Confederate Heritage and History Month

Confederate Heritage and History Month Proclamations in Full Retreat

Over the past few weeks we’ve seen battles erupt in Suffolk County, Virginia and Albany, Georgia. The latest round of debates is taking place in Cleveland City, Georgia.

Cleveland City Council tabled a request to proclaim April Confederate Heritage Month until Monday night after protests from some of the council members. White County approved a similar resolution last Thursday. Greg Pettit, commander of the local Sons of Confederate Veterans, has asked both governments to participate in recognizing Confederate heritage month because he says citizens need education on why the war was really fought and that school books often don’t tell the true story. Pettit said the reason, in a nutshell, included unjust taxes and the right of self-government.

Well at least we know what kind of education the SCV will provide our children. I can’t remember a time in the recent past when Confederate proclamations and the public display of the Confederate flag were so hotly contested. This observation may simply be a result of my blogging, but I suspect that change is in the air surrounding the public memory of the Confederate past. What I find interesting is that these recent challenges are not the result of a heightened interest in the Civil War. It is better understood as a function of the changing face of local government and a resistance on the part of white Americans who feel threatened by an expanding multi-cultural landscape.

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