Discussions of the Civil War (War of Northern Agression), always take me back to my first visit to Shiloh and a tour of the grounds.
It was early April, the weather was warm, and I had a day off from a business trip, just perfect.
I went on the guided tour, and was early so I was able to spend some time with the tour guide, and I learned a lot from the preliminary discussion.
Once we were on the tour we visited the gravesite with thousands of white markers on the already green grass of the gently rolling ground. It was one of those moments I'll never forget, read what you want, watch what you will, the first time you stand before that many markers of the fallen, it's a humbling and thought provoking moment. I cannot imagine what it must feel like for people whose ancestors lie there.
We also toured the 3 large mass grave burrows that were the original Confederate graves, if I remember correctly. A young man behind me remarked that it wasn't right that one group was treated differently (not so politely), and me, like an idiot, remarked that the victor builds the monuments.
I was trying to be on my best behaviour, and not stick more than one foot in my mouth at a time, however, my accent betrayed me, leaving the young man to yell at me that I only found it funny because I was on the winning side.
I was momentarily speachless, until the tour guide told the young man that I was from further north than the Union states, which simply caused more confusion. Finally I said that I was Canadian, at which point I was told that I was probably on the winning side in our civil war.
The remainder of the tour was extremely interesting, and that odd encounter has reminded me ever since to be careful and respectful when visiting civil war sites.
As always a viewpoint depends upon the point of origin, which made me smile when I read the jesting about the Civil War/War of Northern Agression, it's like your War of Independance, on my side of that artificial line called a border, it's the Revolutionary War as we're part of the British Empire.
Hopefully in the future we'll be able to settle differences through diplomacy..............I can always hope....................Rod.