Hello All,
Michael, as you can tell by the responses your topic reveals much about how
the American Civil War still affects Americans still today. We have re-enactions
of Civil War battles at battlefields where we can witness how the soldiers lived, what
they ate, the clothes they wore, and how the battles were fought.
I live in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, once considered the bread-basket
of the Confederacy. Many battles were fought here, and the people are still
very proud of the roles their ancestors played in the war. I am 54 years old and
recall the 100th anniversary celebration of the war back in 1961 in our area. It
was impressive and instilled pride in the Old South. As I grew and studied more,
I grew to hate the Civil War for what it did to my nation. Now, I see that it was
a part of my country's painful evolution or progression in what human rights are.
I think Seafarer John was correct in his explanation of history's view. But another
by-product of the war, (for the United States) was that it blew off the door for
human rights. I speak only of the U.S., because other nations had forbade slave-trade,
slavery, was embracing women's rights, but the Civil War was our moment to
grow or die when it came to human rights. After the war, many tried to put the
door back, but as slow as change as been, human rights have progressed due to
the Civil War. I honour the blood of both sides because ...I must. It is my heritage and
my life is better due to their sacrifices and pain. I am married to a well-educated woman,
have an autistic son whose life would be so different without the Civil War.
This little space is not adequate to explain my reasoning for the above sentence, but
like the social and civil right changes Lyndon Johnson brought in the 1960's, the Civil War opened my country to a wonderous, slow change.
By the way, Michael, my father's branch left Germany in the 1750's and my mother's
branch left Germany in 1826 from the Black Forest area, I believe, Wielberburg or something
like that...I know it was near Wurrentburg. Not sure of my spelling.
Take Care,
Fieldthistle
<message edited by Fieldthistle on Thu, 08/20/09 3:27 AM>
