I Still Sing Dixie

There is more than one side to every story

I Still Sing Dixie

My daddy walked me down the battle lines

In the fields of old Virginny

Showed me the house where Stonewall died

In the summer heat of ‘70

He said they gave their lives for something

People today don’t understand

Something more than slaves and cotton

A love that’s bred inside this land

 

So I still sing Dixie

For the men who fought and died

For their struggle and their sacrifice

With a heart that’s filled with honest pride

I still sing Dixie

Not because my heart is full of hate

I know that if we don’t remember them

We will make their same mistakes

 

I learned about the hell they lived in

How they fought when they could barely stand

How they fell to hunger and disease

Before the bullets left their hands

They did not die for a rich man’s cause

Not the ones whose name I bear

They fought to choose their rightful laws

I could see them standing there

 

They dressed in gray

They left their homes

They marched through blood and fog

They fought in rain

They slept in mud

Ate food not fit for dogs

 

They sang songs of faith and family

With brothers on the other side

Nothing is ever fair in love and war

And it was for both they died

 

So I still sing Dixie

I raise my voice to the welcome sky

For the men who left their families

For their grieving mothers’ cry

Yes, I still sing Dixie

Not because my heart is full of hate

I know that if we don’t remember them

Pretty soon it’s going to be

Too late

 

-Zoe Richardson 

Author's Note

It was the War of Northern Aggression, y'know.

Reviews

[Bhuyanshi Talukdar]

This poem is a heartfelt tribute to the soldiers who fought and died in the Civil War, and to the speaker's own family history and heritage. The use of vivid sensory details, such as the "summer heat of '70" and the soldiers who "marched through blood and fog," creates a sense of immediacy and intimacy that draws the reader into the speaker's experience.

The lines "They did not die for a rich man's cause / Not the ones whose name I bear / They fought to choose their rightful laws / I could see them standing there" are particularly striking, highlighting the sense of sacrifice and dedication that drove many soldiers to fight in the war.

The final lines of the poem, which assert that "if we don't remember them / Pretty soon it's going to be / Too late," are a poignant reminder of the ongoing legacy of the Civil War and the importance of remembering and honoring those who fought and died in it.

Overall, this is a beautifully crafted and deeply moving poem that pays tribute to the soldiers who fought and died in the Civil War, while also acknowledging the complex and often controversial nature of their cause.

[Zoe Richardson]

It is controversial. It was controversial 150 years ago. It is important we remember history, learn from it, and carry it with us. If we try to deny, or revise, that history, we are doomed to repeat it. I wrote this to say that I honor those who fought, because their deaths mean something. Thank you so much for your very insightful review. I love they way you analyze and reflect.

[Vol]

Yes, to our shame, we owned slaves, and that is a horror of our past we wish we had not done. Sometimes I think that all out modern concentration on racism against African-Americans and hispanics is just a distraction from our GENOCIDE of the American-Indians. No one wants to speak to that because Washington is still actively involved with that.
Vol

[Zoe Richardson]

That is a very interesting take on current events. Personally, I think every day Americans, when they reflect on the founding of our nation, feel deeply sorrowful that so many Native Americans died due to ignorance and greed. Greed on the part of politicians, ignorance on the part of early settlers. And yet, so many of us are proud to have Native American ancestors. My great-great-grandmother was either a Cherokee or a Seminole, depending who is recounting the family geneology. Here is my take on wrongs done in the past to different races and ethnicities: For thousands of years, countries thrived on conquest. War, subjugation, and acquiring lands and territories was the benchmark for measuring the success of a nation. England was very, very good at this. It was onl the rise of Western views on freedom, independence, and self-governance that brought and end to this push for colonialism, and like all great ideas, it took time to filter down to all peoples and nations. Sometimes, freedom and independence was a good thing. America became the first country ever to break for its colonial chains and establish an independent government. America was the first to establish self-rule and it took for the radical concept of freedom for all to be wholly adopted. But on the whole, America has been a light for oppressed people. Sometimes, throwing off the chains of colonialism did not work out. Africa has been in constant turmoil. Sometimes, it takes many years to address all the harm done by the rulers and rebels of the past. That does not make them wholly evil. America has been the hope and dream of the world, a place of hope and peace for those needing refuge. Now, we also need to address the needs of indigenous citizens, to cherish their culture, heritage, history, and contribution to our nation. As I mentioned, so many of us share ancestors from one tribe or another. I believe it is important when dealing with the issues that still linger from past wrongs to look at all the things we have in common, the things we share and enjoy, rather than the things that drive us apart. Music, food, sports, faith, love of family, all of these things are unifying factors. They give us dignity and hope!

[Coyote Poetry]

I have 12 pages of letters of my Uncle who was a Southern Captain. !2 pages of the story of the real war. He was killed in 1862. The letters are amazing. Real words of a man fighting in the Civil war. I enjoyed the poetry dear Zoe. Today the children rarely remember yesterday and I agree. We will forget the past. Thank you for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[Zoe Richardson]

That is amazing! I, too, had ancestors who fought for the South. And one who fought for the other side, although no one knows why. It was a dreadful conflict. Thank you for sharing your experiences and history, dear Coyote! You are always welcome here.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome my dear friend and Happy New year.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

This id spectacular. We should never forget those who died in a war they believed in.

[Zoe Richardson]

Or the reasons for those wars. Thank you so much for your praise and understanding! It's always a treat when you pop in.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Maybe I'm just a dreamer but I just don't want anyone to die anymore for any war. Whether the heart is hateful or good it is not for us to judge. Each man an woman has their life and it is filled with the things they love and define them. It is no different than any other heart that yearns for the same regardless of color. If we can't see this truth in one another then it doesn't matter about land, freedom, or anything else associated with ideologies. We have to learn from the mistakes of the past and evolve to a better civilization and species. Hate destroys hope...to ever being better. Brothers fighting and killing each other over a cause that will eventually die in time makes war meaningless. When we have killed each other because of hate there will be nothing left to celebrate or even remember why they died. For pride? Tell that to the bones of brothers who killed each other. We have to be better then tribalism. History remembers the victors and the losers, but never each and every individual that died. We live in a time where we should know better. And yet we can't stop hating one another because we refuse to see each others humanity and only see the surface and ideologies that we judge them on. North and South belongs to history. It is dead and gone. We must be better than the past, because not being so makes the suffering meaningless and without a point. Your poem is strong and powerfully evocative in emotion and speaks to a perspective I know nothing about. And yet many do not know my perspective as well. And how tired my soul is from seeing all these divisions over worthless pride and beliefs. Your heart Zoe is just like mine in its yearning for hope and love. We absolutely share that better nature and it reflects in our art. It unifies us despite our cultural differences. In art we are our better angels. Thank you for sharing your poem with us. CLE

[Zoe Richardson]

We should have moved beyond the reasons for this war, which went far beyond slavery. But we cannot forget it happened or erase the name and images and memory of those who fought and died. That is true for any war. I know many who believe in peace and harmony with man but unfortunately that is not the reality we live in. At the heart of mankind is rebellion, which is where power, greed, and all other reasons for war come from. Until we desire the good of others above ourselves, peace is a pipe dream. I come from a long line of people willing to die for belief and serve when called. I am proud of that. But I do hope we can find civilized ways to manage conflict. Current methods are simply not working.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

I agree the current situation is untenable I remain an optimist though change can occur but it has to be a need on both sides and it requires civility, which we don't currently have, and empathy. I don't believe it's a pipe dream because you and I despite our differences show civility and a want to listen to another perspective other than our own. Pipe dreams are possible. No one ever believed we would ever have a.black president but yet it happened. Patience really doesn't require much from anyone nor empathy. But everything starts with mutual respect and a need to want to listen and see the other person as an equal. Because the alternative is fatal and only leads to eventual total destruction. For well over 200 years we as a country have failed to resolve this old wounds Zoe. A war that happened long ago still has lingered to this day. Hate only grows with time. Even you would agree that is way too long for old hatreds to still exist. Cultures come and go and many because they brought their own demise upon themselves. In the end we have to ask ourselves are we human beings or animals that lack empathy for one another. Do we see the suffering of children equally regardless of color or culture? Can we let go of old divisive tropes that seek only to differentiate each other rather than see us equal? Can we put aside malicious rhetoric and judgement of race, sex, and religion? Land will always be here but the people on it will not. When anger is the only thing a person can bring to a conversation on ideologies than they have lost any chance to change things for the better in this world. I don't care about flags, or ideologies that preach divisiveness, or even cultural significance. Because it is all superficial and meaningless when it comes to the actual living in this world. Holding on to the sins of our fathers are not going to allow us to change and evolve not just as a nation but as species. We are one of the only true diverse countries in the entire world. No other nation on earth comes close to our diversity. I get that you want to have pride in your past, but it's not going to allow change in your future. Holding onto those things only deepens wounds. Only solidifies anger and resentment. I'm too damn old to hate anyone anymore. It takes conversation and listening to others who are on the other side that feel the same way too. We both come from different places and lived vastly different lives. But I believe we have more in common than we ever will in difference. Here I am a Hispanic man talking to a Caucasian woman across the country. Yet we are equal because we are American. I'm third generation and all I've ever known is this place. And just like you I am sure there have been others that question your Amercanism as much as I have been questioned about mine. Yet, I'm not going to die hating someone for believing that I'm not patriotic or have no love for this country. I do, but what matters most to me isn't clinging onto old things that come with unhealed wounds. It's about having conversations like you and I are having. And wanting to fix and heal these things that in the end are meaningless compared to our lives that we live and our profound love for this place. Because when it comes to those two things you and I agree. I respect what you have to say and you have every right to say it. We may not agree on everything but I don't hate you for that. I only want to hear your truth and share my perspective as well. As civilized human beings. Thank you for sharing this conversation with me, and most importantly listening without judgement. I really do appreciate it.

[Zoe Richardson]

I believe in mutual respect and in equality of opportunity. I believe in helping each person achieve their full potential and self-sufficiency. I can have pride in my country and pride in my ancestors, without holding on to the old wounds. Civility resides not so much in empathy, but in objectivity. In being able to take yourself out the emotion of a situation and see all sides of it. I will be the first to admit that empathy is not a virtue I possess. I have no clue what someone is feeling if they don't tell me. But neither do I have the desire to hurt people needlessly. What I do believe in is the right of each individual to hold their own beliefs, express them freely, and be understood regardless of whether or not we agree. It isn't necessary everyone agrees with me. But I will not be silenced, either. Universality of opinion is boring as well as dangerous and we need people who are unafraid of conflict. There is one lesson I have learned in my fifty something years on this planet. Freedom is more important than love, peace, equity, or any of the other catch-phrases that have been passed around over the years. Without freedom there can be no love or peace or happiness or empathy. And once you give your freedom away, you must pay in fire and blood to get it back. I do respect and honor your position. You are a human being and deserve the right to have your beliefs held in esteem whether I agree or not. I would never question your Americanism. Or anyone else's for that matter. But I also accept that conflict, disagreements of opinion or even downright nastiness from others, is part of life. It's part of learning and growing and being free, even if it is unpleasant at times. What sets you and I apart is that we can have discourse without rancor and that, I believe, is what is missing from our society. Without understanding, we cannot love and without free expression understanding cannot come. Thank you for this wonderful conversation. It is has been a true pleasure!

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

"What sets you and I apart is that we can have discourse without rancor and that, I believe, is what is missing from our society." I couldn't have said it any better because your words just described the meaning of civility. Without it there is no decent moral society. Freedom comes with consequences and ethical obligations. One can not run into a movie theater screaming fire and not expect Freedom to be a shield against consequence of action. The same applies for hateful rhetoric and hate speech. In an ethical and moral society Freedom has limits. Remaining silent in the face of such pernicious ideologies should never be the norm. For it dehumanizes and is a concession to such beliefs. The great American Jewish writer Elie Wiesel said on this particular subject of hate and dehumanization: "Not to respond to their plight, not to relieve their solitude by offering them a spark of hope is to exile them from human memory. And in denying their humanity we betray our own." These very wise haunting words are what I believe define living up to our better angels. You and I find common ground because we believe this. And without civility and common decency we don't have a society let alone a country worth fighting for. You and I come from different experiences and backgrounds, but despite these differences we respect the humanity within each other. Thank you kindly again Zoe.

[Zoe Richardson]

The reason you cannot yell 'Fire' in a theater is because it might cause a stampede and crush people to death in their rush to escape. Nto because the word 'fire' is a dangerous word in and of itself. It's the situation it is used in. Hate speech is never without consequence. People who say hateful things must suffer in the court of public opinion. However, to actively silence someone just because you find their opinions odious is the very antithesis of freedom. If someone spews hate, I have the right to call them an idiot. And I do. But who gets to decide what is hate? And who gets to impose the silence? There is not a person alive who is ever going to tell me what I can and cannot say. I've lived that life. Twice. And I would never, ever tell anyone they cannot speak their mind even if I wholly disagree with them. We must have a free marketplace of ideas to call ourselves a free society. As my mother taught me, years ago, I don't have to respect someone's beliefs and opinions, but I must respect their right to have those beliefs and opinions. After all, you can't change the minds and hearts of your fellow man by placing a gag order on them. All that does is create victims with a common cause and a reason to band together and fight. I prefer my enemies in the open. That way I can skewer them the same way. Upholding free speech isn't endorsing hate. It's simply acknowledging that we all have the same right to express our thoughts in the public square and deal with the fallout of those words.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Zoe that was my point. A person is free to express themselves in any way they choose, but those views of beliefs come with consequences. Now you may not take personal an offensive bigoted word directed at some, but it doesn't mean the person being disparaged is not offended or angered by such invective. Words have power Zoe, they have meaning and intent. When one resorts to anger and hate they have lost the battle of ideas. I myself prefer not to see people as enemies because that reflects inherent bias. And a lost opportunity for friendship and enlightened dialogue. We both agree screaming fire in a crowded theater when there is none is wrong. And we both agree calling someone the n-word is wrong as well. Both behaviors come with consequences, we would both agree on that fact. The only difference is that what sort of punishment is deserving for such reprehensible behavior. As a minority I would probably take a more stern tact, but not one that doesn't allow for better growth in civility. And this is coming from a person who was called a field n-word as a child from an old man who came from Arkansas. I felt sorry for his ignorance. It was just sad. Because he couldn't see that I was just as human as him. In his eyes I was no better than a dog he kicked. We have the right to express ourselves freely but we don't have the right to spew hate because it takes away the right of those being persecuted by the hatred. Because in those hateful words Zoe is a belief that seeks to make someone less than human. And takes away their right to exist as equal. That is common sense. If we go around thinking that we are all enemies we will never be better human beings and such a thing will truly lead to our demise as a species. Love is intuitive, hate is taught. We must be better Zoe and it starts with us individually. I don't want to live in a world of hate. Where others judge me without even knowing me, and lose an opportunity of a friendship that could have profound change in their life. I would rather love than ever hate. I would rather see friendship than an enemy. Because to exist in a world of hatred has to be the loneliest place in this world. We must be better. CLE

[Zoe Richardson]

I agree we must be better. I don't go around dividing people into camps of 'friend' or 'enemy.' But I am also not foolish enough to think no enemies exist. I once thought love could conquer all and an open heart could overcome any opposition. Sadly, life taught me this is not true. Of course, it also taught me that I can get along with pretty much anyone without engaging in pointless conflict. I've been called names, too, and viciously attacked. The difference is that instead of ignorant strangers who do not know me my attacks came from those who were supposed to love, honor, and cherish. I honor your choice to see the good in the world and overcome hatred with goodwill. That is a truly remarkable feat. I, however, cannot be so optimistic. I don't see everyone as a potential enemy. I like to judge people on their individual merits. However, I also know I cannot trust everyone. I am wary and watchful and I do not let people close enough to do damage. I don't want to live in a world of hate, either, and yet the world is headed in that direction. I don't trust anyone. I don't believe anything I hear. And I do not expect to find peace in this lifetime. None of this, however, keeps me from being kind. From treating others as I wish to be treated. Because that is how we overcome hate. Not with rhetoric or good intentions or laws and rules. We overcome it by treating each person we encounter as we would like them to treat us.This is what shines above the meanness, selfishness, and ignorance that governs the masses. And on that, we most definitely agree!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

there are many sides to a story, and many reasons for a war...sometimes the focus is too narrow...both sides lost lives, had families destroyed, land, homes...brothers killing brothers...
Yes, much more to it...
j.

[Zoe Richardson]

The point of the poem is that when we try to erase the names and images of those who fought for the Confederacy, we do disservice to history. We run the risk of making the same mistakes again. Even now the reasons for the War are lost amidst the push to paint everything black or white and the human elements, the pain, the grief, the loss, are pushed aside. I thank you for understanding this. It means a great deal!