While I clearly have grievances with the way some people like to distort history for modern agendas, I think that there should be a cut-off point between being aggravated with people today and bashing people of yesterday. To some degree, it reminds me of modern political campaigns where mudslinging runs rampant in an effort to show flaws in the opposing candidate, just to advance the agendas and policies of the other candidate. However, in the case of historical reflection, it’s a matter of one set of people trying to tear down the heroes of another group of people. Personally, I think little of those who denigrate
one heritage in order to promote credibility for another. I think that many are well aware of Dilorenzo’s Lincoln-bashing book (I’m not going to give an ounce of merit to it by making a link to it and hesitated at even naming it here), but we should also be well aware of those who bash the character of people like Robert E. Lee. If a heritage group takes up a Lincoln-bashing book, to what purpose does that serve? For that matter, when someone calls Lee a traitor, what is the purpose behind that? How will either advance us as a people or improve our overall understanding of history? Are there not agendas behind both? I think from the perspective of an historian, it does nothing but diminish what I see as the art-form of historical studies.
The need to lay aside animosities for dead men
Posted on February 26, 2008 by Robert Moore
Posted in: Re-inventing CW memory
Kevin
February 26, 2008
Good point. Still, isn’t the concept of treason to be understood historically? In other words I don’t see how claiming Lee engaged in treason is synonymous with Lee bashing. After all, aren’t there very clear cases where individuals in the past engaged in treason? We wouldn’t say that those who point out the treason of Benedict Arnold are necessarily bashing him.
cenantua
February 26, 2008
Hi Kevin,
I see your point and I should have been more clear in my post. I think it’s the context in which the term is used that concerns me the most. I believe that it can be a part of historical discussion without being considered “bashing.” However, there are some folks out there who use it in a purposeful manner, as a backlash or, more specifically in context that it is meant to be taken as offensive by some.
Best,
Robert