For Freedom!

Over Spring Break I went with 9 other Oles to South Carolina, to help Habitat for Humanity build a house in East Cooper. On our day off we had the privilege of going to Fort Sumter. Here's a little history lesson, in case you forgot (I definitely did): Lincoln was elected president. Prior to that, South Carolina said they would succeede if he was elected. They kept true to their word and were the first to leave the Union. Major Anderson was stationed at the nearby Fort Moultrie, which was indefinsible. Now in enemy territory, he decided it would be most wise to move to Sumter where he stood a chance against attack. During the night, him and 85 men stole away to their new headquarters. Over time his supplies dwindled, so he called for supplies and reinforcements from the Union. They sent a ship, but the Confederacy found this out and weren't too happy. Confederate General Beauregard sent the Union ships home and gave Anderson an ultimatum; he leave in 1 hour or they attack. Anderson stayed, so after 1.5 hours time a signal mortar was shot and exploded over Fort Sumter, giving the nearby forts (now garrisoned with Confederate soliders) permission to start seige. This was the first shot of the civil war. After one of the longest seiges in American War History, Anderson and his 85 men just couldn't hold out any longer. On the condition of a safe passage to Union territory and a 100 gun salute Anderson abandoned the fort,  leaving it to the Confederacy. It would later play more roles in the war.
I bring this up because while I was wondering around I couldn't help but think about the implications of the civil war itself. Both sides were fighting for freedom. But how does one violently pursue the goal of being free? By killing, are we not binding ourselves by guilt? How can such a pure ideal be polluted by something so vile? In the end, the truth prevailed. But what if it hadn't? How could we trust such an unpredictable medium like war to produce the right goal? I suppose it's easy to look back and scold Americans for going this route. I just hope we never head down a similar path again.