Everyone here has a good point.And as for Smedley D. Butler, this guy has been held up to Marine recruits for decades as the epitome of the Marine. If Smedley said it it was probably true. When I was an eighteen years old Marine recruit I was told over and over by my instructors that I was, and I quote, " A hired killer in service to the U.S. Government". Well when I was 18 I was, as any teen, impressionable. This is what I feel the old vet, Mr. Bush, was during the war. An impressionable young man, who if he were older and better informed, may never have fought for an ever so vague "cause".As for oppressing workers, and supporting the status quo, the majority of the Confederate soldiers had no status quo to maintain. I know my ancestors never had slaves. Probably would never have owned any even if they could afford it. As for me, it may be hard to believe, but I had never even seen an African-American until I arrived at Parris Island! There just were'nt any where I lived. The same can be said of the time of my Civil War ancestors in my community. So those guys cannot be accused of maintaining a status quo. For most of my Marine Corps career the enemy was the dreaded "communist". And I did fight them. But as I grew older I found that I had agreed with them all along. " From each according to his ability, to each acccording to his need". Again I must say, it is the People who are the country, not the government or industry, and the People should come first. Mr. Bush of the UCV should have realized that. If that makes me a Marxist, then so be it. After all, my favorite musical piece is "Le Internationale". LOL

Len