Interesting video about the Confederacy that shows how historical interpretation today is as polarized as politics. Both sides need to get back to shades of gray (pardon the pun) in both arenas.
These students are probably getting their ideas from the profs in their majors.BQ78 said:
I stand by my title, where do you think these sociology, gender and race studies majors are getting their ideas. Some history profs still look at all angles and perspectives but the general Confederate, not American view is what is coming out of American universities today. Anyone who even suggests the Confederacy wasn't just evil, racists, traitors are ostracized by their peers. I know because many of them are my friends.
I listened to the video while I was cooking dinner last night. It wasn't that great but, OK to casually listen to.BQ78 said:
I stand by my title, where do you think these sociology, gender and race studies majors are getting their ideas. Some history profs still look at all angles and perspectives but the general Confederate, not American view is what is coming out of American universities today. Anyone who even suggests the Confederacy wasn't just evil, racists, traitors are ostracized by their peers. I know because many of them are my friends.
Key bit of context here. I completely agree that most internet discussions quickly devolve to politicized narratives that distort history.HollywoodBQ said:I listened to the video while I was cooking dinner last night. It wasn't that great but, OK to casually listen to.BQ78 said:
I stand by my title, where do you think these sociology, gender and race studies majors are getting their ideas. Some history profs still look at all angles and perspectives but the general Confederate, not American view is what is coming out of American universities today. Anyone who even suggests the Confederacy wasn't just evil, racists, traitors are ostracized by their peers. I know because many of them are my friends.
I do agree with your points here.
A few months ago, one of my liberal friends from Seattle started a Confederacy/Slavery/Racism discussion on his FB and it went nowhere. Anybody who deviated from the racism narrative was shouted down. I think the compelling event was the West Point History professor with his video about the Civil War being all about slavery.
Especially do not confuse them with journalists and "newsmen" or "activists" and "community organizers". You would probably find it is sociological kind of professors, or only somewhat related department profs, that are teaching the Alinsky-toned stuff you are referring to. Its hard to imagine an actual Civil War academic being that shallow. A curriculum? Sure.Ag_EQ12 said:
A&M is a great place for history, but it is not the exception when it comes to faculty that teach a nuanced approach to Civil War that goes beyond the simplistic evil, racist, traitors approach you claim are abounding in academia. For example Steve Woodworth (TCU), Richard McCaslin (UNT), Joeseph Glatthaar (UNC), Mark Grimsley (Ohio State), Jennifer Weber (KU), James Huston (OSU), Aaron Sheehan-Dean (LSU), Lesley Gordon (Alabama), Gary Gallagher (Virginia), Paul Quigley (Virginia Tech), and Andy Lang (Miss State) are just a few of the Civil War historians in academia that offer a balanced view.
You say you have friends in universities who have been ostracized for their approach to teach the Civil War, could you share who they are and where they work?
Bottom line, the average low information (when it comes to history and particularly Civil War history) person on Facebook (or dare I say Texags?) likely engages in a very simplistic interpretation of the Civil War that paints people with a broad brush. Nearly every historian I know in academia does not use that approach. Don't accuse university historians for what you see in internet discussions.
The italics are true, some closed anyway. Some peers had to retire for that reason. As for PME being the last place left ultimately, maybe at least until we lose a major battle or even a war and re-learn how necessary some familiarity with military history is, and how superfluous fringe issue social engineering is.Ag_EQ12 said:
That's fair. I agree that there is a challenge from society and elements in academia and it is something all historians should fight.
Military history as a whole has been under pressure for some time. Many departments have decided not to replace prominent military historians when they retire. Frankly, I wonder if PME will be the only place left that actually encourages military history.
BQ78 said:
Interesting video about the Confederacy that shows how historical interpretation today is as polarized as politics. Both sides need to get back to shades of gray (pardon the pun) in both arenas.