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The response was written in reference to GetAClues post.

“I cannot support any group which supports the overthrow or division of the United States of America.
I do not know why any decent American would allow a monument to those who fought against this great country to ever stand on American soil.
To join a club which celebrates such anti-American and outright treasonous behavior is inexcusible for anyone who calls herself an American.
It is what it is. And it is a mockery to all decent Americans, especially those who have died defending this great nation.”

I write this as a northerner who is at once proud of my ancestors who fought to preserve the union during the Civil War and as one who loves both this great country and the south.

The preamble and first paragraph of the Declaration of Independence state:

“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.”

The referenced clause three of the Virginia Bill of rights states.

“3. That government is, or ought to be, instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security, of the people, nation, or community; of all the various modes and forms of government that is best, which is capable of producing the greatest degree of happiness and safety, and is most effectually secured against the danger of maladministration; and that whenever any government shall be found inadequate or contrary to these purposes, a majority of the community hath an indubitable, unalienable, and indefeasible right, to reform, alter, or abolish it, in such manner as shall be judged most conducive to the publick weal.”

Whether you agree or disagree with the reasons the south seceded and fought, irregardless of the fact that the struggle ultimately proved unwinnable, the south seceded from the union on the principles enumerated in both the Declaration of Independence, the Virginia Bill of Rights and other documents of governmental framework. The south seceded because they felt (rightly or wrongly) that the United States Government had become repressive and was intruding on the sovereignty of the right to self governance as granted to the many states in the United States Constitution. Many northerners and southerners identified them selves by their state, as; Virginians, Vermonters, Marylanders, North Carolinians, Rhode Islanders ect.. first and as Americans second. States rights were paramount in the 19th century .

The solders from both the north and the south fought bravely and nobly , many hundreds of thousands on both sides made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives for their causes. The statue in question was erected in the memory of those who fought and died for the southern cause. To relegate a monument to those who unselfishly gave their lives to preserve the freedom of their cause (whether we agree or disagree with it) from it’s traditional location, in the center of town, to an out of the way area such as a cemetery is an insult to the memory of the solders who fought on both sides and a complete and absolutely unthinkable travesty.

History is what it is. It needs to be understood in the context of it’s time, not ours. As has often been said, if we do not learn from the lessons of history we are bound to repeat them..

Put the statue back in its rightful place and if offends you, ether don’t look at it or grow up, get over it, move on with your life and let the rest of us enjoy ours with out your shrill wines of offense.

Passing the soap box to the next commenter.

Panacea,
"Lincoln was the duly elected President, with the legal and moral duty to enforce the laws of the United States in states who were in rebellion. There is no constitutional right to secede from this country . . . once you're in, you're in."

Where do you get the idea Lincoln was enforcing the US Constitution by forcing the Southern States back into the union? Can you show in the Constitution where a president can force any state to stay in the union? Can you show me where it says any state is forbidden to leave the union? If you can't I can show that you are reading the Constitution wrong. Not only that, I can show you by other documents that each of the original 13 States were individual countries. (States were considered nations.)

How about this for starters; The Treaty of Paris; Do you know anything about it?
Here is declaration No. 1 from the Treaty of Paris:
1: Acknowledging the United States to be free, sovereign and independent states, and that the British Crown and all heirs and successors relinquish claims to the Government, propriety, and territorial rights of the same, and every part thereof;
Here are the first 3 Articles from the Articles of Confederation:
Article I. The Stile of this Confederacy shall be "The United States of America."
Article II. Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every Power, Jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.
Article III. The said States hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defense, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to assist each other, against all force offered to, or attacks made upon them, or any of them, on account of religion, sovereignty, trade, or any other pretense whatever.
(Note the US Constitution is an "Amended form from the Articles of Confederation. Meaning the AoC is the basis and father document ot the US Constitution. Meaning the original intent is still intact unless otherwise revised.)

"I did slap you with a label, true. It was the image that came to mine when reading your first post. But your second one hasn't done anything to change that impression."

I didn't expect it to. All I done was prove you're bigoted. (No flame intended, just the actual definition or having preconceived notions/ideas about one that is unfounded.)

"If you don't vote, then you have NO cause to bitch, moan and groan about the direction this country is headed."

Sure I do... I don't have to vote to pay taxes. I am forced too! And I am forced to live with laws that I strongly disagree with. And I am living in my country that is under occupation by a foreign power and government. So as long as I am allowed to complain or talk, I will. But I see the time coming when I won't be allowed too, and that is close at hand, unless Lincoln's War starts back and continues first.

Michael-Deo Vindicabamur

Panacea,
I have a business proposition for you... Consider this:
Let me ask you something...
You claim you are a businessman/woman/nurse...whatever.
Say, you and were trying to make an agreement.
There is this business venture that requires two or more people to sign a contract that they arrange between themselves.
Near the end of the contract, it would read as follows:
The undersigned do agree that we will forever stay in said contract with no recourse to ever withdraw. There are NO provisions for ever withdrawing from this contract and it is forever bound to include ALL your children and heirs, including ALL of society that may be born within the territory of this contract when accepted.

So, let me get something straight; You are going to sign away the inheritance of not only yourself, but all your children and they will never have a say as to
being released from that contract. No mater what happens to them, they MUST follow that contract or be classed as traitors and subject to the courts for punishment.

That is EXACTLY what you are claiming Lincoln is claiming and saying the US Constitution is saying the same thing, and it does NOT! Besides that would be foolish to sign into a contract that you could never get out of.... Do you wish
enslavement on everyone through the government and them not have a say?

Remember: The States created the Federal Government. The Federal Government did not create the States in the beginning. Remember: The Federal Government "supposed" to be restricted from any actions EXCEPT those "SPECIFICALLY"
granted it by the US Constitution.

Michael Deo Vindicabamur