Earlier this week Georgia Republican representative Marjorie Taylor Greene demonstrated her ignorance of Civil War history while walking the Chickamauga battlefield.
Kevin, Your excellent take on the important work of historians and the need for our citizenry to know that history notwithstanding, MTG is STILL an idiot, and I say that based on direct observation.
A book recommendation for you, if you've not yet gotten to it: Teaching White Supremacy by Donald Yacovone (Harvard). An excellent work on how we have written about and taught history for the last 200 years.
Hi Mark. I am reading it now. I recently had the opportunity to talk about the book with him over lunch.
It's really well done and I especially appreciate the focus on northern textbooks and writers, which certainly complicates our understanding of the history of white supremacy in the United States as much as the textbooks themselves.
It wouldn’t matter what the truth was to these people or the legions who support them. The facts are irrelevant to them, not just in this matter but everything else.
I agree, but I also think this is old news. What I was trying to get at is that neither side appears to be interested in a narrative of the war that reflects a slightly more nuanced history. It's easy to call out MTG, but not always so easy to place one's own views in sharper focus.
Any idea about the composition of the brigade? It’s social history and combat history? If they were from NY, how did they find themselves at Chattanooga? Via Hooker’s division?
When did Wilder find out that his brigade had been infiltrated by Confederates? Was it before or after he raised the funds for the monument?
Your Tweet was referenced here. 👍 https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/10/marjorie-taylor-greene-tried-honor-confederacy-failed-spectacularly/
Kevin, Your excellent take on the important work of historians and the need for our citizenry to know that history notwithstanding, MTG is STILL an idiot, and I say that based on direct observation.
A book recommendation for you, if you've not yet gotten to it: Teaching White Supremacy by Donald Yacovone (Harvard). An excellent work on how we have written about and taught history for the last 200 years.
Hi Mark. I am reading it now. I recently had the opportunity to talk about the book with him over lunch.
It's really well done and I especially appreciate the focus on northern textbooks and writers, which certainly complicates our understanding of the history of white supremacy in the United States as much as the textbooks themselves.
It wouldn’t matter what the truth was to these people or the legions who support them. The facts are irrelevant to them, not just in this matter but everything else.
I agree, but I also think this is old news. What I was trying to get at is that neither side appears to be interested in a narrative of the war that reflects a slightly more nuanced history. It's easy to call out MTG, but not always so easy to place one's own views in sharper focus.
Thanks for the comment.
Old news but relevant. In this day and age nuance is out. It’s B & W baby. Everyone on their own side of the street.
Any idea about the composition of the brigade? It’s social history and combat history? If they were from NY, how did they find themselves at Chattanooga? Via Hooker’s division?
Indiana and Illinois men in the Army of the Cumberland. https://www.in.gov/iwm/battle-flag-collection/the-lightning-brigade/
Thanks, Ken.