Tom Mote wrote: > Thank you for your response. My grandmother had tales to tell about > the > murder of an uncle when the blue coats came to their "dirt farm." > She > never, however, suggested that we burn the "Stars and Stripes!" I > agree > with your feelings of anger. > > Tom > > L B wrote: > >> The more I search for my family ancestry, to find courthouses burned >> down to the ground and learn of the devastation of the south..I get >> angry all these years later. Imagine how the southern people, the >> hard working people, felt about loosing everything. What will be >> next..will they seal the records of the south , what little are >> still available...so that we will never be able to find our >> history? Will our descendants be taught that the south fought only >> for slavery and never know anything but shame? A hundred years from >> now , when they search for records..will they only find them >> censored and unavailable? I have confirmed that members of my family >> settled in Texas as early as 1838 and possibly before that date. I >> feel my Texas roots are strong. I have copies of letters written by >> family members in the Confederate army that lead me to believe >> beyond a doubt..that my family fought to protect the land and family >> from the Northern army. They were hard working farmers that did not >> have the money to be slave owners. Several members of my family >> died settling this place called Texas. Their southern investment >> was paid in blood and tears. Then, as now, politicians and the >> wealthy used their positions of power to create controversy with >> their greed and personal agendas to move the masses like pawns on >> their golden laced chess board forcing them to fight to hold on to >> their homes and feed their children. I sincerely hope this newest >> political maneuver to elicit votes will not succeed in disgracing >> the men that laid down their lives defending the land they loved, >> the homes and families they cherished. Will once again, the >> politicians destroy the foundation of this country by creating >> divisions among our neighbors, friends, and fellow man because they >> are playing on the emotions of people who had nothing to do with the >> past, but feel connected to their ancestors? My heart feels pain >> for those on all sides of this volatile issue. When will the people >> in a position of power learn that to sell a paper, get a vote, get >> media attention at the expense of the citizens who work so hard to >> hang on to what precious little they have, even if its their >> heritage, they have committed a worst sin against man than the >> sinners! >