As an American that is black, will descendants of the brave Republican Union Soldiers accept my gratitude?

Question

And the True Republicans that helped bring about Civil Rights in America? (this would exclude ALL neo-cons)

speakeasy (below) After a Dem president, LBJ signed The National Voting Rights Act of 1965

Senate: 77–19

Democrats: 47–17
Republicans: 30–2
House: 333–85

Democrats: 221–61
Republicans: 112–24

Racists Dems fled the party and became southern Republicans. This was the initial birth of the neo-con (neoconservative) movement which changed colors in the 80s to mask their true beginnings.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voting_Rights_Act

Budd L (below) Yes, you are correct as well (see above). However, it was the grass roots movement supported by the True Conservative Republicans that moved the nation into the direction that empowered LBJ to seal the final nail into the coffin of legistaive racism. Of course, mentalities would take generations to change.

suthrnlyts (below) So the face is as gorgeous as the heart... Nice to know.

Answer 1

Welcome, Brother. No thanks necessary. Our nation was founded on the notion of freeing humanity from the bonds of oppressive government. It is unfortunate that it took another fifty years before the fight to end slavery could occur.

Let's all consider with humble gratitude the sacrifices of our ancestors, black and white, that made this the land of the free.

I am curious- you refer often to neo-cons. Could you clarify your issue there?

[Thanks for your notes on neo-cons. I will research to understand that better.]

Answer 2

My Grandfather fought at Gettysburg with the Ohio Volunteers and was a P.O.W. at Harper's Ferry for one day. Before my Father passed away we walked the battlefield at Gettysburg and he related the stories that my Grandfather had told him of the battle. An artillery battery ran out of cannon balls and fired logging type chains. They would snap out and take 20 or 30 men down at a time.

Additional: My families deed to their property in Ohio states "Northwest Reserve Territory" not the "State of Ohio". My family on my Grandmothers side is traced back to the Mayflower. There is a small town in Pa. named for my Great Grandmother. A member of my family has fought in every war America has been involved in since the Revolutionary War, including up to the present.

Answer 3

I will not accept gratitude nor offer an apology for what my great grandfathers have done. We must all stand for what's right today!

(One great grandfather fought for the South - another was a southerner who fought for the North.)

But I AM happy you are making it clear that not all Republicans are "neocons." That word is thrown around too much as an insult against ALL conservatives.

Answer 4

You do understand that the vast majority of us are descended from people who were not even in this country during the civil war. My grandparents came to this country in 1897.

While you're doing all of this research on slavery and the civil war, try looking up some of the comments that the founders made about slavery. Try looking up the names of some of the blacks who owned slaves prior to the civil war. And then try getting past it.

Answer 5

chi, in some of your questions this morning I've felt you're attempting to mix yesterdays history with today's future.

Politically speaking many of the views are sadly the same, but the terminology doesn't meld at all. (To me anyway)

Long ago our government was racist, biased, not only to blacks but to women also.

Today our government conveys that they care for all cultures in the US, but in essence what they're doing versus what they're promising aren't even close to completing the task of joining America.

I've joked around, poked and prodded here and there regarding some of your views or questions, but when it boils down to it, my standpoint is that our government (namely democrats) are seriously undermining the true growth of not only blacks, but women and other people of ethnic backgrounds.

They're spending so much time and energy attempting to establish equality - all they're doing is pointing out and establishing distances between people and legally legislating that people aren't equal.

So from that standpoint alone you owe no gratitude to anyone. Yet.

Just my 2 cents.

Answer 6

My {I don't know how many greats} grandfather was killed on the 1st day of the Battle of Gettysburg and You are the first person I have seen who acknowledges all these gallant men and women. I gave you a star You are my brother

Answer 7

Chi just so you know it was LBJ a true Democrat you should be thanking for civil rights reform.

Answer 8

Well since there are probably very few on here, you better find some and ask them.

Answer 9

That was before my time. I registered as a Republican in the early 70's and lived in the northeast.

But thanks and hugs.. :)

Answer 10

Chi we neocon don't hate you we don't look at you as a toy or something to prove how good we are We look at you as a capable American