This past weekend I had the chance to tour Appomattox Court House while I was traveling in Lynchburg, VA.  I knew from history classes that this was the site of the surrender of the South to the North, thus ending our Civil War.  The tour pointed out to us that when Generals Lee and Grant met to negotiate the terms of surrender that Grant representing the Army that was victorious did not set out to humiliate those who were on the losing side of the battle.

 

The terms were as generous as Lee could hope for; his men would not be imprisoned or prosecuted for treason. Officers were allowed to keep their side arms. In addition to his terms, Grant also allowed the defeated men to take home their horses and mules to carry out the spring planting and provided Lee with a supply of food rations for his starving army; Lee said it would have a very happy effect among the men and do much toward reconciling the country.

 

After one of the most tragic divisions in our country was closing those who were on the Confederate side were not punished.  They were treated as Americans and welcomed into a renewed United States of America.  If the wars that are being fought these days could be resolved in a way that was not punitive to the losing side, perhaps some of these wars could be ended before any more blood is shed on either side.

 

This may be too optimistic, but it is my prayer for our world the future we are moving into each day.