Wake up America. The War of Northern Aggression

[Rebel Yell]

http://wwwwakeupamericans-spree.blogspot.com/2007/01/war-of-northern-aggression.html

The War of Northern Aggression...?
 
I want to start this out with a little disclaimer. Before you, the reader, continues into this particular posting, I want it to be known that neither I nor spree are in any way advocating nor promoting the taking of arms by the citizenry of the United States against our government. Our record will show, if you have been following this blog site for any length of time whatsoever, that we are both behind our troops and the President in regards to the war in the Middle East. We may take issue with the administration on other things, even with each other in some cases, on issues such as abortion, illegal immigration, and any host of other things involving our government. That being said, I want it perfectly clear that we are NOT advocating uprisings of any sort.

That being said, I'm going to venture into an area that I hear daily discussed on talk radio shows across the southeastern U.S. that don't make it into the headlines nor into the topics of national talk radio shows. Southerners, by and large, are a pissed off group of people. And they're starting to vent their frustrations verbally in public forums.

Anyone who has ever been to the South has seen a certain red, white, and blue flag flying in front yards throughout the countryside or on bumper stickers of cars and pickup trucks driving down the highways. The American flag flies high, shown with great pride in the South. So does the other flag to which I refer; the Confederate battle flag, known widely across the country and the world as the Rebel flag. I know what I'm about to say is going to piss some people off. So be it. What I'm about to say isn't going to feed propoganda of groups like the NAACP, the Klan, or any other groups that are out there rallying around the Rebel flag or trying to get rid of it for their own causes. What I'm about to say about this is the heartfelt sentiment of many Southerners, men and women who don't fly the flag out of hatred or for racial reasons, but for other reasons that we're going to explore today.

So if you can follow along for a bit to learn a bit and to stop and think, without letting left wing or right wing bias cloud your thinking, please continue. If you're already planning to go on the attack for what I'm about to say? You might as well stop right now and close this, don't even bother to continue. What I'm about to say comes from years and years of having the same conversation over and over and over again with people who love the South, live in the South, and love our country as a whole as WELL as the South, but also love a deep heritage that is unique TO the Southerner. For those of you who choose to read on from this point, let us continue.

There are any number of bumper stickers in the South bearing a little cartoon figure in Confederate gray waving a Confederate flag with the words "Surrender, Hell!", "Lee surrendered, I didn't," or the bumper sticker featuring the American AND Confederate flags stating "American by birth, Southern by the grace of God" on them. Northerners who come to the South and see them have various reactions to these effigies, varying from "quaint," "cute," "charming," to "racist," "hateful," and "gotta be a redneck." From Maryland and Virginia southward to Miami, across Tennessee, Arkansas, and down into Texas, even in Kentucky and Missouri, the Confederate flag is everywhere. One hundred and forty-two years after Appomattox, why is there still such a display of the Confederate flag?

One answer is Reconstruction. A period of time that should have been a time of healing after the war only served to further deepen the resentments of Southerners against the North. Contrary to popular beliefs written by historians after the war, ingrained in the mindset of the public in regards to the Civil War, the war itself was alllllllllllllllll about slavery. It wasn't. Slavery was only one issue among a great, great many. Slavery, in fact, was becoming an economic hardship on slaveholders and was, by economic necessity, on it's way out. Historians are on both sides of this arguement, but by looking at things from a fiscal and financial point of view, the introduction of the cotton gin and other advances in farm machinery opened the door for the end of slavery. Call slavery what you will, evil or necessary, there are a few facts that should be kept in mind in regards to the practice: Christ did not condemn slavery (nor is it condemned anywhere in the Bible), a great number of African tribes sold prisoners from other tribes to white slavers through the centuries that Africa was being used to provide slaves to the Americas and Europe, and slavery is a practice that even today is alive and well in the Muslim world under Islamic law.

At this point I want anyone who is reading this to get up, stretch your legs, go to the bathroom, get a cup of coffee or whatever beverage of choice you prefer, and let your mind chew on that last one. Slavery is a practice that EVEN TODAY is alive and well under Islamic law.

Take five, people. Digest that information.

No, seriously, take five minutes to wrap your Western mind around the fact that slavery is alive and well in the Muslim world.

Okay, I'm going to assume that you've done as I've asked and taken five minutes to get this concept of slavery being alive and well in Islam into your thick American heads (I say that AS a thick headed American, chill out) and we can move on from here.

To get back on topic, the Civil War didn't end with Lee's surrender at Appomattox, in the minds of many Southerners. It went on hold. Especially after Reconstruction.

Nearly one hundred and fifty years later, issues such as abortion, illegal immigration, burdensome taxation (an issue eternal, it seems), states rights versus a large federal government (another holdover from the original war between the states), and a host of issues both new and old have grass roots Southern America in a state of pissed the **** off. At least once or twice a day in my travels with work, either in face to face conversations with people or hearing it on the airwaves, civil war is mentioned.

That should scare the shit out of people.

For some reason, it doesn't.

Congress seems to be ignoring this. The Senate seems to be ignoring this. The White House? No idea what the White House position on it is. I will tell you, though, that the mindset of a number of Southerners out there is to take up arms again.

IF THAT HAPPENS,

and historically, it has already happened once,

IF THAT HAPPENS,

moderate thinking Southerners will resign themselves to the fact that "it's back on."

In the back of almost EVERY Southerner's mind, Lee at Appomattox was nothing more than an extended cease fire that's been waiting for it's end. "Lee Surrendered, I Didn't." Day by day, week by week, month by month, left wing leadership is taking more and more Southerners into the mindset of "we don't need this bullshit."

Most of us have already disowned Al Gore.

Just a case in point.

I'm not saying these things in advocacy. I want that remembered. I want that clearly understood and comprehended. I'm saying it as a hope that there are people reading this who will wake up and listen. Not to prosecute. You don't prosecute over thoughts. When the thought police start taking to the streets, the people DO rise up and strike back. I'm saying what I'm saying because I have the hopes of an American described in the Charlie Daniels song "In America" that says "and you never did think that we'd ever get together again."

Extreme ideas cause extreme problems.

Now if you'll excuse me, I see that my Confederate flag needs to be refolded from where someone has been looking at it and thinking...

Once and Always, an American Fighting Man

Posted by Mike Tippitt aka HCdL at 2:03 PM   

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Every time I read some psuedo-historian pretend the Civil War wasn't about the CSA attempting to illegally fracture the Union to preserve slavery I go back a re-read the Delcarations of Secession just to make sure the time-space continuum didn't hiccup.

[DumbAss Tanker]

About as much chance of that really happening as DU taking to the streets for armed action.

[Chris_]

About as much chance of that really happening as DU taking to the streets for armed action.

Not one damn rebel yell day?

[Airwolf]

For a minute there I thought Gator had found a way in.

[djones520]

Nothing in that rambling essay came anywhere close to making sense...

[DumbAss Tanker]

About as much chance of that really happening as DU taking to the streets for armed action.

Not one damn rebel yell day?

The thought that it was some God-awful Pitt/Gator mindmeld did cross my mind....

 

[Rebel]

Every time I read some psuedo-historian pretend the Civil War wasn't about the CSA attempting to illegally fracture the Union to preserve slavery I go back a re-read the Delcarations of Secession just to make sure the time-space continuum didn't hiccup.

They could have stayed in the Union and kept slavery. I.e., like the two other sorryass states that stayed that were allowed to keep their slaves until 1866.

The war was and is unconstitutional. If anyone wants to bitch about how strong and bloated the federal government is right now, don't ****ing bitch about the war between the states and be in favor of the union. That was the start of the destruction of our Republic.

[Chris_]

Every time I read some psuedo-historian pretend the Civil War wasn't about the CSA attempting to illegally fracture the Union to preserve slavery I go back a re-read the Delcarations of Secession just to make sure the time-space continuum didn't hiccup.

They could have stayed in the Union and kept slavery. I.e., like the two other sorryass states that stayed that were allowed to keep their slaves until 1866.

The war was and is unconstitutional. If anyone wants to bitch about how strong and bloated the federal government is right now, don't ****ing bitch about the war between the states and be in favor of the union. That was the start of the destruction of our Republic.

Your Sealab 2010 meets LOTR sig block is freaking hilarious.

[Rebel Yell]

Every time I read some psuedo-historian pretend the Civil War wasn't about the CSA attempting to illegally fracture the Union to preserve slavery I go back a re-read the Delcarations of Secession just to make sure the time-space continuum didn't hiccup.

They could have stayed in the Union and kept slavery. I.e., like the two other sorryass states that stayed that were allowed to keep their slaves until 1866.

The war was and is unconstitutional. If anyone wants to bitch about how strong and bloated the federal government is right now, don't ******* bitch about the war between the states and be in favor of the union. That was the start of the destruction of our Republic.

Thank God somebody gets it.  Lincoln offered to allow the South to keep the slaves if they would agree to a 40% tarriff.  That was before the war.  If the south was just about keeping slaves, then why fire a single shot?  Why didn't Lincoln free the slaves in the states that stayed in the union?  Why just free the ones that he had no jurisdiction over?

[asdf2231]

Why don't they ever call it the War Of Northern Victory? 

[Rebel]

Why don't they ever call it the War Of Northern Victory? 

Maybe the War for Bloated Government? Big Government? Removal of State's Rights? Death of the Republic?

[Rebel Yell]

Why don't they ever call it the War Of Northern Victory? 

Perhaps that's wwhat the Polish should call World War II.  The War of German Victory.  Just because you win doesn't make you right, it means you get to spin the history in your favor.




For the record, this is how the original 13th Amendment reads (before the war).......

"ARTICLE THIRTEEN, No amendment shall be made to the Constitution which will authorize or give to Congress the power to abolish or interfere, within any State, with the domestic institutions thereof, including that of persons held to labor or service by the laws of said State."

If that was on the table, then why did the South still secede?  That protected slavery, made it permenant.

[Chris_]

Why don't they ever call it the War Of Northern Victory? 

That was Lincoln.  He realized that anything less than status quo would be a mistake.  There was a very strong move in Congress to declare the Southern states "junior states" with fewer rights than "normal states."  Lincoln is the only reason that didn't happen.

Officially, there never was a "Civil War."  It was an insurrection which was suppressed.

[Rebel Yell]

Why don't they ever call it the War Of Northern Victory? 

That was Lincoln.  He realized that anything less than status quo would be a mistake.  There was a very strong move in Congress to declare the Southern states "junior states" with fewer rights than "normal states."   Lincoln is the only reason that didn't happen.

Officially, there never was a "Civil War."  It was an insurrection which was suppressed.

Reconstruction my ass.

Truth About the 14th Amendment

Thomas J. DiLorenzo

Legal scholar Gene Healy has made a powerful argument in favor of abolishing the Fourteenth Amendment to the US Constitution. When a fair vote was taken on it in 1865, in the aftermath of the War for Southern Independence, it was rejected by the Southern states and all the border states. Failing to secure the necessary three-fourths of the states, the Republican party, which controlled Congress, passed the Reconstruction Act of 1867 which placed the entire South under military rule.

The purpose of this, according to one Republican congressman, was to coerce Southern legislators to vote for the amendment at the point of a bayonet. President Andrew Johnson called this tactic absolute despotism, the likes of which had not been exercised by any British monarch for more than 500 years. For his outspokenness Johnson was impeached by the Republican Congress.

The South eventually voted to ratify the amendment, after which two Northern states Ohio and New Jersey withdrew support because of their disgust with Republican party tyranny. The Republicans just ignored this and declared the amendment valid despite their failure to secure the constitutionally-required three-fourths majority.

More at....http://www.southernmessenger.org/14th_amendment.htm

[Rebel]

Why don't they ever call it the War Of Northern Victory? 

That was Lincoln.  He realized that anything less than status quo would be a mistake.  There was a very strong move in Congress to declare the Southern states "junior states" with fewer rights than "normal states."  Lincoln is the only reason that didn't happen.

Officially, there never was a "Civil War."  It was an insurrection which was suppressed.

Insurrection? "Normal States"? Do you know how many of those "Junior States" were involved in the founding of this country? Do you know how much Southern blood was spilled just so this ****ing country could be founded? As for an insurrection, you're looking at that from today's lenses using faulty and devious history, which was written by the victors. The states were well within their rights to secede from the Union, once they viewed the Union as not operating in their best interest.

I'd suggest you do a little more reading of something other than those books written by Hollyweird writers.

[DixieBelle]

So some of you guys think that some Southerner's aren't still pissed off and that this OP is off the mark? While I think the OP is full of hyperbole, I think some valid points were made.

I won't pretend to be a Civil War scholar. I know that it goes way deeper than the miniscule paragraphs approved for our textbooks. And, I know it will be debated for ages. Bottom line, it was an ugly, horrible part of our nation's history and it left scars that may never heal. I do think it's a shame that a lot of people never go beyond the "sanitzed for your protection" version of events. What little I've read since my school days leaves me feeling many things. I've read things that made me proud to be a Southerner and things that have made me angry and ashamed.

Bottom line: we're still reeling from what happened. The civil rights movement was born out of Reconstruction. Go to any Southern town today and you can still feel tension amongst the blacks and the whites. This is all timely because of the presidential elections. Personally, as a Southerner, I want nothing more than for everyone to just get along. But mentalities have to be changed on both sides. Alas, that is a thread topic in and of itself....I really wish race relations were different. I'm sick and tired of Liberal White Guilt which I think feeds into the conflict. The whole idea of reparations stinks. It's all about making someone alive today pay for something people that lived generations ago did simply because they are dead and we resemble them. No one alive today owned slaves or was a slave. But the mentality is pervasive and as long as black community leaders play up the victim aspect and as long as whites feel resentment, it's never going to improve.

I will continue to be proud of my Southern heritage and will honor the blood spilled for the South. I had ancestors who have fought and died for this country since 1770. I really don't care if I'm politically correct in that regard.

/rant off.

[Rebel Yell]

Why don't they ever call it the War Of Northern Victory? 

That was Lincoln.  He realized that anything less than status quo would be a mistake.  There was a very strong move in Congress to declare the Southern states "junior states" with fewer rights than "normal states."  Lincoln is the only reason that didn't happen.

Officially, there never was a "Civil War."  It was an insurrection which was suppressed.

Insurrection? "Normal States"? Do you know how many of those "Junior States" were involved in the founding of this country? Do you know how much Southern blood was spilled just so this ******* country could be founded? As for an insurrection, you're looking at that from today's lenses using faulty and devious history, which was written by the victors. The states were well within their rights to secede from the Union, once they viewed the Union as not operating in their best interest.

I'd suggest you do a little more reading of something other than those books written by Hollyweird writers.

Check my sigline.

[Chris_]

Why don't they ever call it the War Of Northern Victory? 

That was Lincoln.  He realized that anything less than status quo would be a mistake.  There was a very strong move in Congress to declare the Southern states "junior states" with fewer rights than "normal states."  Lincoln is the only reason that didn't happen.

Officially, there never was a "Civil War."  It was an insurrection which was suppressed.

Insurrection? "Normal States"? Do you know how many of those "Junior States" were involved in the founding of this country? Do you know how much Southern blood was spilled just so this ****ing country could be founded? As for an insurrection, you're looking at that from today's lenses using faulty and devious history, which was written by the victors. The states were well within their rights to secede from the Union, once they viewed the Union as not operating in their best interest.

I'd suggest you do a little more reading of something other than those books written by Hollyweird writers.

That is what happened.  It was a proposal and a discussion item. It never happened but it was on the table.

Don't get mad at me.  I don't want Junior States.

And part of the Reconstruction was to NOT punish the South for the CW.  So, officially, it was decided that it never happened.

As far as the right to secede, I think you are familiar enough with Texas v. White to go back over that.

[asdf2231]

Well I think Southerners oughta be happy we let them back into the U.S. and then tried so hard to help them get along with all the newly freed Black folks. Plus there was all that urban renewal that Sherman made possible in Georgia.

  

[DixieBelle]

Well I think Southerners oughta be happy we let them back into the U.S. and then tried so hard to help them get along with all the newly freed Black folks. Plus there was all that urban renewal that Sherman made possible in Georgia.

  

LOL! You really are stirring it up aren't ya?

[Rebel]

Well I think Southerners oughta be happy we let them back into the U.S. and then tried so hard to help them get along with all the newly freed Black folks. Plus there was all that urban renewal that Sherman made possible in Georgia.

  

You'd be living in the United States of Socialist America right now if it weren't for the South. What.

[Rebel Yell]

Well I think Southerners oughta be happy we let them back into the U.S. and then tried so hard to help them get along with all the newly freed Black folks. Plus there was all that urban renewal that Sherman made possible in Georgia.

  

Speaking of Sherman's Army.......

If the Republican party was so sensitive about racial discrimination in the post-war era it would not have sent General Sherman out west just three months after the war ended to commence a campaign of genocide against the Plains Indians. The very same army that had recently conquered and occupied the Southern states led by Generals Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan mass murdered Indian men, women, and children during the winters, when families would be together, with massive Gatling gun and artillery fire. In a letter to his son a year before he died (1889), Sherman expressed his regret that his armies did not murder every last Indian in North America.

[Rebel Yell]

Well I think Southerners oughta be happy we let them back into the U.S. and then tried so hard to help them get along with all the newly freed Black folks. Plus there was all that urban renewal that Sherman made possible in Georgia.

  

You'd be living in the United States of Socialist America right now if it weren't for the South. What.

You're all welcome for 8 years of no Gore, no Kerry.  And you're welcome in advance for 4 years of no Obama, no Hillary.

[Chris_]

Well I think Southerners oughta be happy we let them back into the U.S. and then tried so hard to help them get along with all the newly freed Black folks. Plus there was all that urban renewal that Sherman made possible in Georgia.

 :stirpot:  :-)

You'd be living in the United States of Socialist America right now if it weren't for the South. What.

We damn near are, anyway.  But thanks for helping keep it at bay a bit.