WHEREAS, April is the month in which the people of Virginia joined the Confederate States of America in a four year war between the states for independence that concluded at Appomattox Courthouse; and WHEREAS, Virginia has long recognized her Confederate history, the numerous civil war battlefields that mark every region of the state, the leaders and individuals in the Army, Navy and at home who fought for their homes and communities and Commonwealth in a time very different than ours today; and [...] WHEREAS, this defining chapter in Virginia's history should not be forgotten, but instead should be studied, understood and remembered by all Virginians, both in the context of the time in which it took place, but also in the context of the time in which we live, and this study and remembrance takes on particular importance as the Commonwealth prepares to welcome the nation and the world to visit Virginia for the Sesquicentennial Anniversary of the Civil War, a four-year period in which the exploration of our history can benefit all; NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert McDonnell, do hereby recognize April 2010 as CONFEDERATE HISTORY MONTH in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens  

Seems like there's a day or month for just about everything. So, why not? 

Yeah, and?? 

I don't see the problem here... 

Pining for the "good ole days" when they fought against their own country. Nothing like glorifying when you were on the wrong side of history. 

Pining for the "good ole days" when they fought against their own country. Nothing like glorifying when you were on the wrong side of history. Who said they were "good"? It is part of their history. We were the rebels during the revolutionary war. 

The revolutionary war wasn't fought with this as one of its founding principles. The vice president of the Confederacy, Alexander Stephens, said on March 21, 1861, that the Confederacy was "founded . . . its foundations are laid, its cornerstone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery, subordination to the superior race, is his natural and normal condition. This, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world, based on this great physical, philosophical and moral truth." Normally when a state or country picks the morally wrong side of a war they don't try to have a month of remembrance for them. You won't see an Axis powers month anytime soon. 

The worst part is that this comes from a REPUBLICAN party Guv. I guess that any Lincoln Day celebrations are out of the question for now. I have no problem with teaching and having some monuments to the Confederacy since it is part of our history. I do have a problem with celebrating the Confederacy as though it was some kind of a good thing or an advance. I saw that some of the previous proclamations made mention of the evil of slavery and the war, which is quite appropriate. WE should have a rational appraisal of the Civil war, but not to gloss over its more terrible aspects. 

I have no problem with teaching and having some monuments to the Confederacy since it is part of our history. I do have a problem with celebrating the Confederacy as though it was some kind of a good thing or an advance. They think it was a good thing, Randy. They're the types that call it "the war of northern aggression." They believe the war had nothing to do with slavery, it was all about the issue of states rights over federal rights. Nevermind the various statements from officials like the one I posted above, slavery and white supremacy was just a "minor factor" in the causes of the war to these people. They really believe the south was right, and was fighting against oppression. Which is why this yahoo in Virginia, wants to bring this up now. 

Which is why this yahoo in Virginia, wants to bring this up now. yeah, he wants his slaves back.......rolling eyes. 

Excuse me, perhaps I didn't make myself clear. It is an unfortunate part of our history, but a part just the same. Hundreds of thousands of Americans died in the civil war on both sides. The quote from jo made no mention of slavery. If you had lived in Virginia at that time wouldn't you want your family remembered for their sacrifices? 

WHEREAS, this defining chapter in Virginia's history should not be forgotten, but instead should be studied, understood and remembered by all Virginians, both in the context of the time in which it took place, but also in the context of the time in which we live, and this study and remembrance takes on particular importance as the Commonwealth prepares to welcome Sounds reasonable to me. But ya know, there's always gonna be some who want to turn a good thing into a hate thing. 

If you had lived in Virginia at that time wouldn't you want your family remembered for their sacrifices? Oh boy, you're gonna git it now Trav. ;) 

Like for my in-laws, they revere the Confederate flag, my mil is president of the Houston chapter of the DAR and that other one, having a brain freeze moment here, but she proudly displays the confederate flag as center pieces on all tables during their yearly teas and gala's. For her the flag represents the banner of a proud South, Not what the skin heads have turned it into today. And just to clarify, my mil is a college educated, God fearing, Country loving woman who is loved and respected by all who know her. She's a mild mannered, genteel, proud southern lady who along with her dh raised 4 great kids, one of whom is my wonderful DH. Ahhh, life has been good to sassy ;) 

Sounds reasonable to me. But ya know, there's always gonna be some who want to turn a good thing into a hate thing. Ignoring the root cause of the war and ignoring slavery and its horros IS a HATE THING. Sort of like celebrating Hitler and forgetting about the Holocaust. 

The quote from jo made no mention of slavery. THAT is the problem! I have no problem with remembering the Confederacy, but I DO have a problem with glorifying it and its great crimes. 

Ignoring the root cause of the war and ignoring slavery and its horros IS a HATE THING. Sort of like Oh stop, you know better. 

I was born in Virginia and have lived there off and on. I also was a Confederacy history buff and Civil war buff too. So I have no problem with remembering the history of the Confederacy, but I DO want the ENTIRE history told, NOT just one part of it. That means the good with the bad, meaning the horror of the war, and of slavery. 

Ignoring the root cause of the war and ignoring slavery and its horros IS a HATE THING. Sort of like celebrating Hitler and forgetting about the Holocaust. Everyone knows the part slavery played in the civil war. You are an a$$ saying that it is ignored and is a "hate thing". Also, I find it disturbing that you would mention Hitler in the same conversation of the south and the civil war. There is no comparison between the two. Slavery was an evil institution and most likely would have been gone with or without the civil war. 

most likely would have been gone with or without the civil war. and I refer you back to this: The vice president of the Confederacy, Alexander Stephens, said on March 21, 1861, that the Confederacy was "founded . . . its foundations are laid, its cornerstone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery, subordination to the superior race, is his natural and normal condition. This, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world, based on this great physical, philosophical and moral truth." I don't think they were going to remove "the cornerstone" of their society any time soon. 

There is no comparison between the two. Slavery was an evil institution and most likely would have been gone with or without the civil war. Well said Trav. And lets not forget, blacks themselves were selling their own kind into slavery before and at the same time. But what the heck, continue making it a bad thing that people have pride for their southern roots. Make it about something ugly. 

Which is why this yahoo in Virginia, wants to bring this up now. yeah, he wants his slaves back.......rolling eyes. Sassy, I was referring to the argument of states rights over fed. rights. States like Virginia say the gov't is overreaching and the confederate history month is to show the fight is ongoing. 

Sassy, I was referring to the argument of states rights over fed. rig I stand corrected, my appologies 

have pride for their southern roots How about having pride about something that is worthy of pride. Being a part of the Confederacy isn't such a thing. 

How about having pride about something that is worthy of pride. Being a part of the Confederacy isn't such a thing. For many old timers, it is. And who's to say they aren't part of other things that are deemed worthy of their pride by "others"? Can't please everybuddy. 

Cilvil war 1861-1865 Emancipation Proclamation declared that if the Confederacy did not cease its rebellion by the first of the year, then all the slaves in Confederate-held territory would be freed. It excluded slaves in the loyal Border States of Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, and Missouri, and in Southern areas controlled by the Union military on that date (Tennessee and parts of Louisiana and Virginia). Therefore, it would affect only slaveowners in disloyal areas. The policy was aimed at inducing the Confederacy to surrender rather than lose its slaves, and it was based on what Lincoln considered to be a president’s war power: increased constitutional authority as commander-in-chief during a national emergency. The Emancipation Proclamation only freed those slaves in the states under the jurisdiction of the Confederacy. The North kept their slaves until the end of the cilvil war in 1865 “If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save the Union by freeing all the slaves I would do it. And if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that.” Lincoln Slavery was sick, the cilvil war was about more than slavery alone. 

Curious how many actually read the proclimation. I guess your party bias leads you.... "WHEREAS, this defining chapter in Virginia's history should not be forgotten, but instead should be studied, understood and remembered by all Virginians, both in the context of the time in which it took place, but also in the context of the time in which we live" 

That is about as mealy mouth as you can get. I says nothing at all about the evils that the Confederacy tried to perpetaute and tries to gloss over those bad things. If it had made mention of the slavery issue and the wrongs perpetrated by the state, I would have no problem with the rest of it. It is this backhanded attempt to appeal to the worst of our past that I object to. From what I understand, the other proclamations made in similar years DID mention this. It is the uncritical nature of this which is upsetting. Especially since this appeal is done within living memory of the Bad old days when blacks were denied their citizenship rights under the guise of states rights. 

". Also, I find it disturbing that you would mention Hitler in the same conversation of the south and the civil war. There is no comparison between the two. that the Confederacy was "founded . . . its foundations are laid, its cornerstone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery, subordination to the superior race, is his natural and normal condition This is the SAME thing Hitler said, only Hitler was more restrictive and applied it only to Germans. The rest of the world could be their slaves, just not blacks alone. They are not exactly the same to be sure, but their racism and desire to own others and make them do the work while they collected the rewards are the exact same. 

i am absolutely sure that during CONFEDERATE HISTORY MONTH all aspects of slavery WILL be covered. Hopefully schools with use that month to teach about ALL aspects of the cilvil war including slavery. No where does it say that CONFEDERATE HISTORY MONTH WILL EXCLUDE THE TOPIC OF SLAVERY BECAUSE IT REALLY ISNT THAT IMPORTANT! Give me a break of course it will be, should be and will always be a part of their history. gesh ...the war is over stop fighting. 

Excuse me, perhaps I didn't make myself clear. It is an unfortunate part of our history, but a part just the same. Hundreds of thousands of Americans died in the civil war on both sides. from original post at the top it was stated "this defining chapter in Virginia's history should not be forgotten, but instead should be studied, understood and remembered" What the heck does that have to do with being a Democrat or Republican or even claiming why he wants the war to be remembered, studied, and understood. The problem is that our history books were written by people who used not only loose facts but also their own agendas. Maybe the war was about slavery, maybe it was about states rights over federal rights, maybe it was about a nation experiencing growing pains, or maybe it was about the Queen of England wanting to turn us all against each other. One thing is for sure though, it was a war that was built on our government paying us against each other and even back then they fell for it. I think it's interesting how history shows nothing but the beaten, abused, and over worked slaves. There is no mention of the slaves who were treated better, some as equals, some with salaries, and some who purchased to prevent them from being sold to people who would abuse them. Yes slavery was a horrible thing but it's a part of history and a part that should be remembered and never repeated. However we are on the verge of repeating it right now. Maybe not in the same since that we have a cracker whipping us but certainly in the form of economic slavery. It's getting harder and harder these days to earn an honest wage without half of it being stolen away from you. It's getting harder to become an entrepreneur and work for yourself. We are at a point in history were nearly every aspect of our lives is being controlled by government. A time where we are continuously bombarded by endless advertisements to buy buy buy, now, now, now. Even to the point where people commit suicide because they can't afford the things they want despite working 40+ hours a week. Ask yourself "Why do I work so hard?" Is if for food, clothes, and a roof over my head or is it to get my kids that cool new thing they want or to go have my car washed and vacuumed by someone else, or is it to get that new flat screen TV that the Jone's have? Most of us work because we have to, not because we want to and we are now entering a time when people who don't work get all of their needs met by the state and federal government while those of us who choose to work to survive carry everyone else weight too. And if we choose not to work we become a slave to the government. Although, I guess in some way we are all slaves to the government because the money that we work for is printed and issued by the government therefore making everything that we think we own, the property of the government since it was purchased with the money they paid us in return for our labor. 

This is really getting assinine. rj and marcellus, if you had long family roots in Virginia and had family that died during the war, wouldn't you want some rememberance of them? NO ONE has said slavery was OK in any of the posts. This was part of all our history, abeit not a fond part. Every great nation has some brutality and shameful acts in it's past and this is ours. You would have quite different opinion if you came from a long line of Virginia natives. Get off your pedestals. 

CONFEDERATE HISTORY MONTH WILL EXCLUDE THE TOPIC OF SLAVERY BECAUSE IT REALLY ISNT THAT IMPORTANT! It does that by omission and by some of the others who still think the war was not about slavery. The other proclamations DID mention the issue which is the thing that I find wrong. It is simply teaching or remembering only the good things from ONE perspective as sassy has shown. 

Whew....he's sorry "The proclamation issued by this Office designating April as Confederate History Month contained a major omission. The failure to include any reference to slavery was a mistake, and for that I apologize to any fellow Virginian who has been offended or disappointed. The abomination of slavery divided our nation, deprived people of their God-given inalienable rights, and led to the Civil War. Slavery was an evil, vicious and inhumane practice which degraded human beings to property, and it has left a stain on the soul of this state and nation. In 2007, the Virginia General Assembly approved a formal statement of "profound regret" for the Commonwealth's history of slavery, which was the right thing to do. " Continue with your party bound paradigms.... 

Pining for the "good ole days" when they fought against their own country actually you're a citizen of the United States by virtue of being a citizen of your State. So they weren't fighting against their own country, they were fighting against what to them was the equivalent of an overreaching UN. 

they were fighting against what to them was the equivalent of an overreaching UN. I am glad the Guv finally apologized for the ommission. I know it will be an absolute zero day in HELL before I can expect same from my fellow KUers who were crying in his defense. I see that there are some who STILL think the Articles of Confederation were in force, but even that document stated in its title that no state could seceed. If you read Davis' History of the Confederacy, you will see exactly why the second attempt at Confederation failed. One would think after TWO unsuccessful tries at confederation that would be enough, but one can never underestimate the stupidity of some people. Maybe a third try would be the final nail in that coffin,but I doubt it since such people are like alcoholics who think that drinking is still OK for them, and can see no problems. 

actually you're a citizen of the United States by virtue of being a citizen of your State. That never was true even before the Civil war since there were hundreds of thousands of AMERICANS who lived in NO state at all! It also leaves out the citizens of Wash. D.C., Maine, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and all the states of the territories which were formed out of the original land area of the thirteen colonies before our westward expansion with the LA purchase. The US Constitution applied to you even though you did not live in a state and the Bill of Rights was still in force. 

The south's gonna do it again, y'all. By the way...it's not about racism...that is pure nonsense...better call the cops...these guys are 'bout to commit hate crimes!  

love it mxmike! 

The south's gonna do it again, y'all. That is like an alcoholic saying he is going out for one drink. Good luck with that.