lake View TooSoWal Insider
#7
Everything is partisan to the Republicans. The sky is blue only because of a last minute fillibuster by the conservatives. :cool:
Jdarg avatar
JdargSoWal Expert
#8
I didn't realize this was a partisan issue.

And I guarantee that those attending a "secession" celebration are not remotely interested in the real historical detail or fact.;-)

Here is a little story.

I hope these "secession celebrations" aren't anything like a very unpleasant college fraternity weekend that I attended in South Carolina. In 1983, believe it or not after you read this. The fraternity (which I will not name, but many will recognize the event) has an Old South weekend. Complete with hoopskirts (I grudgingly wore one). Next thing I know, I am sitting in a big hotel ballroom for a reenactment of "secession", or at least a bunch of drunk white college boys' version of it. The black employees were asked to leave, and I could not believe my ears as these stupid boys started talking about killing the ________, then wondering who was going to pick the cotton for their all cotton shirts, and so on. It was completely horrifying to see so many low class bigots in one room, and they all told me that it was "their heritage". Bullsheet frat boy- your "heritage" was really white trash dumbass. I walked out, went to the hotel bar, and spent the rest of the weekend dying of embarrassment that anyone would think I was with that group. OMG.

Ever since, my ears perk up when I hear the word secession in a discussion about the South- it always seems to be tied to slavery and race- by the very people who say that slavery has nothing to do with it. :roll:
Here4Good avatar
Here4GoodBeach Fanatic
#9
That fraternity did not officially ban this celebration until this year.
Teresa avatar
TeresaSoWal Guide
#10
celebrating southern history is an ongoing tradition and I say fine, but first we need to truly know and understand our history. Why not celebrate Lincoln along with US States from the North and South - who participated in the struggle to shape our great country.

Slavery is central to secession but I don't believe celebrating southern history necessarily celebrates slavery. I have to believe that most would agree that Lincoln gave his leadership and life to further our freedoms and greatness as a country. The civil war was bloody and necessary. Still, Southern culture and history thrives and people should celebrate it - I just hope they care enough to really understand it.

Frat boys are sometimes extremely drunk and stupid!
Jdarg avatar
JdargSoWal Expert
#11
That fraternity did not officially ban this celebration until this year.

Seriously? Wow.
Here4Good avatar
Here4GoodBeach Fanatic
#12
Seriously, and it took the national organization declaring a ban to get it done.

So, if you think the "Fergit, hell!" crowd are all uneducated rednecks, you're wrong.
LuciferSam avatar
LuciferSamBanned
#13
I never understood celebrating a loss. It would be like the '86 Red Sox celebrating their famous choke vs. the Mets in the World Series.
Bob avatar
BobSoWal Insider
#14
the one thing the south could never claim in that war....a good cause
hkem1Beach Fanatic
#15
I never understood celebrating a loss. It would be like the '86 Red Sox celebrating their famous choke vs. the Mets in the World Series.

Edited

zip3Beach Lover
#16
the one thing the south could never claim in that war....a good cause

The South had hugh plantations and used slaves. They did not know any better. Now we know better. Where are you from Bob? My father was from Boston and the Civil War was just a blip in his education. My father was in Alabama flying in World War 11 and married my mother. He had no idea how much the Civil War changed the South. Now we know and we will not repeat our mistakes.
Bob avatar
BobSoWal Insider
#17
The South had hugh plantations and used slaves. They did not know any better. Now we know better. Where are you from Bob? My father was from Boston and the Civil War was just a blip in his education. My father was in Alabama flying in World War 11 and married my mother. He had no idea how much the Civil War changed the South. Now we know and we will not repeat our mistakes.
My family is from Va./Md. I was born in D.C. The slave owners knew what they were doing. The Civil War is one of many wars that could have been avoided. The South oppressed blacks for about one hundred years after the civil war. Some racist attitudes remain firmly entrenched.
Minnie avatar
MinnieBeach Fanatic
#18
My family is from Va./Md. I was born in D.C. The slave owners knew what they were doing. The Civil War is one of many wars that could have been avoided. The South oppressed blacks for about one hundred years after the civil war. Some racist attitudes remain firmly entrenched.

All you say is true, but not limited to the South. It happened in the North, East and West.

And it affected all races. Not just black, but white, Asian, Hispanic, as does stereotyping.

The South elected two Black congressmen but it took another 100 years before another was elected.

So it was more than the South doing the oppressing.
beachmouse avatar
beachmouseBeach Fanatic
#19
And the backlash against those two early Senators was fierce, leading to some of the worst acts of racial violence the country would see as the Reconstructionist carpetbaggers made their way back north.
Bob avatar
BobSoWal Insider
#20
All you say is true, but not limited to the South. It happened in the North, East and West.

And it affected all races. Not just black, but white, Asian, Hispanic, as does stereotyping.

The South elected two Black congressmen but it took another 100 years before another was elected.

So it was more than the South doing the oppressing.
you are deflecting. what's the reason? poor ole south?

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