Connor Williams a Yale professor gave a talk on the Naming Commission and afterward he took some questions. After about 20 minutes Rob Havers the museum president/CEO said, “we’ve obviously got a bit of a movement in here.” He was referring to the penetrating questions being asked. Williams was a smug Yankee in his responses. I went to high school in Connecticut, so my characterization is a qualified one.

I can only think that the questions were beginning to rattle Professor Williams. I am being charitable because how else would you explain a comment like this.

“…the one reality is the South, the Confederacy, didn't really have a choice but to reconcile. I think we often kind of see reconciliation as a brave step taken by former Confederates. They lost the war. They surrendered their arms…”

I am not a history professor at Yale. I have never taught history, period. Yet, I know that this statement is not based on history, or any knowledge of what freedom means in any tradition except one, the Yankee tradition. In the post 1860 Yankee tradition the Union is paramount. Don’t you know you should be grateful for Uncle Sam and his benevolence. The central government will keep you safe, plus the country was founded on the notion that “all men are created equal.” You have no choice but to reconcile. Are you stupid? Look what happened the last time. Reconcile or else!

There is a serious component to this. It proves that many American elites and politicians believe that the South should be grateful to be part of the country and thus, just shut up. They show no gratitude for the South’s contributions to the United States since the Civil War.

"The people of the South have rejected the constitutional amendment and therefore we will march upon them and force them to adopt it at the point of bayonet and establish military power over them until they do adopt it."

Senator James Doolittle, R-WI, 1867