Once the Civil War ended in Wilmer McLean's front parlor in April of 1865, there was a big question of "now what?". The country had to decide how they were going "to bind up the nation's wounds" (Lincoln). Many thought the government should just "forgive and forget" the trespasses of the South and welcome the Confederate brothers back into the Union.
My question to you, in general, is it possible to "forgive and forget"?
6 comments:
No we are a two party system. Donkeys are stubborn and will not forgive, and elephants never forget.
it is possible to forgive, but with pictures, how can you forget?
oh and this is elisabeth.. in case you can't tell by the name on screen..
I think the South paid enough with its destruction. And like Elizabeth said, forgive but don't forget. Lincoln's legacy was to prserve the Union. If we hadn't helped reconstruct the South, then we wouldn't have really been a nation.
Pffft, a polemicised two-party system is the same as a one-party system, only instead instead of false promises of stability and efficiency driving the system's support, there is an illusion of actually having a choice.
"My question to you, in general, is it possible to 'forgive and forget'?"
Shouldn't you be asking the blacks that? (Although yes, tu quoque is a fallacy too....)
[not your student by the way. I am a senior taking AP World Hist but being an established blogger I felt so inclined to chime in.)
I think the points you have all raised are important to consider when looking at the country at the end of the Civil War. Especially about actually seeing the descruction. Some memories just never fade.
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