Are White Americans Ashamed of their Heritage?

Question

Due to my hobby as a civil war reenactor and my job as a park ranger I get thousands of questions I cannot answer. Today I worked at Williamsburg, Va and braving the cold I was bombard with questions that once again that I could not answer

People from all over the world including the Middle East, Asia and Europe and other areas come to see our Civil War, and its soldiers. I am told that we are one of the few countries that try to protect the sites where our soldiers have fought for our beliefs, honor and the country. That when they go home they are going to try to have their respective country do the same.

Like the 25 + Germans today at Williamsburg, they ask why do we do this while at the same time being ashamed of it? (They are speaking of the political correct police). The Williamsburg guide was upset as many times before they wanted to see the Battle of Williamsburg (there is nothing) then they want to know why, then when they see the same thing at Yorktown they then go to Pamplin Historical Park and ask why there are no Confederate Flags. Since there French, British flags flying nothing you tell them works.

Lat month we had 75 Middle East students who rubbed in my face (I was working Saylors Creek that week) that they knew the Commanders of Saladin Armies Ayyubi and Shirkuh were the only two I wrote down out of the 6 or 7 they mentioned from 912 years ago. They went on to explain that the USA might learn to understand the values of the Middle East and other parts of the world if we learned to appreciate our heritage and quit being ashamed. When I get close to retirement or win the lottery I am going to explain how my number 12 boots fit up their @3*.

However all this started me thinking so I ran it by my peers, my superiors and finally some of the biggest religious and philosophical minds in the country and regardless of their race or religion they agreed we should not be ashamed of the Civil War and we should learn more about it. What do you think?

Answer 1

White Americans are ashamed of their heritage because they've been told their whole lives to feel guilty about events that they had no part in. Nevermind that in public schools, the Civil War is taught from the Union perspective while the Confederacy is demonised, but never explained.

Answer 2

The war that took place in the United States in 1861 thru 1865 was NOT a CIVIL war. According to Thomas E. Woods. Ph.D., The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History, there was never an America Civil War.

"A civil war is a conflict in which two or more factions fight for control of a nation's government... The seceding Southern states were not trying to take over the U. S. government; they wanted to declare themselves independent."

When the Southern states seceded, they declared themselves the Confederate States of America. They had a president, Jefferson Davis, and were ready to be a new and separate entity from the union.

It was the North or Union that opposed the secession of the Southern states to form their own nation. For this reason the conflict between the states began. The South left the Union to preserve their way of life. They did not try to take over the federal government, but to form their own.

Good Day!

Answer 3

The civil was is an integral part of Americas history, it wasn't pretty, and wasn't something to be proud of, but I think the Americans learnt a great deal from it. I don't think any country should be ashamed of their history, no matter how bad it was if they have learned from it and moved on, this is a situation the German's are starting to understand, us Brits are finding it a bit harder to come to terms with conquering and then losing an empire. But we'll get there eventually.

Answer 4

Not only American had their Civil war, remind of Spanish civil war, the French revolution which might be considered in a way a Civil war.
the fact is that any nation should overcome this step and try to live in peace and democracy.

Answer 5

In New York, you have a high immigrant population. In the South, not so much. Much of the population is 4th generation or more, some might not even know where their family tree originates. It has nothing to do with shame, in fact, I somewhat admire the "American" response, in some ways.

Answer 6

absolutely we should be proud,Our ancestors died for our country,Nobody likes war,No one hope to go to war But sometimes it is necessary and even though we all may not agree we should stand by the men who give their live for us to have this thing called freedom. I may not proud of everything that this country does as a whole but I am certainly proud to be a American,A country where we are free and are not killed for money,religon and speech.And as for what to tell your visitors ..You can just keep saying what you have been because they to believe what they are saying very strongly and that is what make this country and our history so beautiful because we have that right!!! Kudos to you for honoring our soidlers that way!!!!

Answer 7

The only thing one can be ashamed of is the "Politically correct" "cleansing" of the history- eg. the "disappearance" of the thousands of free black volunteers who served in the Confederate army (in non-segregated units to boot!)

Answer 8

maybe soem are i am not. there have been worse evednts in teh world then our civil war. i think its a case of sanctimonious foreigners who delight in bad mouthing america. it has recently become fashionable around the world to america bash. it easy to be jealous spiteful and hateful when your not the best country that has ever existed on this planet. yes we have many problems, many problems but i wouldnt want to lvie anywhere else. god bless america

Answer 9

Why would we be? No, we are busy getting rich, enjoying big screen plasma tvs, and building a future for our nation while people who were bullied in high school try to broadcast their insecurities and pretend it has a political agenda to it so others will join their pathetic bandwagon.

Answer 10

I'm pretty sure that in all of history, every race, organized religion and groups of people have done horrendous and unspeakable acts of violence towards other groups. We are not to be ashamed of what our elders did, but keep in mind not to do it again.