The War Between The States

All innocently, I went looking for this term after watching the movie "Lincoln".

Growing up in the 60's, I recalled that people used this phrase to refer to the war of the 1860's.  But I hadn't heard it used for a long time.

Turns out it's a loaded expression, a distinction with a difference.  A refusal to call that war a "civil" war is very important to some people.

http://www.ncwbts150.com/index.php

Would you think that, more than 150 years later, we would be willing to just let it go?  Nope.

As Faulkner said, the past isn't forgotten.  It isn't even past.