damian
1st Lieutenant
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2007
- Messages
- 4,915
Most northerners I know call it the American Civil War or The War between the states, while most southerners I know call if The War of Northern aggression.
On my most recent trip to Chicago, a semi passed me with a huge Southern batte flag on the back of the trailer with the words "Fighting terrorism since 1861" underneath. Ok then, there you go. A bumper sticker would have done the job IMO, but I guess the guy really wanted his point made.
As lancer pointed out, there are southerners to this day almost 150 years later who still hold a grudge. I am from Massachusetts and I hold no grudges. Some may say "That is because you live in a state from the victors side"; my opinion is there were no "winners" in that war or any war for that matter. Some victory, thousands and thousands of young boys died as a result is how I see it, no winner, no loser.
When we've had to (both world wars) northerners and southerners alike have come together and performed brilliantly. Thousands of boys north and south alike died in both world wars too by the way.
I really wish this "north vs south" attitude would just go away, but sadly it probably never will.
I think the phrase is "Can't we all just get along", so can't we?
Hey Afrikaans nationalists still go on about the Boer War over here. You know about how the British "allegedly" put the Afrikaners in concentration camps and the like. So I suppose some things will just never go away. There is also a huge debate about what to call the war. Anglo Boer War, South African War or Second Freedom War (Tweede Vryheidsoorlog).
What I do know is that whenever a Free State traffic cop spots a Durban registered car you can expect to get pulled over and given a hard time. It always pays to try and greet him in Afrikaans first.
"Good day officer is there a problem"
"Ja Menheer. Do you got a licence for your vehicle?
Is the blerrie brake light working ?"
Step out of the vehilce pliz"
Afrikaners are fondly referred to as "Dutchmen, rock spiders, crunchies, hairybacks and clutch plates or sopkoppies"
English South Africans are referred to equally fondly as "Rooineks and Soutpiels and moffies"
A mate of mine went to an Afrikaans university. On his first day in res as a freshman the head of the house committe came up to him and said' You blerrie Rooinek You won't last here a day" and My friend says with a smile you know he was right. I moved into private digs the next morning