Hi all- I have been attempting to formulate my thoughts on the topic for a day now and have come to the conclusion that I will not be drawn out on such a broad, emotional topic as this one. As your "personal" U.S. diplomatic representative to the Republic of Poland I have talked to Poles about our country and indeed the Civil War for a while now. As an Army Officer and former Assistant Professor of Military Science I have also wrestled with this topic. It is an extremely broad and complicated topic, made the worse for the irrational and emotional (and I'm sorry but simply innacurate views which are easy to look up if you only cared to do so) views. As we say in Texas (and strangely enough, the Poles have an equivalent view) don't talk politics, religion, or money at the dinner table. Well, as I see this forum as a family dinner table. If you want to have an intelligent, productive exchange which does not offend and alienate I suggest you narrow the scope of the discussion (I don't really see the relevance of talking about right-wing politics, racism, or some of the other junk as belonging in this discussion). Of course, you arefree to say what you will, wouldn't have it any other way, just be considerate to your cousins. Hello, in case you haven't figured it out, some of our Vick cousins are African-Americans. Whether you believe the state flag issue should or shouldn't offend is irrelevant. This gentleman is telling you it is offensive to him. As gentlemen (Southern Gentlemen), I believe you should attempt to limit conversation on the issue to the more non-emotional side of the topic or drop it all together on the list. Imagine a detailed discussion of pornography that some might find offensive and you get the picture. Freedom of speech comes with responsibility, friends. Sorry about the lecture, just wanted to speak my mind. What follows is the world's longest sentence, I'm sure. Frankly, if you believe the so-called American Civil War (I'm sorry but that is the name used at West Point, Sandhurst (British Military Academy where I was exchange officer briefly), the Army War College, as well as thousands of other authors and scholars and millions of Americans) was fought only over the slavery issue or exclusively over the so-called states rights issue (I'm sorry, but my copy of the consitution does not contain a clause permitting states to seceed from the union at will, the problem was a difference of opinion over states rights and national authority as outlined in the consitution, which, by the way, has to be read whole and in context of the times; states rights were guaranteed in the Confederate Constitution) is missing out on the incredible and delicious complexity of the times, Political, Economic, Religious, Sociological, and Technological, the elements that must be analyzed in any conflict. The country envisioned by our forefathers and modified for the times has given us the gifts we have today. One nation, forged in blood and fire and maintained through hard work, vision, and a fair bit of luck and geography was and is the answer. I do not believe the agrarian, fragmented Confederacy (yep, their constitution guaranteed each state's autonomy) was economically viable, nor had the capital to expand to the West following the disastrous war (even if they had won). As a southern it hurts me to state that I believe those that participated in the Confederacy to be in open rebellion and therefore traitors. Just as much as George Washington, Thomas Jeffererson and our founding fathers were traitors to their country (which we forget was Great Britain). A rebellion in our country is an attempt to circumvent the constitutional processes of our Republic (we tend to forget we are not a democracy (Article 4, section 4, Consitutution of the United States)). We can change government, slowly sometimes, but through the process. Calhoun, Clay, Davis, and many others seemed to have forgot this in their self interested race to protect their property and political positions (how can property have a vote, ya'll?) That's my two cents worth. Let's try to keep it civil folks. Let's say "I believe" when we mean it and not state our beliefs as facts to offend and criticize our cousins (unless you really want to split hairs with me; source your facts with credible sources and not loony Sons of the Confederacy or Sons of the Republic websites) . your cuz, Jeff Vick Bettie Moore wrote: > Jack, > AMEN and AMEN!! Lots of todays' people expect to get everything for > nothing!! > Bettie