The Christian Science Monitor wrote:
After living through a decade of attacks against the Confederate battle flag and school administrators suspending students who wear Dixie regalia, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) is, like a true Johnny Reb, fighting back.
By reinstating Confederate History Month after previous Democratic governors banned it in the Old Dominion, Governor McDonnell says he wants to remember the South's sacrifices ahead of sesquicentennial commemorations of the Civil War, which start next year. This is the state that housed the Confederate government in Richmond and where most of the Civil War, the country's bloodiest campaign, was fought.
[...]
Indeed, most appalling to critics is McDonnell's decision to leave out references to slavery, which were included in a previous proclamation. McDonnell's declaration asks Virginians to "understand the sacrifices of the Confederate leaders, soldiers and citizens during the period of the Civil War ...."
He did not mention slavery, he told The Washington Post, because "there were any number of aspects to that conflict between the states." He continues, "Obviously, it involved slavery. It involved other issues. But I focused on the ones I thought were most significant for Virginia."
By reinstating Confederate History Month after previous Democratic governors banned it in the Old Dominion, Governor McDonnell says he wants to remember the South's sacrifices ahead of sesquicentennial commemorations of the Civil War, which start next year. This is the state that housed the Confederate government in Richmond and where most of the Civil War, the country's bloodiest campaign, was fought.
[...]
Indeed, most appalling to critics is McDonnell's decision to leave out references to slavery, which were included in a previous proclamation. McDonnell's declaration asks Virginians to "understand the sacrifices of the Confederate leaders, soldiers and citizens during the period of the Civil War ...."
He did not mention slavery, he told The Washington Post, because "there were any number of aspects to that conflict between the states." He continues, "Obviously, it involved slavery. It involved other issues. But I focused on the ones I thought were most significant for Virginia."
Let's turn this into a poll!
Confederate History Month...
| Is a terrible idea, no matter what: |    | 13 (20.0%) |
| Is okay, but they should make slavery history a major component: | | 36 (55.4%) |
| Is okay and shouldn't need to mention slavery: | | 4 (6.2%) |
| Should be a national thing like Black History Month: | | 12 (18.5%) |
| Total: | 65 |
I don't care if you don't like my options. Use your words!
