Governor McDonnell? soon apologized for the omission. However, he defended his initial position by stating that his intent was to honor the sacrifice on Virginia soil and to promote tourism rather focusing on the issue of slavery. He originally chose not to mention slavery in his proclamation because he was “focused on the ones (he) thought were most significant for Virginia.” Haley Barbour, the governor of Mississippi, was less apologetic and defended McDonnell? ’s omission of slavery claiming that the controversy was making “a big deal out of something that doesn't matter for diddly." It seems to follow that, at least for McDonnell? and Barbour, the plight of Virginia’s slaves does not rank among the most significant aspects of the civil war. It also seems as though McDonnell? ’s failure to mention slavery as a reason for the war was not an oversight.

To many, the notion of celebrating the Confederate History probably sounds ludicrous. A national discussion of the Civil War’s history would be more educational than celebrating the Confederacy. Everyone should know and understand American history in it’s entirely. It is one thing to reflect, remember or mourn the human calamity that the institution of slavery brought onto America. But celebrating an institution that openly embraced slavery seems anachronistic to a 21st century America that overcame centuries of racism and even elected a black president. Or is this just the resurfacing of the inherent racism that has been pushed under the rug for the past decades?

The problem with the celebration of Confederate History Month is that it venerates the secessionist, slaveholding South. The Confederacy was a movement based on the buying and selling of human beings. No amount of sugar coating can change the reality that millions of slaves had their liberty and labor stolen to the benefit of white slave owners. Is this the heritage that gives Southerners so much pride?

To say that slavery was "only one" of the causes of the South’s secession from the Union is a myth. Slavery was the actual cause and everything else was a rationalization. Can we honestly and truthfully say that the Confederates were not fighting to keep black people enslaved? For those who had any doubt that secession was to keep slavery alive, the following Mississippi declaration of secession before the Civil War speaks for itself:

''Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery -- the greatest material interest of the world. Its labor supplies the product, which constitutes by far the largest and most important portions of commerce of the earth. These products are peculiar to the climate verging on the tropical regions, and by an imperious law of nature, none but the black race can bear exposure to the tropical sun. These products have become necessities of the world, and a blow at slavery is a blow at commerce and civilization.''

To honor the "principles" of the Confederacy is simply immoral. Would "Nazi Heritage Month" be tolerated in Germany? No. Governor McDonnell? ’s proclamation of confederate history month without mentioning slavery is like honoring German soldiers for their bravery in WWII without mentioning Nazism or the Holocaust. They call Germans who fondly remember the happy memories of World War II Neo-Nazis.

In addition, some argue that the Confederate Heritage should be celebrated in order to remember the death of thousands of Confederate soldiers. They point out that many Confederate soldiers were uneducated poor farmers trying to make a living conscripted to serve and die. But we can focus on the individual acts of soldiers of many unjust forces in the world. Trying to make a living does not excuse their misdeeds. Those soldiers chose to defend a system of degradation called slavery, just like Nazi soldiers were defending and perpetuating an evil genocide. The deaths of confederate soldiers do not call for celebration, only somber reflection.

The history of the Confederacy and the institution of slavery was a national tragedy. Slaves were subjected to hangings, rape, murder, beatings, separation of families via auction etc. by rich and poor white southerners alike. There is nothing to celebrate in Confederate History except the end of it. The Confederacy should be remembered, for sure, but it should not be celebrated. Rather, it should be a warning of what devastation and atrocity this country was once capable of inflicting on its own people.

People eager to participate in confederate history month have been flocking to Civil War reenactment sites. Since Virginia claims that confederate history month is a ploy to increase tourism, the following suggestions might help garner VA more visitors: enlist black actors to reenact scenes on a plantation complete with cotton picking and a white master cracking a whip on their backs. Indeed, the VA bureau of tourism might also want to have black child actors reenact scenes from the auction block with excited bidders yelling for more. And what Civil War Era reenactment would be complete without a white master/black female slave rape scene? This is the Confederacy I know, and this is their legacy. So Virginia, put your “heritage” on display for the whole world to see.

-- By StephanieOduro - 15 May 2010

Thank you very much for your revisions. They were very helpful and I’ve incorporated them into my revised paper.

Confederate History Month: It’s a Celebration!