ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, June 15, 1993                   TAG: 9306150369
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

IT'S TIME TO END OUR CIVIL WARS

IN HIS June 6 letter ("Oh that South might rise again"), Wayne Carlson says that "Lies, myths and distortions abound concerning the Civil War."

No race, region or individual has a monopoly on virtue or vice. Yes, we went wrong in 1860. When a president was chosen who advocated the reasonable act of banning slavery in federal territories, the horrors of secession were unleashed.

A large number of white Southerners believed their politicians' lies, that Lincoln was evil, Union men were cowards and African-Americans would accept white rule forever. They paid dearly for the pride and fears used to whip up secessionist excitement.

Our task is to bring people together, not to divide them by saying some groups are good and others are bad. DAVID BERNARD BLACKSBURG 


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