Confederate Colonel

The following is taken from the Old Virginia Blog by Richard G. Williams:

A recent Amazon reviewer had this to say about my first book:

“There should be a class taught in school and this is the text. Too many children do not have a positive role model to teach these maxims. I personally like: ‘The education of a man or woman is never completed until they die.’ ~ Lee writing to son Custis, 5 December 1860.”

Now in its 4th printing, this book was a Conservative Book Club selection. Purchase The Maxims of Robert E. Lee for Young Gentlemen here.

“A fine gift for a teenage son. Lee’s words are in such contrast to today’s selfishness and immorality.” ~ Charley Reese

“The sayings and writings attributed to Lee or quoted by him are…useful and valuable…The book is nicely done.” ~ The Civil War Courier, October 2005.

“Richard G. Williams, Jr. offers a sublime figure as counterpoint to the hedonistic ‘heroes’ of the instant gratification set…all ages will benefit from these selections…a wonderful self-help book of sorts…this reviewer applauds his efforts to bring to the vanguard a true, timeless role model.” ~ Blue & Gray Magazine, Summer 2005.

“Must reading for all fathers and sons.” ~ Conservative Book Club

“Inspiring and full of anecdotes and quotes, some long forgotten, that will guide men of all ages towards the lost are of being a gentleman.”
~ Joseph Farah, WorldNetDaily.com

Two years ago, I purchased a copy of The Maxims of Robert E. Lee for Young Gentlemen, and it is truly among my most treasured books. Mr. Williams was kind enough to personally autograph the book for me when I ordered it directly from him. Be sure to check out the other fine books that Mr. Williams has available on his blog. Buying one of Mr. Williams’ books could easily be the best money you ever spend on a gift to a young man.

Here is one of the clearest explanations I’ve seen on the subject. It is from page 15 of The Confederate Handbook by Curtis Patranella .

There are many myths surrounding the Confederate States of America and the “Civil War”. For example, the terms “Civil War” and “War Between the States” are both an incorrect title to give the war as you shall soon realize.

A Civil War is when two factions are fighting for control over the government. The Confederacy had no desire to control Washington, DC. The CSA was a Nation fighting for its Independence FROM Washington, DC.

A War between States would exist if, for example, Kansas were to be at war with Missouri. The Nation of the Confederate States of America was at war with the Nation of the United States of America. Clearly the war was not between States.

You may be wondering, “What should I call that war?” well, the answer is actually quite simple. Considering the Confederacy was fighting for Independence, an apt title would be “The War for Southern Independence”. Secondly, the North illegally invaded and attacked the South for seceding; therefore “The War of Northern Aggression” would be an apt title as well.

The Confederate Handbook is an excellent reference to have on hand.

On October 22nd, I described The Death of a Dog. Today’s post is “the rest of the story.” We now have a new puppy in our home. Of course, a new puppy can never truly replace a dog that has died, but the joy that was lost has been found again.

Shiloh is our new Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie). At about 9 weeks old, he has made himself right at home.

Probably the best description of the relationship between man and dog was given in the courtroom in the trial of a man accused of killing his neighbor’s dog, Old Drum. This is Senator George Graham Vest speaking his closing arguments before the Missouri Supreme Court:

“The best friend a man has in this world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter that he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name, may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has, he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it the most. A man’s reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads. The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him and the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog.”

“Gentleman of the Jury, a man’s dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master’s side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that encounters the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens.”

“If fortune drives the master forth an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him to guard against danger, to fight against his enemies. When the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even to death.”

This speech is where the phrase “man’s best friend” originated. We look forward to many years of Shiloh being our best friend.

Since the focus of Confederate Colonel is The Southern Gentleman, it’s appropriate to try to define what that means. Before we start with that though, it’s good to point out that the title of “Southern Gentleman” should be thought of as a goal, and not a destination. I suspect that even Robert E. Lee would have seen room for improvement in his own life. It’s kind of like growing up - even though I’m in my 50’s, I still see myself growing and maturing. We never really “arrive” at that destination.

Here is what I found in the book, 1001 Things Everyone Should Know About The South:

Daniel Hindley was a Harvard-trained lawyer from Alabama who wrote on the subject in 1860. He described the Southern Gentleman as having “a natural dignity of manner” and “the utmost self-possession - that much coveted savoir faire, which causes a man to appear perfectly at home, whether it be in a hut or a palace.” He is “remarkably easy and natural, never haughty in appearance, or loud of voice - even when angry rarely raising his voice above the ordinary tone of gentlemanly conversation.”

I like that part about “in a hut or a palace”. It makes the point that being a Southern Gentleman has nothing to do with wealth. Any Southerner who has paid any attention to such things has met men with dirt and grease under their fingernails and grease-stained cloths, who are truly Southern Gentlemen. At the same time, there are plenty of “wannabes” who think that having money somehow qualifies one as a Southern Gentleman. The only association between Southern Gentleman and wealth is that the qualities that make one a Southern Gentleman are the same qualities of responsibility, duty, and the absolute drive to do what is right, that is valued in any society. In most situations, that translates into a higher salary or other financial compensation.

An article in Sunday’s New York Times points out the demographic changes that are taking place in America and how that changes the political landscape. Here are a couple of quotes from that article:

“If Tuesday’s election were confined to white America, polls show, Senator Barack Obama would lose.”

“When Ronald Reagan won re-election in 1984, whites made up 86 percent of the electorate; by 2004, they had dropped to 77 percent.”

“… when combined with (Obama’s) two-to-one edge among Hispanics and his 10-to-1 edge among blacks, it has given him a national election-eve lead.”

From an article by Patrick Buchanan, we get the following:

“In 1960, when JFK defeated Nixon, America was a nation of 160 million, 90 percent white and 10 percent black, with a few million Hispanics and Asians sprinkled among us.”

“… as one studies the latest projections of the Census Bureau, the America of our grandchildren will be another country altogether, a nation unrecognizable to our parents, a giant Brazil of the North.

In 2050, there will be three times as many people living here as in 1960 – 420 million. White Americans will be a minority, 49 percent, and falling. Hispanics in the United States, over 100 million, will be equal to the entire population of Mexico today. Our Asian population will be almost as large as our African-American population today.

By countries of origin, America will be a Third World nation. Our cities will look like Los Angeles today. Los Angeles and the cities of Texas, Arizona and California will look like Mexico City.”

The question, then, is what is the future of Southern Culture? Will The Old South be trampled into the ground and forgotten - or demonized to the point of complete revulsion? Will the idea of the Southern Gentleman and Southern Lady be dismissed as a laughable anachronism? Will the Southern hallmarks of honor and polite behavior be seen as hopelessly naive concepts?

America - like every other nation - is comprised of the sum total of her people and defined by the dominant culture. The Yankee culture (or lack of culture) that dominated following the War for Southern Independence contained the seeds of its own destruction, but since it was the dominant culture, Southern Culture was also doomed to be dragged down with it. The radical egalitarian ideas of the Northeastern Leftists applied that same egalitarianism to cultures. They refused to believe that one culture could be superior to any other culture - and that guaranteed the eventual destruction of America.

The primary objective of Confederate Colonel is to promote and encourage the code of the Southern Gentleman and Southern Lady as guidelines for daily living. If we maintain the culture of The Old South in our daily lives and in our families, then Southern Culture will survive. It will not only survive, it will be recognized for what it is - the shining beacon of light in a dark and depraved world. The roots of Southern culture are derived from Biblical principles, which is why much of The South is also known as The Bible Belt. It is the duty of every true Southerner - including those who are Southerners by choice but not by birth - to embrace, promote, and nurture our great legacy of Southern Culture.

What was once unthinkable is now all but certain - the election of Barack Hussein Obama as President of the united States. It has often been said that we get the government we deserve, and that is clearly the case here. We have gone from a nation blessed by God because we feared God, to a nation about to be punished by God because it has turned its back on God. The Holy Bible documents times when God would punish entire nations - as a nation - for their wickedness. In this case, God doesn’t need to do anything but stand back and watch as we punish ourselves by electing Barack Hussein Obama as our leader. How it must grieve Him to watch the self-destruction of a nation He has so richly blessed.

So, what happens now? Do we sharpen the pitchforks, storm the Capitol, and declare a new Southern Secession movement? Despite the reflexive urge to answer in the affirmative, the answer to that is “No.”

There is nothing we as individuals can do to change things on a national level. We can only change things on an individual and small group level, so our emphasis needs to be focused there. Just because the rest of the world has lost its grip on common sense and decency doesn’t mean that we must be dragged down with it as it swirls around the drain before its final descent. Our Southern ancestors stood strong in the face of adversity and now we must do the same. Remember that God is still in control. Remember where your loyalty lies, and never compromise your honor.

Sirs, you have no reason to be ashamed of your Confederate dead; see to it they have no reason to be ashamed of you.
Robert Lewis Dabney, Chaplain for Stonewall Jackson

Today’s post was inspired by this article about a 19 year-old displaying an Obama sign along with the Confederate Flag. This is why Confederate Colonel is so strongly opposed to those who identify themselves as “Rednecks” and “Rebels”. While claiming to be a Southerner supporting The South, he is an embarrassment to all we stand for.

• He is either not smart enough or too lazy to learn what Obama is all about and why he is supported by the radical Left.
• As with virtually all those who claim “Redneck” status, he identifies himself as “lower-class” and proud of it. The word used for someone who takes pride in being lower-class rather than working to improve his lot in life is “Loser”. Unless you’re born into a wealthy family, everyone starts at the bottom. Losers are content to stay there and wallow in their own self-pity. Southern Gentlemen do what it takes to improve themselves and their families.
• He is looking to the federal government to take care of him and save his job - the same federal government that invaded and destroyed The South that he claims as his heritage. Jobs come and go, but as long as government stays out of the way, a dedicated, responsible man will always have gainful employment. The only jobs that “need saving” are the jobs of losers who think a high-paying job is an entitlement owed to them.

Whatever happened to the idea that a man is responsible for his own fate rather than looking to the government? Most of the time, boys grow up into men; we can only hope that will be the case for Josh Jones. This 19 year old boy has all the maturity of a spoiled 7 year old demanding that mommy buy him some candy at the grocery store. It is truly frightening that people like him are allowed to vote.

Here are a few quotes from the article:

“I’m just a lower-class, hard-working person just like millions of others down here in the South but also in the North and all over this country, who might lose their jobs but nobody gives a **** about us,” he says.

“And if you don’t like my rebel flag or my Obama sticker,” he says, “then you can just kiss my country ***!”

The South lost the War for Southern Independence - losers like this just serve to show smug Northerners how completely they destroyed Southern Culture. Should the spirit of Robert E. Lee come upon Josh Jones, he would pause, shake his head in sadness, and perhaps wipe away a tear before riding past this pathetic puppet of the Left.

There are two ways to decide who to vote for. Both can be logically argued. Both are valid. Both come from different perspectives.

Practicality
The Practicality method looks at an election and its likely outcomes, and then determines how to vote - often based on the “lesser of two evils”. This method, by definition, ignores minor party candidates and allows for either Republican or Democrat, and none other. If the Republican candidate is bad, and the Democrat candidate is even worse, the Republican candidate gets the vote. A Practicality voter looks at the political situation in a time frame equal to a term of office. A Practicality voter is willing to overlook serious faults in order to keep a worse candidate from getting into office.

Principles
The Principles method disregards the probability of winning and looks only at the candidate, his background, his platform, and other points about that candidate. Taken to an extreme, it could mean voting for yourself as a “write in” candidate, but that trivializes a very serious decision. A Principles voter thinks in decades and generations rather than term-of-office. A Principles voter takes a very serious look at ALL candidates before casting a vote. A Principles voter understands that while we use a “secret ballot” system, God knows how we are voting.

As I said in the beginning, both are valid, and I would not try too hard to persuade someone from either side. On the other hand, when one has set a goal of always trying to do the right and honorable thing in all situations, voting on Principle is the only acceptable way to vote.