ThaddeusWalters (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

I really enjoyed this video! My one problem: Why so many blank areas? Realizing that these occurred when Gregory Peck wasn't speaking, I still would've enjoyed some sort of period pictures! I'll take that a step further and say that I missed the beginning portions of the piece!But that's OK. Most excellent job!

tpsabres (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

Sorry ORagnar...I'm going to have to go with Tommmaaayyy on this one. The civil war was fought to preserve the union and the freeing of slaves was just a fortunate byproduct. The slaves were freed mainly to weaken the Confederate states by eliminating the South's main source of labor.

Kain781 (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

This song is amazing...it was supposedly written for a professional band, but my high school band is doing it lol. I hope we don't butcher it o.o

gabetvc15 (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

composed by aaron copland

ORagnar (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

Tommmaaayyy -- another point. Modern thinkers who ridicule America by taking out of context the monumental achievements of the countries as a rule could not hold a candle to the greatness of men like Jefferson, Madison and Washington. Typically, in fact, muliculturalists today support slavery with the phrase "They have the right to their culture", see Islamic countries for details.

ORagnar (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

Tommmaaayyy -- It led to the freeing of slaves. It created the impetus to free slaves. The slaves *were* freed. In 1776, and even before, the Founders set the ball rolling to spread freedom, which included freeing the slaves. The battle in America started with America's creation. The bloodiness of the battle was a measure of the moral desire to end slavery. And, really, recognition that slavery was wrong was the new idea, as per Lockean rights.

Tommmaaayyy (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

No real conspiracy here. The Civil War was not about slavery at all. It's what I've been taught since I first learned it in school. It was about preserving the union, no doubt, but Lincoln was personally an abolitionist. His quote that if he could preserve the union without freeing a single slave is often misrepresented: he was saying that preserving the union was more important to him than any political issue.

Tommmaaayyy (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

1) The emancipation Provlomation only freed slaves in the states which were "in opposition to the United States" so effectively did not free a single person.2)We were not even close to being the first country to outlaw slavery. Sorry. Not only were we one of the LAST countries to do so, we only did after the bloodiest war ever fought at that time. 3) Slavery in the US did not end until the 13th ammendment in 1865, after pretty much every other civilized country did so without violence.

JMartins1981 (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

And to think a raging racist just won the office of President. :(

ORagnar (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

Skip8829 -- slavery was ended. Lincoln did make the executive order called the Emancipation Proclamation. So, you are contradicted big time by the evidence. America came into existence in a world where slavery was the norm and they ended it. This is the context of America that is not taught, and it is the truth. Lots of low lives out there are trying to down play America's greatness to their ever lasting shame.