.
From the Washington Post ..." RICHMOND -- Gov. Robert F. McDonnell, reviving a controversy that had been dormant for eight years, has declared that April will be Confederate History Month in Virginia, a move that angered civil rights leaders Tuesday but that political observers said would strengthen his position with his conservative base.
.
The two previous Democratic governors had refused to issue the mostly symbolic proclamation honoring the soldiers who fought for the South in the Civil War. McDonnell (R) revived a practice started by Republican governor George Allen in 1997. McDonnell left out anti-slavery language (SM: emphasis mine) that Allen's successor, James S. Gilmore III (R), had included in his proclamation.
.
McDonnell said Tuesday that the move was designed to promote tourism in the state, which next year will mark the 150th anniversary of the start of the war. McDonnell said he did not include a reference to slavery because "there were any number of aspects to that conflict between the states. Obviously, it involved slavery. It involved other issues. But I focused on the ones I thought were most significant for Virginia.".
.
The mind reals that slavery is not mentioned as ".. focused on the ones (aspects of the war) I thought were most significant for Virginia."
.
While it is true that slavery, per say, was not the only driver, it was the catalyst of all reasons. The sovereignty of the States over the Federal government came to a head over slavery. The problem with the tariffs rate differential between manufactured goods and agricultural goods was based on the competitive advantage provided by slavery in the south.
.
(Updated 4/8/10)
.
The Governor apologized for this, saying he was sorry. And Sorry is better than Not Sorry any day. But to quote Salon,
.
But this isn't forgetting to turn off the lights. It's not really the kind of thing for which you can smack yourself on the forehead and say, "Man, I am so sorry I forgot about that." The proclamation didn't just fall out by accident, or happen automatically. The last two governors, both Democrats, made a point of not proclaiming a Confederate History Month. And even the Republicans before them had made some acknowledgment of the evils of slavery, even amidst their celebration of the slavery's defenders. McDonnell was consciously reversing both policies.