[Lotus]

It is always good to relive the War of Northern Aggression.

I kid, of course. But I think of the war all the time. Being in the deep south, there are constant reminders, such as ubiquitous Confederate flags and people who are still bitter. For example, in a letter to the newspaper editor a man not long ago complained that Yankees had better burial spots than Confederates at the Vicksburg battlefield site.

I also think that some people in the deep south, to this day, stubbornly hold on to social and religious views which are seriously outdated. Without the war, many in the south would never have caught up with the tide of history which saw the abolition of slavery. Without another war, some people in the south will never change other social and religious views which are really out-of-step. I'm not calling for another war, just lamenting the fact that some problematic things in the deep south will not change soon, if ever.

Joe, you are correct. That terrible war changed the face of the country forever.