I find it odd you feel compelled to speak for all your relatives, who were evidently Confederates.
“The Lost Cause,” “In Grey,” “Ratified by the blood...”
All of this is very saccharine Victor’s language but I strongly suspect you misunderstand the reasons for secession and the secession itself, as well as the level of understanding men who might well be brighter than you had of their situation, of the state of the Union, and of their cause.
Finally to refer to Confederate sympathizers as ‘un-American’ marks you as, perhaps someone who would do well to read any number of excellent pieces on the subject of the Constitution, State’s rights, powers of the Federal government, etc., all of which changed drastically and permanently after Appomatox.
Baloney.
centurion316: "I know that these people would not support your view.
They learned many bitter lessons and they worked to heal the nation, not divide it in the years following."
golux: "Finally to refer to Confederate sympathizers as ‘un-American’ marks you as, perhaps someone..."
In fact, golux, centurion316 did not use the term "un-American".
That is strictly a figment of your own fertile imagination.
golux: "I strongly suspect you misunderstand the reasons for secession and the secession itself, as well as the level of understanding men who might well be brighter than you had of their situation, of the state of the Union, and of their cause."
In fact, there was only one reason for secession: to protect the South's "peculiar institution" against the perceived threat from "Ape" Lincoln's "Black Republicans".
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out, but Lost Causers have long attempted to conceal the truth.
golux: "...the Constitution, State’s rights, powers of the Federal government, etc., all of which changed drastically and permanently after Appomatox."
No, only a "state's right" to unilaterally declare secession, then provoke, start and declare war on the United States, then send military forces into Union states -- those "states rights" were defeated, unconditionally.
Oh, and slavery was abolished.
Otherwise, the Union remained as it had been, for another 50 years, until the Progressivism of Southern Democrats like President Woodrow Wilson.