Date published: 6/7/2002

I respectfully submit to Jay Underwood ["Ethnic or Southern pride is outlandish, pointless," May 26] that not understanding one's "heritage" (defined as "tradition" in the Webster's New World Dictionary) while claiming to understand pride in one's own accomplishments is "outlandish" (defined as "strange" in the same dictionary).

Does one achieve these accomplishments in life alone? Or are our accomplishments in life achieved by the ethics and standards ingrained in us as children by our parents, family and friends?

If one can agree to the latter then I would say that it's not only the parents' responsibility and duty to rear their children but, in the process, to form a tradition, which equals a "heritage"--something passed down.

Mr. Underwood also misrepresents Southern heritage and the history of the United States of America.

Slavery was legal until 1867, two years after the conclusion of the War of Northern Aggression. As for the "Emancipation Proclamation," any informed scholar knows that it was a propaganda tool intended to (one hoped) cause widespread slave uprisings (none occurred); to create a "cause" around which the North would rally (200,000 Union soldiers immediately deserted); and to prevent seemingly close diplomatic recognition of the Confederacy by France and the British Empire (which would have meant fighting those navies to maintain the blockade).

Since President Lincoln knowingly excluded freeing a single slave in any area of the country controlled by the Union Army, it was a transparent lie.

Johnny Hostler

Spotsylvania

Date published: 6/7/2002