Virginia Governor wants to honor Condederate soldiers, but not mention what they fought for: slavery

Va. Governor Sorry for Not Mentioning Slavery in Confederate History Decree
AOL News
04/8/10

After proclaiming April Confederate History Month in Virginia, Gov. Bob McDonnell went into apology mode Wednesday. It seems that in honoring the "sacrifices" of Confederate soldiers and other southerners during the Civil War, McDonnell neglected to mention the issue that started the conflict -- slavery. When the criticism started rolling in, the first-term governor acknowledged he made a "major omission" and apologized "to any fellow Virginian who has been offended or disappointed."

McDonnell said he initially left out references to slavery because he wanted to touch on issues most "significant" to Virginians in a document designed to promote tourism in the state, the Washington Post said.

McDonnell phoned personal apologies to former Virginia Gov. Doug Wilder -- the nation's first elected black governor -- and Del. Kenneth Cooper Alexander, chairman of the state's Legislative Black Caucus. McDonnell added language to his proclamation saying slavery was "an evil and inhumane practice that deprived people of their God-given inalienable rights, and all Virginians are thankful for its permanent eradication from our borders."...