A friend of mine recently sent this article to me. I thought it was too good not to share. It is from the former Chaplain of the Jim Pearce Camp in the Kentucky Division. - Chaplain Brantley
“Heritage,
not hate! Most of us have seen the bumper sticker. The battle for America's
soul boiled down to three words and an explanation mark.
Heritage
has always been very important to me. I am a proud American; I served my
country as an active duty U.S. Marine, honorably discharged in 1978.
I am a
proud Kentuckian; born in Morganfield, descended from blue collar Salt-
of-the-earth types (farmers, coal miners, construction workers, etc.). I am a
proud former resident of Texas, a state known for its proud spirit of freedom
and independence and, yes, big egos. These are the places and the cultures that
have contributed to who I am. I guess that's why I value heritage so much.
One of
the definitions of heritage is “relating to things of historic or cultural
value that are worthy of being preserved.” Note especially the words “historic”
and “cultural.”
I have
had a love of history since I first studied American history in the fourth
grade. As a recruit in Marine boot camp at Parris Island, SC, I was introduced
to the colorful and proud history of the Corps, and lovingly embraced it.
In fact,
it was more than just history, as important as that is. The Marine Corps
instilled a culture in its recruits, one of honor, devotion, and pride.
This
culture was captured in a book written by Captain Marion F. Sturkey, a Marine
helicopter pilot in Vietnam, entitled Warrior Culture of the U.S. Marines.
Concerning
my Kentucky heritage and history, I drew from Daniel Boone a love of the land
and freedom, and from Jefferson Davis a love of noble character and service to
my God and fellow man.
Concerning
my Texas residency of over three decades, and its culture and history, I can
say the same. It epitomizes the spirit of freedom and independence under God.
There is
another influence in my life that I've yet to mention that represents who I am.
In importance, it follows only my relationship with Jesus Christ, His Church,
and my wife and family. It's a non-racial, non-sectarian, non-profit veteran's
educational organization known as Sons of Confederate Veterans.
I know
that for many Americans today, there is unfortunately a knee-jerk reaction to
anything Confederate, due to ignorance of historical fact. Long-standing myth
concerning the War for Southern independence (erroneously referred to as a
civil war) has for too long replaced historical fact. The definition of “myth”
that applies here is “a widely held but false belief.”
Some of
these widely held but false beliefs are that race relations were better in the
North than in the South, that cruel treatment of slaves was the norm, that the
South was fighting for the cause of slavery, and that the plight of most former
slaves was better after the war. None of these things is true, yet many
Americans have been taught to believe these things.
What is
the solution? In one word, read! And not just anything. Read first-hand
accounts written at the time or shortly after by the people who lived it. You
would be amazed at how the truth is far different from what is generally
accepted and taught.
One book
you might start with is The Slave Narratives, an official United States
document put together during the Great Depression using testimonies from some
of the last surviving slaves of the Old South. There is also a book called Official
Record: War of the Rebellion, another official report of the United States
concerning the War for Southern independence.
Contrary
to popular belief, you will find more than seventy percent of these accounts
giving a positive view of the relationship between slaves and masters as close
and respectful. Not quite the view you get from Uncle Tom's Cabin, a fictional
work.
Just for
the record, I am not advocating slavery. What I am advocating is that accurate
and fair and complete historical fact be communicated and taught.
We just
came out of April, which is, among other things, Confederate History Month. I
bet you didn't hear about that on your local or national newscast! Nor did you
probably hear about the historical significance of it in school.
Did you
know that Confederate Veterans have been recognized by The United States
government as equivalents to Union Veterans by law, the most recent being U.S.
Public Law 85-425: Sec. 410 approved 23rd May, 1958?
I'm a
member of Sons of Confederate Veterans because I consider it an honor and a
privilege and important, to educate my fellow Americans, Kentuckians, Texans
and Veterans as to who these brave and noble Confederate soldiers were and what
they stood for.
They
loved and sacrificed for God, home, family, self-determined government, and
freedom. To smear their good name, and spit out the name Confederate as if it's
a curse word and the epitome of evil, is a disgrace and the greatest of
injustices. It's high time the true account of history is told. The truth will
set you free!
I want to
ask you this, as we come upon Independence Day and the tradition of honoring
servicemen at Arlington National Cemetery, do you realize that the sacred
ground there was property of General Robert E. Lee, unlawfully seized by the
federal government during the War for Southern independence? There are those
today in New Orleans and other places who in the name of diversity or political
correctness would eliminate any and all trace of part of history. Diversity as
I understand it is giving a wide view of all cultural beliefs. Picking and
choosing is called bigotry or racism.
Seek the
complete and accurate history. Don't settle for and spread myths of so-called
history. Heritage, not hate!”
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