I noticed that recently your comments section was much more calm with an informative, educational, and cooperative bent, even when discussions were from differing viewpoints.
Slightly disagree, and would say you're an activist in your role as a public historian. That said, however, nobody has the right to tell you - or anyone else - where and how to direct your efforts.
I like to think that my work is meaningful and contributes to deepening civic discourse, but I also think we need to acknowledge distinctions when they are helpful to understanding what I see as two distinct projects.
I not only appreciate your work as a historian but also your support of history educators. Shining a light on the work of history teachers is so critical now that they are the targets of disrespect, mistrust, and disparagement.
It's, well funny may not be the right word, when people accuse an academic of being an activist. I don't know if you've ever been to a conference that was multidisciplinary, and included actual activists. It's been my experience that the more hardcore activists are not overly friendly to a lot of academics who are not out on the picket lines.
There is certainly some overlap between the two, but I do think it is important to recognize that often we are asking different questions and have different interests. It often leads to misunderstandings, which is unfortunate.
That said, I certainly have opinions on many of these issues, but my goal here is to do something more. Thanks for the comment, Rob.
Perfectly stated. It’s hard to disagree with anything you’ve written above. I certainly think Substack has been able to cater more to these discussions than Twitter. You created a space where honest, open dialogue rather than “a catchy throwaway line” can lead to a broader discussion. That digital space, alongside museum spaces, public squares, classrooms, and battlefields is so necessary to discourse over monuments and the memory the war. So, thank you!
I noticed that recently your comments section was much more calm with an informative, educational, and cooperative bent, even when discussions were from differing viewpoints.
Slightly disagree, and would say you're an activist in your role as a public historian. That said, however, nobody has the right to tell you - or anyone else - where and how to direct your efforts.
I like to think that my work is meaningful and contributes to deepening civic discourse, but I also think we need to acknowledge distinctions when they are helpful to understanding what I see as two distinct projects.
Your view is that one that matters here.
I not only appreciate your work as a historian but also your support of history educators. Shining a light on the work of history teachers is so critical now that they are the targets of disrespect, mistrust, and disparagement.
The more that all of us can do to highlight the good work that teachers are doing across the country is so important right now.
Thanks so much for the kind words.
You are doing the best you can, Kevin. Keep going. Doing something hard is never easy.
Thanks, Joe. Appreciate the words of support.
It's, well funny may not be the right word, when people accuse an academic of being an activist. I don't know if you've ever been to a conference that was multidisciplinary, and included actual activists. It's been my experience that the more hardcore activists are not overly friendly to a lot of academics who are not out on the picket lines.
Just my experience though.
There is certainly some overlap between the two, but I do think it is important to recognize that often we are asking different questions and have different interests. It often leads to misunderstandings, which is unfortunate.
That said, I certainly have opinions on many of these issues, but my goal here is to do something more. Thanks for the comment, Rob.
"That said, I certainly have opinions on many of these issues, but my goal here is to do something more."
I don't think anyone who has seriously followed your work and blog think otherwise.
I second what Joseph said.
Thanks, Carl.
Perfectly stated. It’s hard to disagree with anything you’ve written above. I certainly think Substack has been able to cater more to these discussions than Twitter. You created a space where honest, open dialogue rather than “a catchy throwaway line” can lead to a broader discussion. That digital space, alongside museum spaces, public squares, classrooms, and battlefields is so necessary to discourse over monuments and the memory the war. So, thank you!
Great comment right here.
Yep!
Thanks for the feedback and for reading.