As the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War approaches, most Americans say the war between the North and South is still relevant to American politics and public life today.More than half of Americans (56%) say the Civil War is still relevant, according to the latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted March 30-April 3 among 1,507 adults. Nearly four-in-ten (39%) say the Civil War is important historically but has little current relevance.
In a nation that has long endured deep racial divisions, the history of that era still elicits some strong reactions. Nearly half of the public (46%) says it is inappropriate for today's public officials to praise the leaders of the Confederate states during the war; 36% say such statements are appropriate.
Nonetheless, a majority (58%) say they have no particular reaction to the Confederate flag, the symbol of the South. Among those who have a reaction to the flag, more than three times as many say they have a negative reaction as a positive reaction (30% to 9%).
More at the link above. An interesting correlation would be to cross-tabulate opinion on the Civil War with party identfication. The Pew results find 37 percent independent, 32 Democrat, and 25 Republican. No doubt Democrats are most likely to have negative reaction to the Confederate Flag. Which reminds me, the attacks on people as racist who show any pride in Southern heritage are pretty pathetic. Yeah, Charles Johnson, Scott Lemieux and a few other progressive losers, I'm talkin' to you.
Of course, Abe Lincoln didn't "save" the Union, which was a voluntary association of free people. Instead, he subjugated people who wanted to restore self-government, and imposed a powerful central government over them.
ReplyDeleteSince then, the DC Empire has been based on force and fraud, rather than freedom.
Most Americans have little if any knowledge about their history. More can name the judges on American Idol than the president of the Confeceracy. Their knowledge of the War Between the States is based on Gone with the Wind if they have any notions at all.
ReplyDeleteJust ask any college students if the Constitution forbids leaving the union or where the first discussion of leaving the union occurred and when.
Old Rebel seems to be a typical historical revisionist. The South had no problem using the Federal Government to restrict States Rights when it forced the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.
ReplyDeleteThis act made any Federal marshal or other official who did not arrest an alleged runaway slave liable to a fine of $1,000. All Law-enforcement officers were now required to arrest anyone even suspected of being a runaway slave even if the only evidence was any claimant's sworn testimony of ownership. The person accused of being a slave could not ask for a jury trial or testify on his or her own behalf. Also any person aiding a runaway slave in any way was subject to six months' imprisonment and a $1,000 fine.
As a yankee bigot i know that the South is a problem. The Civil War and the civil rights act of 1964 are from their abuse.
ReplyDelete