In 1863, Lincoln was losing an unpopular war and needed a "Cause" to
rally his citizens, and convince Congress to continue funding his
invasion of the Southern States. He found one in the issue of slavery.
The same man who, just two years earlier, supported an amendment that
would have made slavery permanently legal if the Southern States would
simply agree to stay in the Union, suddenly changed course and issued a
proclamation that effectively freed slaves in territories over which he
had no control, and left them enslaved in the locations where he
actually had authority to free them.
A propaganda machine was
set in motion, the effects of which were magnified with Yankee victory
and subsequent subjugation, and continue to this day.
Even so,
and in spite of their best efforts, there a still a great number of
folks who know the truth and are not afraid to speak out. Losing its
effectiveness over time, the "it's all about slavery" mantra needed
updating.
It didn't take long for the enemy to find that new
smokescreen... "racism". The fear of having that label applied was
enough to make even some in our own heritage organizations cower,
capitulate, and compromise to the point that the Confederate battle flag
quickly became an endangered species, even at our own events.
These attacks have been deliberate and largely successful as a means to
an end...one which has absolutely nothing to do with the American
institution of slavery or "racism".
The Confederate Battle Flag
is hated today for the same reason it was hated in 1861...because it is
a universal symbol of resistance to tyranny and defiance of an
overreaching and oppressive federal government.
Only when we
find the courage and fortitude of our ancestors, and refuse to let these
false accusations and fabricated labels deter us from our duty, will we
effectively take back our heritage.
My Great- Great
Grandfathers believed it was a Cause worth dying for. The least I can do
to honor their memory and defend their good name, is stand up to name calling and derision.
"We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners..." Psalm 20:5
Susan Lee
Va Flaggers
5 comments:
The sticks might hate our CBF but the Stones are great supporters of the Cause! See you in Lexington!
Ironic how the public school government indoctrination shies away from or omits entirely that part about the U.S. Congress and Abraham Lincoln working to make slavery perpetual --
March 2, 1861
No amendment shall be made to the Constitution which will authorize or give to Congress the power to abolish or interfere, within any State, with the domestic institutions thereof, including that of persons held to labor or service by the laws of said State.
36th Congress 2nd Session
March 4, 1861
I understand a proposed amendment to the Constitution which amendment, however, I have not seen has passed Congress, to the effect that the Federal Government shall never interfere with the domestic institutions of the States, including that of persons held to service. To avoid misconstruction of what I have said, I depart from my purpose not to speak of particular amendments so far as to say that, holding such a provision to now be implied constitutional law, I have no objection to its being made express and irrevocable.
Abraham Lincoln - 1st inaugural speech
Amen !! [><]
As We Forward the Colors, Tyranny runs for cover!
"It was not the flag of the Confederacy, but simply the banner, the battle-flag, of the Confederate soldier. As such it should not share in the condemnation which our cause received, or suffer from its downfall. The whole world can unite in a chorus of praise to the gallantry of the men who followed where this banner led."
CARLTON MCCARTHY
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