On Wed, 20 Oct 2010 14:08:11 -0700, Christopher D. Green wrote: >Mike Palij wrote: >> A quick search of the internet shows that there are several books that >> allege to be historical research and to provide public records in support >> of the contention that African-Americans served in the Confederate army. > >And what would be demonstrated even if it were true?
First, if a claim is being made, shouldn't we determine whether it is true or not? Or is the truth irrelevant? I would think that the truth matters to us and, once such a claim is established, try to understand why it is true, instead of speculating about the reasons as demonstrated by the following comments: >That men who had >known nothing but slavery their entire lives could be bullied and >threatened into military service? That men who had no education and no >sources of information apart from what their "masters" told them could >be persuaded by tendentious fictions about the intentions of northern >soldiers (They will rape your wives! They will steal you children!) or >even distorted truths (They will burn the farm and you will starve in >the winter!) Tell me, Chirs, do you make these statements because you know the actual circumstance of the individuals involved? If so, cite your sources. I'll await them. >Honestly, now, how desperate must one be to think that the >simple "fact" (if it be so) of a few Black soldiers in the Confederate >Army will convince people that... what? ... slavery was a good thing and >should have been retained? Actually, I don't know what the significance of African-Americans in the Confederate army has for arguments in favor of slavery though I do believe that the arguments the South made for slavery were based mainly on economic, religious grounds, and the alleged inferiority of African-Americans relative to European. Some of these issues are reviewed in an article by George Fredickson on Abraham Lincoln's racial beliefs which is available on Jstor: http://www.jstor.org/pss/2206706 It may come as a surprise to some as to what Lincoln appeared to believe up to his death. -Mike Palij New York University [email protected] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=5839 or send a blank email to leave-5839-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
