And be serious.

I understand most young people were never taught the history of our hallowed venable Statehouse grounds.

Back when I was in elementary school, and well into the 70s I know, 7th and 8th graders received two years of SC History and would travel to Columbia, from all over the state, to tour the grounds and the Statehouse.

Civil War history was a big part of the curriculum.

Few these days understand what the war was really about and that it really started in 1812 when NY, and the Feds, decided they needed the Eerie Canal to connect a shipping route to the St Lawrence passage way and commerce into Canada.

How did they finance it? Largely by forcing ships out of SC and the rest of the South, laden with cotton and tobacco and bound for Europe, to come to the Port of NYC to be taxed before crossing the Atlantic.

I've still got one of my books about the causes of the Civil War from the '60s.

That's just one of the many reasons we eventually fought that war. Although, history has been rewritten to exclude all of the state's rights issues, and unfair taxation without representation. Things, among others, that were anti-Constitutional.

Our state Forefathers fought a war about that and it definitely wasn't all about the heinous institution of slavery. Everyone knew slavery was on its way out shortly because of technology, new farm implements that would erase the needs for manual, slave labor.

I realize most young people have no clue about the war crimes committed by Sherman and his troops during the siege of Columbia ... although most SC alumni are aware of the burning, the rapes, the murders, and that the horseshoe was used as a hospital ... few were ever taught about the battle to save the city and the last stand that took place by brave old men, boys, and even some women, to save our Capital building.

My wife and I both had ancestors killed and/or murdered during the taking of Columbia as well as other ancestors who fought for the Confederacy from Charleston to Perryville in Kentucky. I had an Uncle who was imprisoned at Fort Douglas in Chicago ... a place far worse than Andersonville. Few young people even know about the war atrocities that took place at Fort Douglas.

For many of us, the Civil War was not about slavery ... neither of our families owned slaves. Truth is, few farms had slaves.

Slavery was a bad thing, I cannot even imagine what it was like ... but there were so many other things that war was all about. One of the diaries we have in our possession from a family member has an entry about how much money they lost having to move their cotton, tobacco and indigo through the Port of NY ... because the Europeans didn't have to pay the taxes, our Forefathers did.

Now, let's admit, when A&M fans come here they are coming with the express intent to beat us ... to establish and display a dominance over us.

A lot of people in this state, and not just Gamecock fans, are not happy with them doing that or with the overtly aggressive tactics this lawyer who is the head of their chapter here have used to gain access to those grounds for their semi-annual rallies ... especially evoking the Constitutional aspects of their Freedom to Assemble on that spot for this time of rally. This is not political. This is not celebratory. This is sheer disrespect as any who have attended and witnessed what these rallies are all about can attest.

They intentionally spit on the steps as some were seen overtly doing two years ago, they litter, they confront our own fans right on OUR Statehouse steps ... and many of us are not cool with it.

To those that see no harm in it and call it, "all in good fun," can you understand why some of us don't see it that way?

We had two A&M grads and their wives as guests to the Cockaboose two years ago. Without even bringing the subject up, both of them asked us why we allowed it to be held there. Both were somewhat taken aback by are allowing it to be held there and some of the things they had seen go-down the night before. They told us they were going to write letters to their alumni association ... whether they did or not who knows.

During a Gamecock Club event two summers ago at the stadium, I asked Ray, in front of everyone, if he was going to approach the governor about moving the event and he promised he would ... he thought it should be moved.

He never did to the best of our knowledge. Halley ended-up going to the U.N. and Henry took over ... we're still pressuring him to make the move but word from him has been that Halley allowed it because she is a Clemson fan and she is good friends with Texas's former Governor Rick whatshisname who is also an A&M grad. Supposedly he has said that it was her idea even.

It's just not right. Halley has no Forefathers who fought or died in this country or this state for anything. And it was a major coupe for A&M allowing them to do it on our Statehouse steps. Hell, they could do it on the University side of the building, right on Main Street, opposite side, or on the side grounds ... but they do it on our steps for effect

It's wrong.

Just wondering, if you condone it, why?