The Beginning of the 150 Year Commemoration of the American Civil War
In Many Ways, the War Still Divides the Nation
On December 20, 2010, Charleston, South Carolina was the site of a gala ball attended by men and women attired in formal wear of the 1860's. Men in period top hats and long frock coats escorted women wearing fancy hoop dresses. The $100 a plate private event was put on by the Confederate Heritage Trust. 150 years to the day after South Carolina decided to secede, the event was to "...honor our ancestors for their bravery and tenacity protecting their homes from invasion," according to Michael Givens, commander in chief for the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
The NAACP took issue with the event, and had protesters with signs outside the Charleston auditorium where the event was held. NAACP spokespersons complained that holding a celebration to honor men who committed treasons against the country in order to keep the system of enslavement of black men and women made no sense. The president of the South Carolina branch of the NAACP, Lonnie Randolph, questioned "Why does South Carolina and America think this is the right thing to do?"
The scene is now set for the potential for other controversies as the 150 year anniversary events play out across the country during the next four years. The National Park Service has many plans for a wide variety of educational activities including battle re-enactments, history lecture series, plays and readings. The debate is still ongoing between those who feel the war was a state's rights issue and those who hold to the slavery issue as the root cause. It is doubtful that the history shared over the next four years will end that debate.
Sources:
Washington Post
AOL News
Confederate Heritage Trust, Inc.
Published by Major Jester
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3 Comments
Post a CommentVery interesting. I had some relatives fight for the north and some for the south.
How interesting. We just started revisiting Ken Burn's Civil War series as a January "project." Personally, I think the CW meant different things to different people, even during the times. I think it is a very important aspect of US history that should never be forgotten. You need to remember where you've been so you'll know you're going the right way...
This war is best forgotten. A shameful conflagration, indeed. Nevertheless, sometimes curious things come out of war. My 3X-greatgrandfathers, two of them, were in that war. Probably together. The son of the one married the daughter of the other, and here I am. No War of 1812, and I might not be here.