When you first come to these arguments, it can be a great way to get back into history, maybe for the first time since school days. It's not like that for me any more, so I've lost interest over time, but don't underestimate how interesting it was in the beginning.
Can’t you we these things are meant to distract everyone from the real issues?
That is true. So much stuff is a distraction, though. Every stupid comment some movie star makes doesn't need to get 100+ responses (mostly saying the same thing), but some do.
I'd say let the discussion about history go on, but people don't take it so seriously. Recognize that it has a place in the world, but it's not worth getting bent out of shape over or making lasting enemies about questions that were resolved a century and a half ago.
You know, its not about the history any more. Its about the Southerners making these chest beating arguments about how their way was the best way. And how WE came down there and ruined a great way of life.
If a great way of life was holding others in bondage so that your ancestors could get rich, then personally, I am glad we ruined it. And, lets face it...even the states rights arguments were about slavery.
What I would love to see is a rational discussion about the issue, while acknowledging that slavery was an abomination and it should have been outlawed. Much like religion has often been an impediment to industrial and scientific development, consider how far ahead of the European industrial states the south would have been if Slavery were abolished. I argue that the abolishment of slavery would have moved ahead the mechanization of the south about 50 years. Instead of the first big tractors being built in 1930, they would have been needed in 1860—70’s years earlier. Think of how much better off the country would have been with that technology—built through necessity, rather than having to spend the money and time to rebnuild the south.
The South was ALWAYS going to lose that war. And when they go no help from Europe early on...it was clear they were going to lose.
Ridiculous “Southern Pride” caused hundreds of thousands of death and billions in destruction.
The Southerners can have their Pride. But with it comes the bloodshed and responsibility. But no one on this site ever wants to admit that. We are all about the South and Texas. Yeeehaw.
There are some days, in fact most days, when I think of all the crap that Texas and Florida have brought us...we should have left them with Mexico and Florida with Spain.
Without the South, people could have reasonable discussions and end up with reasonable laws. Instead, we have people so intransigent in their positions they cannot for a second imagine that someone else has an idea.
They lost the first civil war. They will lose the second because they are so blinded by dogma that they cannot fathom any solution other than theirs.