Preception is a strong force especially within political circle. I once debated a noted Civil Rights attorney, who was one President Lyndon B. Johnsons advisors on that subject in 1968, About his comments on slavery being the reason for the War. The same age old argument which has been going on, and on, and on, on this very board. He was famous enough to have a portion of a Federal Interstate Highway named in his honor and was a well educated person. But he heard only what he wanted to hear and what was politically expediant for his purposes. I hear his same comment in defence of Lincoln on this board every time the subject comes up. It is the same unasailable wall of preception that will never be broken as long as people keep a closed mind.
I quoted him references, I quoted him Lincoln comments during the Lincoln Douglas Debates, I quote him Lincoln inaugural address just as Keith did with me in his trying to make his point that the South had nothing to fear from Lincoln. When this man could no long argue factually against the facts of History his final remark was, "the facts (of History) are unimportant, IT IS THE PRECEPTION THAT COUNTS".
End of arguement.
My preceptions are just a valid as anyone else'. And I am as entitled to them as everyone else is. Rhetoric about the 'Greatness of Lincoln and the Union Cause' will not change my preceptions. But I would concider modifing those preceptions if I am presented with facts which covience me that the south was wrong, and not just beaten. But I don't think that will happen.