Happy Thanksgiving!

At Thanksgiving we all can't help think the Pilgrims celebrating with the Native American after their first harvest. They had survived a harrowing year. In little over year they had made the harrowing trip across the North Atlantic in the Autumn which is perhaps one of the worst times to do it. Once they landed they had to deal with an unknown land and Native American's who at first seemed to be just lurking in the shadows. Death was common place as only half of them survived until spring. Luckily they were able to befriend the local tribe, the Wampanoags and Squanto who served as a liaison between the two groups. With their assistance they were able to start growing crops and establish themselves. So by the time the fall harvest season came around they had a reason to celebrate and be thankful.

I find it saddening at times that their are those that dwell on the negative things that happened before and after this event. It seems some think they've found some hideous new fact or event that no one else knows or they think it's a great conspiracy or cover-up. It was as if two civilizations that were arcing into two directions of prominence and dominance. The Native Americans were already decimated by the diseases that were spread contact with early European explorers. It's hard to imagine the Pilgrims knew they were but the first of millions more that would land these shores in the centuries to follow. Yet I find many who want to blame them for everything before and after. I don't deny many terrible things came before or after this. I'd rather look at this moment and see something positive and symbolic of our ideals. I don't turn a blind eye to the negative but I always try to look for the positive. I think many try to judge them by today's morale and ethical standards. I think when looking at history one has to look through the eyes of those that went through rather than judging them by today's standards. What would you have done in their place? We all have the pleasure of looking back with 20/20 vision and can see their mistakes and triumphs.

I digress though. I really hope you all enjoy the day with your family and friends. Let's enjoy the day into what it has become which is a day for thanks, eating until stuffed and being with family and friends. Enjoy the moment!

But There Was No Peace: The Aftermath of the Civil War

Eric Foner's "Reconstruction" at Twenty-Five

Thank you Veteran's!

 

"I do not deserve any special credit to the part I took in the Revolution. I only felt and acted as others."

These words come from Ralph Farnham. He enlist in May 1775. He was over 100 years old in 1858 ,on the eve of another great war, when this Ambrotype was taken. His attitude is typical of many veterans then and now. The thought that they did nothing extraordinary but did what they did was nothing greater than others were doing. Whether from the American Revolution or today's actions. Peace or in war time all veteran's deserve our thanks.

The Great Commanders - 05 - Ulysses S. Grant

The Myth of the Lost Cause and Civil War History by Gary W. Gallagher

The Myth of the Lost Cause and Civil War History by Gary W. Gallagher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a book edited by University of Virginia Professor of Civil War History, Gary W. Gallagher. The "Lost Cause" is a phrase used to describe how some describe the Civil War from a decidedly biased viewpoint from the Confederate point of view and how it has worked it's way into a popular way of defending the southern states during the war. Many of the key belief's are(although not limited to): 1. Slavery had little or nothing to do with the conflict. Common saying is it was about "states rights". Conflict is also described as a revolution rather than a rebellion. 2.Confederate heroes are given a God-like status. Popular figures Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, and Stonewall Jackson are prime examples. 3. War was only lost due superior manpower and industry rather than by any skill or doing by Federal Generals or soldiers. General Ulysses S. Grant, overall Union commander, skill and ability was attacked or belittled in comparison to his counterpart Robert E. Lee. Even the common soldier on the ground was described as superior to their Union counterparts.

The individual essays take an interesting look how this happened. It did open my eyes to see how even I may have fallen to some belief's. I can't imagine Confederate apologists would like this book as it tears there enlargements apart. This is just as relevant today with all the recent controversy over Confederate Flags, monuments and so on that many still defend.

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