Confederate Soldiers' Funeral Debated

Associated Press ^ | 09/28/2003

[sheltonmac]

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- A proposal to have the bodies of eight Confederate sailors lie in state in the Capitol has drawn criticism from some who contend giving them the honor would be unfair and disrespectful.

The sailors' remains were recovered when the submarine H.L. Hunley was brought up in 2000 from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, where it sank shortly after downing the Union blockade ship Housatonic in 1864. The Hunley was the first submarine to sink an enemy ship during a war.

[MeekOneGOP]

[wimpycat]

Most Civil War re-enactors are respectful of both sides, no matter which "side" they re-enact on. They're re-enactors, not the real thing. Most of them are in it because they appreciate the history of the whole conflict.

I met a fellow at Stone Mountain last year who was all set up as a Confederate surgeon. He had all his stuff very well laid out. He was very knowledgeable of both Union and Confederate surgical practices. He told me he also does Yankee re-enactments as well.

Also, after a visit to Gettysburg in Oct., 2001, I picked up a book that told about the 50th Anniversary event held at Gettysburg for surviving veterans on both sides. Apparently it was a big hit with those couple hundred veterans who showed up. The organizers had set the place up so that the Yankees and Confederates would mess in separate tents, but from the beginning they all messed together. (They had a suprisingly good turnout for the 75th, anniversary as well, considering how old the survivors were at that point.) So to my mind, if the veterans themselves could get along together, so can the re-enactors.

[Theophilus]

Confederate soldiers fought for their State. They should be remembered as such.

I agree, additionally, what these guys did for their state was the 19th century equivalent of going to the moon AND DYING THERE!!! BEING THE THIRD SUCH CREW TO DO SO IN THE SAME CRAFT!!!! These men were true American heros.

[HenryLeeII]

Dixie ping! They's gonna be some harsh words flyin' ova' hee-aw. You might'n wanna git in on some o' this...I's been busy fixin' up Droolin' Hall after that dangnabbed hurrycane blew through Chaw Stain Holler, but I'm back online now...

[4CJ]

I's been busy fixin' up Droolin' Hall after that dangnabbed hurrycane blew through Chaw Stain Holler, but I'm back online now...

A hericane? I thught it'n was yer pappy's 3rd kusins sister Joshephine beatin ol' Robert fer coming home late after losin' his paycheck playing cards!

[RJS1950]

Hell, the democrat party is the party of secession and slavery, it was THEIR fight and they continued their fight up through the middle of the 20th century. So why do we even allow this party to exist in this country?

[HenryLeeII]

Naw, if'n it were Josephine agin therr wuld be sum seeryus damage...

[ConservativeStandUP]

Do you think 138 years from now there will be FreeRepublic Reenactors who go around Freeping the descendants of liberals?

[wasp69]

Absolutely dispicable.

[wasp69]

There never was a Confederate Nation. The Confederacy was never even recognized by the US.

You may want to put down the modern day high school history books and try reading the Prize Cases and the basis for the Reconstruction Acts.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

I know exactly what I am talking about, moron.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Because they went over 160 years without a proper burial. It's the least we can do.

[Admin Moderator]

Knock it off.

[Marobe]

Needless to say, they Men died fighting for their Constitutional Rights, both State and Federal.
They should be honored as the brave warriors they are and to hell with the Pc crowd and their phoney values.
Abe got what he deserved .....

[TexConfederate1861]

I agree there. I am a re-enactor with the 1st Texas Inf.,
and that is true, I also "galvanize" (switch sides, a hobby term) but you miss my meaning. This funeral is to honor the CONFEDERATE sailors of the CSS Hunley, and to have re-enactors in Blue is an insult. This is not a living history event.

[TexConfederate1861]

It only has bearing due to the fact that the Federals WON....if they had lost, it would have been a different story. And do you believe every decision they make is RIGHT? If so I would LOVE to hear your take on the Texas Sodomy Law that was just struck down. Just because they rule one way or the other doesn't mean everything they do is constitutional. The will of the PEOPLE is supreme.

[TexConfederate1861]

It only has bearing due to the fact that the Federals WON....if they had lost, it would have been a different story. And do you believe every decision they make is RIGHT? If so I would LOVE to hear your take on the Texas Sodomy Law that was just struck down. Just because they rule one way or the other doesn't mean everything they do is constitutional. The will of the PEOPLE is supreme.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Why don't you scold the jackass who insulted me first?

[Non-Sequitur]

It only has bearing due to the fact that the Federals WON....if they had lost, it would have been a different story.

Of course it would have been different. The Supreme Court decision would have been binding on the U.S. only. You would be living in the Confederacy without having to worry about a Supreme Court, U.S. or otherwise.

And do you believe every decision they make is RIGHT?

No, but the fact that I may or may not disagree with every decision that the Supreme Court makes does not make any of those decisions invalid. And let me point out that you sothron types love to bring up Dred Scott and the upholding of the fugitive slave laws as a reason why the south was justified in seceding. Does that mean that you think that Taney was right?