tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262783067993808760.post7780932986823184353..comments2023-09-29T06:18:27.221-07:00Comments on Cosmic America: Reunion and Reconciliation - There is a Difference, You KnowM. Keith Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444898713867430753noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262783067993808760.post-65323510555871476332012-05-08T03:09:03.000-07:002012-05-08T03:09:03.000-07:00I agree that we need to be mindful of the definiti...I agree that we need to be mindful of the definitional differences. Reunion is one thing, but reconciliation takes it to another level.<br><br>Have you ever considered how other countries have handled “reconciliation” in the aftermath of internal conflict in the 20th century and contrasted that to the Civil War in the United States? I am thinking, for example, of the reconciliation efforts in Colombia, as well as South Africa. Interestingly, it seems that in the United States we largely arrived at reconciliation through the efforts of the veterans themselves in trying to promote healing while at the same time honoring and commemorating. Do you know of any larger, government-driven efforts in the post-Civil War era? Perhaps such efforts are a 20th century invention.<br><br>Another point to consider—while reconciliation may have been achieved one way by the war generation, was it sustained differently by future generations? I am thinking of the apparent hold that the Lost Cause seemed to have on the American imagination until the later part of the 20th century. In that narrative, it appears that the country as a whole buried union and emancipation, and focused on tales and plantation life, cavaliers, and the “noble” generals like Lee and Jackson. I don’t have much empirical evidence to back this up yet, but it seems to be the case from looking at the popular culture.Ron Baumgartenhttp://www.dclawyeronthecivilwar.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262783067993808760.post-75803070718903767982012-05-08T05:26:30.000-07:002012-05-08T05:26:30.000-07:00Why were the victorious Union veterans so willing ...Why were the victorious Union veterans so willing not only to forgive their foes, but also to enable them to regain control of the Southern states?<br><br>“Reconciliation” in practice meant the political surrender of the Southern states to those who were only recently defeated at such great cost on the battlefield.<br><br>For a generation, those who fought in the Union Army dominated national politics. Yet it was precisely these Union veterans who very quickly returned the rebellious states to the political control of former Confederates. <br><br>Why?M. Foxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262783067993808760.post-2075130722111614022012-05-09T02:38:34.000-07:002012-05-09T02:38:34.000-07:00This is a very good, and thoughtful, post. I'm...This is a very good, and thoughtful, post. I'm not sure we have yet had genuine reconciliation, the Massive Resistance to desegregation demonstrates this, and I would point to the use of the Confederate flag as a symbol of resistance to civil rights as evidence of this. Re-watch the documentary "Eyes on the Prize," and look for when and where the CBF shows up and the anger and hatred on the faces of white Southerners when they confront blacks who are attempting to register for school, or get into downtown stores. The Confederacy is still a touchstone for those who espouse white supremacy, and reject the notion of equality for blacks, and there are many more of these people than I would have thought until recently. Check out this appallingly blatant racist blog: <br><br>http://www.occidentaldissent.com/<br><br>Hunter Wallace, who hosts the blog, is an unapologetic racist, and supporter/defender of the Confederacy, and uses offensive racist language directed at those with whom he disagrees.Marc Fergusonhttp://historicalmemory.googlepages.com/noreply@blogger.com