On Sept. 11, 2001, foreign terrorists attacked New York and Washington, and a foiled attack crashed an airplane in Pennsylvania — attacks which cost thousands of American citizens’ lives. This day in history we should never forget and remember the heroes who died attempting to save other people from this tragedy.

Also in April of 1861, federal Union troops attacked the Confederate States of America at Charleston, and this invasion continued for four long years costing over 630,000 Americans their lives. The Union troops led by Abe Lincoln and his federal forces invaded a sovereign nation and killed thousands of innocent Southern people. This attack did not only occur on one day as 9-11-01 did, but continued four long and bloody years.

The main thrust was power and money. Lincoln would not let the 13 states of the South go in peace, as President Jefferson Davis urged the Union to accept and the Constitution permitted a voluntary secession of states. Lincoln would lose control over millions of people, territory and revenue from these states, thus the South was attacked and invaded and looted by the Union troops.

This nation should never forget those actions of Abe Lincoln and his troops, and the atrocities they committed against the South. Then there were 12 years of Reconstruction, where Southern people were virtual slaves under control of the federal government. Thousands of documented crimes were committed against the South, and they were never investigated or prosecuted. Thus the wounds of this terrible conflict continue to fester like an open sore, which may never heal.

The criminals who led these troops were rewarded by promotions and money and power. Monuments were built for them and they were given hero status by the federal government.

Let us never forget the 9-11-01 attack or the attacks in April of 1861, and the lives lost during these atrocities.

— Thomas McClain, Cameron

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