It's just a Southern thang y'all!

[My imaginary friend is GOD]

My biggest problem is southerners seem to think I should go up and ask if someone is a dangerous racist because "We ain't all like that. It's just a little southern pride."

Um they'd NEVER tell a Jew to go check if the guy waving around a swastika is "really a neo-nazi". So why do they ask it of me?

If they have a Confederate flag, they are racist. Even if they claim that's not what it means, it does. So fuck them all.

[Chad32]

Slavery was a big issue in the war between the states, but it wasn't the only thing, and the north wasn't without fault, either.

What other issues are you referring to and in what way was the United States at fault?

I'm not really all that learned about the war, but seeing as how the north had slaves too, the slavery problem couldn't have been all it was.

[Ryantology]

When I lived in Virginia, there were Confederate flags on display with some frequency. I thought that maybe some of it wasn't racism (Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy and the whole area has a giant, well-deserved hardon for its wealth of local history).

But, when you saw it on somebody's shirt or bumper sticker or hanging on their singlewide, it was pretty safe to say that you were probably dealing with someone who had to make an effort not to say 'nigger' in public.

[Minimalist]

Lots of hate groups are located there, neo-nazis and KKK.

Don't forget the republicunt party.

[Ryantology]

Lots of hate groups are located there, neo-nazis and KKK.

Don't forget the republicunt party.

The rest of it, you mean.

[ThePinsir]

Louisiana brah reporting in.
Because they're (I hesitate to call myself one of them) stupid. Not too much else to say...

[ElleBelle]

What other issues are you referring to and in what way was the United States at fault?

I'm not really all that learned about the war, but seeing as how the north had slaves too, the slavery problem couldn't have been all it was.

I was raised in Mississippi and currently live in Tn and work in north Mississippi, so I'm going to weigh in here.

Firstly, the Civil War was all about slavery. That's the sole reason the nation divided.

Secondly, it is a symbol of culture and honor here. I do not subscribe to any redneckery, but unfortunately it's prominent around here. (Duck Dynasty was a new revival for it.) While it is annoying and offensive, it's just something that's knitted into the thread of southern society.

We can't fight all the soldiers in the war of southern stupidity. Just try to not surround yourself with that kind.

[jumbojak]

What other issues are you referring to and in what way was the United States at fault?

I'm not really all that learned about the war, but seeing as how the north had slaves too, the slavery problem couldn't have been all it was.

The so called "border states" did permit slavery, however the majority of the non-rebelling states were free states who failed to even recognize slavery as an institution. This was actually a major sticking point for the south:

The General Government, as the common agent, passed laws to carry into effect these stipulations of the States. For many years these laws were executed. But an increasing hostility on the part of the non-slaveholding States to the institution of slavery, has led to a disregard of their obligations, and the laws of the General Government have ceased to effect the objects of the Constitution. The States of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa, have enacted laws which either nullify the Acts of Congress or render useless any attempt to execute them. In many of these States the fugitive is discharged from service or labor claimed, and in none of them has the State Government complied with the stipulation made in the Constitution. The State of New Jersey, at an early day, passed a law in conformity with her constitutional obligation; but the current of anti-slavery feeling has led her more recently to enact laws which render inoperative the remedies provided by her own law and by the laws of Congress. In the State of New York even the right of transit for a slave has been denied by her tribunals; and the States of Ohio and Iowa have refused to surrender to justice fugitives charged with murder, and with inciting servile insurrection in the State of Virginia. Thus the constituted compact has been deliberately broken and disregarded by the non-slaveholding States, and the consequence follows that South Carolina is released from her obligation.

You can read the whole declaration for full context (Be warned though, it's boring!) but the basic takeaway is that slavery was the primary reason for secession by the southern states--the theme put forward by South Carolina was emulated elsewhere--and secession set the stage for the Civil War. In a strange way the south was trying to use the concept of state's rights to nullify the laws granting freedom from bondage duly passed in other states!

Fortunately it didn't work, whatever constitutional argument they were advancing at the time, and today we have a society which is free from, at least explicit, slavery. The de facto sort, well.... that's a different story.

[Chad32]

Ok, if you insist.

[Minimalist]

People fight for different reasons. The vast majority of southerners did not own slaves and seemingly had little love for the rich landholders who did. [ Read their diaries or the lyrics to their songs. ] For that matter, read the diaries of the union troops or the lyrics to their songs and there is a glaring lack of reference to fighting for the slaves.

So why did they fight? The themes that come across - if you listen to the soldiers themselves - for the south was that they were fighting for "freedom" and the north was fighting to suppress "treason."