Tyson is right. I don't understand. I know he's a good man, honorable in his intentions, a student of the Civil War, a member of the Battlefield Commission. He's not a racist - far from it. But I still don't understand even though he tried to explain his and his wife's reaction.

I find it almost unbelievable that Tyson's reaction needs to be explained. The American Civil War was fought to preserve the Union and to end slavery. The Confederates fought to secede from the Union and maintain slavery in the new country they sought to establish. Confederate soldiers fought against the U.S. They were traitors. So, they don't deserve to be included in ceremonies honoring the veterans of the American military. What is so hard to grasp about that, Ms. Raynor?

Another oddity of her column is looking in Tyson's direction for racism. Does she subscribe to the pathetic diversion tactic 'the minorities are the real racists'?

Nor do I find Raynor's effort to cleanse "Dixie" of its connotations convincing. It doesn't matter who wrote the song. It is the sentiment of the lyrics — that the antebellum South was an ideal place — that many people find offensive. The possibility that the author of the lyrics may have been a black man does not rehabilitate them. However, it does remind thoughtful people that African-American entertainers have often curried favor with white audiences by telling them what they want to hear.

I can think of no rational reason for Raynor's alleged ignorance about the cause of the Civil War, and, why it is inappropriate to include Confederate veterans in an event honoring veterans of the American armed forces. So, I must assume she has an irrational reason — the myth of the genteel South — for the claiming not to understand.

Note 1: This entry also appeared at Silver Rights.

Note 2: Enjoy a mixed grille of fine blogging at Mac-a-ro-nies.