Here is the new proclamation issued by Governor McDonnell. The bold is mine:
Confederate History Month
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; andWHEREAS, 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, it is important for all Virginians to reflect upon our Commonwealth’s shared history, to understand the sacrifices of the Confederate leaders, soldiers and citizens during the period of the Civil War, and to recognize how our history has led to our present; and
WHEREAS, it is important for all Virginians to understand that the institution of slavery led to this war and was an evil and inhumane practice that deprived people of their God-given inalienable rights and all Virginians are thankful for its permanent eradication from our borders, and the study of this time period should reflect upon and learn from this painful part of our history; and
WHEREAS, Confederate historical sites such as the White House of the Confederacy are open for people to visit in Richmond today; and
WHEREAS, all Virginians can appreciate the fact that when ultimately overwhelmed by the insurmountable numbers and resources of the Union Army, the surviving, imprisoned and injured Confederate soldiers gave their word and allegiance to the United States of America, and returned to their homes and families to rebuild their communities in peace, following the instruction of General Robert E. Lee of Virginia, who wrote that, “…all should unite in honest efforts to obliterate the effects of war and to restore the blessings of peace.”; 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.
Is the inserted paragraph an improvement or did it make matters worse? The Proclamation was issued at the request of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Did any of them stop to think about the unintended consequences of this blunder?
I am not happy with the new paragraph buried within the ‘whereases.’ It sounds to me too much like the Governor is now saying slavery was the cause of the Civil War. Many historians, including those with Sons of the Confederate Veterans, would probably find that statement erroneous. Slavery was certainly factor, a strong factor in Civil War causes, but most folks agree that it was not the only cause.
We should acknowledge the Civil War as we enter the sesquicentennial time period. However, we need to talk about it with the sensitivity of 2010. And I have to say it, white people simply cannot tell black people how to feel about slavery. They just don’t have standing or the ‘right stuff.’ This situation is living proof why the heritage of Virginia cannot ever become political. Perhaps it simply is not up to government to keep our history alive.
UPDATE: Governor Wilder’s radio interview
Read Governor Wilders Proclamation from April, 1990.
“Certificate of Recognition” issued by Governor Wilder in April, 1990.
FINAL CHAPTER OF THE CIVIL WAR DAYS
WHEREAS, April, 1865 found the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in its last struggles for existence; and
WHEREAS, Virginia’s Robert Edward Lee determined that his nation would be reunited and not suffer through generations of bitter partisan conflict, and
WHEREAS, General and future President Ulysses S. Grant countered by offering the most magnanimous terms in history to a vanquished foe, threby setting the nation on the course toward reconcilation and reconstruction; and
WHEREAS, President Abraham Lincoln having stayed the course through the four bloodiest years of our national existence, was felled by an assassin’s bullet at the very moment of triumph; stealing from the people and the ages one of mankind’s greatest figures; and
WHEREAS, Virginia is pleased to join in remembering those who sacrificed in this great struggle, and in reflecting on a period when civil war divided citizens, and families as well,
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Lawrence Douglas Wilder, Governor, do hereby recognize April7-15, 1990 as the FINAL CHAPTER OF THE CIVIL WAR DAYS in Virginia and call its significance to the attention of all our citizens.
No free person has the right to tell any former slave how to feel about slavery. However, white people, along with everyone else, have every right to tell people who happen to share the same skin tone as people who were slaves 150 years about that they may harbor irrational feelings on the subject. Such as the demands for reparations made by people who aren’t even descended from former slaves.
150 years is a long time ago, and at some point people have to let the past go. Heck, most people living in the US today aren’t even descendants of people living in the US before the Civil War.
About the only thing I agree with in this stupid Confederate History month dust up is the part about trying to lure more tourists to Virginia.
As far as it not being the government’s job to keeping history alive, our schools sure as heck aren’t teaching history, so I guess you’re right.
“However, white people, along with everyone else, have every right to tell people who happen to share the same skin tone as people who were slaves 150 years about that they may harbor irrational feelings on the subject.”
That’s fine, but it’s a mistake to try to tell people how they should feel.
“Such as the demands for reparations made by people who aren’t even descended from former slaves.”
That’s not a mainstream issue. It’s not something that most people talk about or think about.
“150 years is a long time ago, and at some point people have to let the past go”
In some sense that’s true, but it’s not as if racial prejudice or even lynchings ceased 150 years ago.
I heard an interesting interview with Gov. Wilder and a man from Sons of Confederate Veterans on WAMU today. I think they can be heard here and from a link on the left side:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125726214
Personally I think it was a big blunder on McDonnell’s part to use the term “Confederate” in his proclamation. “Civil War” or “Virginia” history is fine with me. We’re dealing with the here and now in Virginia. Too many people are descendants of slaves, Northerners or their descendants, or Virginia residents who fought for the North and their descendants.
I’m curious how many people outside the South think of that war as primarily being about anything other than slavery. I don’t think too many non-Southerners think of it as being a states rights issue.
As my English teachers would say: Poorly written, overworked, ill-conceived. C-
Someone should send Gov. McDonnell a copy of “Weevils in the Wheat” to read, and then ask him to look at this proclamation again.
Well, the NAACP seems like a pretty significant organization and they are on the reparations bandwagon. (At least so far not with the Federal government, but that’s probably more a matter of tactics.) From the Wikipedia article on Reparations for slavery:
The NAACP has called for more of such legislation at local and corporate levels. It quotes Dennis C. Hayes, CEO of the NAACP, as saying, “Absolutely, we will be pursuing reparations from companies that have historical ties to slavery and engaging all parties to come to the table.
Or from this blog’s favorite news network: MSNBC:
“Fueled by the work of scholars and lawyers, their campaign has morphed in recent years from a fringe-group rallying cry into sophisticated, mainstream movement. ”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13785355/
On the plus side, reparations will never happen for the simple reason we don’t have the money. The country is already bankrupt. People in Congress don’t understand that yet but the days of massive bailouts and giveaways is going to stop real soon. Our creditors are going to demand it, and we’ll say “Yes, Sir”
Visitor, for starters, you have no freaking clue what the favorite news network of this blog is or the people on it. Elena and I are the only people posting articles and I can’t tell you the last time I watched msnbc. That just didn’t need to be said. It was argumentative.
Reparations have been discussed for decades. I haven’t seen it happen nor am I worried about it happening.
Agreed Cindy.
Totally agree Censored. I think most people just slap the slavery label on it and move on. Its easier. Much easier. Its also easier to point a finger and say you are bad and we are good. However, the winner gets to write the history books.
My mother, the quintessential Virginian told me that Virginia paid war reparations up through the late 1920’s. 55 years of war reparations? No wonder people are still pissed off. Does anyone know anything about this?
I really wish he had said Civil War or Virginia….for all the reasons you just said, Censored.
Rick, agreed.
I have nothing against the Sons of the Confederate Veterans at all. Good for those gentlemen for honoring their ancestors. Same with Daughters of the Confederacy. I even understand why they wanted a proclamation. I just don’t think someone thought this one through real well.
There is an interesting film on their website about what they are all about. I will try to find it.
First off, in the words of the immortal Sgt. Hulka. “Lighten up, Francis.” It was a joke.
Secondly. I don’t have a clue? Really? I know you like to think of yourself as a “moderate” but don’t expect everybody else to close their eyes and nod their heads in agreement. Just this week you posted links to a Rachel Maddow video (who’s not exactly a mainstream moderate with a huge audience) with favorable comments, and you’ve made it very clear for ages that you are adamantly against Fox News. I don’t think it takes much to figure out which news network you prefer between the two. (You, like almost everybody these days, ignores CNN .)
And just so I’m clear. Saying “MSNBC is the favorite news network of this blog” is argumentative, but “KooKoonelli” isn’t argumentative or unnecessary? (Or however you spelt it.)
You know, there’s nothing wrong with MSNBC, if that’s your flavor of news. (I even watch it for that show they do about the insides of prisons. ) And MSNBC seems to be the favorite of most “moderates” who use the phrase KooKoonelli. (Granted that’s a pretty small pool, I Googled “KooKoonelli”. This blog comes up as hit #4 of 5 on Google.) I don’t see why you get so upset about suggesting that “the favorite news network of this blog”. If you don’t want people to assume things like that, maybe you should stop using the same vocabulary as far less “moderate” people in your KooKoonelli Klub.
WHAT’S NEXT ?
“huffingtonpost.com” has an article today about McDonnell proclaiming the month of May as
“Nazi History Month”, written by one Peter Miller. Found the info on “firedoglake.com”
Visitor, basically, here it is:
1. You probably wouldn’t know mainstream if it bit you on the ass. Rachel Maddow is fairly mainstream amongst people who think for themselves. I often put up her segments. You will see Jon Stewart here at least once a week. Elena and I both like him and think he is funny.
2. If you come here to start fights, you won’t be welcome here. Please try to play well with others while you are here.
3. Nothing is wrong with msnbc. I just don ‘t watch it nor does Elena.
4. Sorry about your Kookoonelli problem. You should hear some of the other things I call him.
Punchak, I think they might be pulling our legs.
Actually I think McDonnell is a decent man and would have avoided the entire issue if he had thought it through. He is new…he will learn.
Meanwhile, with the 150 th anniversary upon us, we had better figure out a way to acknowledge it without stepping on toes and without distorting history. Not sure that’s even possible.
The fact that 150 years later we are having this discussion…speaks volumes, doesn’t it?
So, for all the others that “don’t think for themselves” who would be mainstream? I find that I think for myself quite critically and clearly and find Rachel Maddow to be a hack. Now, some do find her to be mainstream, but that qualifier could be considered offensive if I was more sensitive than I am…….
I mean, how would you react to “Glenn Beck is fairly mainstream amongst people who think for themselves.”?
Remember, mainstream depends on where you stand in the stream…..
I really think it is time to call it quits on this controversy over the proclamation. The Gov. slipped by not ensuring that slavery was mentioned in the proclamation. Somebody rightly said: “Wait a minute, Gov.! You forgot something!” And he corrected it forthwith. I cannot believe that there was anything sinister in any part of it; and I believe that those who keep insisting that there was seem to be moving in the direction of political opportunism by just scouring anything and everything for attack openings. What that does is distract all of us from the very real contemporary problems for our state and our country. Sorry, NAACP, but we as a people — that includes all of us — have much bigger fish to fry. For starters, we can look at the unconscionable unemployment rates for our Black youth and try to come up with some solutions for that.
As a Yankee, one thing I have found during these years of being allowed to live in the Commonwealth is that Virginians love their state and love their history. And that is a striking history to be sure. As I said elsewhere, that history was made by individual people doing extraordinary things but with the very ordinary flaws of their time. And do not believe for one minute that Northerners hold some kind of long-standing grudge against the South because of a civil war 150 years ago. Most Northerners of my acquaintance, while most certainly critical of slavery in the Old South, also have the kind of mindset which allows them to salute the courage and daring of those who fought and lost the war, regardless of the issues which caused it. They also have a feeling for the reaction to our Black citizens to this subject, often because a goodly number of Northerners can indeed point to long ago members of their family who either fought in the war or were involved in the underground railroad to Canada. Look, whenever someone in my Northern family visits Northern Virginia, one of the things highest on their visit wish list is to stand on that hallowed ground in Manassas — that is something, since the Yanks lost not once but twice on that ground.
Welcome back Cargo, You were missed.
I don’t have patience with people who come here intentionally to start arguments. My tolerance has gotten …weaker. You think for yourself. You also don’t come here to poke and jab. There’s the difference. You are probably right about that stream.
Glenn Beck does not have mainstream views but everyone knows him.
Wolverine, I both agree and disagree.
This story isn’t going to die. I just saw a Jon Stewart skit on it tonight. I didn’t realize he is a Wm & Mary grad. I didn’t like what he said actually. Not so many laughs tonight. When it comes up on his website, I will post it, even though he offended me.
We have 4 years of sesquicentennial to get through. There has already been a mini Civil War in this house over this very issue. You know how I feel. Mr. Howler thinks I am being a perfect ass to want it called Civil War instead of Confederate.
I spent an hour or so on the website of the Sons of Confederate Veterans today. I absorbed what they represent and what they hope the keep alive. I was humbled watching Jeb Stuart V speak to the organization. Then I listened to Governor Wilder speak, very passionately about the issue…and he reminded everyone that he had issued proclamation.
There are a lot of different points of view. I think we need to be very familiar with all of those points of view.
The one thing I feel strongly about– I do not think McDonnell intended for this to happen. I think he manned up as soon as he realized there was a problem and he tried to make amends. But that’s the problem. When you make proclamation like this, someone is going to get pissed off. 150 years later, it is still a sore subject with someone.
The SVC guys want to honor their heritage. I have all the respect in the world for that. They want their heritage to be seen as multidimentional They don’t want to be thought of as caricatures of some beer-bellied rednecks with their confederate flag hanging from one antenna and a coon tail hanging from the other side with ‘born to raise Hell’ printed on the side of the old pick up truck.
And yes, there is tendency for some people to look at southerners like we are all rednecks. Its a form of regional prejudice. It is just hasn’t fallen into the PC trap yet. Hell, Virginians do the same thing to West Virginians and no one bats an eye.
I can’t imagine what it would be like to be black and have to hear about slavery. I am not black. Maybe 150 years isn’t such a long time. We think we know how we would feel but we don’t know.
And then there is the part of me that feels like we cannot walk on egg shells for the rest of our lives as Americans over something we had no control over and didn’t happen during our life time. We also cannot pretend we don’t have history. Maybe every one needs to take a few steps in a direction that takes them out of their comfort level for this to work?
There are no easy answers.
I’m really glad that I come from New Orleans. New Orleans was captured early and we made money off the Union. And the only thing that’s mentioned about the Civil War or the Confederacy is that it happened a long time ago.
Will that remain the case for its 150th?
The new proclamation is a good one. Slavery was an abominable, vile, and barbaric institution which the southern states fought bitterly to preserve. I’m glad that the Governor inserted that line to recognize that fact.
Lets face it, todays blacks have to be told about the history of slavery in order to generate any emotions about it just as I would have to generate emotions about the Germans my father fought against in WWII. As a child I grew up hearing the war stories and seeing movies that showed our then enemies in the worst light, and even though I know the details of what occurred, I can’t and don’t hold anything against those who were not involved. However, if I was constantly reminded of the horrors that were done to our soldiers I just might start to generate a feeling of hatred towards them out of pure lack of anyone else to direct my anger at. This I think is the problem today with the black community when discussing slavery. They incorrectly hold present day whites accountable for something they had no responsibility for. Should I therefor hold every black accountable for the multitude of crimes committed in the inner cities by blacks, which is still occurring today, and not 150 years ago?
Starry, I agree that slavery was hideous institution. No argument. I’m concerned with the way it is worded. It sounds as though slavery was the only cause. Everyone knows it was more complicated than that.
Do you really believe that is what the southern states were fighting to preserve? It is estimated that 90% of the slaves where held by 10% of the people. Historians have always projected that slavery was part of the cause but never the entire cause. I can’t imagine why 90% of the remaining people who did not own slaves would be willing to give up so much for the rich people.
@ SA
Are you saying that the psychological term ‘transference’ is what is going on? Like how I get a nasty mental attitude about Germans when I watch holocaust video? It goes away once I rationally remove myself from the movie and snap back to the fact that the people who committed those atrocities lived 65-70 years ago and the entire nation did not behave that way.
Could be. And I am not sure what kids are taught on the subject in school now either.
I also have a different experience as a southerner. My mother had grown up around people who were Civil War vintage. Granted, most of them were getting little long in the tooth but she heard of things first hand. Might have been skewed but it was how people perceived things.. Her grandfather was a boy when Custer’s troops rode through their farm set fire to the orchards. I have written first hand accounts of when that happened by long deceased family members.
When these sorts of things are part of the culture you grow up in, whether you are black or white, it tends to color your thinking. I might see things very differently from someone my age who grew up in Massachusetts.
Just a question. If things were so bad for blacks, what with slavery and racism throughout our history, why was there no mass exodus of black families back to Africa and elsewhere? Seems to me that at the end of the day they knew that, even with all the problems faced, they still had a better future here than from wench they came. Freedom means just that, you are free to go if you so desire. Today you here the word Africa constantly, yet few dare to live there. Instead they would rather pretend to opine for their ‘homeland’ as if they truly want to live there, but are forced to stay here by the powers to be. Yes, we know your ancestors came from somewhere else, but maybe you should be thankful for the positive result and not dwell only on the negatives that they endured. It would be better for all ‘Americans’.
oops, hear not here.
Why should people leave who are Americans?
Would we not say the same thing to those people who are out there waving those yellow flags with snakes on them? They will be out in force on April 15 if I am believing what I hear on TV. They are fed up and tired of how things are in this country. Why don’t they just leave!!!!
I want to see how many people are ready to burn me in effigy for making that remark.
Before people start digging out their matches, I was just trying to make a point to SA.
Has everyone read Doug Wilder’s proclamation he made? I don’t see him addressing slavery either. Did you listen to him on NPR? (thanks for that link, Censored)
I have always liked Doug Wilder.
Whereas, there was no way I was going to let my AG get all the props for
sucking up to the tea party folks without trying to grab some of that
right-wing Tea Party love for myself;and
Whereas, I thought it would be a good idea to demonstrate to the ticked-off
people of Virginia I feel their pain;and
Whereas, an apology was issued to save my butt;
Now, therefore, I Robert McDonnell, governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia,
do herebywant the whole darn thing to go away.
(File under “Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time – But Never Again stuff”).
McDonnell did the right thing by both making VA government memorialize and remember her history and by supplementing the proclamation with a reference to slavery in order to reflect all of VA’s citizens. No apologies are needed, and I hope other states take McDonnell’s lead.
We should all know that the CW is very complex, and no proclamation is going to cite every detail of that period. But it’s nice to see the VA government making a stand to remember and explore our history without discrimination and insult. You can tell the liberal detractors are trying to leverage this issue based on ignorance and political gain, but seriously, if this were a real issue, then why not ask where’s the apology each and every 4th of July for the genocide of Native Americans? Where’s the angst over the British Union Jack, which under its symbol over 10 million slaves were transported? Liberals, get real, get over, and get used to uncensored history. Sincere thanks to McD!
Poor Richard, A+
I tried to wade through the sturm and drang and may have missed it, but did anyone give consideration to how much the 10th Amendment played in the Civil War? It was easy to lay it all on slavery–the most visible thing around–but states’ rights was the driving issue–in my opinion. The south didn’t want to be told what to do by the federal government when it came to slaves–slaves were the backbone of their industry and to lose control was just beyond anything they could tolerate.
It is a sad and terrible chapter in the history of our nation, but if you want to read the worst chapter, look at what happened to Native Americans or the American Indians. Because of our belief in “Manifest Destiny”, we set out to destroy them–from the time the British gave them smallpox contaminated blankets to the many raids to relocations to land that would grow nothing but rocks and cactus, our goal was to obilterate them. Yes, we forcibly brought slaves here and they were subjected to great cruelty, but their “owners” did not set out to purposely destroy them–they were too valuable.
You would think we would be on the “other side” of all of this, but I promise you that racism is alive and well despite our protestations to the contrary. Ask my mixed race grandchildren…the truth–you can’t handle the truth.
Totally agree with George. Until very recently much was over states rights.
[sarcasm button on] Somehow all that changed in the past 20-30 years and really the reason the Civil War was fought wasn’t discovered until just recently. Hind sight being 20/20 and all 🙄
A+ is right…for Poor Richard.
Jim, I don’t think you will find anyone here trying to leverage the proclamation for political gain on ‘howlings.net. We are simply discussing a state situation that has gone viral nationally. And is anyone surprised?
I think you will find the coverage here very fair. As I said, its just discussion.
Holy smokes MH, listen to your self:
1. “Rachel Maddow is fairly mainstream amongst people who think for themselves.”
2. “I don’t have patience with people who come here intentionally to start arguments.”
3. “I don’t think you will find anyone here trying to leverage the proclamation for political gain.
I want some of whatever you are taking and/or smoking. It might help me get through the next 7 months.