***I can’t see their history being all that positive, given their economic, social and cultural limitations.***
You seem to forget that Texas was one of the original 7. The South would have done just fine with us leading the way in oil, agriculture, manufacturing, shipping, cattle, finance or any other type of commerce. And to say that the South was limited in cultural or educational endeavors can simply be refuted with facts.
As usual, the North must punish the South for trying to be free. The propaganda lives on. And by the way, when will the North begin Reparations for the destruction of the South’s economy, culture, way of life, infrastructure, and history during the years of Reconstruction? When will they begin Reparations for the rape, plunder, and pillage that they took part in? Will the Senate pass a resolution apologizing for burning the homes of destitute widows and children? Will they apologize for the destruction of churches and other places of worship? When will the North apologize for their cruelty and brutality? We all know the answer - NEVER! Why should the South continue to be part of a country that never has and never will have any respect for us? They make fun of our accent, our culture, our way of life. They call us ignorant redneck hicks and portray us as woefully unsophisticated (as if being sophisticated is a virtue!). This marriage was over more than 100 years ago and we tried to leave then, but were drug back and beaten to a bloody pulp. But we will escape the bully one day and this time it will be for good!
When you talk about freedom, you seem to be forgetting the sizeable percentage of the CSA's population that had as much freedom as livestock.
And by the way, when will the North begin Reparations for the destruction of the South’s economy, culture, way of life, infrastructure, and history during the years of Reconstruction?
Probably about the same time that the descendants of Southern slaveowners are require to pay reparations to the descendants of slaves. Do you really want to have this discussion?
Why should the South continue to be part of a country that never has and never will have any respect for us?
Oh, poor martyred you.
They make fun of our accent, our culture, our way of life. They call us ignorant redneck hicks and portray us as woefully unsophisticated (as if being sophisticated is a virtue!).
Sophistification isn't a virtue? Anyway, I've lived most of my life north of the Mason-Dixon line. Most people here spend little or no time talking about what people do in Atlanta or Birmingham. This persecution complex is silly. I mean, if the South was so trodden-upon, why have 3 out of the 5 Presidents in my lifetime been from the South?
I love you.
Great. If they could have just hung on for 50-60 years until any of that good stuff happened.
What makes you think they would have lasted. More likely they would have been an economic colony of Great Britain as many Texans wanted to be fifteen years earlier.
Something extraordinarily important that you need to understand: the South is long dead, the North is long dead, there is no East and no West in America. The US is not two countries any more.
The United States is THREE countries, and has been for a long time. Let me describe them for you:
USA #1, the Free Republic: rural and small town America, accounts for over 80% of the land and about 1/3 of the population. This country is overwhelmingly conservative, Christian and usually votes Republican. You see it clearly on the red-state blue-state county maps of the 2004 election. It includes the northern-most counties of Maine and Alaska, the southern-most counties of Florida, western counties of Massachusetts and eastern counties of California. It is the heartland of America.
USA #2, the People's Republic: big city America, accounts for no more than 5% of the land but over 1/3 the population. This America is totally dependent on Big Government to meet all its needs, and from their point of view the US cannot become socialistic enough soon enough.
USA #3, France: suburban, mid-sized city America, accounts for the remainder. These people live near and often work in the Big Cities, but retain enough conservative independence of mind to at least comprehend what America used to be all about. Sometimes (not always) they will even listen to reason. When they do, presidents like Ronald Reagan and even the Bushes can win by large majorities.
The problem is, obviously, there is just no way to "divorce" one of these Americas from any of the others -- not now, not ever, ain't goin to happen. So fugeddaboutit.