Originally Posted By Mr X <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/06/confederate-history-month_n_527363.html" target="_blank">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...363.html</a> Let's see, what can the Virginia governor do to continue his extreme right wing agenda? Ah HA! Bring back an old, divisive tradition! ***Virginia's Republican Governor Bob McDonnell has declared April to be "Confederate History Month," the first time in 8 years that such a proclamation has been issued in the state. In the statement, McDonnell says that the Confederate history "should not be forgotten, but instead should be studied, understood and remembered," and that its leaders "fought for their homes and communities and Commonwealth in a time very different than ours today."*** ***McDonnell's two Democratic predecessors -- Mark Warner and Tim Kaine -- refused to issue such proclamations, the Washington Post reports. "Republican governors George Allen and Jim Gilmore issued similar proclamations. But in 2002, Warner broke with their action, calling such proclamations, a 'lightning rod' that does not help bridge divisions between whites and blacks in Virginia."*** This guy is a real piece of work.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox I'm betting he's gonna pack a loaded sidearm and march with the wingnuts through Virginia, on April 19th. They cannot take loaded weapons into D.C. proper, but they're going to get as close as possible in VA and protest their brains out in support of the Second Amendment, and to celebrate the 235th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington. It's also the 15th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing of the Murrah Federal Building. Coincidence? I don't think so. These guys are psycho crazy. Our country does not need them. Ever.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones I think American history is as horrid as Confederate history, yet we still celebrate the Fourth of July.
Originally Posted By DAR "should not be forgotten, but instead should be studied, understood and remembered," That part I agree with. Now it shouldn't be remembered fondly but as the darkest chapter in our nation's history.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Now it shouldn't be remembered fondly but as the darkest chapter in our nation's history. >>> Somehow, I don't think that's how the current Governor would see it.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 McDonnell does seem to be going out of his way to pander to the wingnuts. He can't be unaware that this is a thumb in the eye to his black constituents. And he can't be unaware that THAT IS THE VERY APPEAL of this measure to his more bigoted constituents, most of whom couldn't give a rip about actually studying 19th century history; they just love the thumb in the eye black people just received. This is the same guy who went out of his way to cut gay people, and only gay people, out of the state's non-discrimination policy, which was existing law. So now it's perfectly legal again to fire someone in Virginia just for being gay. There was NO REASON to do this other than to pander to the worst instincts of the wingnuts.
Originally Posted By Mr X You are right. Sometimes I just lose faith.....it's hard to fight the good fight knowing so many people are on the wrong side of justice and equality.
Originally Posted By ecdc My dad sent me pictures of a bookstore in Richmond. The Civil War section was called "the War of Northern Aggression." A southern congressman used that same language the other day. It may seem insane to some of us, but there is a strain of Confederate pride still in the south. They see it as unconnected to slavery, but then, accuracy was never a strong suit for people like that.
Originally Posted By Mr X On Easter Sunday I went to the Yasukuni war shrine and museum of Japan (didn't enter the museum, but checked around the outskirts near where the proud (kamikaze?) pilot statue was located). Found some evidence that there are elements of Japan that might pose WWII as a "war of aggression" against the brave and noble heart of the Japanese Empire, if they could get away with it. Some of the propaganda read like something you might find out of North Korea. Here are some direct quotes regarding the one tribunal Judge who sided with Japan... "The Tokyo Tribunal was none other than formalized vengeance sought with arrogance by the victorious Allied Powers upon a defeated Japan" "The prosecution instigated by the Allies was replete with misconceptions of facts, being therefore groundless" "With, as the concluding part of his judgement foresaw, the Allies' craze for retaliation cooling down and the biased outlook on history being corrected, the insightful view presented by Dr. Pal has now gained recognition..." In other words, revisionist history can say anything it wants to. Apparently, some folks in the South want to go that route. Interesting (to say the least). I say...bring it on.
Originally Posted By Anatole69 ^^ The south considers itself to have been a separate country, hence the war of Northern aggression, or the war between the states. The North puts its spin on it by calling it a civil war. While I feel slavery was in no way justified, I actually agree that civil war is a misnomer. - Anatole
Originally Posted By Mr X On Easter Sunday I went to the Yasukuni war shrine and museum of Japan (didn't enter the museum, but checked around the outskirts near where the proud (kamikaze?) pilot statue was located). Found some evidence that there are elements of Japan that might pose WWII as a "war of aggression" against the brave and noble heart of the Japanese Empire, if they could get away with it. Some of the propaganda read like something you might find out of North Korea. Here are some direct quotes regarding the one tribunal Judge who sided with Japan... "The Tokyo Tribunal was none other than formalized vengeance sought with arrogance by the victorious Allied Powers upon a defeated Japan" "The prosecution instigated by the Allies was replete with misconceptions of facts, being therefore groundless" "With, as the concluding part of his judgement foresaw, the Allies' craze for retaliation cooling down and the biased outlook on history being corrected, the insightful view presented by Dr. Pal has now gained recognition..." In other words, revisionist history can say anything it wants to. Apparently, some folks in the South want to go that route. Interesting (to say the least). I say...bring it on.
Originally Posted By Anatole69 ^^ Actually the Tokyo tribunal has been claimed to be biased and not fair like the Nuermberg trials... I have read that from western based Japanese scholars, though I totally disagree with the Japanese Nationalism behind the Yasukuni shrine. - Anatole
Originally Posted By skinnerbox If these knuckleheads are so hellbent on state sovereignty and states' rights, etc... why don't we finally cut them loose, financially? The Southern states suck up more Federal general assistance dollars per capita than any other region of the country. Federal assistance has been keeping this part of the country from sinking underwater for decades. I say it's time to cut off their free lunch and let them fend for themselves. Let these GOP jerks explain to their constituents why their state coffers are now empty, and general assistance programs have to end. If that's what it takes to get the non-Republican voters off their cans and into the voting booths, so be it. Dems have got to get their head in the game and start taking politics more seriously, as their GOP voting counterparts do. I don't want to see folks suffer anymore than they have already, but geez! Wake up, Southern Dems! Get engaged and vote these jerks out of office!!
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder So when does this guy proudly display his Klan membership card?
Originally Posted By ecdc While I can't speak for this particular individual, in fairness, not all southern pride is rooted in blatant racism. A lot of these people no doubt don't consider themselves racist, just like the tea baggers. But they are woefully ignorant of history and the myriad of factors surrounding race relations and issues in the United States. To this day, plenty of southerners insist the Civil War wasn't about slavery but was about states' rights. They're wrong and totally ignorant, of course. But that's why they insist they're not racist. It's the real problem with race in this country: we can't confront the issues because they're more rooted in ignorance than blatant racism or white supremacy. People think, "I have black friends and have nothing against black people," so they think they're exempt from education that might give them a broader perspective on race issues. So we end up with stupid statements like, "Gee, when do we get white history month?" or "Affirmitive action is reverse racism." No, it isn't, you ignorant dolt.
Originally Posted By barboy So you disagree with the A. Bakke vs U of Califonia, Davis decision concerning quotas? It looks like you do ecdc I don't. The Burger's got that one right.
Originally Posted By Mr X Update! ***Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell's apologized on Wednesday for declaring April as "Confederate History Month," but failing to mention slavery anywhere in his proclamation. "The proclamation issued by this Office designating April as Confederate History Month contained a major omission. The failure to include any reference to slavery was a mistake, and for that I apologize to any fellow Virginian who has been offended or disappointed," McDonnell said in a statement.*** ... ***But earlier, McDonnell told the Washington Post that slavery was not "significant" enough to be included in the proclamation: McDonnell said Tuesday that the move was designed to promote tourism in the state, which next year will mark the 150th anniversary of the start of the war. McDonnell said he did not include a reference to slavery because "there were any number of aspects to that conflict between the states. Obviously, it involved slavery. It involved other issues. But I focused on the ones I thought were most significant for Virginia."*** <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/07/bob-mcdonnell-leaves-out_n_528733.html" target="_blank">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...733.html</a>
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones "That part I agree with. Now it shouldn't be remembered fondly but as the darkest chapter in our nation's history." Completely true, but then I can't see anyone thinking that and then celebrating Independence Day with a straight face. Who really got independence? You had to be white, male and own land. We were founded by a bunch of hypocrites. But we still have the BBQs and light the fireworks and sing the anthem. If that's okay, why not light up the grill on Confederate Day?
