In 1960, I became consumed with the Civil War as America approached the 100th Anniversary of its beginning. I learned a great deal about the Civil War — what happened, where it happened and how many casualties there were. As the country continues to grapple with deep divisions based on race and class, and pundits explore whether we’re headed toward a second Civil War, of the kind shown in Alex Garland’s new dystopian movie, I’ve been thinking about these questions and clarifying my understanding of the Civil War in today’s context. What was promoted and marketed to children like me in the early 1960s was a whitewashed version of the dark, ugly reality that was the American Civil War. That’s what the Civil War was really about.

Source: Daily Sun May 24, 2024 12:01 UTC