"I do not think preening and posturing were what my ancestors were doing in that war."

You misunderstood my comment. I was referring to modern-day Americans who style themselves as Confederates.

Far from preening and posturing, our Confederate ancestors were doing what Americans have always done; i.e., fighting and sacrificing for what their conscience told them was their duty. American soldiers (and that includes Confederate soldiers) have never fought for political or social ideology. They fought, and continue to fight, because it is their duty. As Gen. Robert E. Lee said, "Duty is the sublimest word in our language."