"Civil War" political correctness.

In THE NEW AMERICAN December 25, 2006 article "By the Grace of God," by Dennis Behreandt, the descriptive opening line begins with "at the time of the Civil War." The term Civil War is a politically correct title referring to what Congress in the 1920s officially classified as the "War Between the States." This official term is a more acceptable one in the South. Another is the War for Southern Independence, as the South was not fighting a war for conquest. But like George Washington and the 13 colonies, the South fought for independence and the right to establish a new government of its own.

In the Old English Dictionary, "civil war" is defined as a war between two or more factions fighting for control of the same government. However, if the War for Southern Independence was a civil war, as also defined by the New Webster's Dictionary, so then was the Revolutionary War a "civil war" as well. But should one be heard calling the Revolutionary War a "civil war," people (even the politically correct crowd) would consider that person to be either historically ignorant or stupid.

All of the above considered, I would hope in the future the staff at THE NEW AMERICAN publication would refrain from using the term "civil war" as this term, in this application, by definition should be considered a misnomer.

BILL HUNT

Townville, South Carolina