Rating: 
Summary: Good information that is sometimes overstated
Review: This book is quite interesting and worth reading. It would be easier to read if the authors had taken a less strident tone, but the facts speak or themselves. It will be hard for some people, Northern or Southern, to accept much of the information presented because it is contrary what we have been told all of our lives and contrary to the popular version of history that, simply put, is the North was virtuous and the South was not. Another fine book, "Sherman's March" by Burke Davis, documents much the same story of Union soldiers' misconduct during the Georgia Campaign, to include widespread looting, theft of private property, rape, horrible mistreatment of blacks (both free and slave), murder, etc. If U.S. military personnel conducted themselves like that on so huge a scale in occupied Europe it would be intolerable to the U.S. government and civilian population, so it is clear why such information in the Kennedys' book is suppressed by the victors of the War for Southern Independence. "The South Was Right!" necessarily challenges the language used to describe the period of southern separation from the Union. If the terms of reference are imprecise then the discussions to follow will be slanted so the authors discussion on whether there was a civil war, a war between the states, or a War for Southern Independence are time well spent.
Rating: 
Summary: Utter and Complete Bullsh*t
Review: ...I find it very tragic and sad that some poor tree's life was wasted upon these pages. I read this book and found it morally offensive. I wonder if the south was also right about Racism, Jim Crow, Lynchings, Slavery, Oppression, Segregation and Hatefulness? Anyone who found the pages of this script motivating really needs help and the author of this book should help pay for your therapy.
Rating: 
Summary: YEEEEEEE-HAAAAAAAA!!!!
Review: My only beefs with this, the non-fiction version of the War for Southern Independence, are as follows: 1) Just a tad too snide. I was 19 years old before I knew "d@*# Yankee" was two words, but in a work like this, simply presenting the chilling facts, along with their massive documentation, would be sufficient. The snide tone is unbecoming a serious historical work; it's best reserved for "preaching to the choir," and I'd rather the uninformed or unconvinced be able to read this without being constantly turned off, and possibly turned away, by the tone. 2) Needed to be tightened up editorially; lots of repitition. Amazing pictures, though--of blacks in Confederate uniform, for example, a not-at-all uncommon occurrence which represents just another aspect of black American heritage that's been denied them--and a thorough bibliography. You'll never look at a five-dollar bill (with its portrait of Adolph Lincoln, the bloody-handed tyrant) the same way again.
Rating: 
Summary: I really liked this book, but...
Review: _The South Was Right!_ is superbly written and very thought-provoking. So thought-provoking that this is the reason I said, "I really liked this book, but...." The "but" is that I have reservations about the Kennedys' view of government. As is typical with American messianism, this book is set forth to argue that the authors' view of representitive government is the only valid view of what government not only in our own nation, but in all other nations, should be. Woodrow Wilson tore apart Europe after World War I with his determination that the Austrian-Hungarian emperor could not be a valid ruler because he was not democratically elected and therefore the smaller nations within the Empire must be given their "freedom." But this "freedom" lasted barely twenty years until the Germans were able to crush the small nations which now no longer had an overarching Empire to protect them. _The South Was Right!_ appears to make the same mistake that its vision of what the ideal government should be is valid not only for our own nation, but for all the rest of the world too. I believe I could be an American "New Secessionist" and still argue that the forms of government of other sovereign nations should be respected so long as they emphasize the value of respecting the dignity of each and every one of its citizens and respect, maintain, and enforce the protection of human rights.
Rating:
Summary: Should be a text book in all southern schools
Review: I knew this, but made me rethink with more passion. Being from Texas we have a double cultural problem with Yankees.
Rating:
Summary: A "must read" for any southerner who any "Southern Pride" .
Review: This book should be "required reading" for any Southerner who lacks the inherant pride he should have in being southern. Remove yourself from " the stool of prepetual repentance."
Rating:
Summary: A real eye-opener
Review: This easy to read book is hard to put down. This gives a fact filled point of view rarely (if ever) given. Unfortunatley, 99% of America has been brainwashed by anti-southern propaganda their whole lives (history is written by the victors, right!?), so they're only response will be "it has to be wrong, they made up their facts!". Well, the Kennedy brothers didn't, their impressive research is amazingly impressive. And if that sentence wasn't repitiously redundant, I don't know what is!Tim in San Francisco
Rating:
Summary: Good book from a Southern viewpoint
Review: The Kennedy's have penned an interesting account of history from an un-PC, Southern viewpoint. This book has brought to light (among other things) the rights of states to secede, the contributions of black Confederates, and depredations committed by the Union army. While the term "Yankee" being tossed about might cause some to not finish the book, they would be well advised to continue. This book isn't just opinion. It is composed of FACTS, facts that are sighted again and again in the back of the book lest anyone should think that the Kennedy's made up everything they wrote.
Rating:
Summary: A fairly good work.
Review: This book is sure to give the PC types fits of anger but only anger derived from being wrong. While the book does tend to gloss many things that tarnishes the Confederacy, it brings out many important facts that have gone without notice such as the South's right to secede and the contribution made by Black Confederates. While many PC'ers will pooh-pooh the very concept of a Black "Rebel" because they've never heard of it before, they should remember that the populace at large was ignorant of the contribution made by Union Blacks until the movie, "Glory", came out. If you want another piece of the Civil War puzzle, definately read this book.
Rating:
Summary: A story that needed telling.
Review: This was a story that needed telling--as someone has wisely said, all history is usually written by the winners to make the losers out to be the bad guys! The authors make a good case that the South DID have the legal right to secede from the Union--after all, didn't the 13 original Colonies secede from the British Empire?--but I could have done without the constant use of the term "Yankee" as a perjorative. For that reason it lost one star in my rating, but overall a good read. By the way, the reader had BETTER have an open mind, because if he doesn't, the portrayal of Abraham Lincoln and other Northern Leaders in this book is going to drive him or her right up the wall!
|
