Re: Anybody out there?
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In reply to:
Anybody out there?
Don Umphrey 6/05/03
Hi Don. It has been pretty quiet. I have to say, I think your post is alittle unfair. Seems to me most of the posts on the other forum are folks searching for genealogical info on ancestors rather than political discussions - although I know those political CSA boards exist elsewhere.
I do think you make a good point about the greater interest of the Civil War by southerners and I agree that probably a large part of this is a result of the defeat of the south. I know much has been made by historians of the "Lost Cause" theme or myth that emerged in the south after the War as a result of the need for southerners to interpret the defeat in a positive way (ie. a valiant army led by extraordinary men fights to preserve a noble society against great odds for the cause of states rights and freedom).
Most northerners I've run into think this preoccupation with an old war is silly and have the attitude "you lost - get over it", but I think sometimes we forget how traumatic the war (much of which was fought in the south), the loss, and subsequent 10 year military occupation was to the psyche of the (white) south for generations. In addition to the psychological wound, there was the loss of men, property, economic turmoil, and of course racial upheaval to deal with for decades. Southerners are the only Americans who have ever had to cope with a defeat like this - perhaps we forget today just how traumatic it can be. I'm not saying that others including the northern soldiers and Southern Unionists didn't suffer greatly - but I think the defeat is an important difference. Without victory, the sacrifice is harder to reconcile and put away as the north has done.
I think coping preoccupations and myth building are probably not unique to the South. I think probably something similar is behind the Scottish preoccupation with William Wallace after the loss of their land to the English. Perhaps also with Native Americans and their losses to the US. Perhaps, if the north had lost, there would be greater interest in the north and among Southern Unionists.
More Replies:
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Re: Anybody out there?
dave frederick 6/13/03
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Re: Anybody out there?
Cheryl Jenkins 6/17/03
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Re: Anybody out there?
Don Umphrey 6/17/03
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Re: Anybody out there?
Cheryl Jenkins 6/18/03
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Re: Anybody out there?
Don Umphrey 6/18/03
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Re: Anybody out there?
Cheryl Jenkins 6/19/03
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Re: Anybody out there?
Don Umphrey 6/26/03
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jim horton 6/11/03
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Re: Anybody out there?
Dorothy Rhodes 6/23/03
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Re: Anybody out there?