Replies

“As opposed to what the South did, which was to enslave people, beat them and deny them liberty?”

The “South” wished to perpetuate the existing system.

But that’s not the point.

The point is that the “South” is also YOU - assuming you are an American. The “North” is also me, as an American of Southern heritage.

The defeat of the South at the hands of the North is not something that should bring feelings of moral superiority in any American. Sherman’s march should outrage every American - rather than be justified as due punishment of the South.

That’s the fundamental misunderstanding of Americans who declare affinity on either side of the Civil War. It was an American war. Nobody today can claim victory or defeat in any logical sense. Nobody can run away from our history, nor can they claim anything but that the Civil War is part of being an American.

There are great cultural differences that indeed remain and make the South vastly superior and more American than any area of the North in terms of our founding as a God-fearing, liberty-loving republic.

But the Civil War in both “defeat” and “victory” is American.

The South simply has innate superiority that, unfortunately, people like you just resent - and having nothing to contribute yourself, you simply point to “The North defeated the South in the Civil War” when properly translated in todays context should be “Americans defeated Americans in the Civil War” - because there were no victors.

So holster your resentment of the South. You can’t do anything about being bested by your Southern neighbors in understanding America, and being American. That’s why your Northern neighbors move here in vast numbers - because they love America, and choose not to be around resentful hysterical tyrants like you.

You sir, are an ass.

What are you going on about? The person you responded to was responding to someone who called Grant a "monster" who broke the rules of war because he couldn't win otherwise, and historians who thought well of Grant "statists" (as though everybody isn't a "statist" to one degree or another).

Somebody who calls Grant a monster has already taken the gloves off and invited hostile responses. If somebody maligns the Union side, do you really expect that slavery isn't going to come up at some point in response?

I'd like to say "there was good and bad on both sides, so let's all get along." But looking at all the anger you have underneath that way of thinking and how you can't stop it from coming out doesn't speak well for that approach.

It's not really honest or sensible is it? The whole "How dare you think yourself superior to us! We are superior to you!" approach. Make up your mind. Are you for some kind of reconciliation or are you looking to settle scores? Holster your own %^&*(^ resentment.

I agree with some of your post and strongly disagree with the rest. Let’s start with the agreement part.

I applaud you for admitting what few of the neo-confederates at FreeRepublic will - that we are all Americans. By their words most of them seem to despise our nation. I also agree with the statement, “But the Civil War in both “defeat” and “victory” is American.”

I also agree with the statement, “The defeat of the South at the hands of the North is not something that should bring feelings of moral superiority in any American” although possibly for different reasons.

The simple truth is that you will have to look long and hard to find any FReeper lording the union victory over the confederates - except perhaps as a retaliatory post to an equally knot-headed statement by a lost causer. Let’s face it - both sides look for opportunities to goad the other side when in the thick of it when debating the WBTS.

Oh, and one other agreement - you are correct that the south wished to perpetuate slavery - at a time when the rest of the civilized world was rejecting it. That didn’t exactly enthrall other nations to it’s cause or its methodology.

I don’t agree that Sherman’s tactics were meant as a “punishment” of the south - they were intended to expedite the cessation of the conflict. I have no outrage at his actions.

I do believe that there can and is a winner in the conflict. If you believe in the rule of law you have to celebrate the outcome of the war. Whatever problems we have we must find lawful solutions for them or we become nothing more legitimate than outlaws or renegades.

“There are great cultural differences that indeed remain and make the South vastly superior and more American than any area of the North in terms of our founding as a God-fearing, liberty-loving republic.”

That’s just silly.

There is not a single state where the left isn’t on the march. If you read the news you know that we are all afflicted with the corruption of leftism. No one is exempt. And trying to hide behind the pretense of “it’s the outsiders who come down here and bring their liberalism with them” is bullcrap. Whatever state you hail from, I guarantee that you have homegrown lefties agitating for Øbamanism.

I have no issue with you feeling pride for your state but let’s keep it real.

Lastly, I read through ronnie’s posts and don’t see anything disparaging of the south or maligning you or your state. Stating that the confederacy was evil (it was) is not the same as saying southerners are bad (they aren’t).

I think that it is williams, who can’t help but pick at scabs, who is the ass.