Thursday, April 13, 2023

Prattville Dragoons' Commander's Column for April 2023 - A Time and Place of Struggle

My pastor is great at making his sermons relatable to modern day life.  I also often find them relatable to service with the Sons of Confederate Veterans and heritage defense.  A couple weeks ago his sermon was on Jesus’ struggle and severe anguish as he prayed in anticipation of his impending suffering on the cross.  With the constant attacks on our heritage, historical revisionism besmirching our honorable ancestors and their struggle in the War for Southern Independence, and the removal of significant monuments which are works of art and honor the sacrifices and heroic struggle of the Confederate soldiers, it is a struggle to overcome the anguish imparted by these constant slanders and setbacks. 

The sermon presented six things people might do when attempting to cope with overwhelming struggles.  Some avoid it.  We wish we could avoid the attacks on our heritage and the vestiges of our Confederate history but the politically correct progressives are incessant in their attacks.  The latest is a government sanctioned renaming commission which is spending millions of your tax dollars to change the names of military installations which have stood for decades in honor of the gallantry and leadership exhibited by American Confederates.  The sermon presented the second strategy to cope, wait for it.  But we have been waiting for years now.  Ever since the misplaced reaction to the Dillon Roof shootings, the PC crowd which wishes to remove all connection with the constitutional ideals of our nation’s founding sought the removal of the Battle Flags from atop the South Carolina House and the grounds of the Alabama state capital and they have stoked their misplaced vengeance for almost a decade, ever since the Sesquicentennial of the War Between the States.  

We can attempt to delay the anguish.  Our legal fights in courtrooms in Virginia and Alabama and across the southeast are testament to the strategy to prevent the removal of our monuments thru legal channels and means including stays against what seems to be the inevitable removal of all symbols to our ancestors’ valiant resistance to tyranny.   The pastoral sermon offered passing the struggle on to others.  But who will fight for our Southern heritage, true history and our ancestors’ honorable memory if not for the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the very descendants of these brave and noble folk. 

Can we escape it?  We should not even dare.  It is our duty per the Charge to vindicate the Cause for which our Confederate ancestors fought and to defend their good name, to guard and teach true history, emulate their virtues and perpetuate the principles of self-governance and constitutional God-given rights. Robert E. Lee said, “You should do your duty in all things. You can never do more, you should never wish to do less.”   Therefore, we must accept it.  Christ said, “Not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)   If it isn’t difficult, you are not following him and his will for your life.  God will challenge you.  The defense of Southern heritage is a challenge.  It has proven to not be an easy task or easily accomplished.  It will be a lifelong struggle.  It is a worthwhile defense, a meaningful struggle.  And, Deo Vindice!

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