Let’s call a truce to fighting Civil War conflicts today

Let’s call a truce to fighting Civil War conflicts today

My father, who spoke with Civil War veterans, believed that the Civil War was the greatest mistake this country has ever made. The issues that it settled would have been resolved anyway. It would have taken a longer period of time, but, with a far less cost in pain and lives. The Civil War was fought over several issues, including slavery, states rights, an unsustainable Southern lifestyle and other issues. We, each of us, have strong feelings over many of these issues. But, surely the institution of slavery was wrong, and it should be realized that, in that one respect, the outcome of the Civil War was good.

Our problem is that when Gen. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse, not all the fighting stopped. There were still military skirmishes in the months following the surrender. I think that what happened in Charleston, South Carolina, on June 17, 2015, was still another case of a southern sympathizer refusing to surrender with Gen. Lee.

It is for this reason that the Confederate flags should be removed from public places. We should recognize that Lee did surrender and that the Civil War has ended. We should not fly the battle flag of the Confederate cause or have any more Civil War casualties. There were too many in the 1860s, and we do not need more.

Meanwhile, the South is rising again. When factories and financial institutions look for good locations, they more likely choose Southern states. These states are winning the economic competition today.

The people of Charleston are setting a moral example of how to treat hatred. It would be good if people of the North would follow their example. What we don’t need in the 21st century is to fight the Confederate wars of yesterday. We need to remove the Confederate flags.

Donald Butler, Warren