I am now catching up on posts. Would like to thank Louis for the General Lee discussion, agree wholeheartedly and that was what I was taught in school about him was the reconciliation, he was seen in that way. Americans came back together, there were lots of bumps and still are, but at the end of the day they were all Americans, not traitors IMO and that is how I choose to view it. Like I said, IMO , it is a convenient narrative today to call all Confederates racists, traitors, etc etc etc, fortunately I have the choice not to follow that mantra.
On another note, my post was in no way defensive , to be frank, it was being highly pissed off. And further clarification, I don't consider books, prints, collectibles, toy soldiers Shrines to the South or Lost Cause. I consider them just what they are - collectibles, toy soldiers, dioramas. Same with any other military collectibles.
OK, enough of this, let me return to the bizzaro news world of the day where one city wants to defund their police budget and another wants to dismantle the police force all together and employ new community BLM policing................................................I must literally be dreaming, in the Twilight Zone or starring in a movie I was unaware of. *** kind of insanity is this. Well, the good news, it is in 2 places I didn't plan on retiring.
TD
Ok my last post on this thread, I promise, and getting too busy anyway. I am guilty of writing posts while doing three other things and I should edit myself better.
First on Robert E. Lee there is certainly more than one side on evaluating the man. Lee became a mythical figure to the South.....A "Southern Gentlemen" defending his state and the culture of the Old South. There is ample historical evidence that he was a slave holder and supported slavery. There is also evidence that he mistreated his slaves and was reluctant to give them their freedom even when the war ended. Ok we can argue this infinitum and that's my point, we all have our opinions as do historians. I continue to believe that the main motivation for secession was slavery and the economics of it. The Confederate states wanted to break away from "America" so call them what you will but they were not Americans at that point. The same as our colonies were no longer British citizens when they rebelled and had their Declaration of Independence.
The use of my word "shrine" is perhaps the wrong term. I meant that everyone has the right to keep their history alive in many ways other than publicly displayed statues and flags. You can teach your children from books, collectables, documentaries, films and symbols. If you admire someone then by all means hang their picture and read all about them. Go to museums to see relics and statues all you want, I will always defend their existence. I and many others don't believe in deleting history just not honoring leaders who supported slavery and the breaking up of our country.
Yes sometimes we all get defensive and sometimes we get heated. You brought up the Holocaust Museum in relation to PC and it bothered me. You said you were "half sarcastic" so my response was sarcastic also. Holocaust deniers are in a class by themselves, reprehensible and sick. Their motives have nothing to do with PC. i was not insulting you, just trying to make a point. Again i need to edit better.
I don't consider myself a troll although i realize that I can take things too far or off track at times. I feel compelled to answer some comments and debate some opinions. i do realize that the forum is not the right venue for this and will be more careful.
Now in closing, my biggest argument with you and many others on this forum is in "generalizations" and "over-generalizations". I am guilty myself from time to time on this as are most human beings.
Its rarely that simple and monolithic. For example you believe and have stated that all media is biased. I don't agree, although i also think too large a percentage fall into that category. I find many journalist to be professional and truthful. Many here believe
that Political Correctness (PC) is blatant and solely detrimental to our society. Again a generalization and misinterpretation in many cases. Case in point, Native Americans who have been oppressed for years
are more sensitive to certain names, symbols and expressions, don't they have a right to challenge those?
More recently we see people implying that all demonstrators are violent and looters, not only a generalization but a blatant lie.
lastly so many people lack empathy. I may disagree with Collin Kapernack's type of protest but as long as it is legal and peaceful I try to understand his motives. The flag and anthem have different meanings to the African American community
who have a 400 year history of slavery and oppression. The Supreme Court even ruled that burning our flag is free speech. I may not agree but i try to understand the motives. i worry more about actions than symbols and I don't think that makes me any
less patriotic.
Yesterday the commissioner of the NFL said he agrees with protests by the players but we will see how the owners react.
Ok enough. I will be scarce on the forum from now on.
