In a recent online discussion about the neocon destruction of the conservative movement, a Lincoln worshipper dismissed critics of Lincoln as Southerners who were brought up to be biased against the Great President. Paul Craig Roberts, who was born and raised in the South but spent most of his life elsewhere, replied as follows:
"I don't think Paul Gottfried or Tom DiLorenzo are Southerners [True, we're not]. I don't think many Southerners know about Lincoln. I think you are wrong about Lincoln and about what you believe to be Southerners' view of Lincoln."
"The Confederacy is a prime example of the success of conquest and assimilation. The South is the most patriotic section of the U.S. It votes overwhelmingly Republican, that is, for the party of its conquerers who abused it for years afterwards during Reconstuction. White Southerners comprise the vast majority of the U.S. front line fighting troops. In my school days, all 6th or 7th grade classes made the ritual trip up to D.C. to be shown the Lincoln Memorial and again told how great the Great Man was for saving the Union. It is impossible to tell the truth about Lincoln in any Southern school."
"Southerners worship the U.S. flag and are prepared to kill anyone who doesn't. They comprise a totally conquered and subdued people. There are no southern newspapers, no southern universities, no southern spokespersons for a southern culture. There is no longer even an active southern literature."
"I have no idea why you romanticize Lincoln, but you will certainly never convince anyone who has actually studied the fellow. Under the Nuremburg standards, Lincoln would have been executed as a war criminal. He permitted no criticism of his personal belief that the Union must be preserved at all costs. The costs included self-determination, the Constitution, habeas corpus, arresting editors and closing northern newspapers that disagreed with his policies, and war against civilians. Lincoln believed in the efficacy of power, which perhaps is why Lincoln is the hero and role model for the neocons, especially Jaffa.
