Unfortunately William, in life, there are no absolutes. Yes, people have always had to make unpalatible decisions. And yes, you do make a good point. How good is a person's word?? And can one support that "word" no matter what??? I don't think so. Elaine ----- Original Message ----- From: <BarnesWK@aol.com> To: <TNMONTGO-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2002 2:51 PM Subject: Re: [TNMONTGO-L] question for true southerners > In a message dated Thu, 22 Aug 2002 5:38:14 AM Eastern Standard Time, braisl@madisontelco.com writes: > > > I have to stand by Jerree on this one Cuz., William. There was a time when > > the signing of legal papers was just a formality and perhaps a visual > > reminder of one's given word. I think in days gone by, not so long ago, a > > person's word was their oath and it wasn't given unless they took the > > "responsibility" to see that oath carried out. Unfortunately, in the case > > of the War, circumstances arose that caused a division of loyalties. Lee > > was against slavery, but he loved his native Virginia and Virginians. I > > suppose he decided to abandon a lofty, unseen ideal, ie. the United States, > > to remain faithful to what for him was the here and now, his family, friends > > and neighbors. It couldn't have been an easy decision for any person of > > honor and many had to do just that. When you read the history of the Civil > > War you will see that many of the officers and probably volunteers and > > enlisted men who fought against each other during that time had been > > comrades in arms in the war against Mexico just a decade or so prior to the > > split of the Nation Many of the officers had been students together at West > > Point and served together afterwards in Texas. It had to be agonizing to > > make these decisions, leave life long friends and know you may meet those > > friends on a battlefield. As far as I am concerned, these > > weren't cases of > > cowardice and selfishness, but heroism. > > Elaine > > Then all of our Revolutionary 'heroes' were just people whose word was worthless and who got the upper hand over England. Before anyone beats me up for this, I don't believe it. It was a statement to make a point. There is a time in which it becomes necessary to break ties to ones former allegiances. > > William >