Don't spin the Civil War

Washington Post ^ | 12.27.10 | E.J. DIONNE jR.

[trumandogz]

The Civil War is about to loom very large in the popular memory. We would do well to be candid about its causes and not allow the distortions of contemporary politics or long-standing myths to cloud our understanding of why the nation fell apart.

The coming year will mark the 150th anniversary of the onset of the conflict, which is usually dated to April 12, 1861, when Confederate batteries opened fire at 4:30 a.m. on federal troops occupying Fort Sumter. Union forces surrendered the next day, after 34 hours of shelling.

[Ditto]

Your pal thumper is a self admitted 'former' marxist.

So are David Horiwitz, (read his book Radical Son sometime if you really want to see how ugly the American left is. Then there is the best Conservative economist and social commentator alive today, Thomas Souell, who described himself as a Communist when he was in his 20s.

There are many others who have seen the light. Ronald Reagan was a hard core FDR New Dealer until he saw the folly in that path.

Implying that someone is a homosexual is one of the favorites in the Coven's bag of Alinsky tricks.

Can you point to one? Give me a link. Maybe some day you gain enough courage to admit that all your 'cartoonish damn yankee Lost Cause Myths are just that -- Myths that serve to divide the right rather than unite it behind the Constitution and vision of our Founders.

And BTW. Try arguing using facts and logic here instead resorting to ad hominum attacks on other posters.

[Abin Sur]

Where are your from, noobie,

I was trying to help end this thread, but since you asked me directly it's only polite to reply. I was originally born in Georgia, but have since moved to Colorado.

And this is relevant why...?

BTW, is it your assertion that someone's lack of credibility is inversely proportional to the duration of their stay on a message board? If not, why use a silly term such as "noob"?

and how many real Southerners do you know?

I suppose it depends on your definition of "real". While I know plenty of people from the South, I don't know anyone who speaks like Yosemite Sam.

[rockrr]

No thanks. I’ll wait until someone who knows something mentions it. ;-)

[rockrr]

While I know plenty of people from the South, I don't know anyone who speaks like Yosemite Sam.

Then you didn't know sTanD wAtIe. LOL ;-)

[cowboyway]

if you really want to see how ugly the American left is.

Read some of thumper's replies for some real left wing nastiness.

Ronald Reagan was a hard core FDR New Dealer until he saw the folly in that path.

You, thumper, rockrr and the rest of the coven ain't no Ronald Reagan, pal.

Can you point to one? Give me a link.

Pick any WBTS thread and read it, pal.

Maybe some day you gain enough courage to admit that all your 'cartoonish damn yankee Lost Cause Myths are just that

And maybe some day you'll gain enough courage to admit that your sinister yankee imperialism and revisionism are the threats to freedom that we face today.

Myths that serve to divide the right rather than unite it behind the Constitution and vision of our Founders.

Perhaps you should heed your own advice.

And BTW. Try arguing using facts and logic here instead resorting to ad hominum attacks on other posters.

Ditto.

[rockrr]

...and for a more comprehensive reply, some low-wattage posters here do actually believe that length of service means anything when it comes to credibility. They lack the critical thinking skills to actually analyze a persons words and assess the import of what they are attempting the convey.

Also, there are some here that I have come to regard as regional bigots. They hold to the notion that your value is contingent upon your place of birth.

Have you ever seen the cartoon show “Hank Hill”? I thought it was a clever show. In one episode the archetypal Texan Hank discovers to his horror that he was actually born in New York City. Never mind the fact that he is who he is, as a product of experiences, eduction, and culture, he now doubts every facet of his existence. The rest of the story shows how he tries to “forget” being Texan and adopt stereotypical “New Yorker” ways. I thought it amusing until I met real life people that are this dunderheaded - right here at FreeRepublic.

The risk one takes on these CW threads is that if you offend the Lost Cause Losers they will try to make life miserable for you. No “live & let live” from these folks.

Thanks for the pictures and enjoy the show - just don’t get any on ya.....noob ;-)

[cowboyway]

I was trying to help end this thread

Why's that, noobie? You think that you're a superhero or something?

I was originally born in Georgia, but have since moved to Colorado. And this is relevant why...?

Because of your statement about 'damnyankee' only being used in jest, noobie! Keep up, will ya....

BTW, is it your assertion that someone's lack of credibility is inversely proportional to the duration of their stay on a message board?

That's right, noobie. (you haven't been playing on the internet long, have you...)

I suppose it depends on your definition of "real".

real - actual: being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something

While I know plenty of people from the South, I don't know anyone who speaks like Yosemite Sam.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?!?

[MikefromOhio]

Do you know the definition of 'conservative'?

the definition of conservative certainly does NOT cover being an internet insurrectionist.

Conservatism DOES NOT make excuses and cover for a corrupt system that held its fellow man in bondage and PUSHED THROUGH LEGISLATION criminalizing those who helped the slaves escape.

Two can play the "evil government" game too.

[MikefromOhio]

Regional rivalry!?! Are you really that simple minded?

That's really all it is....a regional rivalry dressed up as a "just cause"...

Sorry your simple little brain can't see it.

[cowboyway]

No “live & let live” from these folks.

You can join ranks with the likes of rockrr if you want to, abin sur, but rockrr and the rest of the coven live to agitate. rockrr's tagline is a perfect example.

rockrr also has major credibility issues. He's already claimed to have been born and raised in at least 3 Southern states.

The risk one takes on these CW threads is that if you offend the Lost Cause Losers they will try to make life miserable for you.

BTW, there's something that rockrr didn't tell you and, since you're new, perhaps you didn't know: you don't have to join in these threads. It's strictly voluntary which should tell you all you need to know about rockrr and his band of paid provocateurs.

[cowboyway]

the definition of conservative certainly does NOT cover being an internet insurrectionist.

If you have a problem with rebellion take it up with Jim Rob: "Rebellion is always an option!!"--Jim Robinson

Conservatism DOES NOT make excuses and cover for a corrupt system that held its fellow man in bondage and PUSHED THROUGH LEGISLATION criminalizing those who helped the slaves escape.

Well, I see that you're just making crap up again....

[Abin Sur]

Because of your statement about 'damnyankee' only being used in jest, noobie! Keep up, will ya....

That's correct, the vast majority of Americans don't use the word except in jokes. Why is this so hard to understand?

That's right, noobie. (you haven't been playing on the internet long, have you...)

I'm quite the rookie; I only started back in the '80s on the Usenet. Even then, people were making the farcical assertion that if they had been posting in a particular group longer than someone else that they somehow were more credible on any subject. Things haven't changed, as you can see.

real - actual: being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something

So not using the word "damnyankee" outside a humorous context disqualifies one from being a genuine Southerner?

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?!?

Watch and learn, especially starting at 0:25

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8D93Awa434

Granted, he says "dangyankee"...but it is a cartoon, after all. Similarly, anyone who uses words like "damnyankee" or "yankee" as epithets is a bit cartoonish themselves.

[rockrr]

"BTW, there's something that rockrr didn't tell you and, since you're new, perhaps you didn't know: you don't have to join in these threads. It's strictly voluntary..."

I didn't see a need pokie. Unlike you, Albin Sur has already shown that he is capable of thinking for himself.

[cowboyway]

That's really all it is....a regional rivalry dressed up as a "just cause"...

I knew you were a simpleton but I had no idea the drool rolled that heavy out of your pie hole.

Based on your simplistic view, one could rapidly reduce all conflicts, struggles and wars to just regional rivalry dressed up for one cause or another which would include the American Revolution, wouldn't you say?.

[mstar]

While I know plenty of people from the South, I don't know anyone who speaks like Yosemite Sam

Yosemite Sam? Now that IS rather amusing.

The phase was actually used by Margret Mitchell in her novel "Gone With The Wind", but not in the movie.

Margret Mitchell was from the state of Georgia just like you say you are.

If you have read her biography you would know she based the novel on accounts of surviving war veterans and those of family members heard while growing up in Atlanta. She didn't realize the word "damnyankee" was two words until around school age. I personally prefer the one word version myself.

Here is the quote;

"Be a little man, Wade. They're just a passel of damn Yankees."

Scarlett O'Hara to her three-year-old son, when the Yankees arrive at Tara. The little boy later passes out from fear.

[Thumper1960]

Then, why are YOU still here?

[Abin Sur]

BTW, there's something that rockrr didn't tell you and, since you're new, perhaps you didn't know: you don't have to join in these threads.

Golly....really?

It's strictly voluntary which should tell you all you need to know about rockrr and his band of paid provocateurs.

[Thumper1960]

As I recall, none of them were part of the secessionist Confederacy.

[rockrr]

That’s not what MikefromOhio said, but in your case it certainly could qualify.

After all, it is posters of your ilk who go around picking fights with people based on the circumstance of their birth.

[Thumper1960]

Your failure to comprehend is not my problem.