Quantrill's Missouri
Private
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2022
How does this get done? What needs to be done to generate interest in the Civil War and the Border Wars?
I tried many methods to get things jumped started on a more local level. I relayed ideas I came up with to try and string events and sites together and get some things moving. The following was my mountain to die on, so to speak, after I heard enough talk without any action from many sources and people:
To Whom It May Concern (and that should be all of us!)
After reading the latest William Clarke Quantrill Society newsletter (Fall 2022), I am absolutely boiling. That the WCQS and our Confederate (and yes, even Union) history is fading away, being torn down, white washed, erased, compromised, put away and denied is a disgraceful travesty! But, I am hot and appalled by how the future of our history and, what we seemed to hold dear enough to write books, have websites, societies and organizations, etc., is going under water with a slow death. And I hear a lot of bemoaning and wrath, but..........
The "Quantrill Special Collections Research" was designed for furthering education of Quantrill and the border wars so that the public and students could research, study and make up their own minds as to what transpired over the border times. And it sits, all packed up and collecting dust in my home after being at THREE different places. One, it was basically thrown out, the second got NO push or promotion whatsoever, and the third didn't want anything to do with it as it would be back, back, back burnered if ever used at all. Am I pointing this out for myself? No! I am pointing out that the subject of what we "seem" to care so much about went through the same fate as what we are witnessing in other places now! Also, through the WCQS Fall newsletter, it is reported that the annual tour of Quantrill sites and places was woefully under attended and it wasn't even enough to pay for the bus. If you can't see that we are losing our grip on this that we all seem to care about, then I don't know where you're looking! In addition, the newsletter reported the sad passing of veteran, author and Quantrill enthusiast, Duncan Hansen. With the losses of Donald Hale, Harold Dellinger, Joanna Chiles Eakin, John Moloski, John Chance and Duncan Hansen, the old guard is falling and I don't see any, ANY, mind you, future to pick up the torch! I can't imagine what these six would be thinking as everything is falling apart and away! The online "Missouri Civil War Message Board" used to be a constant turn of pages with all of the entries and information that were forthcoming almost every single day. Anyone looked at it lately? It's barely active and barely used anymore. Anyone see a pattern here, folks?! You know whose books are in that packed up, collecting dust, former QSCR? Joanne's, Don's, Harold's, Duncan's. And that we're letting this happen, on our own local level, is a **** shame and so disrespectful to these people that have been so heralded, admired and respected. You do realize the former QSCR is collecting dust here just like it did in the other places, right? See the irony here, folks?!
I have screamed and yelled through resources like this letter and others, and my former website, I have tried desperately to rattle cages, wake people up, get some motivation going and point to the direction that this was headed. But to no avail. WHATEVER you could do, it needed to be done! But again...to no avail. I see the constant griping, complaining and gritted teeth about how we are losing our history. Outrage! Outrage! But..... crickets chirping when it comes to any action! The procrastination, infighting and sit on your hands way of doing things has Got. To. Stop. Now. ALWAYS remember this....the name ON the society or organization is more important than the names IN the society or organization. Because if it wasn't FOR the name ON the society or organization, than there ISN'T a society or organization! Get me?! That, folks, is how companies, businesses, societies, clubs and organizations fall and fold.
I, myself, gave up. Yep, call me a hypocrite. I had full plans to bring new stories and people to my revamped site and continue in the new year with what I was doing, even though the interest dwindled significantly (and I mean by a bunch!). But, I gave up. I quit. Why? No reason to go on. Is there one? Go ahead. Please. Give me one. I'm actually waiting for it. What's the point? I mean...the QSCR failed three times, our Confederate history is being completely destroyed by mouth or action, the WCQS is fighting to hold steady, websites are still left without updates or are gone completely, the Missouri Civil War Message Board is barely used anymore. I mean, before long, it will all just slowly die off. And what do you think will happen then?! More outrage! And beating of the fists on tables, more anger and spewing from the mouth, "This should never have happened! Grrrr!" And yet.... it did. Why? Because of everything I just pointed out and then some! And everyone will be mad and simmering about it and "Grrr!" It's a hell of a circle, isn't it?! I remember talking to Harold Dellinger years ago, and I've mentioned this before, and him saying he doesn't know what would happen when the old guard died off. This being not long after Don Hale's death. Too bad I didn't bluntly respond "Just quit now, Harold. It's all gonna be gone in the not too distant future anyway!"
If you are in this, I'm saying...Think. Use your head! Ideas, imagination, thoughts, opinions. You innovate! Think, people, think! How the hell do you think I come up with the QSCR?! Because I pressed myself to come up with something new, not thought of, never been! Why do you think places like George Washington's Mount Vernon home has a theater that spews fog and snow, among other special 4D effects, during the Revolutionary War film? They knew they had to p-r-o-g-r-e-s-s. They knew what they were up against! Changing of the times, the attention spans and the technology! They knew and acted knowing they can't let our important history die! I'm not suggesting a Quantrill theater is built. I'm pointing out that they knew they had to act and innovate! Move and blend with the times! I've thrown out suggestion after suggestion, idea after idea and it's been like trying to throw water through a brick wall! I'm not looking to stroke my own ego or get hurrahs and pats on the back. I'm only hoping to see "That's an idea!" or "Maybe we could implement that." SOMEthing to get things moving in the right direction.
The complacency, haggling, disfunction and lack of action has taken eyes off the **** ball. What is important is not what, but who! "Who" being the guerrillas, soldiers of both sides, citizens and victims of the time period we are "interested" in. And the time frame as a whole! And to carry on the history that Don, Harold and the others worked so hard to bring to the table! I don't know what more I have to say, bring up or yell about, to see results?! We've lost focus, people. If we used the same energy, strength and fight as those who have been successful in getting rid of our history, we'd have won one hell of a battle! We better get with it, get it together and get busy! Or this WILL be over! You know, I've wrote letters to all like this before and, again, I see or hear nothing of any meaning. I even hesitate to send this one. Probably will get the same results. Somewhere, the boys are angry and shaking their heads. And you know what? I don't blame them! To paraphrase the movie, "PATTON"........
Now, you know how I feel.
That's all.
I tried many methods to get things jumped started on a more local level. I relayed ideas I came up with to try and string events and sites together and get some things moving. The following was my mountain to die on, so to speak, after I heard enough talk without any action from many sources and people:
To Whom It May Concern (and that should be all of us!)
After reading the latest William Clarke Quantrill Society newsletter (Fall 2022), I am absolutely boiling. That the WCQS and our Confederate (and yes, even Union) history is fading away, being torn down, white washed, erased, compromised, put away and denied is a disgraceful travesty! But, I am hot and appalled by how the future of our history and, what we seemed to hold dear enough to write books, have websites, societies and organizations, etc., is going under water with a slow death. And I hear a lot of bemoaning and wrath, but..........
The "Quantrill Special Collections Research" was designed for furthering education of Quantrill and the border wars so that the public and students could research, study and make up their own minds as to what transpired over the border times. And it sits, all packed up and collecting dust in my home after being at THREE different places. One, it was basically thrown out, the second got NO push or promotion whatsoever, and the third didn't want anything to do with it as it would be back, back, back burnered if ever used at all. Am I pointing this out for myself? No! I am pointing out that the subject of what we "seem" to care so much about went through the same fate as what we are witnessing in other places now! Also, through the WCQS Fall newsletter, it is reported that the annual tour of Quantrill sites and places was woefully under attended and it wasn't even enough to pay for the bus. If you can't see that we are losing our grip on this that we all seem to care about, then I don't know where you're looking! In addition, the newsletter reported the sad passing of veteran, author and Quantrill enthusiast, Duncan Hansen. With the losses of Donald Hale, Harold Dellinger, Joanna Chiles Eakin, John Moloski, John Chance and Duncan Hansen, the old guard is falling and I don't see any, ANY, mind you, future to pick up the torch! I can't imagine what these six would be thinking as everything is falling apart and away! The online "Missouri Civil War Message Board" used to be a constant turn of pages with all of the entries and information that were forthcoming almost every single day. Anyone looked at it lately? It's barely active and barely used anymore. Anyone see a pattern here, folks?! You know whose books are in that packed up, collecting dust, former QSCR? Joanne's, Don's, Harold's, Duncan's. And that we're letting this happen, on our own local level, is a **** shame and so disrespectful to these people that have been so heralded, admired and respected. You do realize the former QSCR is collecting dust here just like it did in the other places, right? See the irony here, folks?!
I have screamed and yelled through resources like this letter and others, and my former website, I have tried desperately to rattle cages, wake people up, get some motivation going and point to the direction that this was headed. But to no avail. WHATEVER you could do, it needed to be done! But again...to no avail. I see the constant griping, complaining and gritted teeth about how we are losing our history. Outrage! Outrage! But..... crickets chirping when it comes to any action! The procrastination, infighting and sit on your hands way of doing things has Got. To. Stop. Now. ALWAYS remember this....the name ON the society or organization is more important than the names IN the society or organization. Because if it wasn't FOR the name ON the society or organization, than there ISN'T a society or organization! Get me?! That, folks, is how companies, businesses, societies, clubs and organizations fall and fold.
I, myself, gave up. Yep, call me a hypocrite. I had full plans to bring new stories and people to my revamped site and continue in the new year with what I was doing, even though the interest dwindled significantly (and I mean by a bunch!). But, I gave up. I quit. Why? No reason to go on. Is there one? Go ahead. Please. Give me one. I'm actually waiting for it. What's the point? I mean...the QSCR failed three times, our Confederate history is being completely destroyed by mouth or action, the WCQS is fighting to hold steady, websites are still left without updates or are gone completely, the Missouri Civil War Message Board is barely used anymore. I mean, before long, it will all just slowly die off. And what do you think will happen then?! More outrage! And beating of the fists on tables, more anger and spewing from the mouth, "This should never have happened! Grrrr!" And yet.... it did. Why? Because of everything I just pointed out and then some! And everyone will be mad and simmering about it and "Grrr!" It's a hell of a circle, isn't it?! I remember talking to Harold Dellinger years ago, and I've mentioned this before, and him saying he doesn't know what would happen when the old guard died off. This being not long after Don Hale's death. Too bad I didn't bluntly respond "Just quit now, Harold. It's all gonna be gone in the not too distant future anyway!"
If you are in this, I'm saying...Think. Use your head! Ideas, imagination, thoughts, opinions. You innovate! Think, people, think! How the hell do you think I come up with the QSCR?! Because I pressed myself to come up with something new, not thought of, never been! Why do you think places like George Washington's Mount Vernon home has a theater that spews fog and snow, among other special 4D effects, during the Revolutionary War film? They knew they had to p-r-o-g-r-e-s-s. They knew what they were up against! Changing of the times, the attention spans and the technology! They knew and acted knowing they can't let our important history die! I'm not suggesting a Quantrill theater is built. I'm pointing out that they knew they had to act and innovate! Move and blend with the times! I've thrown out suggestion after suggestion, idea after idea and it's been like trying to throw water through a brick wall! I'm not looking to stroke my own ego or get hurrahs and pats on the back. I'm only hoping to see "That's an idea!" or "Maybe we could implement that." SOMEthing to get things moving in the right direction.
The complacency, haggling, disfunction and lack of action has taken eyes off the **** ball. What is important is not what, but who! "Who" being the guerrillas, soldiers of both sides, citizens and victims of the time period we are "interested" in. And the time frame as a whole! And to carry on the history that Don, Harold and the others worked so hard to bring to the table! I don't know what more I have to say, bring up or yell about, to see results?! We've lost focus, people. If we used the same energy, strength and fight as those who have been successful in getting rid of our history, we'd have won one hell of a battle! We better get with it, get it together and get busy! Or this WILL be over! You know, I've wrote letters to all like this before and, again, I see or hear nothing of any meaning. I even hesitate to send this one. Probably will get the same results. Somewhere, the boys are angry and shaking their heads. And you know what? I don't blame them! To paraphrase the movie, "PATTON"........
Now, you know how I feel.
That's all.
Bringing the