Posted on Jun 13, 2020
Why the Civil War casts a great shadow over the US
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"This week, if there had been no pandemic, I would have been on leave, heading for Gettysburg in Pennsylvania - the site of the famous battle in the American Civil War of 1861-65.
For some reason this conflict captured my interest as a child. I've always wanted to attend the Gettysburg College Civil War Institute's annual summer school. Sadly, that has been cancelled this year because of Covid-19.
On frequent trips to the States, I used to buy a historical magazine about the war whose masthead slogan proclaimed: "For those who still hear the sound of the guns."
This reference to the echoes of the conflict through the ages is, I think, why the war still fascinates me today.
As the Black Lives Matter movement demonstrates, for many Americans there is still unfinished business from the Civil War years.
The benefits of black emancipation were partial and never fully realised. Oppression, disproportionate poverty and racism continue to this day, more than 150 years after the conflict ended".
For some reason this conflict captured my interest as a child. I've always wanted to attend the Gettysburg College Civil War Institute's annual summer school. Sadly, that has been cancelled this year because of Covid-19.
On frequent trips to the States, I used to buy a historical magazine about the war whose masthead slogan proclaimed: "For those who still hear the sound of the guns."
This reference to the echoes of the conflict through the ages is, I think, why the war still fascinates me today.
As the Black Lives Matter movement demonstrates, for many Americans there is still unfinished business from the Civil War years.
The benefits of black emancipation were partial and never fully realised. Oppression, disproportionate poverty and racism continue to this day, more than 150 years after the conflict ended".
Why the Civil War casts a great shadow over the US
Posted from bbc.com
Civil War
American History
Racism
Slavery
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 2
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Growing up in Maryland I had the opportunity to visit many Civil War battlefields. Gettysburg is the most stunning. As for shadows, I have always thought that the Civil War swept away the clouds and allowed America to bask in the sunlight of the end of slavery. Remember, the United States didn't create slavery. Nor did its Constitution. Slavery was introduced to the Colonies by the British, not the colonists. When the US was born, slavery was a part of the culture and could not be corrected without a correction to the culture (which came with the Civil War). Following that War, slavery was abolished, but not prejudice. Sadly, prejudice is the stepchild of ignorance and I can't imagine any cultural change that will eliminate that, thus prejudice will endure. However, it is no longer systemic or institutionalized. Discrimination is no longer legally justified. And for those who believe that we have taken a step back, I challenge them to show me where slavery or discrimination has been legalized. As I said, discrimination still exists, but it is not acceptable in polite company and it will be met with the full force of the law. Those individuals who act on their prejudices will be punished.
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CPT Jack Durish
MSgt Steve Sweeney - There you go again. When are you going to take a class in remedial reading? You really need it...
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