Outrage over removing US Confederate monuments

[psalm90]

Growing up and living in one of the states which formed the Union during the Civil War, I have to say that I grew up with a sense of pride over the Union victory.

It was not until the recent demonstrations that I have begun to appreciate the sensitivity of removing the monuments recalling the Confederacy, and even the Rebellion. Because of the devastation of the Confederacy states during that war, which ended over 150 years ago, am I wrong in stating that feelings run deep in most people in the former Confederate states? Undoubtedly, the war affected almost every family in those states, and family histories are probably well-preserved along with the old sentiments.

The US seems to have reconciled itself with post-war Japan and Germany, and that conflict (World War Two) ended only 72 years ago.

Is my question inappropriate to ask, why does it seem that the bitterness has lasted so long within the US, about that distant war? I’ve heard that people from the former Union states are still referred to as Yankees, to say the least.

 

[TechieGuy]

am I wrong in stating that feelings run deep in most people in the former Confederate states?

As a 50 year old lifelong Texan, I would say, yes, you would be wrong in stating that those feelings run deep in most Texans.

There are a very few who feel strongly, but for most here, it is just part of history along with cowboys and the Alamo.

Things might be different in places like Georgia and Virginia where large scale fighting took place. Fortunately, there were only a few battles in Texas, almost all of them naval encounters with comparatively little loss of lives.

 

[Crusaderbear]

Living in SW Virginia, I can say there is a small, but vocal minority who’s feeling run deep as you say. There are many who believe it is a footnote on history, best placed in a museum. This is where I stand on the issue.

Part of the problem is these people memorialized by monuments often were more than just rebellious soldiers, many established communities and did much to develop their home states. Yes, many owned slaves, but that was the times they lived in, that is sad, and by today’s standards, was wrong. But it was the past.

The civil war was unique in that it ended with what appears to be relatively little animosity between the opposing forces, it is only in recent times, and people separated by several generations from the source, that problems have been arising. I don’t really know if its just related to the current political issues and infighting, or if its finally boiling over from longstanding problems.

 

[joeybaggz]

Living in SW Virginia, I can say there is a small, but vocal minority who’s feeling run deep as you say. There are many who believe it is a footnote on history, best placed in a museum.

The civil war was unique in that it ended with what appears to be relatively little animosity between the opposing forces, it is only in recent times, and people separated by several generations from the source, that problems have been arising. I don’t really know if its just related to the current political issues and infighting, or if its finally boiling over from longstanding problems.

As someone who was born in Dixie and lived in the South, Crusaderbear’s statement points to the truth about the South and its forces. The average confederate soldier really didn’t care about slavery, they were men fighting an invading army bent on destroying their homes and families. Grant’s concession of 40 acres and a mule illustrated in more than words, the desire to end the conflict and return life to normal, and not treat the vanquished as criminals. Thus, little animosity between the average surviving confederate soldier and the victor. There are no monuments to slavery, only to men who nobly fought to defend their homes and their loved ones. Even the leader of the CFA, Robert E. Lee was no in favor of slavery, and desperately desire that war between the North and South not occur.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

There isn’t “bitterness” and those of us who are “Yankees” (me for example; I spent the first 20 years of my life born and raised in a northern state and the next few decades living below the Mason-Dixon line) do not take it as a pejorative. I might object if you called me a “cracker” or a “redneck” but “Yankee” is mostly a gentle joke. There is even a team called the New York Yankees and a song called Yankee Doodle Dandy…we could not care less.

The only “bitterness” people are feeling, and it’s being felt by many in the North as well as the South, is that political correctness in some cases has gotten out of hand to the point of wanting to destroy and sweep under the rug the sacrifices and deaths of fellow Americans on the Confederate side who were fighting to maintain the only way of life they knew. In those days, many if not most Northerners were not all that interested in giving equal rights to African-Americans either; the real fight was to preserve the union of all the States under a strong central, federal government.

Sure, there are people in the North who like to think of the South as a bunch of ignorant, gun-toting racist rednecks. There are people in the South who like to think of the North as a bunch of sanctimonious and secretly racist hypocrites butting in where they don’t belong. There are some people in the South and in the North who fit these stereotypes but there are also many who do not.

Kindly don’t judge the USA by what you read in the media. The media plays up the conflicts between us. If it was that bad then you wouldn’t have all kinds of people in the North rushing to contribute to victims of Hurricane Harvey.

 

[TechieGuy]

The only “bitterness” people are feeling, and it’s being felt by many in the North as well as the South, is that political correctness in some cases has gotten out of hand to the point of wanting to destroy and sweep under the rug the sacrifices and deaths of fellow Americans on the Confederate side who were fighting to maintain the only way of life they knew.

I’m one of the - I think - probably majority that don’t care much either way, however I do see why Black people might not want to see a bunch of statues of Confederates.

Since I’m not emotionally invested in the sacrifices and deaths of those long-dead Confederate soldiers, I’m okay with the statues coming down.

 

[randomuser]

Is my question inappropriate to ask, why does it seem that the bitterness has lasted so long within the US, about that distant war? I’ve heard that people from the former Union states are still referred to as Yankees, to say the least.

The only “Yankees” I have ever heard of are the baseball team.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

The only “Yankees” I have ever heard of are the baseball team.

You must be on the youngish side.

Americans (as in USA) have been often referred to as Yankees, from the British isles and Europe to South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia (often as “Yank”) for short. This predates both World Wars. (C.f. Mark Twain’s “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court”).

There used to be an old joke (meaning, 1950s or so) that made the rounds:

To a European, an American was a Yankee.

To Americans, Northerners were Yankees.

To Northerners, New Englanders were Yankees.

To New Englanders, Vermonters were Yankees.

To Vermonters, a Yankee was somebody who ate pie for breakfast.

(P.S. delicious, especially apple with a slice of cheddah cheese dontcha know).

 

[Crusaderbear]

Yankees usually applies to those from New England…

 

[Ridgerunner]

I live in southern Missouri. The Civil War was extremely murderous in my state;worse than in most, I think. People here aren’t “eaten up” with being southern or about the Civil War, but anybody who knows anything about it has problems with desecrating graves or monuments.

Not far from where I sit is a Union/Confederate cemetery. In it are statues; one to Gen. Nathaniel Lyons, a really ruthless Union man who brought the war to Mo when the state tried to remain neutral (a vain hope, of course). Another statue is to Gen Sterling Price, a former governor and Confederate general, known by his men as “Old Pap”. Lyons was killed in a battle here against Price’s men. Nobody goes to worship at the feet of the Price statue and certainly not that of Lyons. But I think it would be deeply resented if anyone desecrated either of them.
Lyons was a villain in a way that Price was not, but he was still part of history, not only of the state itself, but of this particular part of the state.

 

[on_the_hill]

What I’d like to do is buy a piece of property in Atlanta, GA and erect a statue of Gen. Sherman. Then I’d tell people it had to stay there because it is part of their heritage.

 

[ltwin]

Growing up and living in one of the states which formed the Union during the Civil War, I have to say that I grew up with a sense of pride over the Union victory.

It was not until the recent demonstrations that I have begun to appreciate the sensitivity of removing the monuments recalling the Confederacy, and even the Rebellion. Because of the devastation of the Confederacy states during that war, which ended over 150 years ago, am I wrong in stating that feelings run deep in most people in the former Confederate states? Undoubtedly, the war affected almost every family in those states, and family histories are probably well-preserved along with the old sentiments.

The US seems to have reconciled itself with post-war Japan and Germany, and that conflict (World War Two) ended only 72 years ago.

Is my question inappropriate to ask, why does it seem that the bitterness has lasted so long within the US, about that distant war? I’ve heard that people from the former Union states are still referred to as Yankees, to say the least.

From South Carolina here. I don’t really think there is bitterness between the two regions. What you’re seeing on TV–the white supremacists and ANTIFA fighting each other–are just doing what agitators always do–agitate for one cause or another.

I think most Southerners couldn’t care less what happens to a Robert E. Lee statue. As someone who cares about history, I think memorials to the Confederacy should be preserved as long as they are placed in proper context.

What I think does make some people bitter is when people from outside of the community attempt to force the issue one way or another. Whether a statue on public property stays or goes should be a decision reached by lawful representatives of the public–whether that be city or state officials depending on the circumstances. It should be done after thoughtful and respectful deliberation–not as a reaction to mob violence or pressure from outside groups.

 

[Shakuhachi]

I am more concerned about the underlying racism (and that includes my own family in Alabama). The monuments have become symbols for their racist beliefs not historical virtues. And they are certainly not alone.

 

[JackyB]

Quite right, I’m from Africa and all Americans were known as Yanks