Modern Civil War ignorance.

[Desert Kid]

What is your take on the disrespect shown towards Civil War (Confederate to an extent) monuments, like what happened earlier this year on Richmond's "Monument Avenue"? What is your take on people these days blathering about how the "Confederates were like Nazis".

To be honest, it gives me quite a headache.

 

[K Hale]

What happened on Monument Avenue?

 

[Desert Kid]

What happened on Monument Avenue?

http://www.wtvr.com/wtvr-monument-avenue-vandalism-20110407,0,4058682.story

http://thefan.nbc12.com/news/news/57830-confederate-monuments-richmond-vandalized

 

[K Hale]

http://www.wtvr.com/wtvr-monument-avenue-vandalism-20110407,0,4058682.story

http://thefan.nbc12.com/news/news/57830-confederate-monuments-richmond-vandalized

What a bunch of morons! Why am I finding out about it only now? Did this not make it onto its own thread here?

 

[PartywithArty]

I think there is a bunch of ignorant uneducated fools out there.down right lazy!! Its easier to turn on the tv than pick up a book..i hate this modern day and time..

 

[Zosofancmr]

That is unsettling, America as a whole has taken a sad turn in terms of remembering its history. Political correctness is ruining this country.

 

[brass napoleon]

That is unsettling, America as a whole has taken a sad turn in terms of remembering its history. Political correctness is ruining this country.

I agree whole-heartedly with the sentiment, but I don't see what political correctness has to do with it. There is nothing "correct" about this, politically or otherwise.

 

[unionblue]

I'm with brass on this one.

Political correctness = you don't believe what I believe and you da*n well ought to.

That's on BOTH sides of any debate. As for what happened to the monuments, that is just plain ignorance.

IMHO,
Unionblue

 

[RobertP]

I wouldn't be surprised if it happened on a regular basis. Read what some of the posters here write. They say exactly the same thing.

 

[johan_steele]

It isn't just CS monuments, there was a US monumnets up north where some kids ripped off the head and tossed it in a nearby pond, a dipwad that grabbed hold of a soldiers monumnet in a park & ripped it off the base. There's been plenty of vandalism of both sides of the argument some of it having to do w/ sectionalism, some of it not. Regardless of the reason ignorance is usually at the heart.

 

[johan_steele]

You mean like: Slavery had nothing to do w/ it, slavery was a benevolant institution anyway full of happy & content slaves. Davis was tricked & outsmarted by that evil Lincoln. A lot of wishful thinking. Pull the other one it hath bells on.

I wouldn't be surprised if it happened on a regular basis. Read what some of the posters here write. They say exactly the same thing.

 

[James B White]

Wait, the monument thing is all about the conclusion that Lee is "no hero"?

Vandalizing the monument is obviously wrong, on the grounds of defacing public property, etc. As someone in the article said, "If you really want to make a statement someone could have put a status on Facebook saying hey I don't like Robert E Lee."

But I don't see that the statement itself displays historical ignorance. It's an opinion. There's no requirement that everyone consider Robert E. Lee--or Lincoln, or Forrest, or John Brown, or anyone else--a hero, nor any intrinsic level of historical knowledge implied by drawing a personal conclusion about their heroism.

I must be missing something. Is it really a requirement now that everyone must consider certain historical figures heroes, or else they're ignorant of history? Because I don't divide any historical figures into hero-vs.-not-hero, I just take them as they come, but apparently I'm studying history wrong.

 

[footie]

Man, don't know where to begin on this one! History is not being taught today and when it is probably not very good. Had a converstaion with 30 year retired history teacher who never worked one day teaching history! Said that was "reserved" for coaches. This brings up the subect of teaches not teaching in their majors! How often? Don't know but suspect it be rampant. RE: political correctness! It is constantly being promoted, sometimes blatent, but often through stealth. What do you call statue of Arthur Ashe on Monument Avenue? Did we not have a lengthly discussion recently on this site about a statue being placed in S.Carolina?

As far as graffiti, don't dare go anywhere in Rome as you will be sick of what graffiti has done to the treasures there, in fact, all over Europe. Yes, it was promoted as "art" by some egghead in this country! Shame! Close with kids today think the world began on the day they were born and have not been taught otherwise!

 

[RobertP]

You mean like: Slavery had nothing to do w/ it, slavery was a benevolant institution anyway full of happy & content slaves. Davis was tricked & outsmarted by that evil Lincoln. A lot of wishful thinking. Pull the other one it hath bells on.

No. I refer to the posts who regard all Confederates as traitors.

 

[RobertP]

Wait, the monument thing is all about the conclusion that Lee is "no hero"?

Vandalizing the monument is obviously wrong, on the grounds of defacing public property, etc. As someone in the article said, "If you really want to make a statement someone could have put a status on Facebook saying hey I don't like Robert E Lee."

But I don't see that the statement itself displays historical ignorance. It's an opinion. There's no requirement that everyone consider Robert E. Lee--or Lincoln, or Forrest, or John Brown, or anyone else--a hero, nor any intrinsic level of historical knowledge implied by drawing a personal conclusion about their heroism.

I must be missing something. Is it really a requirement now that everyone must consider certain historical figures heroes, or else they're ignorant of history? Because I don't divide any historical figures into hero-vs.-not-hero, I just take them as they come, but apparently I'm studying history wrong.

Ever hear of stirring the pot?

 

[Savez]

I consider Lee a hero; at least he is for me.

 

[wilber6150]

Irregardless of what people thought of the men, vandalizing their statues is wrong and whoever did it should be prosecuted...

 

[Robtweb1]

Once upon a time, cemetaries and monuments to deceased people were off limits to vandalism and no one one dare touch them. Today, nothing is sacred.

 

[RobertP]

You mean like: Slavery had nothing to do w/ it, slavery was a benevolant institution anyway full of happy & content slaves. Davis was tricked & outsmarted by that evil Lincoln. A lot of wishful thinking. Pull the other one it hath bells on.

You mean like in "Mississippi Mud" written by New Yorkers Barris and Cavanaugh in 1927, and popularized by Bing Crosby. Lost Causers like them wrote and sang "just as happy as a cow, chewing on a cud, when the darkies stomp their feet in the Mississippi Mud." The myth appears to have been started by Yankees.

 

[brass napoleon]

Wait, the monument thing is all about the conclusion that Lee is "no hero"?

Vandalizing the monument is obviously wrong, on the grounds of defacing public property, etc. As someone in the article said, "If you really want to make a statement someone could have put a status on Facebook saying hey I don't like Robert E Lee."

But I don't see that the statement itself displays historical ignorance. It's an opinion. There's no requirement that everyone consider Robert E. Lee--or Lincoln, or Forrest, or John Brown, or anyone else--a hero, nor any intrinsic level of historical knowledge implied by drawing a personal conclusion about their heroism.

I must be missing something. Is it really a requirement now that everyone must consider certain historical figures heroes, or else they're ignorant of history? Because I don't divide any historical figures into hero-vs.-not-hero, I just take them as they come, but apparently I'm studying history wrong.

No, you're studying history exactly right, James. Nobody is required to see anybody else as a hero. The problem is, this kind of thing shows a complete and utter lack of respect for the people living today who do see Lee or Davis as heroes. It's no different than the poster we had here a few months ago who said he spit on the Lincoln Memorial. It's wrong, regardless of whether the weapon of choice is spray paint, spit, or electrons on an internet forum.