One New Thing and One Old Thing

I officially have a nephew.  He was born this morning at about 4 am.  He weighs seven pounds and 3 ounces.  He and mom are doing fine.  Yay!  I am overcome with joy.  I can't wait to meet the little guy.

150 years ago today, the first shots of the Civil War were shot at Fort Sumter, effectively starting the War.  More Americans died in the Civil War than in both World Wars combined.  About 0.6 million people died, which at the time was about 2% of the entire US population.  This would be equivalent today of about 6 million people dying.  The war split apart families, pitting brother against brother.

Now, today, there will be people who tell you that the war was about slavery...and it was.  But, you can't say that it simply about slavery, because back then, they (particularly the South) used the rallying cry of state's rights to recruit their army.  General Robert E. Lee was offered command of the Union army, but refused, even though he didn't hold with slavery.  He supported the state's rights and he wasn't going to fight against them.  Many of the Confederates were living in conditions equal or worse to slaves...but they fought, because the North wasn't going to take away their states' rights.

So, today, take a moment to remember one of the most decisive moments of our nation's history.  A war where nobody really won, except for maybe us.