Had Robert E. Lee accepted Lincoln's offer to lead the union, there would likely have been much less blood shed during the war. Lee's strategic genius allowed an inferior army from a land with little industry and vulnerable resources drag the war on for four years, and the death toll to over a half-million people.
Robert E. Lee is also misunderstood. Those of 'southern white heritage' often demonstrate their 'disgust with Dr. King's holiday' by declaring it 'Robert E. Lee day.'
Anyway, when Robert E. Lee finally surrendered, he also promised to live with the terms of that surrender.
One Sunday shortly after that, a black man had the audacity to leave the seats in the back of the church reserved for the lesser people, and was the first to arrive at the altar to kneel and receive communion. No one knew what to do, not even the minister; this was not to happen, but it was in a church. They couldn't lynch him there, for God's sake.
A white man broke the awkward silence by standing, walking forward, and kneeling next to the black man so he would be the second to receive communion that day. Soon, the congregation followed Robert E. Lee's lead, knelt, and took communion as a united congregation.
So, while most of America celebrates the memory of a black man who would walk with white people for the cause of equality, some prefer to celebrate a white man who would take communion with black people for the cause of unity!
We should all be so principled as General Lee and Dr. King to demonstrate, as leaders, that which we espouse.
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