Alabama clergy are calling for an end to the state’s observance of three Confederate holidays, arguing they are rooted in racism and division.
Dozens of members of the activist group Faith in Action Alabama gathered outside the First White House of the Confederacy in Montgomery earlier this week, rallying in protest of a trio of Alabama holidays honoring members of the Confederacy, which existed from 1861-1865.
Alabama is just one of five states that officially observe holidays in honor of the Confederacy; the others include Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. A handful of other southern states recognize Confederate holidays, but don’t officially observe them.
Now, interfaith activists say enough is enough, and are calling on the state to abolish the divisive holidays once and for all.
What Confederate Holidays Does Alabama Celebrate?
The protest was held during the state’s observance of Confederate Memorial Day on April 27. Confederate Memorial Day is the most widely-observed Confederate holiday in the south, but Alabama also celebrates two other holidays in honor of Confederate president Jefferson Davis and Confederate general Robert E. Lee – neither of whom were born in Alabama.
Confederate Memorial Day – Last Monday in April
Alabama formally adopted Confederate Memorial Day in 1901.
The holiday was originally suggested by Confederate widows in 1866, and first adopted by Georgia in 1874.
Robert E. Lee’s Birthday – Third Monday in January
Alabama lawmakers adopted Robert E. Lee’s birthday as a state holiday in 1901, and later combined it with the federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr. In Alabama, the two holidays are celebrated on the same day, a pairing which has drawn criticism for decades.
Jefferson Davis’ Birthday – First Monday in June
Alabama is just one of two states which still honors the birthday of Jefferson Davis, a number that has steadily declined from six states in the early 20th century.
Faith in Action
Dozens of members of the interfaith clergy activist group Faith in Action traveled from all over the state, gathering in Montgomery to formally call for an end to the state’s observance of holidays which they say reflect “a past rooted in slavery and division.”
"I'm here today because Alabama is one of the states that still celebrates Confederate holidays," explained Rev. Deanne Ford of Crosscreek Baptist Church at the Faith in Action protest in Montgomery.
"There's a better story we can be telling. The story of the Confederacy is a story of division, but we have so much we can celebrate. Resiliency, unity, community, we can come together and love our neighbors and celebrating a holiday that divides is not loving our neighbor."
"We are standing here intentionally at the first White House of the Confederacy because this place represents a painful history that continues to impact our present," added Imam Mikal Sabree of the Muslim Center of Montgomery. “We must ask ourselves, what does it say about us if we continue to celebrate holidays rooted in division and oppression?"
Is the Past the Past?
Southern politicians have been trying to get Confederate holidays taken off the books for decades, with increasing frequency in the last ten years, to little avail. Even compromise attempts – such as separating Robert E. Lee Day from the shared observance with Martin Luther King Jr. Day – routinely fail to make it out of committee.
In fact, defenders of Confederate celebrations have only dug their heels in against opposition; Just last year, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves declared April Confederate Heritage Month.
With that in mind, it seems unlikely that this protest will lead to immediate legislative action – but it does force a broader (and perhaps uncomfortable) conversation out into the open.
What do you make of these protests? Can a celebration of the Confederacy truly be separated from its support for slavery, or is it time to retire them?
85 comments
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Thomas Edwin Peterson
I wear Grey pocket t shirt daily with blue jeans. In memory of those who fought in the civil war. I hold dear to my heart Memorial day I observe our United States armed forces and those who served be they confederate , union or our US armed forces. And I have a Bless the American Soldier on my front door. I don't care who likes my v view or who doesn't. Learn the facts of our country and know it is possible to honor all who served. 🙏
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Do ya’’ drive a pickup truck and wear your hair in a mullet, too?
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Alexander Clarke
Like Trump the deep South can not accept the fact that they lost. They are still fighting the Civil War. They still want a superior white class with blacks and browns subservient to their rule. They are and always have been deep red states that are a Christian Nationalist dream.
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Mother Elizabeth
I believe all people should be treated equal because they are equal. To be biased against people because of race, gender, sexual orientation, etc makes no sense. It is criticizing Gods (or whoever or whatever’s) work, for it is that that life is created. Obviously, discrimination is wrong. Jesus did not say Thou Shall Hate Thy Neighbor. Even when the disciples came to a pagan city and wanted to destroy it, Jesus did not do so. He said I have not come for them. Leave them alone. He was fine accepting them as they were. As wrong as it is, if there are Southerners who feel they must celebrate Confederate days, let them, but not as state or federal holidays. Eventually it will die out on its own.
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Ari Joseph Bertine
It's Alabama. If you ask the average person to list the three most racist states in the USA, Alabama is going to be one of them. Of course they want to honor the Confederacy. They see it as a symbol of anti-black power, whether they are honest enough to own it or not. They wish to fight for white supremacy like the Confederacy did, and this is how they keep that spark alive. They are not going to give it up while racism is still thriving, so that is what needs to be dug out most aggressively.
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Rev Ned
Treason, past, present, and future, needs to be punished, not rewarded nor celebrated.
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David Buck
Take your charges of 'racism' and stick them where the sun doesn't shine. I am so sick and tired of "racism this" and "racism that".
And while you are at it, take your 'treason' and stick them in the same place. Having joined a political union it is NOT treason to then change your mind and leave. Just ask Alberta - who are totally in the right wanting to leave that bastion of extreme wokeism that used to be Canada.
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Joseph Saffomilla
Ned should look up the word treason, it is not a good look to use words you don't know the menaing of, or just throw around to suit your opinions.
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Merle A Clark
The Confederacy is part of some people’s culture . My people were from the North and some died freeing the same people that call them racists , yt , other horrible names . Personally I have no problem with celebrating Confederate history
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Rev Ned
So the Lincoln assassination is a part of the Booth family culture and should be celebrated?!?
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Dr. Mike
Well, doesn't that depend on if one is a member of the Booth Family?
I am not so do not give a rusty screw
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Michael Arthur Lueras
If every person who had supported The C.S.A. in The Civil War had been hanged for HIGH TREASON in 1865 The World would be A Better Place Today. But because The U.S.A. has been The Great Satan from 1789 on things got worse for The Whole World after The Civil War and Satan Incarnate (Donald Trump) occupies The White House RIGHT NOW!!! AMEN!?!?!?
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Joseph Saffomilla
Seek help Michael, you so obviously need it, when Vance moves into the White House I imagine it will be a bad day to be around you. I don't know if TDS can be cured, but I will pray that you can be helped.
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James A. Ridings
IF we can honor a very popular black preacher who was an admitted adulterer and therefore a hypocrite and a liar (and we can do so because of the many good things he did), then we can continue to honor Robert E. Lee for the many good and honorable things he did during his lifetime.
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Michael Arthur Lueras
You are a Satan Worshipper and you are on your way to Hell and I thank Allah for that. Amen!?
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Joseph Saffomilla
So, you and the falkse profet can read what is in a mans heart now? Get over yourself.
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Roy S. Thorpe
Living in the past is for some people because facing the realities of the future are overwhelming to their narrow minds! Just pray extra hard for them!
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Joseph Saffomilla
Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it. In this case a certain group of people are trying to erase and rewrite the history of the Confederacy. It is not the simple slavery vs. freedom that the progressives would have people believe, and history shows that. As an example, the Emancipation Proclamation, signed Jan 1, 1863, well after the war started, only freed the slaves in the South, and the Yankees kept theirs until well after the war ended. This alone kind of negates the simple slavery caused it, and history needs to be preserved to teach some people this.
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ronald
history should never be erased. it is part of our heritage and will always be in some peoples mind. racist is a term applied to everything now days and it's degrading. We really need to be working on eleminating the socialist liberal mind set that is trying to rewrite our history to suit there needs.
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Charles Kenneth Schneider
The goal isn't to rewrite history. If you wish to celebrate these moments from the past, that's fine. Take a day off from work, stay home, and celebrate these events to your heart's content. But, don't hijack the government to join you in your celebration.
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Michael Hunt
Liberals aren't trying to rewrite history, they're trying to tell the full truth about it. It's conservatives who are trying to rewrite history by downplaying the horrors of slavery and diminish the accomplishments made be people of color.
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Leland Alverize Tremblay Jr
Stick with the basics... they are celebrating Treason. The Confederate States tried to secede from the United States of America, resulting in the American Civil War. They are celebrating waging war against their own(current) country. Bigots are everywhere and will try to justify all actions/thoughts. Many often confuse "historical pride" with treason. The United States of America honor ALL that served/serve in Military and ALL that lost life during battle in two established National Holidays. As individuals, need to stop dividing the Country and become United, or, we have the potential of collapsing completely.
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Thomas Johnson
In these troubling times it is important to keep history alive even if it’s not popular so we don’t repeat history especially about slavery as some currently would love to control us today which is a form of slavery.
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Rickie Lee Sands
I believe all history should be available forever so we can avoid repeating it and use the information to remove/repair the damage. However, splashing it in our faces is not great. So removing some statues ( not all ) depending on their message, removing dedicated holidays, slanting teaching to change the message are some of the ways that should be stopped. Mostly, the full story should be relegated to museums and part of the overall history teaching in schools to provide as neutral a view as possible.
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Rev. Hugh Scott Canter
As Americans and as a Christian, we should learn from our history or we are doomed to repeat it!
Ask yourself one question!
Seeing as no American was alive during this worst time in American history, why should something like this to the point that someone is enraged or acts out in violence because of something from the Civil War era. Love one another, help thy neighbor, forgive their transgressions, and never forget Gods Love for Us That’s Never Ending! GOD BLESS AMERICA
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Christopher Michael Carlson
Boo Hoo, they need to get over themselves. Confederate Veterans are officially US Veterans as odd and that may sound. Funny thing is General Lee spent DECADES in the US Army and only a few in the Confederate Army by sniveling babies only remember the CSA service. To be clear his service did not end after the civil war, in fa t he taught at West Point after the War. The Civil War was also not just about Slavery as much as the same babies would like you to believe and instill in their own children's heads but thats a conversation for another time.
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Christopher Michael Carlson
Although, I'm not sure it was worth even commenting now cause I see there is no actual conversation or debate in these comments. Just accusations, ignorance and hate. I'm out!
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Michael Hunt
What was the Civil War also about?
Lee taught at Washington College, not West Point.
No, Confederate veterans are not considered US veterans.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/06/29/fact-check-confederate-veterans-not-considered-u-s-veterans/3263720001/
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Joseph Saffomilla
You are wrong on all counts there Mikey, perhaps a little research would help to avoid future embarassement, and help to curb the feelings over fact syndrom you seem to be caught in.
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Rev. B.D. Rees
When will ya'll realize "THE SOUTH LOST"? Slavery was indeed the reason for the Civil War! With that being said, I would think that as a HUMAN being one would have enough common sense and empathy to realize that "ONE PERSON DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO OWN ANOTHER"!! That is indeed what these celebrations imply by their sanctions from the State Government, celebrating the act of owning slaves was a right and not a disgusting way of life not only for the slave but the hatefilled Bigotry of the so-called owner!
We as AMERICANS live under the "CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES", a SECULAR document, Not under the guise of a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N Nation of which we ARE NOT!! We are a Nation of many Religions, and many beliefs. These sudo celebrations are nothing more than a way for these States to mock and belittle the fact that the South was beaten and submitted to the North their sword of surrender. Remembering their dead, "MEMORIAL DAY" is the day for that. History tells us of the "TRAITORS" Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis were to the sitting Government of the time, and the Constitution they both swore an oath to. Jefferson Davis was Secretary of War in 1853, and Robert E. Lee was Superintendent of West Point until 1855. Both swore an oath to uphold the Constitution and like Benedict Arnold they both betrayed that oath and became traitors!! This is a harsh reality for those in the South that think they were heros. These celebrations are nothing more than Bigotry in a State sanctioned package of Hate!! One would think that in the 21st century we would be beyond that and instead be in a place of peace within all of our peoples, however, the current government of our Nation has restored the Discrimination, Bigotry, and Hate that these men so adequately represented. It is a shame and a Blot on our history then as it is now.
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Toni Owen
You on fact are the one that clearly is full of hate and speaking words if complete bigotry. You are wrong in your opinions of how it went down and who exactly was the demons in this ancient story. However I do agree that to move on the past must be erased. Along with any black Holliday and black history months, Martin Luther King days and all of it. If one race history is to be erased it all must be erased.
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Michael Hunt
How is B. D. suggesting that the past must be erased?
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Rev. B.D. Rees
If I'm full of hate what does that make you? I can think of some words....
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Christopher Michael Carlson
Yes, the South Lost but NO Slavery was not the only reason for the Civil War. By the way, ALL civil war soldiers from both sides are considered Veterans and while there are none left now there were pensions and benefits given to them before they all died.. You can go ahead and Fact Check that too!
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Rev. B.D. Rees
Slavery my friend was not the only reason the Civil War was fought, IT WAS INDEED THE MAIN REASON!! Pensions and benefits were one thing, but fighting a war over something as MORONIC as SLAVERY? Who cares if they got pensions... They LOST because of their Stupid Fears and Bigotries that led them to war in the FIRST PLACE!! The point to all of this is the FACT that "ONE PERSON SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO OWN ANOTHER", Period....end of statement!!
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Darcy Sargent
AMEN 🙏
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Billy Coley
The days of worshipping traitors and enemies of the US should have been wrapped in the white flag of surrender, as both Lee and Davis spoke about after the war ended
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Steven Ferrell
Some people complain about everything, want to erase history. We may not like it, but it is history. The side those men fought for I did not agree with, but I can also respect their military knowledge.
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TrudieJ
Y'all's don't like a holiday?
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TrudieJ
Y'all's don't like a holiday?
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Rev Ned
Traitors all!
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Wilberta M. Berry
Yes it's obviously racism and promoting hatred. However, why are these people constantly wanting to celebrate losers. The Confederates LOST!. Celebrating them is not going to change that fact!. These guys are on the losing side of history. No celebration will ever rewrite their losers history.
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Jessica Dawn Treichler
The Confederate Memorial Day was adopted by the confederate widows! Why should they not have the same opportunity to celebrate or remember family members and ancestors? Since confederacy soldiers are often disregarded much the same way Vietnam soldiers were why should they not be celebrated by the people that loved them just because they do it independently doesn’t make it wrong. Just because the confederacy lost doesn’t mean we still can’t remember OUR dead. (I had ancestors fight on both sides, grew up in North, now live in South!) There were a lot of people that disagreed with Vietnam at the time. Those soldiers when they came home were both mentally and physically abused but yet today we do acknowledge them and acknowledge the wrongs that were done to those soldiers because so many disagreed with them going to war. How is the Confederacy soldiers any different? Please everyone let’s remember if we forget history it is bound to repeat. There is nothing wrong with those that grew up in the south to continue to remember their leaders like for the same reason. For all of you that are convinced that the Civil War was all about hate. You need to forget what you were taught in school and actually start to study on your own. It started because of the Industrial Revolution, money and greed. The emancipation proclamation only freed, southern confederate slaves, look that up! Any slaves that were outside the confederacy, including in the north were allowed to keep their slaves. Yes, slavery got tied up in it all. Let’s also not forget that the United States did not invent slavery. There has not been any single race that has not been enslaved. Also, let’s add that if people want the confederate states or some of them to stop celebrating these holidays, then we also need to get rid of things like Columbus Day. Columbus didn’t discover America the native Americans native Alaskans native Hawaiians even already lived here. Columbus didn’t discover anything. He opened this land up to abuse and disease. Do you not think what has been done to the indigenous people of this land since Columbus came here was horrible, tragic and abusive. Look back in your history books the Native American Indians didn’t celebrate Thanksgiving with the pilgrims. So what’s good for one is good for all! Don’t want The confederate states to celebrate their dead or their part of history rather like many people don’t want me to celebrate the fact that I’m white and call it racism. Then we also need to get rid of things like Columbus, start rethinking all of the other holidays and what they’re actually based on. My bottom line here everyone, the confederacy and history is not all about hate, and if you think any different, then you’ve not learned the full history do your homework.
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Gayle Ventimiglia
This should have happened years ago. It’s the symbol for HATE and RACISM, but thanks to our current administration HATE and RACISM is at an all time high.
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Charles Grant Miller
People really need to learn about history of the civil war. At beginning it was not about slavery and the biggest slave owner was a black person and they abused them terribly.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
Confederate leader are calling for an end of religious holidays.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Well, I didn’t see THAT coming,
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Patricia Ann Gross
I know you're kidding, but if not, what rock have you been hiding under?
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
It’s a rock called ‘the earth’. And because I’m on the opposite side of this rock, it’s a matter of perspective as to who is under the rock. And I moved to the opposite side of this rock in part due to the fact that I had had enough of listening to the manners of its religiously delusional citizens.
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Joseph Saffomilla
What a witty, sterotypical remark from someone so uninformed it is a wonder they were able to type it.
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Colleen McAllister
This would be like Geany celebrating holidays in honor of Hitler. Wromg.
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
Those whose primary allegiance, is still to what’s leaf, of the CSA, should be denied the “right to vote” until they pledge their allegiance to the “Constitution of the “United States of America.” A nation divided against itself can not be united, and will ultimately go the way of the dodo bird.
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ServantOfJudgement
Are you actually saying voters must pledge allegiance before voting? Do you realize you sound like a Christian nationalist? How will you determine who exactly needs to pledge allegiance? What will you say to those who don't even want to provide ID to vote? Do you know Islam forbids such a pledge? Will only white Americans have to say the pledge? Will non English speaking illegal aliens have to say it?
Liberals DO NOT want the pledge of allegiance in schools.
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Stephanie A Willey
I'm old enough that we learned and said the pledge of allegiance before "under God" was put into it. When I reached the age of reason and critical thinking, I realized that a flag is just a symbol and means different things to different people, but the Constitution of the United Stated of America, being what should be the unambiguous law of our nation is what I can and should pledge my allegiance to, and still do to this day. Folks and groups have wrapped themselves in various flags while they preach and work against the very things those flags are supposed to represent.
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Wesley Richard Hunt
They already did as part of their parole. Those who did not were seen as outlaws and persecuted and prosecuted.
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Rev. Miche'al Yosef Dixon
"We are standing here intentionally at the first White House of the Confederacy because this place represents a painful history that continues to impact our present," added Imam Mikal Sabree of the Muslim Center of Montgomery. “We must ask ourselves, what does it say about us if we continue to celebrate holidays rooted in division and oppression?" Those pushing this. Obviously never read the true reason the civil war started. Slavery didn't enter the picture until six months before it ended. They need to end Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, fourth of July all the holidays that celebrate the brave men of the past they created our present. The Civil War had nothing to do with Slavery people need to get their heads out of their butts. It was the exact same reason the 13 colonies here at 200+ colonies globally rebelled at same time. We never would have got the United States of America if the British military wasn't spread world wide with every colony rebelling at the same time. Thanks to the North wining we have more division than 1861-1865. 3000 Blacks fought for the Confederate freely and volunteered not forced. The North Union forced bla ks to fight or execution. It wasn't until 1963 the winning union act put black freedoms on paper. Instead of simply joining equally the American Citizenship the want to destroy everything in their path and not build a new equal future. Bit hypocritical. Same people that hold up Martin Luther King, Jr. Bitching about General Lee obviously never even heard Martin Luther King, Jr. speech all the way through. I get racists treatment from the same blacks that call me honky and cracker in one breath while using Martin Luther King and Malcolm X as equals. Here in Wilkinson County my family virtually ruled at one time I was a black sheep (pun intended) In 2001 my cousin the chief of police hired a new Barney Fife and he stopped my friend for Driving while black. We swapped car pooled to work at Wilkinson County Correction Center at Corrections Officers. We were arrested for a marijuana roach and two joints. The judge another cousin said in chambers off record "Mike, you keep hanging with this N-- you'll end up hanging from a tree beside them. Said right now you know nothing about the drugs. And you walk out of here right now." I told him Paul knew nothing it was mine. The evidence went up in smoke (literally because my cousins smoked it) we were both released I quit my job opened my own companies (Artemis Entertainment in California and Kathy's Komputers in Louisiana) moved away from the prejudice a-holes I have to call family. I just recently moved back inheriting my grandmother's house the country is taken over by blacks not a white in public offices, from county President and mayor's down to police. And Now, they act exactly toward whites the same as my family did before. Instead of simply except the freedom to have those jobs they are being no different than bullies what they accuse others of doing. Then bitch whites are holding them back. Wake up and Grow up people you say your "woke" but you're more asleep than ever. His land was my ancestors on the native Americans side; they had the land stolen, men and women and children murdered, women raped placed in prisons called "reservations" told they can be a sovereign independent nation like they told Texas they could be and in both cases they held guns to their heads taking over. But blacks can go to Africa they love do much if they don't like it here don't stay. Native Americans can't go home they are prisoners in their home, so get the hell out or stop bitching.
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Robert James Ruhnke
What a long winded and poorly written way to say “hi I’m racist and don’t know anything about history, but I’m gunna run my mouth anyway.”
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ServantOfJudgement
Racist, Nazi and fascist. The three cat calls racists, Nazi and fascists belch out.
They say it in their sleep.
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Joseph Saffomilla
Robert, if you had some facts and information, you would be able to rebut what has been said without making a personal attack on others. And yet here you are advocating for more history to be buried while using revisionist history to support a very weak opinion.
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Robert James Ruhnke
Anyone who pushes pro confederacy propaganda is projecting their own weak opinion everywhere. Revisionist? Hah! That’s a thigh slapper
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Michael Hunt
The Civil War was absolutely over the Confederacy's desire to maintain slavery. Any other suggestion is a whitewashing of history meant to downplay the horrors committed by our forefathers.
https://source.colostate.edu/what-really-started-the-american-civil-war/
The 3000 black confederates you speak of is a myth.
https://acwm.org/blog/myths-misunderstandings-black-confederates/
"Thanks to the North wining we have more division than 1861-1865."
Thanks to the North winning, slavery is no longer legal in America. Claiming we're more divided now than during the Civil War is laughable since states aren't literally at war with each other today. State armies/militias are not going to war with other states like they were during the Civil War.
Your comments are steeped in racism and I hope you can reflect on them to grow as a person.
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ServantOfJudgement
Is Mr dixon racist because he's white, native American, has black friends or is intolerant of crybabies?
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Robert James Ruhnke
He’s racist because he’s push racist talking points. You do the same SOJ.
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Michael Hunt
What? Did you actually read my comment?
Where did I call Mr. Dixon racist? I did say his comments were steeped in racism because they deny the racist reality of the Civil War. It doesn't matter what his skin color is or if he has black friends, it matters that his belief that the Civil War was not about slavery is factually inaccurate and a lie pushed by racists to clean up the image of the Confederacy.
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Stephanie A Willey
Slavery was always the cause, the very root cause of the civil war.
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Melinda Fulk
If the South had not had slavery, those wealthy landowners would not have been able to maintain their wealth and position. And THAT is what the attempted succession was about. Slavery was at the very root of the issue even if you can take out the horrors of the practice. And you really can't.
And I am, personally, all for doing away with Columbus Day. Crossing the Atlantic Ociean in the equivalent of a giant bathtub is impressive, but it's not worth an official federal holiday.
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Patricia Ann Gross
Rev. Dixon,
I had a highschool teacher try to convince us the Civil War was not fought over slavery, but for economic and political reasons. The thing this person did not realize was that the economy of the south centered on slavery, and hiring (rather than owning) their farm workers would have collapsed their economy. So if you want to say it was all politics or economics, remember that slavery was the basis for both.
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Joseph Saffomilla
Your teacher was right; you should have listened and done a little research. Slavery was a thing way before the war, and it continued after the war. It still exists today; it's sad how progressives don't have much to say about that.
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Patricia Ann Gross
If you are talking, metaphorically, about sweat-shop wages for people who make the items that earn the executives 1,000 times what the lower-level workers make, then you're right. If you're talking about the human trafficers who prey on immigrants, children, and other people who are marginalized, then you are right. That first example, unfortunately, is legal, as long as the companies follow labor laws (minimum wage, etc.) and collective bargaining agreements, but the second one is definitely illegal. Not only is "owning" another person as a piece of property, that has been illegal for 175 years, and is considered worldwide as a crime against humanity. At least this is also true in the USA. I'm not talking about anyhere else or in metaphors. And yes, the Civil War was fought specifically with slavery as the central issue.
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Religion as a Weapon is Wrong
Yikes. There are no words. You used them all up.
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Nicholas J Page
I'm English so I don't understand American history especially the Confederate history. I only heard of General Lee on the Duke's of Hazzard anyway why has it taken all these years to call for a ban on a holiday especially if it's racist
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Reverend Paula Copp
In American politics, it takes hundreds of years to build a nation and a single presidential term to potentially destroy it…
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ServantOfJudgement
The Democratic party from early 1800s to 1865 were pro slavery and pro segregation after the war from 1865 to mid-late 1960s. In 1854 the Republican party was formed primarily on an anti slavery platform. War broke in 1861.
Many families on both sides felt the loss, mine included. My great grandfather was born in 1854, his older brother had his thumb shot off and died from infection. He was an artillery captain for the north.
It's a very tender situation and is more complicated than just a holiday.
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Robert James Ruhnke
The problem with SOJ’s narrative is that it doesn’t tell the whole story of the Democratic Party back then. Then again, SOJ never tells the whole story. He’s a coward. Too busy spinning news max propaganda.
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ServantOfJudgement
Geez Robert. I've heard of newsmax but ain't ever seen it. Is it conservative propaganda or liberal propaganda?
I only told an Englishman a brief history of our civil war. It's very sad for both sides. He can fact check me if he's interested. Why should he care that much anyway? Would Mr Page be a coward if he told me a brief history of England's abolishment of slavery?
Sorry for the mess Nicholas....
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Robert James Ruhnke
lol but you didn’t. You gave a very limited and biased version of history.
The democrats of the era had three factions. One was pro South, one was pro South but only economically, and one was pro Union. Now then. Northern and Western Democrats, along with key leaders like President Lyndon B. Johnson and Senator Hubert Humphrey, were instrumental in pushing civil rights legislation through Congress during the 1950s and 1960s, overcoming heavy opposition from Southern Democrats. Key figures included Emanuel Celler, Walter Mondale, and Don Edwards. Again. History not so cut and dry as the you were trying to push.
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ServantOfJudgement
You just said the same exact thing I said but you used a bunch of clam shells. Let's apply mathematics and reduce all that clam shelling shall we? Here.... "The Democratic party from early 1800s to 1865 were pro slavery and pro segregation after the war from 1865 to mid-late 1960s. In 1854 the Republican party was formed primarily on an anti slavery platform. War broke in 1861."
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Robert James Ruhnke
No. Sorry not sorry SOJ, your watered down version isn’t the whole truth and you know it. You’re just being a jerk, as always. You’ve applied no mathematics, just more projection and BS.
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Joseph Saffomilla
Sorry, Robert, but not sorry. LBJ was one of the biggest racists this country has ever elected; this is why all history must be preserved and studied. Stop drinking the Kool-Aid and insulting people because you don't have the knowledge to have an honest debate. Do your own homework and stop spewing MSNBC talking points.
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Melinda Fulk
What the ever-lovin'!? It's racist, pure and simple. Even if folks think it's just a celebration of "Southern Heritage" (which I've heard about Dixie and the Confederate flag!), those origins are very much rooted in racism. To have Lee's birthday and King's birthday celebrated at the same time is really not getting the message. Or it's getting the message and choosing to be deliberately disrespectful of both me.
And yet, as I type this, I can see a Confederate memorial day as a day to acknowledge those men who fought and died by the thousands in the conflict. Many of them were not the men trying to hold on to their slaves - they were just common men with no choice but to go and try not to die. They should be remembered as sacrifices to a way of life that was unsustainable and rooted in the evil of subjugating those who were different. But I doubt that's how it's done. No atonement here in the U. S. of A.
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Robert James Ruhnke
Good. The confederacy needs to be a chapter we move on from as a nation. It was a disgusting and tragic part of our history. These holidays need to go.
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Joseph Saffomilla
Someone needs a history lesson. Where do you think those slaves came from, and who captured and sold them originally? Most of the slave ships were owned and had home ports in the north, as well as slaves. were also held in the north. Do you also believe we should not study the Revolutionary War, as it is in the past? If one were to study both, they would see that they both started over basically the same issue: the South was being taxed unfairly, and Mooney was going to develop cities in the north. Stop believing what people tell you and do your own homework; rewriting history or burying it is just what a certain kind of people want, and the lessons in that history will not be learned.
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Robert James Ruhnke
I’m always in need of history lessons, but you just regurgitated a bogus talking point. You’re a fool who needs to take his own advice. lol
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Who or which of us celebrates the attack on Pearl Harbour? That's what celebrating any part of the Confederacy is. The withdrew from our Nation, then attacked the US Capital. They were beaten, they were the big losers, they were ended and returned to compliance as US States. What's to celebrate? Remember your deceased, if you like. Don't make them out to be anything but beaten racist losers and traitors though.
Someone needs a history lesson, very badly. But that is about what I would exprct from someone from the party that yapps about love and acceptance ad nausem.