We're still fighting the Civil War

Sullivan directs his readers to compare two maps: one showing which side the states were on in the American Civil War, and another showing which states are currently favoring Obama or McCain. To save your mouse finger some clicks, here are those maps:

I don't think the resemblance is a coincidence. A few states have switched, but the pattern still holds. It's going to take a long time to heal this division in our country. A Sullivan reader writes:

An Obama presidency means much more than a truce in the 60’s culture war. It means the end of a much older and more terrible war, in which the 60's was merely one battle: the American Civil War. That is what is at stake here.

The Civil War was fought from Sumter to Appomattox, from April 12, 1861, to April 9, 1865. But the roots of the war predated 1861, and the consequences lived on long after 1865. In reality the Civil War never ended, it just shifted from a military to a culture war - the same culture war that is still going on today.

Read the whole thing. I don't think this is going to end any time soon. Obama's currently favored status is actually inflaming certain elements of this Red State coalition. But I think Obama has the personality, skills, and convictions to add a stitch or two to close the wound that slavery and racism slashed into our nation.