Like a liberal who has just been mugged, I have now fully awakened to the fact that there is no middle ground. There is no compromise with those who hate The South. I started the Confederate Colonel project a bit over three years ago, and in that time the focus has, for the most part, been on the Southern gentleman. We have generally stayed away from history topics unless they were related to the Southern gentleman, simply because that is not our purpose here. At this point, let me make it clear that the Southern Gentleman is – and will remain – our focus here. Culture and heritage do not operate in a vacuum, however, so this post is about some things that I have finally come to understand.
Following the posting of a series of videos produced by the Georgia Division of the SCV, some of those who have a deep-seated hatred of The South decided to make these videos their mugging victim of the day, and, to a lesser extent, me along with them. Here is a quote from one of these folks – it’s a quote that I have learned from, so to “Badgervan”, I say “thank you”.
“When these Civil War revisionists around the web use a term such as “Confederate Colonel” to name their personal blogs, it is for a very serious reason; it goes to the heart of this topic being “discussed” around the blogosphere that many contemporary southern CW bloggers, and many southerners in general (this I personally experienced) are fighting their own war to somehow change history and make the South the good guys – they are still fighting that Civil War, only this time they see themselves as colonels, generals, etc. in their efforts to revise history. If you’re going to call your blog “The Confederate Colonel”, please don’t try and snow us by saying it has nothing to do with seeing yourself as said colonel. that’s not even grade school lever word parsing. These revisionists are out to change history by any means necessary, and honesty and proven fact(s) have nothing to do with it. The Confederate Colonel really does see himself as a high ranking officer in the modern day army to change what our kids learn about that war, what goes into books and articles about that subject, and a total dismissal of slavery as the primary cause of that war. And to that commentor on the colonel’s site: the South WERE the bad guys – that is settled and provern history, no matter how many sons and daughters of the confederacy insist otherwise.” Badgervan 1
I have written several times in the past that we need to think of ourselves as “Ambassadors for The South” and always act and be seen in a positive light as representing The South. Perhaps “Ambassadors” is a bit too passive. Perhaps we should heed “Badgervan’s” advice and think of ourselves as “colonels, generals, etc.” in our efforts to undo generations of anti-Southern propaganda.
“The Confederate Colonel really does see himself as a high ranking officer in the modern day army to change what our kids learn about that war, what goes into books and articles about that subject, and a total dismissal of slavery as the primary cause of that war.” I could not have said it better myself, although (despite his claim to know my thoughts) I had not looked at what I do in those terms until now.
Should we need any further motivation, he sums up the South-hater view quite nicely: “the South WERE the bad guys – that is settled and provern history.” It is only “settled and provern history” when the victor gets to write the history books and little minds eagerly swallow the lies. Unfortunately for the South-haters, there is still enough original source material available for us to clearly show that in the War for Southern Independence, the good guys lost and tyranny triumphed.
What effect does this have on the Confederate Colonel project? None, really. Our objective remains the same – to focus on the heritage and culture of the Old South and promote the code of the Southern gentleman as a pattern for living. To do that though, it is not enough to deal only with the past and the present. We must secure a future for coming generations of Southerners. They must be raised in homes where traditional Southern culture is the norm. They must be taught that while our ancestors had their faults and sins – just as all men do – they fought to preserve the free nation that was formed by our Founding Fathers and opposed the tyranny of The North. They fought for the right to be left alone and determine their own destiny – the same principles that are under assault by the leftists of today.
We must teach our children that in this life, the good guys don’t always win. That is why The Bible says, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” 2
Notes:
- Quoted exactly as written. ↩
- Romans 12:19 ↩
It’s sad how the South, like Christianity is so attacked. It happens all the time, and few Southern folks will stand up for their country any more. And those who do are really attacked. Everyone has been so brainwashed, and has to be “politically correct”. And like you said, there is no middle ground.
Thank y’all for what you do here, I always enjoy reading the articles, and am trying to always be learning about the South. I especially appreciate how, you not only defend the South, but use scripture, and are Christians as well. Praise the Lord!
Deo Vindice!
Elizabeth
Thank you for the comment, Elizabeth. When I was thinking about this over the past few days, I thought about the similarities between defending Southern heritage and Biblical Christianity. Laura and I attend a very fundamental independent Baptist church that follows Jesus’ commandment to go out into the world and preach the Gospel to all. That means that we go OUT into a world that is often quite hostile to the message. We often hold scripture signs in public, and as I type this, Laura is with a group distributing tracts this morning. Others from church will be holding scripture signs and distributing tracts to the crowds going into a football game. We get a range of reactions from nice to nasty, but we carry on anyway.
When you believe in something, you have to openly support it – otherwise, you become just one of the flock of timid bleating sheep that Lenin referred to as “useful idiots”. Even though I’m just passing through this world on my way to heaven, I cannot just sit back and watch my beloved South be lied about and her history erased and replaced with a version intended to make The North look good and The South look bad.
One of the tactics our South African visitor told us about was the attempt of Marxists to subvert us by name-calling, arguing, distracting from the original issue, or accusing. One method they use is the attack on your education. Anyone who tells the truth is “grade school level,” uneducated, or unintellligent. You will find these tactics any time a message board begins to disintegrate into arguing.
The term “revisionist history” was actually originated in the South, by several different speakers and authors, like Mel and Norma Gabler of Texas, who wrote the book exposing revisionist history, “What Are They Teaching Our Children,” which sent many Texan families scurrying into home schooling, where they could effectively teach the next generation true history instead of government-approved revisionist history. So, you see, those who oppose have no original thoughts of their own, and can only use words, phrases and arguments they pick up from more intelligent people
The person who wrote this opinion of you needs to really be more open minded by reading original documents and accounts of the South during the war. This site has a lot of them:
http://dixieoutfitters.com/p/southern-history
On the left, each title has a lot of titles under it, so each one of those needs to be read, as well. It will take a good two weeks of evening reading, but it will really open the eyes of the critic, who has not really delved in depth to the real reasons behind the war. If slavery was the only issue, then why were the northern states not required to free their slaves? That is a fact that is grossly overlooked.
Sir,
It has been a long time since I have been able to come back on the site. My father always told me that as much as we may try to bring the truth out about the south there will always be groups, goverments and individuals that will attempt to stomp on and discredit our heritage. Although being a Southern gentlemen helps keep our heritage alive we will have to stand up and protect it not just for the ones that went before us but for the ones that are growing up now in these times. I stand proud as a Southern man and will stand and defend our heritage.
Being a Southern and a Christian in both cases we cannot have any middle ground. Your either a True Southerner or you’re a Scallywag or you’re a Christian or your LOST. As Jesus said in Matt chap 7 there is a narrow and wide gate. We who love and defend Christ and the South have entered in by the narrow gate and many cannot nor will they follow us. We must continue to Preach Christ and the wonderful, honorable ways of Southern and Christian life.