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The Spectacle Blog
I hadn’t gotten around to commenting on Bob McDonnell’s controversial proclamation on Confederate History Month, but wanted to draw attention to Mary Katherine Ham’s piece, which pretty much summarizes the frustration I feel about the episode. And I agree that the best way to handle the situation would have been to proclaim Civil War History month, which recognizes the importance of remembering the period as well as the significance of slavery.
Crusader| 4.13.10 @ 5:40PM
Another example of "conservatives" jumping on ANY perceived misstep by a republican. Man, let's eat our own why don't we while Obama and the Progressives destroy our country. Let's berate our own for "omitting slavery" (boo hoo) while Obama and the Progressives are passing Healthcare Reform and Cap and Trade and signing our National Security away and bowing to muslims and Communist Chinese etc etc etc.
Stupid stupid stupid.
Who CARES if he omitted slavery? The War Between the States was NEVER about slavery. Lincoln made it about slavery in 1863 when he was losing the war and losing public support for it in the Union.
It boggles my mind that supposed conservatives are behind all these 10A reclamations going on but still idolize the man who shat on the 10A more than any other president.
Anyway, as a Virginian I say take your whining and go back to the North, crybaby Yankees.
lol| 4.13.10 @ 6:49PM
its not the yankees that are still crying about the civil war....lmao
Crusader| 4.13.10 @ 6:54PM
I know pansy. You queers are crying b/c my governor didn't mention slavery during Confederate History Month. Boo hoo. Confederate History isn't about slavery, but pansy northerners like you think it is.
Its amazing, "conservatives" decry the publik skrewls and how they dumb down the students~~~except when it comes to US history 1860 - 1877. I guess that's the only part they get right?
Thomas Jackson| 4.13.10 @ 8:54PM
Funny it seems to be mud suckers who object to a Confederate History month. I don't know who they might be but they aren't likely to community organizers or folks that voted for him.
kingsmill| 4.13.10 @ 6:46PM
Pat Buchanan's column on this issue was excellent. Klein needs a spine transplant.
John - TMF| 4.13.10 @ 6:56PM
The American Civil War's underlying, proximate, and trigger cause was the practice of the ownership and maintenance of chattel slavery, and its expansion into the territories and even into states that were prior to the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Dred Scott decision which, in effect rendered all states Slave States.
Period.
For a final note before the explosion, one need only read the Resolutions of Secession of the rebelling Slave States to understand in plain language their cause for attempted separation.
Willful blindness to the reality presented by the period of roughly 1642 until 1860 is only a pathetic attempt to paper over what was and what is.
No Slavery... No Secession... No Slavery... No Planter class with their Plantation system... No Slavery no draconian Slave Codes and Fugitive Slave Laws. No Slavery... no cause.
In seeing your comments in prior posts, one can only conclude that you see American History to justify your suspect social and political views.
There are many learned men and women who hold the opinion that the war was about something else besides the desire by some men to own other men, and the warped society bred by that desire. They so want it to be true that the construct a sanguine narrative, and peddle it to salve the spirits of those for whom the past is some sort of personal justification.
I voted for Bob McDonnell. I would, if I could, again. He was ill served by whatever councilor wrote the resolution. He served himself poorly by not paying closer attention before he affixed his signature to it.
620,000 men died fighting a war that was caused by a handful of them over an issue that few really cared about. The Planter Class of the South nearly tore this nation in half so that they could have the "pleasure" or power trip, or warped social status that came with owning other human beings who were designated as inferior because of race.
Mary Katherine Hamm is correct. The proclamation was a missed opportunity to declare April as Civil War Remembrance Month. He could have invited the nation to look at all of the facts, examine the grand as well as the nefarious, objectively and without rancor. Why? It is part of the story of the American family; a family that encompasses all races, religions, and social affiliations.
It was an opportunity wasted.
Regards, and "...that's all I'll have to say about that..."
The Mighty Fahvaag
Crusader| 4.13.10 @ 7:50PM
Wow. Willfull ignorance personified.
JohnD| 4.13.10 @ 8:13PM
Gee, my Great-Great Grandfather, who lived on a small subsistence farm in the mountains of western Virginia, enlisted in the Army of Northern Virginia the day after First Manassass and served and fought at every major battle from then until the end of the War. He was dirt poor and didn't own any slaves whatsoever.
Why did he volunteer and fight? Plain and simple; Because the Yankee Army invaded Virginia. It was not about about slavery for him.
I honor my Great Great Grandfather's bravery and sacrifice. I do not own or fly the Battle Flag of the Army of Northern Virginia (misnamed the "Confederate Battle Flag" by the ignorant; FYI, the Confederate Battle Flag was the "Stars and Bars"), but I honor him with a framed photo in my living room of him in his uniform, the day he enlisted.
The reason I do not 0wn or fly the Battle Flag of the Army of Northern Virginia is because of the secondary meaning it acquired due to the actions of other whites during the 20th Century, which might cause it to offend my neighbors and friends. I blame those who flew it in the 20th Century as a banner of racism for desecrating the flag my kin served under, not those offended by it.
But don't tell me it was about slavery, because I know it wasn't, and don't tell me not to honor my Great Great Grandfather's bravery and sacrifice, because I know I always will.
JohnD| 4.13.10 @ 8:18PM
By the way, a quick history lesson for the ignorant:
Here is the Battle Flag of the Army of Northern Virginia:
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/l.....rginia.jpg
Here is the Confederate Battle Flag:
http://www.n-georgia.com/image.....s-flag.jpg
Crusader| 4.13.10 @ 8:50PM
JohnD, your great great grandfather fought for reasons most if not all Southern men fought--to preserve their freedoms from a tyrannical federal govt.
Jeff Davis sould have listened to Gen Jackson after 1st Manassas--the war would have been over in a week and in the CSA's favor.
Grzmlyk| 4.14.10 @ 9:34AM
Agreed, John; those who say the Civil War had nothing whatsoever to do with slavery are smoking crack. As you say, what was proximate cause of secession?
It's like saying the cause of a car accident wasn't reckless driving, it was the impact of two vehicles trying to occupy the same space.
These were two conflicting economies - and slavery was, at bottom, a system of economic organization (albeit an abhorrent one, but one that was practiced by wealthy nations since civilization began) that was agrarian in nature and backward looking. The north was hip to the industrial revolution - an urban landscape powered by steel - which obviated the fiscal incentive for slavery.
Crusader, I agree with you that we need to stop picking at the scab of racism, and it is disheartening to say the least that Republicans never fail to choose to play by the rules liberals have set up.
William R| 4.13.10 @ 8:23PM
Anything from the Weekly Standard should be taken with a gran of salt. Mary Katherine Ham isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer
danny| 4.13.10 @ 9:05PM
may not be the sharpest, but a tad sharper than you william.
matthew s harrison| 4.14.10 @ 12:45AM
Phil-making it "Confederate History Month" is bowing to sharpton, and all the other loonies who want to jam slavery down our throats at every turn. I seem to remember 600,000 Union and Confederate soldiers died-I don't think it is really necessary to say, anything about slavery. What is there to say that already hasn't been said? There is racial integration. There are black senators, congressmen/women, mayors, governors, etc, all across the south. the fact that the loonies, i.e., sharpton et al, even open their mouths about it is nothing more than race baiting, and a sad attempt to again garner guilt from a bunch of people who were not only not there for any of it, but 99.99% of whom think slavery despicable. So, to say that we must always cave to the PC B.S that the libs demand makes us no better than they are....And since theirs is the party who not only started and fought to keep slavery, theirs was also the very party who murdered and destroyed entire tribes of Indians, I think we have every leg to stand on here. Get over yourselves sharpton, jackson, et al. It is 2010. How long are you going to make this country pay for something that was started by your country, in consort with BLACK slave sellers in Africa? How long?
Black| 4.14.10 @ 4:03AM
2010 World Cup is going to start immediately, and our online Shop world cup jerseys has opened. Here, you can buy the series of World Cup, such as soccer jersey, 2010 world cup soccer jersey, world cup soccer jerseys and football jerseys.
Yosemeti Sam| 4.14.10 @ 6:31AM
Geez - are there no end to race cards whipped
out on knee-jerk short notice?
Always, up Leftoids' sleeves - and in their draws, hip pockets, their car trunks, under beds, bank vaults etc.
The Civil War cannot be reduced to the simplicity
of a bumper sticker in connoting - it was all about slavery!
It is historically documented that whites - and
blacks, on both sides - did shoot at one another!
So, there was something more complex involved!
More than about - slavery!
martin j smith| 4.14.10 @ 7:47AM
If I were to advise Bob MacDonnell this is the statement I would suggest he make:
Dear citizens:
There are some in this state that hear " Confederate Histpory Month" and hear: "bring back slavery !!" or "long live the South--we shall rise again". But of course these folks who hear that have little understanding of history and are always ready to label anyone with the slightest excuse as "racist" or whatever. Le me be very clear: I no more want to glorify slavery or the Confederacy.
Rather, this is a significant part of our history-- for good and bad--that must be studies and debated. Why? you might ask. Well to respond to the adage: Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them. Thus, it is for this purpose that I propose Confederate History Month.
Today we are the United States of American. yet, I fear this country and segments within this nation are being encouraged to have antagonisms towards each other,based on class,race,gender, sexual preference religion etc. I believe in the United--in the United States dof America.
Look at the debate about health care--more than a majority of voters oppose it yet, our government passes legislation against our will. Oh do not get me wrong--I am not calling for armed rebellion or creating a new "Confederacy". By no means. But by alienating so many voters the political climate of this nation in the long run will deteriorate.
It is therefore necessary to ,find a way of learning from the mistakes of history and what better way than to have an understanding of what gave rise to the confederacy and how such sentiment can be prevented in the future. At least we should make that effort.
Loadmaster| 4.14.10 @ 8:17AM
As a "true man of the south" - Hell NO I'm not forgetting and it ain't over". Carpetbaggers are still running lose down here. Give me this, give me that...Nah..we're not forgetting.
If you think we're worried about Al or Jessie..you don't know us that well. Get a backbone man and say what you mean and stick to it.
JP| 4.14.10 @ 8:35AM
In an era of continual fiscal crisis, and at a time when many people are exhausted of the culture wars (at least the peripheral ones), this move by McConnel makes no sense. It just undermines his credibility, gives ammo to his detractors, and takes the focus off his agenda.
McConnel and other govenors should take a page out of Mitch Daniel's playbook. Stay focused on the budget and taxes. Leave the culture wars to the tea party activists. There is too much at stake. Besides, I don't think the unemployed or those who are about to lose thier job care much for the Civil War.
JohnD| 4.14.10 @ 9:02AM
Couldn't disagree more. If it helps to stir public interest in visiting Virginia's many Civil War battlefields and generating tourism, it will create jobs in Virginia. That is the whole purpose behind it.
martin j smith| 4.14.10 @ 10:09AM
Sadly, we live in an era of politics where anything you say can be used against you. Thus, it is really important that Republicans and Conservatives in ofice at least be aware of possible Left responses to public proclamations. Having said that I do believe that the Confederacy and its relevance to our history is important. But to ignore the racebaiting opportunites that could come out of this is foolish. Believe me you can say " Boooo" and the Democrat Party leadership will go up in arms--they will make something out of thin air as they have already done. There are two thing that need to be done: Examine proclamations from our political climate and two go on the offensive against the Democrat Party race baiting and class warfare.
Derek Leaberry| 4.14.10 @ 12:43PM
Only the enemies of conservatism are angry at McDonnell, at least at first. But McDonnell, by kowtowing to the left, are making some conservatives angry. He should have stood fast.
Advice for Virginia Republican politicians- if the Washington Post is angry at you, you are doing something good.