Guest Commentary: Every story has at least two sides

I’m sure most of you have heard the phrase “To the victor goes the spoils.” But did you ever consider that the victor also gets to write the history books?

Has anyone ever done some REAL reading, other than that which is considered to be approved in our government indoctrination centers? Excuse me, I meant to say public schools and most colleges.

I have seen some pros and cons on the flag controversy in this paper and others of late. Most are pretty narrow-minded with a sprinkling of better informed rebuttals.

I am going to suggest some reading that could make you sit up and say, “I never thought of it that way, hmmmmm.” Do you dare open your mind to the other fellow’s point of view?

Read in the order below and consider this a challenge.

First up is an article on the current Confederate Battle Flag controversy written by Chuck Baldwin. Baldwin is a pastor, radio host and was the presidential nominee of the Constitution Party for the 2008 election cycle.

You can find the article by going to Google and typing The Confederate Flag Needs To Be Raised, Not Lowered by Chuck Baldwin. It’s not just about the flag, but goes into the real causes of the Civil War and why it really WASN’T a civil war. You may be surprised by some of the documentable things in the article. Especially about The Great Emancipator. Look into the real origins of the battle flag and why it possibly should be raised once more.

Next is a book on the founding of the nation. I am not quite all the way through on this one yet, but have read most of it. Easy to read, it will take you on a journey of the thought process of the Founding Fathers in their search for a better way of governance than what they had been living under.

It also covers what went wrong and who was responsible and when. This may surprise you. The book is titled “Compact of the Republic, the League of States and the Constitution,” By David Benner.

This book should be taught in every high school civics/government class. Do they even teach that anymore? Many end notes if you want to look for the original documents and letters.

Time for a paradigm shift. The whole left, center, right or liberal, moderate, conservative memem if you prefer, that we use today could stand some revamping. Right or left of what? Just exactly WHERE is the center and what should it be?

A short 99-page book titled “Arguing for the Constitution,” by Steven E. Maikoski clearly illustrates why we have been doing it wrong all these years — all the way back to the Founders. Time for a new initial point.

Now, for the ultimate challenge and to really get a feel for the Southern side of things, read “The South Was Right!” by James Ronald Kennedy and Walter Donald Kennedy. I seriously doubt that they are close relations to the Massachusetts Kennedys. This book will take you on an in-depth journey into the South’s Constitutional reasons for secession, why they REALLY fought, how the slave felt and the horrors of Reconstruction, some of which continues today. I am going to include the current controversy as part of the ongoing reconstruction and attempt to finally stamp out the South in this. Heavily quoted from period sources and many end notes.

For extra credit, read any of Thomas DiLorenzo’s works on Lincoln and the Civil War. Many can be found online.

If you don’t want to buy the books, try the library, though any of these would be a great addition to your own Constitutional studies bookshelf.

Now, just in case you were wondering, I don’t really have a dog in this fight over the whole North v South thing as I was born in Hawaii, although it IS south of the Mason Dixon line. I just like to get “the rest of the story,” as Paul Harvey used to say. NEVER take anything at face value. Every story has at least two sides to it.

W. R. Reynolds is a Ramona resident.