You'll have to forgive me. I have no idea what you're saying in your response.

I do notice that you use the term "they" as an all inclusive representation of the thinking of ALL Southerners prior to the war. Undoubtedly, you realize that in some cases it took multiple votes to approve secession. Initially, it does not appear that secession was a "majority" view. Generally, it appears in many of the Southern states that secession became the majority view, at least by the legislators, as a response to actual or perceived Northern governmental actions.

Finally, I agree that the "populist" view of the causes and "rights and wrongs" of the Civil War is that the South fought to defend slavery, that it was a "Rich man's war and a poor man's fight", that Confederate soldiers may be equated with or viewed more critically than "Nazis". If you want to latch on to that view, it's fine with me, but it's a false and "mis"-educated view of history.

Southerner are as diverse and complicated as any other group of people. To try to "lump" them ALL into one group or view is "regionalist", "culturist" and akin to "racist".

Kevin, the reason some on the message board view you as a Southern "hater", is due to your continuous "drive by" postings that take a derisive, contrarian position on anything that is pro-Southern or even a balanced view of Union and Confederate motives.

Jim