In Alabama, MLK Day and Robert E. Lee's Bday are celebrated today

[Mr. Laser Beam]

As for venerating a failed rebellion - if America had lost the revolution, how would you feel about it today?

I have no idea. If that had happened, I'd probably be a British citizen right now, and that would color my opinion. I might feel good about it.

Maybe. Maybe you'd be Canadian. Would you think it fair to be branded a traitor for venerating their struggle?

Probably not.

But neither would I spend all my days grousing and plotting about how "America will rise again!" and all that crap. I'd like to think I could accept being on the losing side. I mean, after today's inauguration, I already am that anyway.

 

[JuanBolio]

I suspect that most people who have a rebel flag somewhere have better things to do than talk about rising again, much less actively plotting rebellion. I think they mostly say it to infuriate us Yankees.

Looks like its working.

 

[Meat Tenderizer]

The Confederacy is a vanquished mortal foe of the United States (you know, the country we live in). They are responsible for killing more American soldiers than both Germany and Japan combined during World War II.

I consider it downright treasonous to glorify a hated enemy of the United States of America and an enemy that is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans in our nation's bloodiest war. A failed insurrection is not something to celebrate.

Hey Southerners, you live in the UNITED STATES, the country that won the American Civil War. Show some loyalty to the Stars and Stripes and stop worshiping our fallen enemy. Or you could always giiiiiiiiiiiit ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuut!

And the Union bears no responsibility for those deaths?

If the South had not seceded, there would have been no war.

If the North had accepted their offers of peace, there would have been no war.

 

[ThankQ]

As for venerating a failed rebellion - if America had lost the revolution, how would you feel about it today?

I have no idea. If that had happened, I'd probably be a British citizen right now, and that would color my opinion. I might feel good about it.

If that had happened, the revolution would be called a rebellion, and if the South had won, the rebellion would be called a revolution.

 

[Thespeckledkiwi]

The Confederacy is a vanquished mortal foe of the United States (you know, the country we live in). They are responsible for killing more American soldiers than both Germany and Japan combined during World War II.

I consider it downright treasonous to glorify a hated enemy of the United States of America and an enemy that is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans in our nation's bloodiest war. A failed insurrection is not something to celebrate.

Hey Southerners, you live in the UNITED STATES, the country that won the American Civil War. Show some loyalty to the Stars and Stripes and stop worshiping our fallen enemy. Or you could always giiiiiiiiiiiit ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuut!

And the Union bears no responsibility for those deaths?

If the South had not seceded, there would have been no war.

If you had actually took a history class, you would understand that secession was a monumental struggle and debate within the Union and that there was nothing really against it.

The thing is, the civil war should have started sooner but it didn't by grace and miracle.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

If I recall, it almost started during the 1840s when Missouri was about to enter the Union (this would've tipped the Congressional balance between slave and free states), but did not because of a last-minute compromise worked out by Henry Clay.

 

[B.J.]

Not to derail the ongoing discussion, but back to the original topic: I live in Alabama and this BBS is the only place I've ever heard of my state supposedly celebrating Robert E. Lee's birthday. Of course, I'd also consider my city one of the more progressive ones in the state, so take that as you will.

 

[Scout101]

you're probably not digging around to find things to deliberately troll people with, though. Can find just about any counter-holiday if you're determined to that way...

 

[Mallory]

Not to derail the ongoing discussion, but back to the original topic: I live in Alabama and this BBS is the only place I've ever heard of my state supposedly celebrating Robert E. Lee's birthday. Of course, I'd also consider my city one of the more progressive ones in the state, so take that as you will.

And yet it's listed on your own state calendar: http://info.alabama.gov/calendar.aspx

 

[B.J.]

But the point is they didn't advertise it. There's probably 20 billion (rough guess) "National (insert something here) Day"s, yet we never hear about most of them. Do you really expect people to get worked up over National Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day? (This is a real one, too!)

 

[Mallory]

I would if schools and government were closed for it.

BTW, Confederate Memorial Day (April 27th this year) is also an official state holiday in Alabama.