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<blockquote data-quote="Celebrim" data-source="post: 8822681" data-attributes="member: 4937">How you fight is important.&nbsp; But it isn't just how you fight.&nbsp; It's what you are fighting for.My ancestors were slave owners.&nbsp; They owned a horse plantation.&nbsp; Their slaves were relatively privileged compared to field hands, valuable grooms and jockeys and farriers.&nbsp; But they were still slaves.&nbsp; When the war came, all the adult men in my family volunteered for the 1st Cavalry.&nbsp; They fought with great honor and distinction.&nbsp; One of them was killed when an enemy force feigned a surrender under a white flag, and then shot the Confederates as they approached.&nbsp; One died in a Union prison camp of exposure, starving in cold.&nbsp; Eight of the nine adult men in my family didn't survive the war.&nbsp; Does it matter that they fought often more bravely and honorably than the ones they fought against?&nbsp; Maybe.&nbsp; Maybe it matters some.&nbsp; But the trouble is, they were fighting for the wrong side.&nbsp; They were rebels, but they weren't freedom fighters.&nbsp; They were patriots, but they weren't on the right side.&nbsp; And that does make a difference.My family paid a 100 year long price for their mistakes the like of which you can't imagine and I won't describe.But I can tell you this.&nbsp; The world isn't nothing but moral greys.&nbsp; There are things that are right and there are things that are wrong.&nbsp; And that maybe some times hard to see.&nbsp; Both sides may and will have people that believe that they are doing the right thing.&nbsp;&nbsp; Neither side may be right.&nbsp; But sometimes, you are fighting for what is good and just and true.&nbsp; And that matters.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Celebrim, post: 8822681, member: 4937"] How you fight is important. But it isn't just how you fight. It's what you are fighting for. My ancestors were slave owners. They owned a horse plantation. Their slaves were relatively privileged compared to field hands, valuable grooms and jockeys and farriers. But they were still slaves. When the war came, all the adult men in my family volunteered for the 1st Cavalry. They fought with great honor and distinction. One of them was killed when an enemy force feigned a surrender under a white flag, and then shot the Confederates as they approached. One died in a Union prison camp of exposure, starving in cold. Eight of the nine adult men in my family didn't survive the war. Does it matter that they fought often more bravely and honorably than the ones they fought against? Maybe. Maybe it matters some. But the trouble is, they were fighting for the wrong side. They were rebels, but they weren't freedom fighters. They were patriots, but they weren't on the right side. And that does make a difference. My family paid a 100 year long price for their mistakes the like of which you can't imagine and I won't describe. But I can tell you this. The world isn't nothing but moral greys. There are things that are right and there are things that are wrong. And that maybe some times hard to see. Both sides may and will have people that believe that they are doing the right thing. Neither side may be right. But sometimes, you are fighting for what is good and just and true. And that matters. [/QUOTE]

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