Ga. Windbreak- Thank you for the warm welcome, and kind words. The forementioned links have been a great source of information, and I have enjoyed them, and even begun emailing some of the links home for my wife and children to enjoy and learn from.
For the sake of others, perhaps I should provide some clarification, as to my intent- particularly with regard to my initial post...
First of all...and I feel the need to provide absolute clarity here...I aint askin' NOBODY to do my thinking for me....I happen to be quite adept at thinking for myself- something that's been recognized as an occasional flaw by my peers, teachers, elders, and bosses, throughout my childhood and adult life.
At this point I must admit, that though I am in my mid-thirties, and raised in small town Georgia...I AM a product of the Public School System ie; "The Civil War was about the good Northern folks freeing them poor slaves from the evile Southern slave holders" I once came trotting in to my family dinner proudly trumpetting what I had just learned about the Civil War, only to be harshly rebuked. There I was told in VERY colorful language that there was no "Civil War" and to NEVER use that term again. I was then educated that the War of Northern Aggression had nothing to do with slavery, and everything to do with taxation and states rights.
I've taken a passing interest in the War of Northern Aggression, as I do with much history, but the problem I find currently is the same as I found when I was ten years old- Not many folks are capable of objectivity.
As the old saying goes: "Incredible claims demand incredible proof" If I were to come in and post that "The North won the War of Northern Aggression because they had airplanes and rockets" it would indeed, be an incredible claim. From there it would be expected that I reveal my sources- provide a Bibliography of sorts. Upon perusal of my sources, one would be able to determine whether there is infact any merit to my claim. If I cited "National Whack-a-doodle Grocery Store Gazzette" a person would be less inclined to pursue the information presented in my post, and could then move on to more productive things in life. If I were to cite "Smithsonian Institute" or NLC...well then, perhaps one would deem that their time would NOT be wasted in the pursuit of further information on this topic. Furthermore, it would be rather rude of me to post such a topic, and then dericively snort and say "well, it's all over the internet, if you're not too lazy to find it yourself" thereby placing the burden of proof of my incredible claim upon YOU, the casual reader. That would not be a way to enhance and better ourselves.
Hopefully that explains my mind set a little. I'm not calling anyone a liar- there are just some very interesting statements made that I have never been exposed to before- Call me young and naive if you will. A citation of sources tends to help one figure out the "fact" from often over recited opinions, thereby allowing the clarity to reach my own, better educated opinion. The "Storm Front Militia" is not, for instance what I would deem a credible source. Nor would be information from the "Southern Poverty Foundation", or NAACP.
Once again, I have had alot of fun perusing this forum, and learning when I've had the time to dedicate to it. (I am afterall, at work in a remote oilfield, camp environment)
I hope y'all have a good one!
