My Turn: Defend your heritage with a 'Rebel yell'
Alan Petty
Feb. 17 marked the 151st anniversary of the sacking of Columbia, S.C., by the U.S. Army. Five months before the destruction of Columbia, the Georgia cities of Atlanta and Savannah were left in ruins by this same federal army. There continues today attacks on everything Confederate. Our enemy is unbridled political correctness; it must be defeated.
Georgia has recently removed from their state holiday calendar Confederate Memorial Day and Gen. Robert E. Lee's birthday. Maybe Georgia has forgotten a still coercive government that sent Gen. William T. Sherman's federal army on a mission of destruction through their state in 1864-65. Perhaps the infusion of "Yankees" and other foreigners into the state over the years has dimmed their collective memories. Will it take another burning of Atlanta to awaken them?
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, in a knee-jerk reaction last year, acquiesced to having the Confederate flag removed from the grounds of the state capitol. That flag honored the men of South Carolina like former Confederate Gen. Wade Hampton who, with the support of honorable white and black men, became governor in 1877.
Under his leadership, the vindictive 12 years of pillaging by the federal government was brought to an end. That flag was also a reminder to the federal government that we haven't forgotten the war crimes committed by Sherman's army in 1865 that left Columbia in ruins. Neither Sherman nor his troops ever faced charges for the unrestrained looting, robbery and rapes of the inhabitants of both races and the burning of the city. Instead, Sherman was promoted to major general the year after Columbia's destruction and three years later made commanding general of the U.S. Army.
In both Carolinas, Confederate Memorial Day will be observed on May 10 of this year. It should remain an official state holiday in all the former Confederate states.
On Confederate Memorial Day, honor your ancestors by knowing about them. Teach your children the history they'll never get in public schools. Don't display the Confederate flag if you're as ignorant as those who oppose it. Show pride in your heritage by displaying in your homes pictures of Jefferson Davis, Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Wade Hampton and other Confederates who never compromised their honor.
Start protecting your heritage now by putting the complete bridle on the horse of political correctness. Pull back firm on the reins until the bit cuts deep stopping it in its tracks. If you don't, then the agendas already in motion calling for the renaming of forts named after Confederates will be unstoppable. Don't allow the highways, streets, counties and schools named in honor of Confederates to be changed; passiveness not an option.
Failure to rein in this horse of political correctness will fuel the attacks and include all the 1776 patriots of southern heritage; don't be surprised if the Washington monument is renamed. Get the fighting spirit of the Confederates who fought to protect their states and homes from an invasion.
One spirit in particular would be good to emulate. Confederate Gen. Daniel H. Hill, while engaged in a heated battle, replied to a private who'd said to him that he was out of ammunition, "what of it, there are plenty of rocks!"
The attacks on our Confederate heritage are only one of the many fronts where we must engage and fight. We've been bombarded daily for years, through the Internet, movies, television, advertisements and advice columns, with a subliminal message that's now blatant. That message in part is that morality based on God's word is no longer relevant, that perversion should be a celebration of different and that we should be ashamed of our heritage; ring me up, no sale.
Defend your heritage with a "Rebel yell" as you hurl the rocks of truth at the ignorance of our attackers. They will not hear the whizzing of our rocks, as they'll be surprised at our resolve in defending our ancestors, but they'll certainly feel the impact.
If any continue to persist in espousing the federal government's eternal and unsupportable charge of treason by our Confederate ancestors, use bigger rocks.
Alan Petty is a resident of Gastonia.