Southerners and the American Civil War

[Tuco]

I don't want to start an argument. But this is a question I've had ever since the first time I heard the sentiment.

I have a hard time believing there are Southerners that are still bitter that the Union won the Civil war. I was born and raised above the Mason-Dixon line so geographically I guess I'm a Northerner. But I've never felt like I "won" anything. I don't have any animosity toward the South, I don't think of anyone as a Reb, I rarely think about the effects on our country.

I just dont get it. Does anyone have an explanation?

[Barth]

I'm a Southerner and I'm not bitter.

[Tuco]

Sorry, didn't mean to imply it's all Southerners. Of course it's not, but I've heard it often enough to know it's not limited to a few individuals.

[marshal kane]

I'm a Westerner, California born and raised now living in Arizona, so I can't say with any certainty if any Southerners still harbor bad feelings over the Civil War. My guess is undoubtedly there are some but likely the majority of Southern whites have moved on. What bothers me is that some Blacks, not all, but some feel that slavery is the fault of all of us although slavery was an accepted practice long before the Civil War and of those who still hold harsh feelings today, not a single one was born a slave. Those Blacks who still hold harsh feeling should really move on and the same goes for Southern whites.

Where I grew up, the sentiment of many elderly Japanese is that they got a raw deal from the Federal Government. Many Japanese came to this country prior to WWII, settled, started families and businesses, and what it got them was internment, supposedly to keep them safe, after the attack at Pearl Harbor. These people lost everything other than what they could carry to the internment camps. Many left the internment camps to serve in the U.S. Army and at war's end, not one of these internees was ever convicted of aiding the enemy. Years later, the Congress made the token gesture to reimburse them for their losses but it was pennies on the dollar. Many of them are still living today with harsh feelings while their children have moved on to better lives. A sad and unjust chapter in the history of the United States.

[Bawanna]

Damn Northern Aggressors! It ain't over yet in my book.

[Tuco]

Bawanna, that's the thinking right there. But without the sarcasm.

[Bobshouse]

It's going to be like that as long as people teach and influence their young.

[yqtszhj]

I'm Born, raised, and lived in the south most all my life. We're not bitter about losing any war, but still want the northerners to keep their attitudes we dont agree with to them self. If you dont like how we live stay in the north and leave us alone.

Dont come down here and elect a bunch of liberal Democrats like Colorado did with the California folks moving there.. We don't have a race problem we are over ours. I lived in NJ and trust me they have a bigger hidden problem than we do.

We take serious and love our guns, freedom, and God more than many. We dont want any help and want to live, succeed, and die all on our own. We believe the government should stay out of our life.

We don't have a problem with immigrants but they need to come here legally, learn English, work for a living, and don't expect anything for free. By the way, that goes for those born here too.

Thats a start but the rest could fill a book.

[Tuco]

Thanks yq. I get that and assume most of us feel the same about "outsiders" telling us how to live our lives.

[JohnR]

I think it's basically like football team loyalty. Out team lost its one and only game.

[CJB]

Its not so much an issue of bitterness over the war. The war was 150 years ago.

The thought process then, and now, runs along these lines: The high population concentration and industrialized north (northeast, original colonies and states, etc) control the south through economic and political means.

I do not appreciate a northern populace, relocating to my locale, and having the unmitigated gall to tell me how to run my life:
a. How can you not have vehicle inspections? Everybody needs that. We'll get them reinstated.
b. How can you just go in an buy a gun? That's crazy! We'll get that fixed.
c. How can you fish in your backyard without a license? Who do you think you are, anyway? We'll put an end to that.
d. Your bicycle doesn't have a registration. What? Not needed? That will be corrected.

The list is endless. They come down for the nice things we have to offer, and remake it all in the image of what they left behind. That is lunacy.

And... then there's the "Well I'm from New York, and things are better there!" (So... WTF? Why did you leave?)

The Yankee does not, and never will, appreciate the finer things of the South. To him, they must be eliminated, and the South made part of "the collective".

Sorry folks.

[dustnchips]

I understand some of the bitterness. I lived in Decatur Al. for a couple of years. They were not pro confederacy in the war, but the union army burned the town and when they left there were only a half a dozen buildings standing. People don't forget that kind of thing. You add in northerners making fun of their speech and ways of like and you get resentment. If the north was a fit place to live and large numbers of southerners moved in and made fun of the locals do you think they would like it?

[ripley16]

From what I see it is the northern liberal that harbors the illogical hatred and snobbish loathing for things "Southern". The country is as divided now as in 1860, but this time due to liberal demagogues pushing a new anti-Americanism. The south got over it... the north is still fighting. Look at the recent attacks on Confederate cemeteries, monuments and public buildings named for southern leaders. Despicable!

[Tuco]

a. How can you not have vehicle inspections? Everybody needs that. We'll get them reinstated.
b. How can you just go in an buy a gun? That's crazy! We'll get that fixed.
c. How can you fish in your backyard without a license? Who do you think you are, anyway? We'll put an end to that.
d. Your bicycle doesn't have a registration. What? Not needed? That will be corrected.

Damn, that's how it is there? Sounds awesome! Who would want to change that?

[Bobshouse]

I was born in Indiana, moved out at age 5, and grew up in Tennessee. So I guess I'm a Yankee by birth, a Southerner by choice.