The COMMON SOLDIER

 August 1, 2025

Mayor and City Council of Brandon Ms.

The statue of the Confederate sildier was erected in 1907  by the Brandon Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

May we be guided by the values of justice, and compassion, and respect for all members of our community.”

Brennan Pickering Brandon Ms.

Who could complain about a monument dedicated to dead Confederate soldiers? 

John Toney Brandon Ms.

First the battle flag, or any unit flag, represents the soldier…..

Nothing more and nothing less. 

It was the Democrat Party and Hollywood that have used the Battle Flag in dishonorable, immoral and despicable ways to intimidate and for profit.

Second, you must have a concept of State. At time of the Civil War most citizens were loyal to their States first. Based on journals, letters and personal statement’s soldiers, both North and South were fighting for their States. Like Lee, they agreed with the North on slavery but could not raise a sword against their own State.

"In this enlightened age, there are few I believe, but what will acknowledge, that slavery as an institution is a moral & political evil in any country."

Robert E. Lee

Also Lee was against slavery,

succession from the Union and

the war. After the war he was a teacher, including former slaves, avoided politics and encouraged the 'Old South' to accept defeat and work to rebuild the Nation. Last, Lee was against any monuments to honor the CSA or the war.

Why dishonor the Confederate soldier when your grievances are with the government? The government was the Democrat Party.

The Democrat Party is still here.  Seems, justice, the way forward, would be to lay blame for slavery on the government,

not soldiers or their flag. 

Next after the government would be the slave owners and slave traders in the States. 

"The Negro slave-holders, like the white ones, fought to keep their chattels in the Civil War." Woodson also notes that some black men, including those in New Orleans at the outbreak of the War, "fought to perpetuate slavery."

Also, some native Americans, people of the First Nations wanted to keep their slaves.

“I knew that however bad the Republican Party was, the Democratic party was much worse."

Fredrick Douglas

Lightfoot Letters

August

Sent from my iPhone from some place in space and time where,

“Being ignorant is not so much a shame as being unwilling to learn." - Ben Franklin  (one of his last efforts in Congress was legislation to end slavery)

Note: I was not a combat veteran. I spent my tour with the 3rd Infantry, The Old Guard. Based on the history of the 3rd Infantry and regular education classes on the military and our duties I developed a strong respect for the common soldier.

Especially, the soldiers of the Civil War,

both North and South.

In every soldier's life there is a beginning and an ending. 

I was at the ending of too many soldiers.

ref: civil war journals historians letters

cc: bill o'reilly     

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