an insidious disease infecting our nation".
Thus speaks Brad Bowling, commander of the Virginia Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans commending the Governor of VA for his proclamation of Confederate History Month, and decrying those who have been outraged.
He characterizes those of us who were appalled by the proclamation as simply "pc" folk pushing a disease.
Sorry Brad. The dis-ease is rewriting history and celebrating it.
I'd rather applaud CNN's Roland Martin for calling it like he sees it - Confederates were seditionists, secessionists and terrorists.
Martin's comments in a segment hosted by Anderson Cooper are going viral.
After looking at Anderson Cooper's remarks in the video, I had one thought. He spoke of the anguish of African-Americans about this proclamation, and the "omission" of slavery.
But I'd like to point out that plenty of non-black Americans have been outraged as well.
Cooper also brought up his Confederate and Union ancestors. Well, millions of black folks had Confederate ancestors too - unwillingly.
Jes sayin'.
On his CNN blog Martin wrote a long response to those who criticized his statements, stating :
if a Confederate soldier was merely doing his job in defending his homeland, honor and heritage, what are we to say about young Muslim radicals who say the exact same thing as their rationale for strapping bombs on their bodies and blowing up cafes and buildings?
If the Sons of Confederate Veterans use as a talking point the vicious manner in which people in the South were treated by the North, doesn't that sound exactly like the Taliban saying they want to kill Americans for the slaughter of innocent people in Afghanistan?
Defenders of the Confederacy say that innocent people were killed in the Civil War; hasn't the same argument been presented by Muslim radicals in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places where the U.S. has tangled with terrorists?
We can't on the one hand justify the actions of Confederates as being their duty as valiant men of the South, and then condemn the Muslim extremists who want to see Americans die a brutal death. These men are held up as honorable by their brethren, so why do Americans see them as different from our homegrown terrorists?
CNN's other black host, Don Lemon had Roland back on his show for a reprise.
I stopped looking much at CNN, a while back. The addition of son of Erik to their team reinforced that decision.
But I've sent an email to Roland Martin, supporting him for speaking out, and I hope other Kossaks of all colors will do the same.
Hat tip to Randian, for his diary, Roland Martin is Right, the Confederates were Terrorists
Here's Roland's email posted at his blog:
roland@rolandsmartin.com
I agree with Roland's final words:
And I will never, under any circumstances, cast Confederates as heroic figures who should be honored and revered. No -- they were, and forever will be, domestic terrorists.