tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19295676.post116261385913573341..comments2023-11-02T23:06:45.962-07:00Comments on of Battlefields and Bibliophiles: “The Centennial is worth celebratingbut there is a ghost at the feast.”dwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01748726942956990159noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19295676.post-23790612707427721692007-09-30T23:31:00.000-07:002007-09-30T23:31:00.000-07:00Anonymous,You're having trouble with reading compr...Anonymous,<BR/><BR/>You're having trouble with reading comprehension. I said that, generally, the rest of the nation was not as "overtly racist and repressive toward African Americans as was the Jim Crow South." How you get from that to the treatment of Native Americans, or the inference that I said the North was non-racist, one can only wonder.<BR/><BR/>Obviously, white Americans North and South treated the Native American in a disgraceful and tragic manner, but that's not a "northern" thing. Some of your Confederate heroes were among the most celebrated Indian fighters in America, and of course, every state of the Confederacy was once well populated by native tribes. Do you think they all just moved on voluntarily so that Southerners could establish plantations? <BR/><BR/>As for your absurd claim that members of the NAACP are "thinking" something that they don't publicly express, the fact that your argument has devolved to claims of mind reading speaks volumes.<BR/><BR/>You have no qualms about misrepresenting the NAACP's stated objectives, then stake your position on what you imagine some of the members of that group are thinking. That's pretty pathetic. <BR/><BR/>And spare me the laments about "giving the country to the liberals." What has the "conservative class" wrought lo these past several years? Erosion of constitutional liberties, exponential expansion of government, wanton roll-backs of environmental protections, blurring of the separation of church and state, unprovoked invasion of a country that posed no threat to us. . . <BR/><BR/>I don't see how the liberals can do much worse.dwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01748726942956990159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19295676.post-36901312991222527942007-09-30T20:10:00.000-07:002007-09-30T20:10:00.000-07:00DW, I just wanted to add that I agree that we shou...DW, I just wanted to add that I agree that we should study the past, but it's whose past we study that I'm concerned about. <BR/><BR/>You wrote, "But if you think that, generally, the rest of the nation was as overtly racist and repressive toward African Americans as was the Jim Crow South, then you're not being honest with yourself".<BR/><BR/>Let's go chat with the Native Americans about that. Oh, most tribes were completely annihilated by the unracist North? Oh well, I guess we can just ask the handful that are left...<BR/><BR/>You wrote, "Not even the NAACP claims that as an objective". (sigh) No group that is interested in it's own racial advancement would actually SAY that, but you know many are thinking just that.<BR/><BR/>And it's the conservative class of Americans that keep it working rather than ruining it with fantasy-like entitlements. Give this country to the liberals and you might as well call us the US of Venezuela.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19295676.post-70705443163830588742007-09-13T17:32:00.000-07:002007-09-13T17:32:00.000-07:00Anonymous,Thanks for the note. Addressing some of ...Anonymous,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the note. Addressing some of your comments (set off with >><<) in order:<BR/><BR/>>>First, Percy doesn't have a more southern view than I do given my family history in this country.<<<BR/><BR/>Whatever the case may be, his was a southern view. Nowhere in his writings do I detect a claim on his part to have a more southern view than other people. That would be very odd.<BR/><BR/>>>I can't think of anyone who would agree that the "tactical advantages", a misnomer in my opinion, could ever hold a candle to the inequities and hardships endured by the South since the Civil War.<<<BR/><BR/>Percy is not comparing the things you complain of. His quote refers to tactical advantages in "the current war," meaning the way the story of the Civil War was playing out in centennial literature. In my opinion, his observation is right on the mark (though he clearly underestimated the amount of books that would continue to be released about Abraham Lincoln). There may not be another Civil War in history where the vanquished were so successful in gaining widespread adoption of their version of events. <BR/><BR/>>>It seems evident to me that all regions of America have shown an aversion to civil rights at some point AFTER the war, whether real or perceived.<<<BR/><BR/>No question about it. Percy makes the point repeatedly, in one of the quotes I used (saying the Negro is treated badly in both the North and the South), and a quote I did not use (saying that if anyone thinks there's less racism in the North, they should ask James Baldwin). But if you think that, generally, the rest of the nation was as overtly racist and repressive toward African Americans as was the Jim Crow South, then you're not being honest with yourself, or you're astonishingly naïve. <BR/><BR/>>>I would argue that the only reason for today's attacks on the South and Confederate memory rests with at least 2 objectives: 1) remove any sign of Confederate symbols and culture for the express purpose of reinforcing who the victor was regardless of what proportion of the population that would object.<<<BR/><BR/>Not even the NAACP claims that as an objective. It seems pointless to try to craft a serious reply to such a fanciful bit of fiction. <BR/><BR/>>>2) make the traditionally conservative and less centralized South more flexible and compliant to liberal political goals through a feeling of guilt and obligation.<<<BR/><BR/>Oh please. Your Fox News fantasy is upside down -- the traditionally conservative crowd has ruled the roost for six years, getting their way on everything from unnecessary invasions and occupations, to curtailment of constitutional liberties (just as the historic South ruled the roost from the constitutional convention nearly all the way to the Civil War). You want to cast the South as the victim of some liberal conspiracy -- even projecting your personal politics onto history -- but it doesn't wash. <BR/><BR/>>>Most people today feel that the war is over and that the optimal way to make progress is to move forward without trying to revise the past for the purposes mentioned above. After all, it's more important to agree on how to move forward than on what happened in the past as those views are unlikely to ever change.<<<BR/><BR/>Studying the past does not prevent us from moving forward. Indeed, you could make a good argument that studying the past helps ensure a better future. It only becomes a problem when you read history with an emotional chip on your shoulder, and feel compelled to defend a conclusion that you're unable to support.dwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01748726942956990159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19295676.post-7090874011914480502007-09-13T12:36:00.000-07:002007-09-13T12:36:00.000-07:00This post provides so many opportunities to addres...This post provides so many opportunities to address that it's difficult to know where to start. First, Percy doesn't have a more southern view than I do given my family history in this country.<BR/><BR/>That said, I can't think of anyone who would agree that the "tactical advantages", a misnomer in my opinion, could ever hold a candle to the inequities and hardships endured by the South since the Civil War. Prior to the war, the South was a wealthy region, since then it ranks among the lowest in income, education, healthcare, political power, etc. Who wouldn't trade "underdog" status anyday in exchange for the aforementioned benefits?<BR/><BR/>It seems evident to me that all regions of America have shown an aversion to civil rights at some point AFTER the war, whether real or perceived. If you look at the history of lynchings, race riots, Black Laws, and socio-economic standings, then this is undeniable nationwide. What is surprising is the rate at which the welfare of former discrimination victims have improved here. As you say, it wasn't that long ago since the Civil War was fought.<BR/><BR/>I would argue that the only reason for today's attacks on the South and Confederate memory rests with at least 2 objectives: 1) remove any sign of Confederate symbols and culture for the express purpose of reinforcing who the victor was regardless of what proportion of the population that would object. 2) make the traditionally conservative and less centralized South more flexible and compliant to liberal political goals through a feeling of guilt and obligation.<BR/><BR/>Most people today feel that the war is over and that the optimal way to make progress is to move forward without trying to revise the past for the purposes mentioned above. After all, it's more important to agree on how to move forward than on what happened in the past as those views are unlikely to ever change.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com