A Nation of Sleepwalkers -- Even Southerners Forget Their History

Men's News Daily ^ | 7/6/07 | Warner Todd Huston

[Mobile Vulgus]

Many Americans from the north like to scoff that our southern brethren are still fighting the Civil War, treating them as if they are unaware that the war was over nearly 150 years ago. It has been so often repeated that southerners are still "Confederate" that the stereotype of the southerner looking to the past instead of the future is secure in northerner's minds. Would that it were true that all southerners are so fond of their history because it appears that even one of the most famous Confederate cemeteries in the Confederacy's very own capitol is being forgotten, uncared for, and repeatedly vandalized.

The bad news is that Oakwood cemetery in Richmond, Virginia, is being forgotten and ignored, and, as mentioned, it is also being increasingly vandalized. The good news is that a community group has not only volunteered to take upon themselves the upkeep and maintenance of the final resting place of 17,000 Confederate solders, but they have already raised $100,000 to do so. They have also gotten the blessing and legislative support of the Commonwealth of Virginia for the effort.

But even as dozens of grave markers are vandalized repeatedly by God knows who, the city of Richmond refuses even to take a meeting with the Sons of Confederate Veterans who are ready to take on the duty.

Blame should be heaped upon the sloping shoulders of Mayor Doug Wilder who is famous for encouraging local involvement in city business. Local involvement is great as far as Wilder is concerned, as long as that involvement isn't by the SCV, an organization that doesn't fit into the politically correct world in which the good mayor inhabits, it seems.

Worse, he doesn't seem in too great a hurry even to make sure this constant vandalizing of headstones is stopped. The Richmond police have made claims that they will increase their patrols in the area, but what does that really mean, anyway?

And what has been done to repair the broken monuments? City workers have indifferently used unprofessional materials and slipshod methods to do so. Headstones can be seen throughout the cemetery that have been slathered with globs of Gorilla Glue instead of properly repaired like the headstones taken care of by the SCV.

So, we have a local population so indifferent as to raise children who haven't the tiniest bit of reverence for the honored dead (and who else would be roaming cemeteries at night toppling grave stones?) but they have also elected a Mayor who turns his back on those same dead and won't even bother with a self financed community group that can take the duty off his obviously uncaring hands.

This does not speak well to the stereotype that southerners are so enflamed by reverence for their history if they are so unconcerned over the fate of Oakwood cemetery. But this is in no way particular to Richmond. All across this country Americans are forgetting about their history. Schools are more interested in teaching about how evil the U.S.A. is instead of how wonderful it is. Why should our children have much respect for our past when all they learn in their classes is how bad the U.S. is, after all?

And, why should anyone get so upset about this whole cemetery going into disrepair business? Isn't it the government's duty to take care of these things, not yours and mine? We can all go on about out business because the Nanny state is in charge. Let's all not bother our little heads about anything as unimportant as our history, right?

Yes, let's just not worry about all this. It's some else's job anyway.

I would hope that Mayor Wilder would take up this attitude, of course. Make it some one else's job, Mayor. Make the upkeep off Oakwood cemetery the job of the SCV, will you Mayor Wilder? At least take a meeting with your constituents and hear them out.

And Mayor, please stop ignoring and being so hateful of our heritage.

[Mobile Vulgus]

Are we all getting amnesia?

[AliVeritas]

ping

[JamesP81]

Are we all getting amnesia?

There's a lot of blame to go around for this, but the publik skools is near the top of this list. The truth has become politically incorrect.

[JamesP81]

This one probably qualifies for a dixie ping.

[stainlessbanner]

Dixie Ping

Thanks for the update JamesP81

[MBB1984]

Doug Wilder is a Politically Correct idiot. His thinly disguised hatred is disgusting.

[STONEWALLS]

“Are we all getting amnesia?”

......No, we’re not.....it’s just that Richmond, like many other urban areas is increasingly influenced by black Democrats who have legally siezed power via the ballot box....no black Dem pol wants to have a sit down/photo op. with the SCV....what’s that gonna do for his re-election chances?...and BTW, as white flight to the suburbs continues there’ll be more and more attempts to re-write Southern history.....I work with my grandson on it every chance I get to counter act the official propaganda he gets in school.....and so should we all....we must stand
unashamed!

[hedgetrimmer]

When practically all of the media in a country is owned by foreign corporations and foreign governments, nothing that binds a people as a nation is broadcast. The foreign owners do not like what makes America great— our independence which is taught in part through the study of our history. Therefore, there broadcasts are designed to diminish our history and reinforce our passivity so that our economy can continue to be looted by the global community.

The recent Independence Day holiday is a good example of how the national and local media have been influenced to minimize or ignore such an important day in US history. Who broadcast any programs or movies about the American Revolution? Why was there no program that discussed the reasons for the fight for independence and the sacrifice of our forefathers?

I noticed on national channel ran movies about WWII all day, the ‘global’ war. Why not broadcast movies about the definitive time in our history— the American Revolution, the war of 1812, movies about patriotic everyday Americans? That would be reinforcing the American ideal, a thing the globalist media does NOT want to do.

Then let’s talk about our schools and their agenda to erase US history in the minds of our children.

A lot is stacked against us, and it is up to individual Americans to revive our history in the minds of our citizens. Get rid of international ownership of our vital media. Get rid of internationalists and socialists who run our schools.

[marsapan]

I don’t get this. We stand proud of our souther heritage and get shot down for flying our flag.

The writer has amnesia.

[StoneWall Brigade]

Thanks for the ping SB

[4CJ]

Blame should be heaped upon the sloping shoulders of Mayor Doug Wilder

Sloping? Effeminate? We will never forget that sacrifice of our ancestors. Deo vindice!

[perez24]

I’m asking this question to try to learn, not to be provocative or anything (honest). No one in my family was in this country between 1860 - 1865 so I don’t have a dog in the fight.

Here goes...

Isn’t “continuing to fight the Civil War” or “holding on to one’s Southern Heritage” similar to African Americans continuing to bring up the “legacy of slavery” or Jewish people “not forgetting the Holocaust?”

I don’t mean from a reparations perspective because I don’t think Southerners are asking for money for something that happened to their ancestors, but, other than that, are these things pretty similar or not?

Like I said, I’m not trying to pick a fight or ridicule anybody...I’m just asking.

[texgal]

Who broadcast any programs or movies about the American Revolution? Why was there no program that discussed the reasons for the fight for independence and the sacrifice of our forefathers?

Actually, there was a pretty good broadcast on the History Channel. I watched it and enjoyed it.

Unfortunately most people won't watch something for its educational qualities if they can get "entertainment". Rock stars and movie stars - like the Al Gore concerts this weekend. This Daughter of the Confederacy and Daughter of the Republic of Texas won't be watching the Algore concerts.

Long live the Republic.

[Ben Ficklin]

Are the DixieCrats part of Southern Heritage?

[JamesP81]

Isn’t “continuing to fight the Civil War” or “holding on to one’s Southern Heritage” similar to African Americans continuing to bring up the “legacy of slavery” or Jewish people “not forgetting the Holocaust?”

Not really the same. Southern heritage and southern culture is unique in the world. It's the way we live, and the way we want to live. We value strength of character, honor, family, God, and Country. The fighting part happens because certain folks from other sections of the country think we're a bunch of dumb rubes.

The African Americans bring up 'the legacy of slavery' in order to get a handout; a southerner doesn't desire a handout, only a fair shake and the same opportunity as everyone else to make his own way.

[Andy'smom]

It’s not the same thing. It’s more about cultural heritage, not a “victim” mentality.

[stand watie]

NOPE. and we southrons/southerners are NOT "living in the past" either.

we just want the TRUTH told, rather than the COMFORTING (& SELF-righteous) LIES, which the bigoted/hate-FILLED/arrogant/sanctimonious DAMNyankee extremists/REVISIONISTS would like everyone to accept as if the KNOWING LIES were true.

free dixie,sw

[L98Fiero]

That’s a valid question.

We are not holding on to an event or series of events that gains us sympathy in some eyes. Quite the opposite. Our heritage is about values and a way of life. We can examine the past and learn from it, and we have. We don’t want to carry the baggage of that into the future but others insinuate that anytime we celebrate Southern culture we celebrate slavery and segregation. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I contend that no man, black or white, has more individual liberty in this nation than in the South.

[Weeedley]

There was never a "civil war". The very name is revisionist history. The Confederate States of America existed as a distinct nation; until it was defeated on the battlefield. A war between two nations is not a civil war.

[stand watie]

yep. and so is every other sort of political activity a part of our heritage.

otoh, we have FEW of the FASCIST/leftist DIMocRATS that infest the north, except in the large central cities.

may i gently remind you that there are NO real conservatives from DAMNyankeeland IN the US Senate, but plenty of LEFTISTS like "the hilleryBEAST", chuckie schumer,the cape cod orca,"hussein" obama, joe biden,olympia snow,etc,etc,etc, AD NAUSEAM.

free dixie,sw