“bit resentful when other states wanted to join in their 'thunder'.”

Knowing SC sent out Secession Commissioners to other states, to get them to Secede was a bigger part of a thought out plan. What those Commissioners were saying does not fit well into today’s thinking. They were not of the mind to go it alone. When they fired on FT. Sumter, we can bet they hoped others would back them up, and I wouldn’t blame them. I think they prided themselves on leading the way, no matter the outcome.

“I've listened and learned so much more that I cannot stop. This is too vast a subject to be put in one book, on one board, have one opinion.”

Don’t stop…I know I won’t. I have a lifetime to catch up, and will never get all of it. I once swallowed hook line and sinker that the South never Seceded/fought to keep slavery, till I actually read the Secession documents, newspapers, and what the leaders were saying in 1860-65. Look at what so many of the “Compromises” were mostly about. Of course I was taught in school that Lincoln was the “Great Emancipator”, only to find out that a cunning politician does not equate to being a good person! I don’t have the illusions of Lincoln I once had. But I also have learned that the South is not blameless for the bloodshed either. I’m more objective than some folk on this BB think I am, I just don’t blast the yanks like others who are better at it than me, and are to the point of making an art form out of it. (LoL!)

“There's some corrolation to things today if one wants to look at it but that's for another board.”

Well, that’s why I thought about suggesting a modern views BB be added, because you are correct, there is a lot of the same feelings going on now, much like back in 1860-61. Just that some of the subject matter is changed. Folk would come out with a better understanding of how folk would be lead to think how they did back then…let’s just not make the same mistakes! Things can change for the better, sometimes as much as they change for the worst. “Should we…” is a powerful question that always needs to be asked when trying to decide something.

“the chance to celebrate our heritage as much as any other group”

Unfortunately our Heritage has a tarnished image that will never go away. The Southern folk probably never thought of the public relations nightmare that would occur concerning the subject of slavery. Seceding because Lincoln and the Republicans won an election will forever be hard to explain except to only those who choose to try to understand what was going on back then.
We will always have disagreements in how celebrating that heritage should be done. I don't have answers that everyone will like.

Kevin Dally