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