Bet you progressive voters in Virginia now wish y'all had gotten off your rotund behinds and voted last November.Virginia Grand Dragon (oops Governor) Bob McDonnell (R) tried to quietly sign a proclamation at the behest of the Sons of Confederate Veterans designating April as Confederate History Month in the state for the first time since 2001.
The two previous Democratic governors declined to do so citing the divisive nature of this issue and the fact there is a sizable African-American population in the Cradle of the Confederacy.
The Virginia state capital of Richmond served as the capital of the Confederacy and numerous Civil War battles were fought in the state.The proclamation states that “it is important for all Virginians to reflect upon our commonwealth’s shared history, to understand the sacrifices of the Confederate leaders, soldiers and citizens during the period of the Civil War, and to recognize how our history has led to our present.“
Reflect on this, Bob.
'Our new government is founded upon exactly the opposite idea; its foundations are laid, its corner- stone rests upon the great truth, that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery -- subordination to the superior race -- is his natural and normal condition. [Applause.] This, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth.'
Confederate VP Alexander Stephens March 21, 1861 'Cornerstone Speech' Savannah, GA
But it's interesting to note McDonnell's proclamation didn't mention the S-word that was the primary reason why the Civil War jumped off in the first place. Slavery.
McDonnell said that he was not 'focused' on that part of the state's past. He said people can learn more about Civil War history in Virginia and pointed to next year's sesquicentennial of the beginning of the Civil War."
But I and other African-Americans who do and don't reside in your state are.
As someone who has a maternal ancestor who arrived in New Orleans in chains in 1810, obviously I have no love for the Confederacy and I'm glad they were defeated.
But I'm beyond sick and tired as a child and godchild of historians of seeing Confederate apologists try to obfuscate and spin their way out of the fact that their Confederate ancestors were traitors who started an armed insurrection against the US Government.
In addition, their ancestors fought and died in a bloody war to continue an economic system that not only enslaved my ancestors, but was keeping them poor.Keep building that bridge to the Confederacy, Bob. With your efforts to end civil rights coverage for GLBT people in Virginia and now this boneheaded move, you'll make it much easier for neighboring states in the area to snatch away jobs and tourists from you.
But it seems like the only people you want in the state are rebel flag waving apologists for the War to Perpetuate Slavery.
