Re: The War - Paulmhmd
Subject: Re: The War
From: Paulmhmd
Date: February 13, 1998

In a message dated 98-02-12 04:11:57 EST, you write:

<< it is also realistic to speak of The Holocaust inflicted by the Central
 Government upon its' own people folowing The Civil War. In many ways, a far
 worse scenario that ever occured in World War II. A peace begun so gallantly
 by Generals Grant and Lee was devastated so thoroughly by a vengeful Congress
 with The "Reconstruction" Act.  >>

I'm sorry. I realize this is off the genealogy subject, but I must protest. To
equate Reconstruction, in spite of it's vengeful aspects, with The Holocaust
which was the systematic murder of some 6 million people because of their
religious faith lacks a sense of proportion. It might be slightly more apt to
equate the holocaust with the Jim Crow policies of the late 1800's-mid-1960's,
but even that is not accurate. There is no "worse scenario" than what occurred
in eastern Europe during WWII. I will say, though that I agree with the last
sentence. One of the great tragedies and ironies of the Civil War was that
Abraham Lincoln's policy of "malice toward none and charity towards all" was
overthrown by the Radical Republicans in Congress after his assassination by a
misguided and demented Southern sympathizer, in spite of the efforts of
President Andrew Johnson to continue those policies (and he was impeached and
nearly convicted for his troubles). Obviously the worst abuses of
Reconstruction occurred during the corrupt Grant administration so either he
was too weak or too complicit to stop them. 

I write this as a native Southerner, descended from Southern families back
multiple generations (except one family who wised up and left New Jersey back
in the 18th century :) ) including slave-owners and non-slave-owners . I am
also a descendant of Confederate veterans and a member of the Sons of
Confederate Veterans. To ignore the past is to be condemned to repeat it. We
must always be rigorous in our pursuit of the truth, even when it conflicts
with our own philosophies. I will be happy to discuss this issue personally,
but will no longer post to the list on this subject and strongly urge anyone
needing to discuss this to move it elsewhere, also.

Paul M. Hendricks, MD

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