[LUconn]

Having read this thread I would have thought the wall looked like THe General Lee. That picture makes me think whoever stuck that sticky note to the wall needs to remove the giant stick from their poophole. It's obviously a historically centered graphic on the wall.

[4everfsu]

My goodness a CSA and USA flag together, must have something to do with the civil war. Too bad some of you could not tear those years out of the history books. Oops some people are.

[JDUB]

i don't see anything wrong with it. to me the 2 flags together symbolizes what it is supposed to- a civil war exibit. its a part of history, and you can't ignore it. just like if it was WWII, i would expect to see a nazi flag or something similar on exibit. its not a big deal

[BJWilliams]

I walked past the flags today, and somebody had put a post-it note on the confederate flag that said, "This flag is disgusting." I pretty much agree.

As an African American, this may sound surprising coming from me but I really don't see why people are still getting their panties in a wad over this. I mean yes the "stars and bars" flag was a symbol of the Confederate Army, but I really don't see a need to talk about how it is "disgusting" or "offensive" or "traumatizing" or what not. That flag is just as much a part of our history as the "stars and stripes" is. I will admit that Im glad to see folks acknowledging that slavery was a horrible institution (and I agree with that) but you really shouldn't be spending all your energy excoriatng every single person that has a confederate flag in some form or fashion. We should see it as a chance to remember a time when our country very nearly was divided in two and look back at how these folks fought for what they believed in (whether you agree with it or not) on both sides. If Mr Rowlette wants to have a confederate flag as part of the display welcoming folks to the Civil War Chaplain's museum, then I see no problem with it, because there were Christians and chaplains on both sides, not just one or the other.

[thepostman]

for the record I personally see nothing wrong with it....but you have to realize that many people do, and it is right in a hallway that is passed by many visitors....and if you happen to take a left towards the computer lab you don't even notice the american flag

the museum is fine, but i completely understand not wanting the confederate flag painted in a hallways that many different kinds of visitors see

and just a question, why are so many people more obsessed with this one war then any other war?? I know that is a hugely important war in our history...but this one people still to this day have strong opinions about....let it go...remember it...but there is no need for either side to get worked up about anything

[Sly Fox]

and just a question, why are so many people more obsessed with this one war then any other war??

[Libertine]

Ahem. For the historical record, that isn't the "Stars and Bars" flag. The "Stars and Bars" is the one that's going to replace it. Sorry. Just had to get that in there before Sly did.

As to why so many people are obsessed with the Civil War, I would guess that it had something to do with the fact that it's the only real war in our history where Americans were fighting other Americans. It literally consumed the entire nation in one form or another and was a history-altering event in every sense of the term. If you had ancestors in this country at that time, there's a decent chance that they fought against or over the ancestors of people we each meet on a daily basis. With the exception of the American Revolution, and possibly WW2, the Civil War is still to this day the single-most relevant event in our American history.

[thepostman]

and just a question, why are so many people more obsessed with this one war then any other war??

and how did i know this was going to be the response...i am not a history buff...I do know history somewhat well, and I know this war was a very important war to define who we are...my main problem is why do people still hold such strong opinions about this war??? Let it go...its over...lets move on...that is my point

every time i say something along these lines all this history buffs will say is, "you just don't understand" which is in essence what you just did Sly.....I think if you read my whole post you wouldn't be hitting your head against the wall...but then again what do I know...I'm not a history buff

[thepostman]

Ahem. For the historical record, that isn't the "Stars and Bars" flag. The "Stars and Bars" is the one that's going to replace it. Sorry. Just had to get that in there before Sly did.

As to why so many people are obsessed with the Civil War, I would guess that it had something to do with the fact that it's the only real war in our history where Americans were fighting other Americans. It literally consumed the entire nation in one form or another and was a history-altering event in every sense of the term. If you had ancestors in this country at that time, there's a decent chance that they fought against or over the ancestors of people we each meet on a daily basis. With the exception of the American Revolution, and possibly WW2, the Civil War is still to this day the single-most relevant event in our American history.

I understand all that...which is why I said it was a very important war...but why are there still such strong opinions on it...I did have family in the country during the war in there is no record of them fighting...though I guess you never know....they lived up in eastern maine....and its not so common to hear of family members up their fighting in the civil war....

anyways, i just don't understand the strong opinions on this war still....Its history, sad history...and we should not forget...but we are one country now...I hate this south vs north crap that people talk about all the time....I have lived in both the south and north and I can say that it is by far worse in the south in the north...I guess maybe because family members have told stories that have been passed on....and since they lost the families are resentful...I don't know...

Anyways, I have already given more time to this issue then is really needed....so on that note I will shut up

[Libertine]

anyways, i just don't understand the strong opinions on this war still....Its history, sad history...and we should not forget...but we are one country now...I hate this south vs north crap that people talk about all the time....I have lived in both the south and north and I can say that it is by far worse in the south in the north...

I can tell exactly why it's so much more pronounced in the South.

• The South started the whole thing (at least militarily speaking).
  The South suffered far more during the war than the North.
  The South lost.
  The South was a conquered foreign territory after the war and was treated as such. Federal troops occupied the region for at least a full decade after the war.
  Prior to Secession, the three most prosperous states in the Union were South Carolina, Virginia and New York in that order but, as a direct result of the Civil War, the South became an economic backwater for a century.

Really, I think the whole North vs. South thing is fading a bit. I notice that it's a lot less pronounced these days than when I was a kid. But, when you have generation after generation of people growing up in poverty or just scraping by and they know the lot they were born into and their friends and family were born into could have been different "but for the hated Yankee", is it any wonder that some people might still hold a grudge?

[TallyW]

After seeing the picture I actually have a change of heart. I wouldn't want to see it up there either. I'm glad they came to a new compromise. When I first heard about it on the board I thought it was PART of a mural... I didn't know it WAS the mural. The flags aren't up there in a picture with troops or anything... they are the object of the entire piece... Whomever came up with the idea expressly thought "Hey lets have everyone focus on the FLAGS."

I would have felt better if there was a mural of two brothers each holding a flag or something... but we're begging for people to focus on the flag and all it means (good and bad) when we add no context to the situation... just flags on a wall.

[PAmedic]

"but for the hated Yankee" ...

what, who- hello .... what about me?

knew my ears were burning for a reason

[thepostman]

"but for the hated Yankee" ...

what, who- hello .... what about me?

knew my ears were burning for a reason

I am confused because your quote says that I said that...I never did....confusion

[PAmedic]

[4everfsu]

I believe it was a Maine regiment that stopped the confederate advance on litte round top at the battle of Gettysburg. As far as the flag being painted, part of a mural, held or not held by someone, it doesnt matter it is and will still be portraited as the CSA flag. We cannot not forget the past or mankind will make the same failures in the future.

[thepostman]

you're right we can not forget the past...I 100% agree which is why I am for this museum...but my point is this is a high traffic area for visitors...and if you just glance at the flag your first thoughts aren't going to be...."oh, this must be a civil war thing" if you know nothing about Liberty

I know BJ talked about his feelings as an African American...but he also realizes what its all about since he goes here....some African American from the outside may see it and not want their kids to go here, or their kid may just not want to go....whatever the case...it just makes sense to not have it painted on a wall of a hallway right next to the visitor's center...one of the first places they walk past while going on tours of liberty....

[Libertine]

"but for the hated Yankee" ...

what, who- hello .... what about me?

knew my ears were burning for a reason

I am confused because your quote says that I said that...I never did....confusion

No, no. Not quoting you. Sorry, should have thrown in a footnote there. "The hated Yankee" was a fairly common phrase that showed up in a lot of Confederate personal correspondence between soldiers on the front and their families back home. I made the mistake of alluding to something that isn't common knowledge.

[TIMSCAR20]

But, when you have generation after generation of people growing up in poverty or just scraping by and they know the lot they were born into and their friends and family were born into could have been different "but for the hated Yankee", is it any wonder that some people might still hold a grudge?

I think the same about Blacks and Slavery. If we were paid for the work we did on the land or even were allowed to own land and property, wealth (not to mention education) could have been passed down from generation to generation for years so that today there wouldn't be so many living in poverty and ignorance. More than the economic damage on blacks was the social and psychological damage that has yet to be undone 150 years later. Until you see and talk to folks that are 2nd and 3rd generations removed from slaves, you can't begin to understand the fear, mistrust and hatred that is emblazed in their hearts for whites. Because my parents were older when I was born and my grandparents were older when they were born, my mother s grandparents were slaves. In fact my grandmother was born in 1894! Even in the early 20th century my family had experienced a form of slavery called Share cropping. That is when you live and work on a land but you pay the profits (a high percentage) to the land owners. My mother picked cotton in the fields of North Carolina. I have uncles and cousins that were lynched in the deep south for no reason and no one brought to justice. As I said, you don't get over a thing like slavery and the bi-products of that over night. The flag in and of itself is not offensive to me. I get offended when the person waving it in my face is doing so because they want to remind me of where I come from. I don't mind the display for its historical value. But I know the difference between family, historical pride and slap you in the face, "go back to where you came from" racism. This display is NOT the latter so I am ok with it.

[4everfsu]

Scar, very good point and well explained, thanks