The Civil War began 150 years ago today. It lasted four years, almost to the day – April 9, 1865. Unfortunately, we are still fighting to get the history corrected.
The Harris Poll asked 2,566 adult Americans what they know about the conflict and its legacy.
The bad news is that two thirds of southerners still think that the Confederacy was about state’s rights only a third understands that succession was about protecting the institution of slavery. Northerners think the same but in smaller numbers.
North and south, people understand that the north fought to preserve the union rather than abolish slavery – 70/30.
The good news is that north and south, people see these things as inappropriate:
· A parade with a mock-swearing in of Jefferson Davis as President of the Confederacy.
· Flying the Confederate flag.
· Designating a "Confederate History Month".
· Parades and events to celebrate secession and the Confederacy.
Reading President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is appropriate according to 91% of those polled.
Our national institutional denial of “all men are created equal” was a disgrace. Those southern loonies that insist on rewriting history have no honor. Americans have an obligation to teach the truth of our history to every new generation. Our sins require redoubled commitment to ensuring our creed is never violated again. We owe these things to all Americans, regardless of race, sex, religion, sexual persuasion, and so on.
And for the record, as I see it, we owe absolute allegiance to these duties but not one damn thing more.
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