The Resurrection of the Confederacy

revjimbo
revjimbo
Aug 24, 2017 · 2 min read

One thing I’ve noticed recently is what appears to be an angling for civil war. From my perspective, the angling is coming mainly from the right. These are the only voices I’ve heard speaking of a coming war.

I think about a recent NRA recruitment ad — an ad so inflammatory I could not even in good conscience post it on Facebook — which makes broad sweeping generalizations to say the left is out there and is inciting violence. I’ve heard voices on the right say things like when a civil war breaks out it will be because of the violent left.

I’ve been surprised by the doubling down on confederate symbology in recent months.

I get that people are upset about the move to remove monuments. Change is hard, though as far as I know the majority of removals have been accomplished through our democratic processes of electing representatives to serve local governing bodies. No one should deny the right of those who disagree to have their say, to work with their local governing bodies, and to argue the merits of their case.

But what I don’t get is why people who have no real cultural or geographical attachment to the confederacy are all of a sudden interested in preserving monuments and celebrating the confederate flag.

Actually, I think I do get it. Or at least I have a theory about it…

The confederacy was a rebellion against the union of the states. While it involved the issue of state’s rights, those rights were primarily fought over the issue of slavery. But make no bones about it, if you love and support the United States, then the confederacy was a treasonous, violent, rebellion against that union with the primary purpose of preserving the wealth producing institution of slavery.

Armed rebellion against the US: This is not something anyone in our country should be celebrating today. This is not a time to glorify or sanctify the confederate flag. This is not a time to celebrate the confederate cause as some holy fight for liberty.

Unless, perhaps, one has already decided that such a rebellion is just what this country needs.

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revjimbo

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Musings of a PC(USA) minister on the intersection between faith and politics. **Views may not represent those of the church I serve. Read at your own risk.

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