Thursday, July 17, 2008

"Stonewall's Bust"

No, I am not trying to insult some of you by suggesting that Stonewall Jackson was really a woman or, more exotically, transgendered.  It's simply the title of playwright John Morogiello's latest production, which will appear this summer in Pittsburgh.  The story is as follows:

Set in the South, the farce is about a man named Paul (Robert Rokicki) from New York who visits the family of his debutante girlfriend, Nancy (Seana Hollingsworth), for the first time. Nancy's mother owns a confederate heritage museum where Paul accidentally breaks a priceless statue of Stonewall Jackson. What follows is a series of cover ups, larger lies, misunderstandings and an exorcism on live television. "There are other colorful characters. Others have secrets. There are a lot of mishaps between all the couples, as well," says Hollingsworth. In the end, Paul must make a decision between the woman he loves and his personal safety.

That's pretty funny.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

How the South Was Lost

Monday, July 07, 2008

Re-enacting "Pickett's Charge" in Ideal Weather?

Doc4871fd90461c8307816154 Read the story here: "The combination of moderate temperatures, a pleasant breeze and overcast skies made for the perfect environment for a battle, at least from the re-enactors viewpoint, since it minimized the chances of succumbing during the battle to heat-related problems.  Excessive heat and humidity can drain the energy level and exuberance of the re-enactors and affect the animals as well."

Yes, I've heard that this can be an issue for reenactors who strive for authenticity.

While I Was Away on Vacation...

Hackmanedgerton Gene Hackman posed for this photograph with everyone's favorite black Confederate, H.K. Edgerton.  The photograph was taken at Malaprop's bookstore in Asheville, North Carolina where Hackman, along with his co-author, discussed and signed copies of their new book, Escape From Andersonville.   I'm not sure which one knows more about Civil War history.

Note to Publisher: Please don't send me a review copy.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Why I'm Not Joining the Sons of Confederate Veterans

With all of the attention the Sons of Confederate Veterans have received over their silly little flag in Flordia it is easy to exaggerate their popularity and influence.  It would be a mistake to believe that the SCV speaks for most white Americans; in fact, my guess is that in terms of sheer numbers their organization doesn't even appear on the radar screen, which brings me to today's editorial by John Martin, who is a staff writer for the St. Petersburg Times.  Martin's editorial serves to remind us that the overwhelming majority of the descendants of Confederate soldiers do not believe that the SCV's mission and projects reflect their values.

I could join the Sons of Confederate Veterans. But I won't.

As a giant battle flag of the Confederate States of America flew over Hillsborough County early this month, I thought about my Civil War story.  Like millions of Americans, my ancestors fought for the Confederacy. The Sons of Confederate Veterans, whose local chapter raised the flag, extends an invitation to men like me, "descendants of any veteran who served honorably in the Confederate armed forces."  I'm convinced the Civil War still has lessons to teach us: About the costs of war, and motives for waging war that slip through your fingers. About fiery rhetoric that divides, rather than heals. About humanity and inhumanity and reconciliation.

But those are lessons you won't find at the Sons of Confederate Veterans' Web site. There is a lot of talk about honor and "heritage defense." The "Second American Revolution," as the Civil War is called there, was about honorable Confederate men, and honorable Confederate intentions.  Honor has its place, but honoring without understanding is a set of blinders I'm not prepared to wear.

As the Confederate flag flew June 3 to honor (what else?) Jefferson Davis and the 200th anniversary of his birth, I thought of the threat that the flag symbolizes to many people. It's impossible for me to downplay its power as an instrument of fear. The Sons of Confederate Veterans seem blissfully, defiantly indifferent to that.

Continue reading "Why I'm Not Joining the Sons of Confederate Veterans" »

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

If You Want to be a Historian, You Can be a Historian: A Bit More About Jim Webb's Confederacy

Jim Webb appeared on CNN this morning and quickly responded to a question re: the Politico piece.   He seemed a bit frustrated, but I don't blame him given that it's virtually impossible to hold a mature discussion within the format of our mainstream media.  You can check out the interview at Huffington; unfortunately, I couldn't find a way to embed it here.  Still, Webb managed to rattle off a few kooky comments.  This one is my favorite:

People in the North were never asked to give up slaves even with the Emancipation Proclamation. 

I assume Webb is referring to southern states that remained in the United States since...you know...slavery had already been outlawed throughout the North.  More to the point, Webb reminded me why I don't consider him to be a historian, although he identified himself as one during the interview.  He went through the standard motions of distancing the reasons why most white southerners fought from slavery by reminding us that only 5% were actual slaveowners.  They were motivated more by "loyalty to community" as if slavery and community can somehow be understood separately.  I listened to Webb make this comment as I put together the last section of my essay on demobilization and the humiliating experiences that returning Confederates faced when they were met by USCTs and newly-freed slaves.

Sorry, but this kind of simplicity no longer cuts it in more serious circles.  You can't call yourself a historian when all you can do is fall back on the same tired one-liners that are in every neo-Confederate's playbook.  You need to read books by Jim McPherson, Joe Glatthaar, Jason Phillips, and Chandra Manning to even begin to approach these complex questions.  Webb identifying himself as a historian is like me identifying myself as a chef when all I can do is prepare TV Dinners or [now your turn] identifying yourself as _____________ when all you can do is __________.

Jim Webb Is No Historian (but so what)

Csa-memorial-02-062803 The Politico has a feature on Senator Jim Webb's Confederate Heritage roots that is worth reading.  I guess this is what happens when you become a potential vice-presidential candidate.  There is nothing particularly new in terms of the views expressed or for those who are familiar with Webb's heritage studies.  We learn that Webb admires Robert E. Lee and has some choice words for those who would besmirch his good name:

The venerable Robert E. Lee has taken some vicious hits, as dishonest or misinformed advocates among political interest groups and in academia attempt to twist yesterday’s America into a fantasy that might better service the political issues of today.... The greatest disservice on this count has been the attempt by these revisionist politicians and academics to defame the entire Confederate Army in a move that can only be termed the Nazification of the Confederacy.

And it wouldn't be complete without the standard account justifying secession:

The states that had joined the Union after the Revolution considered themselves independent political entities, much like the countries of Europe do today.... The 10th Amendment to the Constitution reserved to the states all rights not specially granted to the federal government, and in their view the states had thus retained their right to dissolve the federal relationship

Yada, Yada, Yada, Yada... O.K...I get it.  There is nothing surprising about such views as they are the standard stock phrases that emanate from certain quarters.  The website also tried to make political hay out of a 1990 speech that Webb presented at the Confederate Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.  Again, there is nothing surprising in it:

And so I am here, with you today, to remember. And to honor an army that rose like a sudden wind out of the little towns and scattered farms of a yet unconquered wilderness. That drew 750,000 soldiers from a population base of only five million-less than the current population of Virginia alone. That fought with squirrel rifles and cold steel against a much larger and more modern force. That saw 60 percent of its soldiers become casualties, some 256,000 of them dead. That gave every ounce of courage and loyalty to a leadership it trusted and respected, and then laid down its arms in an instant when that leadership decided that enough was enough. That returned to a devastated land and a military occupation. That endured the bitter humiliation of Reconstruction and an economic alienation from the rest of this nation which continued for fully a century, affecting white and black alike.

Open up Webb's high school history text and I guarantee that you will find a sentence that reflects his referencing of Reconstruction as "bitter humiliation".  As in the case with his earlier comments they are standard stock.  It's ashame that Webb reduces further inquiry as stemming from nefarious motives.  I assume Webb is an intelligent man; what does he see when he looks closely at the Confederate Memorial's friezes?  Is this really just a monument to the common Confederate soldier? Is there really nothing more to think about given that it was Woodrow Wilson who addressed the audience at the unveiling of the monument in 1914 and who ordered federal office buildings to segregate employees along racial lines.

We could allow Politico to suck us into a silly debate about Webb's views on history, but I am not going to make too much about the fact that he is not a historian and has little to teach me about how we as Americans remember the past.  To tell you the truth, I am much more interested in his proposed legislation that would offer full college tuition to those military personnel who serve three years and which is being resisted by the Bush administration and other Republicans in Congress. 

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Like a Swastika Says "Oktoberfest!"

[Hat-Tip to Heather at Archives Found]

Saturday, June 07, 2008

"I Am Heritage, Not Hate"

Just in case you couldn't make the annual Gathering of Eagles event in Winchester, here is a preview with our favorite black Confederate, H.K. Edgerton.  By the way, Pickett's Gamecocks "are specifically recruiting African-Americans interested in black Confederate or civilian portrayals."  I assume by civilian, they mean slave portrayals.  This year participants will debate the legality of secession.  Here is a description of the event:

The "Civil War Gathering of Eagles" is an educational event brought to life by living historians from across the country. The Civil War personas, discuss the events of the war brought to life through their first person portrayals.  Issues discussed during this two and a half day event range from the tactics used to the causes of the War and the occasional heated discussion concerning the legality of secession based on the Constitution and other sources used by our Founding Fathers to establish the "united States of America". (1)

Why the footnote, you ask?  Well, they want to make sure you know that "united States of America is a direct quote taken from the Declaration of Independance. [sic]"   Sounds like a real whoot. 

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

"Deep Spring Tennessee Whiskey, 1903-1915"

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