Where Art Thou Fellow Confederates?

[Jonathan]

To be honest, I still have absolutely no clue why people stick to arbitrary psuedo-historical dividing points like this.

My thoughts exactly.

Regardless, was Minnesota even a state at the time of the Civil War? I mean, they had the Louisiana Purchase, but I'm not even sure my town is part of the land they obtained in it.

Yep, Minnesota became a state in 1858.

[Oba-rai]

I concur with Sonuna...

But, I lived in IL, FL, and now a northeastern state, so I've been all over the board... there were many battles fought in my state, including Gettysburg, so.

Yay being chaotic neutral!
(or LN, which works better in my mindset)

[darcie]

I'm fairly sure all my relatives got here after the war... and although some were in Tennessee, most were in the North. But I don't get why people so many years later have loyalty to the side that lost... and the side that supported what modern society believes to be a major civil injustice. It always seems to me that those flying a Confederate flag are still supporting the separatist ideals of when we were divided, rather than celebrating their heritage or the country to which they currently belong.

But, as I have never been a Southerner to see that point of view, feel free to attempt to show me otherwise.

[Dr. Watson]

Southerners view the Civil War as not being mainly about slavery, but about states' rights. Since the Civil War, states' rights have progressively declined, and the federal government's rights have progressively burgeoned. So for a Southerner to fly a Confederate flag is not to celebrate slavery or disunity, it is to celebrate their cultural heritage and (some of) the ideals for which the South fought. (I speak in general terms though; I'm sure there are some people who fly the Confederate flag out of less-than-honorable motives ).

I see identification with the South/Confederacy not as an "arbitrary pseudo-historical dividing point[]" but a genuine identification with a regional culture. The U.S. does indeed have regional cultures, and those cultures have historical roots, the same as any other.

Naturally, modern technology has changed regional/state identification a lot. Transportation is a lot easier, and families often move to different states. Thus, the sense of state possession, as it were, has significantly decreased. Back in the time of the Civil War, your state was...your state. It was your home. In fact, that's the entire reason Robert Lee became a Confederate; Federal forces were going to attack his state of Virginia.

I am Virginian as well, and I identify strongly with Virginia. It's not just a chunk of land in a corner of a nation; it is a state. While I am not a dyed-in-the-wool-Confederate-flag-in-my-pickup-truck Southerner, and certainly despise the practice of slavery, I also think that the Confederacy is a legitimate cultural heritage to be proud of.

[darcie]

Thanks Watson. I suppose it's just the same as an identity or sense of belonging to one's country of ancestry.

[Sherlock]

Regardless, was Minnesota even a state at the time of the Civil War? I mean, they had the Louisiana Purchase, but I'm not even sure my town is part of the land they obtained in it.

Yep, Minnesota became a state in 1858.

Which means that it just recently celebrated it's Sesquicentennial birthday. Most notably, this was a big deal at the State Fair.

[Jonathan]

Thank you Watson, for the explanation. It's something I will never fully understand, I suppose, but that is by far the best answer that's been given to me.

Back in the time of the Civil War, your state was...your state. It was your home. [...]

I am Virginian as well, and I identify strongly with Virginia. It's not just a chunk of land in a corner of a nation;

That's how I feel about Minnesota ^_^

Regardless, was Minnesota even a state at the time of the Civil War? I mean, they had the Louisiana Purchase, but I'm not even sure my town is part of the land they obtained in it.

Yep, Minnesota became a state in 1858.

Which means that it just recently celebrated it's Sesquicentennial birthday. Most notably, this was a big deal at the State Fair.

Hm, another thing I missed at the fair. Having missed the State Fair for the last five years, you can bet I'll be there next year ^_^

[Iron and Light]

Southerners view the Civil War as not being mainly about slavery, but about states' rights. Since the Civil War, states' rights have progressively declined, and the federal government's rights have progressively burgeoned. So for a Southerner to fly a Confederate flag is not to celebrate slavery or disunity, it is to celebrate their cultural heritage and (some of) the ideals for which the South fought. (I speak in general terms though; I'm sure there are some people who fly the Confederate flag out of less-than-honorable motives ).

I see identification with the South/Confederacy not as an "arbitrary pseudo-historical dividing point[]" but a genuine identification with a regional culture. The U.S. does indeed have regional cultures, and those cultures have historical roots, the same as any other.

Naturally, modern technology has changed regional/state identification a lot. Transportation is a lot easier, and families often move to different states. Thus, the sense of state possession, as it were, has significantly decreased. Back in the time of the Civil War, your state was...your state. It was your home. In fact, that's the entire reason Robert Lee became a Confederate; Federal forces were going to attack his state of Virginia.

I am Virginian as well, and I identify strongly with Virginia. It's not just a chunk of land in a corner of a nation; it is a state. While I am not a dyed-in-the-wool-Confederate-flag-in-my-pickup-truck Southerner, and certainly despise the practice of slavery, I also think that the Confederacy is a legitimate cultural heritage to be proud of.

*claps*

I couldn't have said it better myself .

[Over the Rainbow]

I concur with Watson. I hate slavery, but I love my Southern heritage, regardless.

[JED]

I don't have a southern heritage. I spent my childhood atleast a large portion of it in Bermuda. Though I prefer the city or maybe even suburbs not the country.

[Pseudonym]

Here is one .

Cuba doesn't count as the South.

[EK]

ek is a southerner..


..I'm not.

[Guess Who!]

I *gasp* agree with *oh no!* Dr Watson! I think... that might be a first.

I've lived in Illinois and Michigan... I feel a deep loyalty to the Midwest, but especially those states. A lot of my family was Virginian during the Civil War, one ancestor fought with Mosby. Unlike Iron and Light, however, they were too poor to ever own plantations or slaves... plus there had been a recent intermarriage with a native american in the family too so I don't think there was any racism either... (most of the people who were racist against blacks also were to the native americans)

But I'm one of the very few people who could be a member of both the daughters of the american revolution and the daughters of the confederacy at the same time. I almost want to sign up for both just for the beautiful irony of it... but haven't yet.

[Dr. Watson]

I *gasp* agree with *oh no!* Dr Watson! I think... that might be a first.

If I were dead, I would have turned over in my grave!