Reply #32: I can't really choose any of those ...

[RoyGBiv]

I guess the closest is the "get over it" one, but that's nonsensical. No one is "over it," not in the South nor the rest of the country. People that claim not to care tend actually to care more than the average.

(And before anyone starts, I've been involved in ethnographic studies of this, so if one wants to argue the point, please bring something other than a sound bite.)

Anyway, I would simply say that I do not subscribe to the puritanical belief system that inspires this "pride" thing modern-day neo-Confederates fall into, nor am I particularly ashamed of them for my own sake. I wasn't alive. I can neither claim credit nor justifiably feel guilt for what they did or did not do. I choose to study it, which is the main reason I can't go with the "get over it" thing.

My ancestors were mostly Confederates, some fire-eaters, some reluctant, one *very* reluctant. The latter makes a great story I intend to write and publish eventually, once I finally track down all the records necessary to prove some of the more salacious details. He was one of my g-g-g-g-grandfathers. He joined both armies, never fought a single military battle, and lived an interesting few years that took him through Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Indian Territory where he finally had a town named after him. (Well, he bought it basically.) I'm not proud of him, but he sure is interesting.

I did have one rather notable Yankee ancestor on my Mom's side. Last name was Todd. Had a sister named Mary who married some tall, ugly guy.