It is good also to remember that it was not just that many black people fought for the preservation of the Union. It was also that their courage in war resulted in what I can only describe as a conversion of many prominent and not so prominent white people. The best example is John A. Logan who went from sponsor of the Black Laws of 1853 to winning Frederick Douglass' support for a presidential run. The same thing happened to many ordinary white soldiers on a smaller scale as recorded in Barbara Gannon's The Won Cause.
KAJ seems to really be a Renaissance man. I didn't know anything about him doing anything outside of sports until I found his Mycroft Holmes homage, which was fantastic.
Again, as always, thank you for your continued work.
It’s true. In the August heat in Virginia I look at photos of the Civil War and paintings from the Revolutionary War and think about wool uniforms and how motivated I personally would be to fight for anything.
As one who was involved in reenacting when I was very young, let me assure you that a few hours in those wool uniforms under a July sun is pretty awful. My sense is that we may experience a period of “cold civil war” where individual acts of domestic terrorism—essentially a criminal matter—not unlike we witnesses in the 1990’s is certainly possible. While it’s hard to imagine another Oklahoma City tragedy, we know all too well what one deranged person with the right mix of conviction and wherewithal can achieve at the expense of innocent lives. It will require the condemnation of mainstream political leadership in both parties to push this dangerous ideology back to its fringes.
Interestingly, one of the contributing factors that drove me out of reenacting in the late 90’s (aside from the normal pursuits of a college undergrad) was the voices of support for anti-government rhetoric on the far right that I encountered. Even worse, few spoke up to condemn these voices. Something was rotten in Denmark and I wanted little to do with it.
It is good also to remember that it was not just that many black people fought for the preservation of the Union. It was also that their courage in war resulted in what I can only describe as a conversion of many prominent and not so prominent white people. The best example is John A. Logan who went from sponsor of the Black Laws of 1853 to winning Frederick Douglass' support for a presidential run. The same thing happened to many ordinary white soldiers on a smaller scale as recorded in Barbara Gannon's The Won Cause.
I can’t figure out what’s going on in that painting either!
KAJ seems to really be a Renaissance man. I didn't know anything about him doing anything outside of sports until I found his Mycroft Holmes homage, which was fantastic.
Again, as always, thank you for your continued work.
You are very welcome, Dave.
Have you cracked the Fischer book yet. It looks mighty interesting.
Years ago, I was in Danbury, Connecticut and ran across this beautiful monument at an intersection. This little description divest do it justice, https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMP7R0_Soldiers_Monument_Danbury_CT
I am about 50 pages into it. It's a big book. It's impossible not to read it in light of the ongoing debates about history education, 1619, etc.
It’s true. In the August heat in Virginia I look at photos of the Civil War and paintings from the Revolutionary War and think about wool uniforms and how motivated I personally would be to fight for anything.
As one who was involved in reenacting when I was very young, let me assure you that a few hours in those wool uniforms under a July sun is pretty awful. My sense is that we may experience a period of “cold civil war” where individual acts of domestic terrorism—essentially a criminal matter—not unlike we witnesses in the 1990’s is certainly possible. While it’s hard to imagine another Oklahoma City tragedy, we know all too well what one deranged person with the right mix of conviction and wherewithal can achieve at the expense of innocent lives. It will require the condemnation of mainstream political leadership in both parties to push this dangerous ideology back to its fringes.
I agree. One of the many problems with the rhetoric of civil war is that it moves us away from addressing the real threats.
Interestingly, one of the contributing factors that drove me out of reenacting in the late 90’s (aside from the normal pursuits of a college undergrad) was the voices of support for anti-government rhetoric on the far right that I encountered. Even worse, few spoke up to condemn these voices. Something was rotten in Denmark and I wanted little to do with it.
Exactly and as for me, to quote Rodney Dangerfield, "I'm a lover, not a fighter." LOL