But then, lots of bad things happen during wars. Racism has little to do with it these days. Racism is a sickness, but people don't take the cure by being called names or making them ashamed of their heritage, by twisting historical facts to justify one's own views. I have met a few bigots here, but very few racists. Not one person I have spoken to in recent years believes that the white race is superior to the black race or any other which is what a racist is.
Wars are often about conscience and following that elusive voice.
The young men who fought for the Confederacy had no reason to defend slavery. It did very little to make any of their lives better and most was given very little thought when they went into battle. Defending slavery seems a very stupid reason to fight and die. They fought and died because they had been treated for years like a colony of the federal government. Just as today the American West is experiencing the aggression of the East Coast and West Coast establishment against its interests.