ABT Trying to Purchase 144 Acres at Champion Hill

Yes, they are a great organization, my point is that if the NPS does in fact remove monuments and markers and all of the Trust purchased land is turned over to a hostile NPS then I will not be giving them my money. That is not an unreasonable position. They will have to eventually pick a side in that debate and with the general public and vocal minority not interested in the least with the worthy cause of battlefield preservation where will they get their money from?
 
My fears are that although buying up important land seems like a good idea, what assurances do any of us have that some Politically Correct bunch of pacifists, etc. won't in the future seize control of Congress and turn all the battlefields into low-income housing sites for whatever particular group they happen to be pandering to at the time.

I have never heard of such thing even being considered. Besides, if such a project were proposed, we would fight it, just as we fought the "Wilderness Walmart" and the proposed Disney park near the Manassas battlefield (and won, by the way). But if we do nothing, these priceless battlefields will surely end up as shopping centers, housing developments, or golf courses. Take a look at the battlefields around Atlanta, for example.

Regarding Champion's Hill specifically, I would consider it one of the most important battlefields that is not adequately protected.
 
Now that they are supporting all wars on US soil, I’m not exactly sure what I’m supporting and where exactly my money is going.

I believe you can donate to particular projects. I send general donations, since I think preserving Revolutionary and War of 1812 battlefields is just as important as preserving Civil War battlefields.
 
Yes, they are a great organization, my point is that if the NPS does in fact remove monuments and markers and all of the Trust purchased land is turned over to a hostile NPS then I will not be giving them my money. That is not an unreasonable position. They will have to eventually pick a side in that debate and with the general public and vocal minority not interested in the least with the worthy cause of battlefield preservation where will they get their money from?
I understand your point and I'm confident you understand mine. We don't have to agree.
 
I have never heard of such thing even being considered. Besides, if such a project were proposed, we would fight it, just as we fought the "Wilderness Walmart" and the proposed Disney park near the Manassas battlefield (and won, by the way). But if we do nothing, these priceless battlefields will surely end up as shopping centers, housing developments, or golf courses. Take a look at the battlefields around Atlanta, for example.

Regarding Champion's Hill specifically, I would consider it one of the most important battlefields that is not adequately protected.
I'm not even sure where some of this stuff comes from. I hope that people aren't being dissuaded from contributing because of some wild, half-baked rumors. And you are correct about Champion Hill - as you are about Atlanta, not to mention Nashville and Seven Pines/Fair Oaks.
 
While contributing to preservation is not an absolute guarantee of protection to a battlefield... not attempting to preserve is pretty much a guarantee of its destruction, probably sooner rather than later. I'd rather try and fail than not try, when it's something of real historical importance.
 
While contributing to preservation is not an absolute guarantee of protection to a battlefield... not attempting to preserve is pretty much a guarantee of its destruction, probably sooner rather than later. I'd rather try and fail than not try, when it's something of real historical importance.
Agreed ,,I also understand the fear of donating to save something, only to have it taken over and used for just the opposite, almost as if for spite,,,but the bigger elephant in the room is doing nothing,,,which is nearly a guarantee that it will get lost to development forever,, so I'm hedging my bets on its protection which is why I donated as well
 
We USED to think that by placing such land within the NPS system it was being "protected" forever; however, recent events on the political front have proven to be the exact opposite! An excellent example of what should be done is the case of Brice's Crossroads, Mississippi, where the Federal Government still controls ONLY a single acre (site of the Brice farmhouse) at the heart of the battlefield, the remainder of which has been purchased in its entirety and is now held by a private historical group.

I believe that private historical group is in fact the American battlefield trust.
 
I do my annual membership but like others have said I give more for specific projects when presented by the trust (generally eastern theater land). They are very upfront about what the match is and how much money your donation translates to.
 
I do my annual membership but like others have said I give more for specific projects when presented by the trust (generally eastern theater land). They are very upfront about what the match is and how much money your donation translates to.
I do the same - the annual membership isn't targeted but numerous specific projects come up during the year and you can direct donations to those. The Trust has scored some remarkable victories in recent years.
 
That's not up to the ABT. We all have our own views on these issues and they will vary, but that's irrelevant to what the ABT does.
It's not "irrelevant" if they really want to continue to receive contributions from persons thinking as I and evidently some others here do - I'm not going to continue to pour money down a rathole for Progressives to subvert to their own political and social agendas.
 
Back
Top