VA Governor and Confederate Heritage Month

[Dave Roberts]

[Jonathan]

This discussion makes me want to dust off my copies of Shelby Foote and James&Walter Kennedy.

[ET]

Dave, you need to edit the links. They don't work.

Personally, I think Rawls wrote the better commentary. He asks questions that go beyond the typical "it was all about slavery" shallowness and display some of the more complex issues of history that are often overlooked in any era. Slavery most certainly was the catalyst for the whole mess, but when 90% or more of the population didn't own a slave, making slavery out to be the issue of the day for everyone who fought for one side or the other is not historically accurate.

[Dave Roberts]

Many from the area in which I grew up fought solely because Confederate Conscription Agents took them for the duration--or until they were able to desert.

[ET]

[William Thornton]

There's a guy running for an open seat in the House of Representates who is running commercials now, a conservative Republican. The background music in the ad is the most memorable song from Ken Burn's Civil War series, Ashokan Farewell (hear it . I love the tune, think it is a genuinely inspired piece, and will always associate it with Burns' series. Wonder if this guy is trying to catch some of the Heritage vote?

[Chris]

[Dave Roberts]

Today there is a new response from a group of Baptist ministers who object to a number of Gov. McDonnell's actions including this proclamation.
Interesting to see what the response will be.

[KeithE]

[Chris]

[Dave Roberts]