Yee-haw!

April has been proclaimed Confederate History Month in the state of Virginia.

African Americans got upset at the news for some reason. It seems that slavery wasn't even mentioned in the Governor's proclamation. He got a sharp reminder or two about that, and gave what any generous-spirited person would have to concede was a full, unhedged apology for his "major omission."

A little more state history: the term "lynching" was derived from a justice of the peace in Virginia, Charles Lynch. And, as the photo indicates, the good citizens of the state certainly indulged over the years.

Never mind. Political contrition was expressed, slavery was hauled out of the memory-hole, and anyway you can't squeeze everything into a proclamation.

But why make such a divisive move in the first place?

Gov. Robert F. McDonnell, reviving a controversy that had been dormant for eight years, has declared that April will be Confederate History Month in Virginia, a move that angered civil rights leaders Tuesday but that political observers said would strengthen his position with his conservative base. [emphasis added]

Ah.