Social media is decidedly not happy about South Carolina’s “Confederate Memorial Day” celebration
With a rebel yell, they cried more, more, more, but some Americans observing South Carolina’s celebration of “Confederate Memorial Day” think it would be better to shout less, less, less.
Yes, the Southern state has closed its government offices today to commemorate the hundreds of thousands of men who perished while fighting for the right to enslave other human beings in America’s Civil War.
This anachronistic tribute to the “Lost Cause” is not the only holiday designed to pay tribute to these soldiers fighting for what until recently had been considered a generally agreed upon social institution of evil and human injustice.
Nine other states, all south of the proverbial Mason-Dixon line, celebrate similar celebrations, and, whether the memorials are called “Confederate Heroes Day” or “Confederate Decoration Day”, they are all deeply out of step with modern conceptions of human rights.
Many people on social media were outraged to discover that such state-sanctioned celebrations of the defeated forces of the Civil War were not only still being held, but, in today’s racially polarized world of BLM vs. Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, were seemingly more popular than ever as racists inspired by Donald Trump feel free to flaunt their bigotry publicly.
Here are some of the comments found on Twitter from people horrified that anyone is still celebrating the losers of America’s greatest moral battle.
Today, South Carolina has closed government offices for Confederate Memorial Day to remember the 258,000 soldiers who died fighting for the Confederacy
Why is a state commemorating traitors?
— Edward Hardy (@EdwardTHardy) May 10, 2021
It’s not “confederate memorial day”—it’s Racists Who Want To Honor Traitors Day.
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) May 10, 2021
https://twitter.com/ErieNotEerie/status/1391479363846148100?s=20
Of course racist people want a Confederate Memorial Day. They’re so loyal to losers that they tried to overthrow the government on behalf of one.
— The Volatile Mermaid (@OhNoSheTwitnt) May 10, 2021
https://twitter.com/ImSpeaking13/status/1391774984364863490?s=20
https://twitter.com/cmclymer/status/1391751817831321603?s=20
Add your name to demand Congress raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour!
Confederate Memorial Day is racist. And pathetic. One has to wonder which of the many losses they’re choosing to celebrate. The Civil War? Election 2020? Mass arrests of the January 6th terrorists? The list goes on.
— Kaivan Shroff (@KaivanShroff) May 10, 2021
https://twitter.com/ImSpeaking13/status/1391777501576314890?s=20
Every soldier honored
for South Carolina’s
Confederate Memorial Day
fought the USA
to guarantee
Senator Tim Scott
would be born
a white man’s property. https://t.co/CvX3uFsWZb— John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) May 10, 2021
South Carolina: We want to attract jobs and investments to our state.
Also South Carolina: Let’s celebrate Confederate Memorial Day and bring back the firing squad.
— Devi Dillard-Wright (@DBDillardWright) May 10, 2021
White people about slavery: black people need to get over slavery, that was so long ago, and we shouldn't be punished for something our ancestors did.
Also white people about slavery: let's celebrate Confederate memorial day to celebrate our heritage of treason and enslavement. https://t.co/0MaJmpZOLZ
— The Nott will vote BLUE (@PoliNott) May 10, 2021
The fact that Southern states have a “Confederate Memorial Day” is an affront to Black Americans and really to all Americans who aren’t racists. https://t.co/owXyvbhBPt
— Mark Jacob (@MarkJacob16) May 10, 2021
https://twitter.com/AndrewLin06/status/1391735759380443139?s=20
I'm all for Confederate Memorial Day if by memorializing the Confederacy we hang the CSA's entire leadership in effigy, burn the slaver's flag, and announce all plantations will fly a BLM banner and tell the truth about what went on in those places.
— JJ in NH (@JustJoshinNH) May 10, 2021
https://twitter.com/realdebfarmer/status/1391807067644579840?s=20
https://twitter.com/AngryBlackLady/status/1391762068156542978?s=20
https://twitter.com/TarynStanford/status/1391752448608333826?s=20
Someday this nation will have evolved enough — perhaps through finally allocating sufficient funding for decent educational institutions — to be able to agree that memorializing those who defended slavery is not a thing that anyone in this nation, regardless of where they live or who their ancestors were, should be supporting.
Until then feel free to go on social media and express your feelings about this shameful holiday and the 10 states that celebrate it.
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Vinnie Longobardo is the Managing Editor of Occupy Democrats. He's a 35-year veteran of the TV, mobile & internet industries, specializing in start-ups and the international media business. His passions are politics, music, and art.