Mark, I agree. The fact I like about you, is that you're a straight shooter. So am I. I want to give my views on some issues that I will try to tie up with the ACW or WBTS, however you want to call it.

As you probably know from reading this board my ancestors were Quakers. They did not believe in taking human life. Mark as an idea, that is great. The thing is ,as a practical and pragmatic issue it just don't cut. I abhor gratuituous physical violence. However I believe in capital punishment and the military and if you break into my house, I'll will put a hole in you with my shotgun. Now I'll get to the Civil War.

Many southerners on this board speak of how noble it was that their people fought for their homes, because their land was invaded and to protect their families. Yes, that may be seen in that light, but...always a but...if you really felt that way, you wouldn't have been much of a man if you didn't fight...see what I mean?

How about some of the Union soldiers, a lot of their motives were more, how shall I say, alturistic and disinterested....loyalty to the old flag, well maybe that wasn't so disinterested but many also fought to free slaves. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that's the reason all Yanks fought for, or even the reason most of them fought for. Most men on both sides fought for reasons that didn't really have to do with the political ideas of either the Confederacy or the Union. What I am saying is that's the reson that "some" fought. They didn't see it as they had something personal to gain or lose.

I think it was the movie Gettysburg, could be wrong... Joshua Chamberlain is saying that this is a new army...dedicated to set men free. Well in the main that was a lot of hogwash...that's the way I feel, no doubt the way you feel and no doubt the way the ovwerwhelming majority of the troops he addressed felt. Howsoever...that is exactly the way Chamberlain felt and the way a substantial minority no doubt felt also.

That is why I consider Chamberlain as such a noble type, as Frank does. His positon was disinterested, he wasn't fighting to protect his wife, property or kids. He could have easily sat out the war with no skin off his nose whatsoever. He fought for what he considered the welfare of some others... I esteem this man so much..However, like my Quaker ancestors...I respect and honor his ideas, but I haven't found them pratical or pragmatic. Wouldn't it be great if we could all live as one? Yeah, but that is not the way it is. I believe that we will achieve that brotherhood in the otherworld,but as I said about non-violence, it just don't cut it here. While I favor the blue, I don't change my views to curry favor with Yanks, Rebs,Blacks or Whites. Call me racist, homophobe,whatever.

Chase.