The League of the South is a Southern nationalist organization whose ultimate goal is "a free and independent Southern republic. The term nationalism can refer to an Ideology, a sentiment, a form of Culture, or a Social movement that focuses on the Nation "^[1] The group defines the Southern United States as the states that made up the former Confederacy. The Confederate States of America (also called the Confederacy, the Confederate States, and CSA) formed as the government set up from 1861 ^[2] While political independence ranks highly among the group's goals, it is also a religious and social movement, advocating a return to a more traditional, conservative Christian-oriented Southern culture. For conservative political views within Christianity see Christian right.

History

Formed in 1994, the League of the South was originally known as the Southern League, a reference to both the Northern League, an Italian political party which advocates autonomy for Northern Italy, and the League of United Southerners, a group organized in 1858 to shape Southern public opinion. Lega Nord (Northern League LN whose complete name is Lega Nord per l'Indipendenza della Padania (Northern League for Independence of Padania) is an Italian An autonomous area is an area of a Country that has a degree of Autonomy, or freedom from an external authority The name was changed in 1997 after it was discovered that the rights to the name were held by another, older Southern League, a minor league baseball organization based in Atlanta. The Southern League is a Minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. Part of the History of baseball series Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of Professional baseball leagues in North ^[3] The League was founded in 1994 by Michael Hill and a group of about forty others. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Most of them were academics and intellectuals, including Clyde Wilson, Thomas Fleming, and "Celtic history" specialist Grady McWhiney (all three professors). Clyde N Wilson (born 1941) is a Distinguished Professor of History at the University of South Carolina, U Thomas Fleming is a Roman Catholic writer president of the Rockford Institute, and editor of Chronicles A Magazine of American Culture, a Celts (ˈkɛlts or /ˈsɛlts/, see Names of the Celts Grady McWhiney ( July 15 1928 &ndash April 18 2006) was a historian of the American south and the Civil War. ^[4]

Views

As noted, the League promotes the "independence of the Southern people" from the "American empire"^[5] and this on a variety of levels: culturally, economically, socially, and politically. American Empire is a term referring to the political economic military and cultural influence of the United States.

Culture

The League defines Southern culture "in opposition to the corrupt mainstream American culture. "^[5] It sees Southern culture as profoundly Christian, and pro-life. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Overview See also Ethical aspects of abortion Pro-life individuals generally believe that human life should be valued either from conception or Implantation ^[6] Furthermore, the League believes that Southern culture places a greater emphasis on immediate relationships than on abstract ideas (the nation, the global community, etc. ) and that Southern geography "defines character and worldview. "^[5]

Social

According to the League, Southern society differs greatly from what it sees as the Marxist and egalitarian society lacking "any grace or charm" that its "alien [American] occupier" seeks to "impress upon it. Marxism is the political philosophy and practice derived from the work of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Egalitarianism (derived from the French word égal, meaning equal) is a political doctrine that holds that all people should be treated as equals and have "^[5] Southern culture, for the League, is hierarchical, based on the Bible and decidedly anti-feminism. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin Antifeminism is opposition to Feminism in some or all of its forms ^[7] While the League's Core Beliefs Statement does not mention gay rights, it notes that Southern culture "stigmatizes perversity". Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender social movements share related goals of social acceptance of Homosexuality, Bisexuality and Transgenderism Lesbian ^[5] It also values politeness — "Southern Hospitality". Politeness is best expressed as the practical application of good Manners or Etiquette.

Economics

The League of the South's economic views are best characterized as free market. A free market is a Market in which property rights are voluntarily exchanged at a price arranged completely by the mutual consent of sellers and buyers It is opposed to fiat currency, personal income taxation, central banking, property taxes and most state regulation of business. The terms fiat currency and fiat money relate to types of currency or Money whose usefulness results not from any intrinsic value or guarantee that it can be Property tax, or millage tax, is an Ad valorem tax that an owner pays on the value of the property being taxed The League supports sales taxes and user fees. A sales tax is a Consumption tax charged at the Point of purchase for certain goods and services ^[5] However, some League members, such as John Cobin, support the use of voluntary taxes like user fees and lotteries to finance government. ^[8]

Politics

Seeking support in the American Declaration of Independence, the League believes the "Southern people" have the right to secede from the United States, and that they "must throw off the yoke of imperial [federal, or central government] oppression". The United States Declaration of Independence is a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4 1776 announcing that the thirteen American colonies then Secession (derived from the Latin term secessio is the act of withdrawing from an organization union or especially a political entity ^[5] The League promotes a Southern Confederation of sovereign, independent States that "work together. . . to conduct foreign affairs". It believes that the South's foreign policy should favor neutrality and trade with all states. ^[9] Furthermore, the League favors strictly limited immigration, opposes standing armies and any regulation whatsoever of firearms. Immigration refers to the movement of people among countries While the movement of people has existed throughout human history at various levels modern immigration implies long-term ^[5] Though the ultimate goal of the League is to create an independent Southern nation, it sees this aim as the final step in an ongoing process:

Once we have planted the seeds of cultural, economic, and social renewal, then (and only then), should we begin to look to the South's political renewal. Political independence will come only when we have convinced the Southern people that they are indeed a nation in the historical, organic, and Biblical sense of the word, namely, that they are a distinct people with language, mores, and folkways that separate them from the rest of the world. ^[10]

The League's current official activities focus on recruiting and encouraging "cultural secession" and "withholding our support from all institutions and objects of popular culture that are antithetical to our beliefs and heritage. "^[11] In November 2006 its representatives attended the First North American Secessionist Convention which brought together secessionists from a broad political spectrum. ^[12] In October 2007 it co-hosted the Second North American Secessionist Convention in Chattanooga, Tennessee. ^[13]

Controversy

The League of the South promotes the Confederate flag and sees opposition to it as "cultural genocide". The Confederate States of America used several Flags during its existence from 1861 to 1865 ^[14] See Flags of the Confederate States of America

The issue of race has become a source of controversy about, and dispute within, the League of the South. The Confederate States of America used several Flags during its existence from 1861 to 1865 In the Summer of 2000 the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) labeled League of the South a "racist hate group" and issued a report filled with allegations of racist statements, especially by the League's President Michael Hill. The Southern Poverty Law Center ( SPLC) is an American Non-profit legal organization internationally known for its tolerance education programs its legal ^[15] According to a news article, Hill "welcomed the designation as a 'badge of honor'" and stated SPLC has "a very leftist agenda, these sorts of things are designed to discredit you publicly. "^[16]

In response to these types of allegations, the League of the South Board of Directors in 2005 issued a "Statement on 'Racism'" stating in part: “We believe that Christianity and social order require that all people, regardless of race, must be equal before the law. We do not believe that the law should be used to persecute, oppress, or favour any race or class. We believe that the only harmony possible between the races, as between all natural differences among human beings, begins in submitting to Jesus Christ's commandment to 'love our neighbours as ourselves. ' That is the world we envision and work for. "

During the 2006 First North American Secessionist Convention when the issue of the League of the South and racism was raised, Don Kennedy, identified as ”a leader of the League of the South,” stated: "How can you believe in liberty and discriminate against your neighbor? Equality before the law is something we want, and we're on the record for that. "^[17] News stories about the Second North American Secessionist Convention also mentioned the SPLC's allegations, as well as skeptical responses from convention attendees. Convention organizer Kirkpatrick Sale responded: "They call everybody racists. Kirkpatrick Sale ( Ithaca New York 1937 is an Independent scholar and Author who has written prolifically on Environmentalism, technology and There are, no doubt, racists in the League of the South, and there are, no doubt, racists everywhere. "^[18]

Members

The League's Board of Directors is composed of Michael Hill, Jack Kershaw, Ray McBerry, Franklin Sanders, Rev. Eugene Cas, Mark Thomey, Mike Tuggle. ^[19] Among the founding members were Thomas Fleming, Grady McWhiney and Clyde Wilson. Thomas Fleming may refer to Thomas Fleming Earl of Wigtown (d Grady McWhiney ( July 15 1928 &ndash April 18 2006) was a historian of the American south and the Civil War. Clyde N Wilson (born 1941) is a Distinguished Professor of History at the University of South Carolina, U ^[20] Other prominent individuals who have been LoS members include Constitution Party presidential candidate Michael Peroutka (who was endorsed by the League),^[21] Michael Andrew Grissom,^[22] and Thomas Woods. The Constitution Party is a Conservative United States political party. For the California legislator see Tom Woods (politician. Thomas E ^[23] Some prominent members, such as Woods and McWhiney, appear to have subsequently limited or ended their involvement with the organization.

Bibliography

1. What Is the League of the South?, "Introductory Essays and Remarks: What Is the League of the South?" by Michael Hill.
2. The League of the South FAQ
3. Internal League Dissention "White Nationalism" from the Southern Poverty Law Center's "Intelligence Report", summer 2002, issue #106.
4. Official website (To reach the Core Beliefs Statement, follow the links for "Daily Archives" to "February 2005" and "Announcements: Core Beliefs Statement. ")
5. Grand Strategy "The League's Grand Strategy. "
6. A League of Their Own "A League of Their Own" from the Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Report, summer 2000, issue #99, 1.
7. League of the South Statement on Racism by the League of the South Board of Directors, June 21, 2005.
8. Board of Directors "Meet the Board of Directors of the League of the South. "

See also

• List of not fully sovereign nations
• Military Order of the Stars and Bars
• Nationalism
• Separatism
• Sons of Confederate Veterans
• Southern literature
• Southern Poverty Law Center

External links

• League of the South

Scholarly and special interest

• Scholarly papers articles and programs
• Confederate Reconstructionist Movements
• Christianity and Confederate Nationalism, "The US Civil War as a Theological War: Confederate Christian Nationalism and the League of the South", by Edward H. This is a list of currently active autonomist and Secessionist movements around the world The Military Order of the Stars and Bars is a Fraternal organization for descendants of men who served as Commissioned officers in the Armed forces of the The term nationalism can refer to an Ideology, a sentiment, a form of Culture, or a Social movement that focuses on the Nation Separatism refers to the advocacy of a state of cultural ethnic tribal religious racial or gender separation from the larger group often with demands for greater political autonomy Sons of Confederate Veterans ( SCV) is an organization Southern literature (sometimes called the literature of the American South) is defined as American literature about the Southern United States or by writers The Southern Poverty Law Center ( SPLC) is an American Non-profit legal organization internationally known for its tolerance education programs its legal Sebesta and Euan Hague. Published in the Canadian Review of American Studies, 2002.

References