Traitors Against Democracy

Los Angeles-In the past several years there has been a renewed interest in what has been called the glorification of the “lost cause” of the confederacy. This interest continues today, as protestors take to the streets and on the grounds of local government offices to protest the coronavirus government policies. Some of these demonstrators are carrying confederate and Nazi flags. Is this just some type of propaganda, or is it the continuing glorification of the “lost cause?”

 In the Washington Post June 25, 2015, Joe Davidson, wrote an article titled “The Confederate flag isn’t just offensive. It’s treasonous.” In the article, Davidson quotes Gov. Nikki Haley “I consider and many others the flag as deeply offensive and a symbol of a brutally oppressive past.” According to Davidson it also has a direct connection to treason.

Another article was written by Professor Walter E. Williams, George Mason University appeared in the  Jewish World Review, June 19, 2017, and was titled “Were Confederate Generals Traitors?” In the article, Williams writes “ Victors of wars get to write the history and the history they write often does not reflect the facts.”

Professor Harris-Lacewell of Princeton wrote “This was a civil war where people who were traitorous to their nation made a choice to secede and begin a new country. It is not just a sort of thing that happened or a neutral position vis-a-vis the government. The confederacy was an attempt to break the union that is the United States of America.”

Let’s set the record straight for those carrying the confederate flag and supporting the principles behind the Confederate flag. One of the first U.S Army Generals that should have been tried, and convicted of treason against the United States is General Robert E. Lee, commanding officer of the Confederacy and its armed forces. 

His supporters will say that he was never tried and convicted as a traitor. Others will simply say consider the facts. If one secedes from the Union, take up arms and fights against the Union, and is one of the reasons that caused the death of over 650,000 Americans. Then there is no other term to be used than that of “traitor.” 

The U.S Constitution defines treason, as is levying war against the government and aiding and abetting its enemies. Robert E.Lee had been a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. He later resigned from the army to accept the commanding duties of the Confederacy against the United States. 

 General Robert E. Lee surrendered his army to Union commander General Ulysses S Grant at the Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.  It was the defeat of the Confederacy and the beginning of the glorification of the “lost cause” of the confederacy. Although the confederate soldiers were given amnesty they are viewed passively throughout history as traitors. 

Another record needs to be set straight for those carrying and supporting the principles behind the Nazi flag. In 1944 on the beaches of Normandy the United States begin the final push to end the Nazi regime. In 1945 the Soviet Army entered Berlin to finally put an end to the Nazis and Hitler’s army. Let us not forget that over 7 million innocent Jews lost their lives under this terror of the so-called Nazi “Master Race.” 

According to Neil Halloran, author of The Fallen of World War II over 70 million lives were lost within the civilian and military population from 1939-1945. The Soviet Union lost over 7 million military lives and another 7 million in civilian lives. The United States lost over 405,399 lives in their effort to defeat the Nazi’s and their war machine. The Allied forces in 1945 could finally claim victory over this evil force against democracy.

The confederacy lost its attempt to deny our principles of democracy and the Nazis lost their effort to put in place a dictator over democracy. Yet today we still see, what I call, traitors of democracy in the streets of the United States. 

The media calls these confederate and Nazi flag lovers-protestors. For example, The L.A. Times and Sacramento Bee recently covered a rally in Sacramento in front of the State Capital. Although there were many types of groups and individuals at the rally those with confederate and Nazi flags were not identified as a racist group protesting but were tied into the general band of protestors. This seems to be the same coverage as with other news stations like Fox News, CNN, and the Local news media stations.

They waive these symbols of hate in the face of good sincere American patriots. Why on earth should these traitors of democracy be given a pass? They should not be dismissed as misguided protestors exercising their free speech and as people defending their rights. They are nothing more than protestors against democracy.  

Anyone supporting individuals carrying symbols of hate or anyone carrying a confederate and nazi flag is a non-believer in the principles of democracy, They should not in any way be viewed as patriots. Some will even hide behind an American flag in an effort to hide their support of these traitors of democracy. 

The American people are not easily offended and are not easily manipulated. These traitors against democracy, some carrying rifles, are not fooling anyone who believes in the U.S Constitution, are committed to freedom, and an inclusionary form of government. 

True, we are not a perfect union. But we know when someone is working against our best interest as a democracy. We consider ourselves as part of the solution and not part of the problem in working to create a more perfect union. We know that bigotry, hate, and fear-mongering come from small-mindedness, and closed-minded individuals and groups. 

Americans shouldn’t be shy or intimidated in calling these individuals for what they are. They are losers looking back at history trying to reinvent a time long ago lost. Old slogans such as “the South will rise again,” “hail the third Reich,” are now “make America great again,” and “America first,” terms used by the Alt-right and white supremacist groups in an attempt to cover up for past mistakes against humanity as well as losing the hearts and minds of the people. They are in the most basic terms “Traitors.”

Is this language presented here too harsh? Is the description of these Confederate and Nazi supporter too harsh?  The death toll throughout history indicates otherwise. Unfortunately, these right-wing fringe groups and their supporters are out there trying to disrupt our democracy.  

The good news is that many more Americans are continuing to reject these anti-democratic individuals and will stand up against the hate groups. The majority will continue to organize and defend our true democratic rights. And millions will vote as one way to be engaged in our democratic process.    

Let’s be clear.  The good people of America already know that these traitors of democracy have not only lost the battle but lost the war.