Civil War talk in presidential contest reveals fresh divisions on race

[Jilly_in_VA]

What started with a single question from a voter about the origins of the Civil War has morphed into a sprawling political clash over a monumental event in American history, making the Civil War a major component of a presidential election for the first time in recent memory and exposing fresh divisions over race, history and progress.

Since former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley did not mention slavery when asked two weeks ago what sparked the conflict that tore apart the nation from 1861 to 1865, every major presidential candidate has weighed in on it. Their commentary sheds light on how each party is addressing long-standing divisions over the legacy of its most divisive period — and what they mean for the current battles over race in America.

Republicans often downplay the worst components of the Civil War era, arguing that the country has moved far beyond its earlier sins and does not benefit from resurfacing them. Democrats, by contrast, see an integral tie between America’s history of racism and its modern-day reality, and draw very different conclusions about what is needed to address that history.

“The Civil War has never really left American politics — it just seems to have exploded in this moment,” said Tim Galsworthy, a historian at Bishop Grosseteste University who is writing a book about the Republican Party and memories of the Civil War. “When the U.S. is divided, the Civil War becomes that great reference point, because it’s the ultimate moment of division.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/01/13/haley-trump-civil-war-history/

(gift, no paywall) Where the hell is Bishop Grosseteste University, and why are we discussing a war that was over 160 years ago?

[TwilightZone]

1. Bishop Grosseteste is a public university in England.

The reason we're discussing a war from 160 years ago is because some people still haven't gotten over it, and as noted, it's a good reference point when discussing our current political environment.

[Jilly_in_VA]

2. They should have made

the location of that place clear in the beginning. And the fact that "some people" haven't gotten over the Civil War is no excuse to bring it into today's political discourse. It's a bigger reason than ever to stop talking about it, IMNSHO. Let them get over it some other way.

[TwilightZone]

3. It's used as a reference point because division has rarely been this high since then.

It's the high-water mark of political division in US history, so it's obviously going to be used as a reference point.

It's also relevant because the GOP is actively trying to whitewash the history of slavery, which, of course, the CW was fought to eliminate, making idiotic assertions like slaves were just one, big, happy bunch and insisting that it not even be called slavery.

Similarly, white supremacy is at its highest level publicly in probably any of our lifetimes, outside of, arguably, a few years in the Civil Rights era.

[Jilly_in_VA]

4. The GQP

is ramping it up on that point, using "white grievance" as an excuse (not a reason, an excuse) to bring up the Civil War at any opportunity. Also to whitewash history, etc. They are just a step away from putting on white hoods and riding at night.