Mike Palij wrote: > 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?
Please Mike, please don't ever get into a public debate with creationists. They'll eat you for lunch. Never let a disingenuous opponent set the terms of the debate. Attack the presumptions underlying their questions. Force their real aims out into the open. In this case, the truth of the matter (interesting as it might be in an actual scholarly discussion) is a mere distraction. The matter at issue is not whether African-Americans fought for the Confederacy. It is, instead, whether the Confederacy was a noble entity unfairly set upon ignoble northern interests, and should now be viewed as having been a victim. Which is why my counter amounted to asking why it should matter whether *slaves* (note that, for obvious rhetorical reasons, this term is not included in the original claim) fought for the confederacy? If slaves did indeed fight for the Confederacy, would that show that the Confederacy was good (the presumed intent of the one claiming such)? Or would it simply show that slaves are slaves who can be forced, even, to give up their lives in defense of their own enslavement. Chris -- Christopher D. Green Department of Psychology York University Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 Canada 416-736-2100 ex. 66164 chri...@yorku.ca http://www.yorku.ca/christo/ ========================== --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: arch...@jab.org. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=5849 or send a blank email to leave-5849-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
