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<font size=3>At 12:19 PM 11/29/2013, R. Micha wrote:<br><br>
<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Historically speaking, I think
it would be accurate to say that<br>
Thanksgiving is a holiday of American unity. While there were a few<br>
observances before 1863, they were few and weren't on the some date,<br>
or in Pres. Madison's case, not even in the fall. Today's
Thanksgiving<br>
dates back to Lincoln's Thanksgiving
proclomation.</font></blockquote><br>
The Civil War was not over until 1865. Given this, I doubt
that those in the South were happy with Lincoln's Thanksgiving
Proclamation and wanted nothing to do with unity.<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""><font size=3> He focuses on
thanking<br>
"the Most High God" for "dealing with us in anger for our
sins, hath<br>
nevertheless remembered mercy" during the years of Civil War and
allowing<br>
the country to reach Reconstruction. (Complete text at<br>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(United_States)#Lincoln_and_the_Civil_War" eudora="autourl">
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(United_States)#Lincoln_and_the_Civil_War</a>
<br>
) And it made sense for him to revive an observance that predates
the<br>
formation of the Union, something the former Confederates would have
no<br>
problem agreeing to.</font></blockquote><br>
In 1863 there were no former Confederates. The war was still in
full swing. The Confederates were still Confederates.
Furthermore, there was and still is a not insignificant element in
the South that did not abandon their sympathy for the South's
stance. Even to this day one has people reenacting battles.
Years ago when I published my article about Pesach observance in the
armies of the North and the South
(<font size=3>"</font>
<a href="http://personal.stevens.edu/%7Ellevine/jp/Jewish%20Soldiers%20Observe%20Pesach%20During%20The%20Civil%20War.pdf">
<font size=3 color="#0000FF">Jewish Soldiers Observe Pesach During The
Civil War</a></font><font size=3>" <b>The Jewish Press</b>,
April 1, 2005 page 48.
</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=3>Glimpses into American
Jewish History Part 1.</font> ), I received an email from a fellow
signed <br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""><font face="arial" size=2>Your
Obedient Servant,<br>
<br>
Colonel Michael Kelley, CSA<br>
Commanding, 37th Texas Cavalry (Terrell's)<br>
<a href="http://www.37thtexas.org">http://www.37thtexas.org</a><br>
<a href="http://thewargallery.com/" eudora="autourl">
http://thewargallery.com</a><br>
"We are a band of
brothers!"</font></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote>
</blockquote><br>
Initially I did not realize that CSA stands for Confederate States of
America!<br><br>
I think that your comments about unity are not accurate. <br><br>
YL <br>
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