| by Nick Warren
A couple weeks ago, I had opportunity to speak with a reporter from one of the local papers. He had contacted me interested in doing a story on not only the SCV but also on the Southern Heritage Movement. His interest had the distinct odor of a liberal minefield, but I agreed to chat with him on a number of matters and decide if what I had to say was something he would be interested in. Needless to say, his quest was to dig up dirt on the SCV, the LOS and just about anyone else involved in Southern Heritage. He decided that my spin on things had no contoversy and went with another story. Imagine that ! The point is this, it has made me do some thinking and look at the BIG PICTURE that we all deal with. I suppose I will tackle the complexity of the Southern Heritage Movement and perhaps give us all some food for thought. I see the words VINDICATE and VINDICATION appear quite frequently in our writings, our conversations our "battlecry" if you will. Stephen Lee mentions it in his "Charge". Most Dictionary reference will tell you that Vindication has a number of meanings. Everything from affirming one's rights to defending a position to seeking revenge or to avenge an act. Its a word that notes ACTION not the status quo. Maybe I spent to many years as a Professional Soldier but in my simple way of looking at things, Vindicate means fight and/or defend. Now before ya'll get the wrong idea, understand, to me the WBTS is long over. However what we fight now is the aftermath of over 100 years of misinformation, be it malicious lies or a victors laurels justifying a pretty shaky cause. Regardless we have an obligation and duty to most definately defend and when need arises FIGHT for what we believe in. Fighting does not mean storming the "Bastille" with torches and pitchforks. Fight means a number of things, it can be as simple as stating the truth of the Southern Cause, it can be a Flagging campaign or staging some type of activity that promotes Southern Heritage. It can also mean tangling with "fat cat" politicians and the like. Does this make us a bunch of slobbering hate mongers ? Hardly. The last time I checked into the matter, part of the AMERICAN spirit was to defend that which we hold dear and believe in. Part of being an AMERICAN is the pursuit of LIBERTY and FREEDOM. Just as in 1861, LIBERTY and FREEDOM take on different meanings to different people. For the most part each of us is entitled to decide what this means. Though we fought a series of Bloody Wars over this we still dont have a ironclad definiton that we all agree on. So to those in the Southern Heritage Movement, LIBERTY and FREEDOM fall into a couple of categories. I will bypass going into the different personalities out there but I believe we are safe to say we have everything from Seccession Fundamentalists to the Grave Polishing conservatives. Each defines Liberty and Freedom as something different. Sadly it seems wehave to many in the Southern Heritage Movement that eye their own with suspicion and have often cast some rather nasty monikers at eachother. I would hope that we all can find some common ground and perhaps offer a bit more tolerance, courtesy and respect to eachother. I personally dont feel Seccession is viable, feasible or discussable. There again, I have no intention to apologize for the actions of my many Confederate Ancestors that felt this was the just course to take in 1861. I can tell you that had I been around in 1861, I would have seen Seccession as the most AMERICAN method to define MY LIBERTY and FREEDOM. So I guess Im more what many refer to as a moderate. I support ALL Southern Heritage whether its cleaning up a Cemetery or clashing with the powers that be. I personally decide what my level of commitment is and try the best to do my part. I will not criticize the actions of other fellow Southern Americans that may interpret things with a different twist. If it is accomplishing a small piece of the puzzle we all play on - who really cares. Naturally this does not include the fringe group that tries to use Southern Heritage as a cloak to hide racism, hate mongering and the like and damge what it is we really stand for. Remember our earlier discussion of VINDICATION. Racism is not vindicating the Confederate Soldier or his cause. I have often heard discussion as to POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT and TAX STATUS. Some feel that our various organizations cannot become entangled in POLITICAL matters as this conflicts with TAX STATUS. Some of this is fact. The Parent organizations we belong to generally are prohibited from LOBBYIST ACTIVITY. In other words they may not openly endorse political canidates, float graft to politicians for consideration on a matter of policy etc. This does not mean that its members cannot express their opinion, or to be engaged in grass-roots campaigns. Realistically thats what we see going on most of the time. Grass-Roots campaigns. Whether its a Flagging in Georgia or Missouri or a Flag Repatriation movement this is all legal and honorable activity. While talking with this reporter, he asked me IS "THE LOS more politically involved than the SCV?". Well Im not an LOS Member so I really cannot speak for the LOS. But a common sense approach to fact and circumstance would indicate that the LOS has more of a vehicle to engage in Political Activity. The LOS is more politically motivated. The SCV on the other hand is more a direct Heritage organization. The SCV finds its roots in the UCV (United Confederate Veterans). Thus the SCV maintains more of a Military type structure, protical and tradition and we all know that Soldiers dont make policies- they merely enforce them. Thus mucking with politicians becomes akin to embracing the serpent for the average SCV member. This does not mean there isnt room in the SCV for Heritage Defense or the front line folks that carry it out. I suppose it becomes a question of HOW, WHEN and WHY. An SCV member can and has made a difference in defending the Southern Cause and our collective heritage. I have seen LOS members do the same. Is there room for all of us under the umbrella of Southern Heritage - absolutely. I would encourage all to embrace some really simple views and values on this matter -
1) Keep in mind WHO the ENEMY really is. The Southern Heritage Movement is
not engaged in a conflict with itself. If you think we are then you need to
look at yourself. We as gentlemen and ladies have a right to agree to
disagree. We may not all share eachothers views or embrace the same
passions. Yet I contend we can stand together on MANY matters and make a
difference. We need to remind ourselves that EACH has a right of CHOICE.
Each has the right to define FREEDOM and LIBERTY as they wish. We may not
always agree but we can stand firm as ALLIES in a common cause. If we cannot
agree on POLITICS at least lets agree on a broad definition of VINDICATION and pursue this. |