If Lincoln had lived.

The Sunday is Flag Day discussion has prompted me to do a bit of speculation on how this nation's history might have been had President Lincoln lived.

It seems quite simply to me that the Christian principle of forgiveness, taught us by example on the cross by Jesus, might have prevailed. I've heard comments here that the Confederates were criminals and should be punished, that it was a Civil War, and not a Civil War Between the States as I have begun to consider it. Punishment was the predominant post-1865 feeling in the north, quite understandably. Yet I ask wasn't the total loss of their economy, culture and political power a heavy price to pay? Consider that only 1/3 of southern whites actually owned slaves, yet the whole southern population was branded as slavers.

You might argue that even though only 1/3 were slave owners, the vast majority supported slavery. Consider that if you did not, at least publically, you might be branded a Yankee sympathizer, or worse yet, be suspected as a spy. You'd lose whatever you had accumulated and achieved, and perhaps your life.

Had Mr. Lincoln lived the southern states would have been reunited, begrudgingly perhaps, and the generations long process of reconciliation begun and maybe accomplished to a large degree, more or less. Had Mr. Lincoln lived we might actually have seen a powerful Christian principle enacted.

We have many several folks here in this community from southern states, spanning, I believe, 3 generations. Born in the Yankee state of New York, with all its prejudices, I'd like hear the view from today's south, and any reflections other northern born might have.

Today's pondering.