To be sure, there were horrible deeds committed by Commanders and Soldiers on both sides! I pointed this out earlier. Neither side is without guilt or shame.
As to the Union victory, and the reunification of our Nation? In hindsight it looks good, given what America has accomplished. For me, the removal of "legalized slavery" was the greatest achievement, even though Political and Economical slavery exists yet! I suspect that the "trials" that America faced on the world stage were easier to face with a unified Nation for sure.
However, as we will never know what would have come to be had the South won, and two separate Nations been born, we can not truly judge which would have accomplished more.
What I find just a bit curious (given the current Political Climate) is that the Two State Solution is being tossed around these days because of the huge Political/Social divides among our Peoples.
Disclaimer: I lean heavily towards such a Solution.
Anyway........
Oh, as for Lee and Grant........my personal observation is:
Lee proved to be what Grant was not.......that is a Humanitarian who truly cared for the men under his Command. Rather than subject his Troops to needless slaughter, Lee "retired from the Field of Battle." Now, some Southern folks considered Lee a traitor for doing so.......but he did what he believed was best for his Troops and the South, and, BTW, the Nation.
Grant (in my opinion) would never do such a thing.........and that is why I do not see Grant as a "heroic" figure in our Nation's History. Just my opinion though...........grain of salt and such
As to the Union victory, and the reunification of our Nation? In hindsight it looks good, given what America has accomplished. For me, the removal of "legalized slavery" was the greatest achievement, even though Political and Economical slavery exists yet! I suspect that the "trials" that America faced on the world stage were easier to face with a unified Nation for sure.
However, as we will never know what would have come to be had the South won, and two separate Nations been born, we can not truly judge which would have accomplished more.
What I find just a bit curious (given the current Political Climate) is that the Two State Solution is being tossed around these days because of the huge Political/Social divides among our Peoples.
Disclaimer: I lean heavily towards such a Solution.
Anyway........
Oh, as for Lee and Grant........my personal observation is:
Lee proved to be what Grant was not.......that is a Humanitarian who truly cared for the men under his Command. Rather than subject his Troops to needless slaughter, Lee "retired from the Field of Battle." Now, some Southern folks considered Lee a traitor for doing so.......but he did what he believed was best for his Troops and the South, and, BTW, the Nation.
Grant (in my opinion) would never do such a thing.........and that is why I do not see Grant as a "heroic" figure in our Nation's History. Just my opinion though...........grain of salt and such
I'm ultimately happy the Union won for that reason (with a few differences here and there). A Confederate victory would have likely undermined Americas ability to take on the world's worst aggressor nations in the 20th and 21st century.
Sure, the Union victory didn't come without dangerous drawbacks that reverberate to this day, but I would say Americans have had it good and done plenty of good under the reconstituted and expanded Star Spangled Banner.
Sure, the Union victory didn't come without dangerous drawbacks that reverberate to this day, but I would say Americans have had it good and done plenty of good under the reconstituted and expanded Star Spangled Banner.