Confederate History Month Causes a Stir

April is finally here and, with it, so is warm spring weather, as well as a chance for Virginians to reflect upon their Confederate history. Recently, according to an article in The Washington Post, Governor Bob McDonnell “quietly declared April 2010 Confederate History Month, bringing back a designation in Virginia that his two Democratic predecessors — Mark Warner and Tim Kaine — refused to do.”

This declaration came as somewhat of a victory for a group known as the Sons of Confederate Veterans who have been waiting since 2002 for this special observance to be recognized again. “A representative of the group said the group has known since it interviewed McDonnell when he was running for attorney general in 2005 that he was likely to respond differently than Warner or Kaine.
‘We’ve known for quite some time we had a good opportunity should he ascend the governorship,’ Brandon Dorsey said. ‘We basically decided to bide our time and wait until we had more favorable politicians in Richmond.”

Despite this, many Virginia residents were dismayed when McDonnell failed to mention anything concerning the part that slavery played in the war. McDonnell apologized for the oversight saying “The proclamation issued by this Office designating April as Confederate History Month contained a major omission. The failure to include any reference to slavery was a mistake, and for that I apologize to any fellow Virginian who has been offended or disappointed.” He also added, “The Confederate History Month proclamation issued was solely intended to promote the study of our history, encourage tourism in our state in advance of the 150th Anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War, and recognize Virginia’s unique role in the story of America.”

While he might have neglected to mention the important role of slavery in his proclamation, McDonnell was quick to acknowledge his mistake and apologize for it. He finished his formal apology by saying “We cannot avoid our past; instead we must demand that it be discussed with civility and responsibility. During the commemoration of the Civil War over the next four years, I intend to lead an effort to promote greater understanding and harmony in our state among our citizens.” In light of this, perhaps our governor has earned the forgiveness of his constituency.

View our Bob McDonnell interactive timeline here.