I saw the worst humans have to offer today.

[MichaelHarris]

At the Alamo they did a reenactment of U.S. Troops surrendering the Alamo to the Texas Militia right before the Civil War. A huge crowd was on hand. When Old Glory was taken down and the Federal Troops marched off the white crowd at the Alamo actually cheered. One of the Federal Generals actually left his men and joined up with the secessionists during the reenactment, the crowd went wild. I was standing next to an African-American man and we looked at each other and shook our heads, we were an island of decency among a sea of ignorance. I hope to be back in Washington very, very soon.








©Michael Harris

[Libertas1776]

1. Civil wars leave deep scars

Funny how Texas spent its ten years as a republic doing its utmost to enter the Union. Then, less than 20 yrs after they do, they break away. *sigh* welcome to the Divided States of America.

[Odin2005]

29. I find it amusing that we mock centuries-long ethnic tensions in other countries....

When we have a 150-year-old one in our own. The South and the rest of the US are essentially 2 different ethnic groups, anthropologically.

[Kalyke]

33. I'm a different ethnic group than you? Really?

First, I'm Irish, Scotch, Cherokee, German, French and English. A mutt blend.

Second, there is far more racism outside of the South than within it. Most people of color live in the South; therefore, we have learned to live with one another and share a number of cultural aspects (namely food).

Thirdly, roughly 42 percent of the South voted Democratic in the last election: in some states, the divide was about 47 percent to 53 percent and, in others, it was 38 to 62 percent, but, overall, there isn't as few Democrats in the South as you'd like to believe.

Finally, the only "tension" I see is posts like yours that have very validity and serve only to incite the very people you need to be talking with (as opposed to "to.").

[Toucano]

2. Really? People who re-enact 145 year old wars are barely human.

Ya have to take that into consideration.

That and the sea of mullets probably does mean you did see the worst humans have to offer. LOL!

Nevermind.

[Libertas1776]

3. What about

people who reenact 200 year old wars, 350, year old wars, and 950 year old wars?

[RoyGBiv]

8. You have no clue what you're talking about n/t

[Libertas1776]

34. So I guess folks in Europe

who reenact the Napoleonic Wars, the English Civil War, and the Battle of 1066 are just a bunch of redneck hillbillies who are "barely human" too :sarcasm: :eyes:

[proudohioan]

19. That's not fair, those people are just history buffs.

[LibertyLover]

27. As a re-enactor (medieval) and wife of a re-enactor (US Civil War and medieval)

I have to say that your comment is ignorant in the extreme.

[Odin2005]

30. You history reenactors are AWESOME!

:hi:

[LibertyLover]

40. Thanks. It's great fun. My husband and I actually met

because of our re-enacting. :)

[MichaelHarris]

53. I agree

re-enactors bring history to life for a new age. they are good people. My complaint was those people in the crowd who cheered our flag being taken down.

[bluestateguy]

4. Patriotism

It means supporting your country and standing with your commander in chief in a time of war.

Anybody who doesn't like the way he is running this nation should go live in a cave in Somalia.

[Goldstein1984]

9. Sometimes supporting your country means

standing against the Commander-in-Chief in a time of illegal and unnecessary war. That's one way to end wars fought for "vital national interests" rather than defense.

And anybody who doesn't like the way Obama is running the nation should be writing to tell him so, marching in the streets, engaging in civil disobedience, and speaking out.

Is this were we are again? "America, love it or leave it" has been replaced by "Obama, support him or go live in a cave in Somalia?"

[niyad]

26. "patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel"

AUTHOR: Samuel Johnson (1709–84)
QUOTATION: Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.
ATTRIBUTION: SAMUEL JOHNSON.—James Boswell, Life of Johnson, entry for Friday, April 7, 1775, p. 615 (1970).

“In Dr. Johnson’s famous dictionary patriotism is defined as the last resort of a scoundrel. With all due respect to an enlightened but inferior lexicographer, I beg to submit that it is the first.”—Ambrose Bierce, The Devil’s Dictionary, at entry for patriotism, The Collected Writings of Ambrose Bierce, p. 323 (1946, reprinted 1973).

H. L. Mencken added this to Johnson’s dictum: “But there is something even worse: it is the first, last, and middle range of fools.”—The World, New York City, November 7, 1926, p. 3E.
SUBJECTS: Patriotism
http://www.bartleby.com/73/1306.html

[xxqqqzme]

5. ......sigh.......

nice pictures though.

[sandnsea]

6. So whatcha doin' in Texas?

I thought you were going to school. On assignment? Or just trying to find some sunshine. I hear San Antonio is a great place to vacation. I haven't been in over 30 years and didn't spend any time sightseeing while I was there. Too bad these fools had to screw up the Alamo for you.

[blogslut]

7. If that Federal General was Twiggs

He surrendered and was kicked out of the US Army. The Confederacy gave him a command but he was too decrepit to serve and retired the post 8 months after he became a traitor to this nation.

I'm not from San Antonio but I'm guessing there are numerous re-enactments involving the lifetime of that old building. The guided tour of the spot is kind of boring because the historic battle of The Alamo took place within walls that no longer exist.

The mission (which still stands) was built in the early 1700's by the Spanish as a church. A majority of the military compound was destroyed by the Mexican army after the Texas revolution. Since then, buildings and barracks have been built and torn down and there was a time when preservationists had to fight to keep developers from destroying the whole thing.

I'm sorry you were visiting when people were commemorating a day that no Texan should be proud of.

[fleabert]

10. this Texan certainly isn't proud, that's for damn sure.

and I consider San Antonio my home away from home. In 12 yrs of living there I honestly had never heard of anyone 'celebrating' the day Texas went with the rebels. gross. but, i was also a stupid teenager- completely oblivious to much of what was happening around me. (not all teenagers are stupid, but I was)

Although I did go to Robert E. Lee high school :-( and yes, THAT flag was our school flag until my senior year. ugly shit that.

[Kalyke]

37. Robert E. Lee was an honorable man.

I suggest you read about him before assuming the worst.

It was Grant who was the louse.

And neither's character had anything to do with which side they fought for.

[fleabert]

41. we were spoon fed his bio all through high school, thanks.

I am embarrassed for what his name represents, a stain on American History, plain and simple. People fighting to maintain a 'way of life' or over 'economics' is just code for fucking racism. These are the code words used in my American History classes growing up to make us accept that it was honorable to have the fucking Confederate flag as our school flag. Disgusting, disingenuous, and a big fat fucking lie.

I lived through the classes, the 'whitewash' of history, and the sickening fight over keeping the flag two weeks before I graduated. I had no clue what was really going on, and just wanted everyone to stop fighting with each other and get the fuck out of that school- I wish I had fought harder and sooner to get rid of that piece of shit flag.

Robert E. Lee lost his chance to be honorable in my book when he led soldiers that fought for enslaving human beings in the name of money and racism. I don't care where he was from, or where his family was, his ethics should have put him in the north.

:edited for clarity

[Dead_Parrot]

11. To be fair, I suspect Auschwitz may have been worse. nt

[mudplanet]

12. Really. If a civil war reenactment is the worst you've seen you're in for

some nasty surprises.

The incident in Seattle was a real eye opener. What do we do with those "security guards"? Is it possible to have them educated to the point of becoming human beings?

[MichaelHarris]

54. it wasn't the re-enactment

it was the people in the crowd who cheered for secession.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MadHound]

14. You're new here, I suggest that you read the rules

Throwing insults at other posters like you're doing is specifically prohibited. I suggest that you learn the rules, otherwise you'll soon be gone. Of course given the tenor of your first post, that might not be such a bad idea.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MadHound]

18. This isn't a matter of history bub, it is a matter of common courtesy

You want to debate history with a poster, fine. You continue to insult them in the manner that you did, well I predict that your stay here will be a short one. How you managed to come back from your first granite, I don't know, but with an attitude like yours . . .

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MadHound]

22. Again, read the rules,

If you find something insulting alert the mods. You don't go around insulting the person in response or throwing out the F bomb.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MadHound]

25. Look bub, I'm just trying to clue you in to the rules around here and how things work

If you want to go around dropping F bombs and such, feel free, you'll crash and burn soon enough. No skin off my back, I'll stand back and laugh.

You seem hell bent on insulting people, so go for it. Enjoy your short stay.

[MadHound]

16. Oops, too late, buh-bye, good riddance, thanks for playing.

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[stray cat]

21. Maybe you should check out Rwanda if you really think this is the worst

Americans are naively sheltered from the worst

[mdmc]

23. Try thinking of the Union as a club, not a street gang

You stay and enjoy the privileges of being a club member for as long as you like, you leave when membership is no longer beneficial.

With a street gang, you are in it for life. They will kill you if you try to leave.

[Hugabear]

35. Funny, that sounds like the same thing the Confederacy tried to say

Sorry, this isn't a "club" as you want to believe. Your post is almost the exact same argument that many in the Confederacy tried to make. Nations are a little more complicated than that.

[mdmc]

38. perhaps the COnfederacy had a point..

I think that we have the right to form a more perfect Union. Even if it means abolishing an old union..

[Hugabear]

39. Except the Constitution does not grant states the right to secede

The Supreme Court has already ruled that states do not have a right to secede. Despite what Sarah Palin's husband might think.

[mdmc]

51. I thought that the constitution allowed for overthrowing the government

in order to form a more perfect union..

[Hugabear]

56. Can you quote that provision of the Constitution?

I'd love to see that part quoted

[mdmc]

57. It doesn't say that

but when it was created it abolished to powers that were in place at that time.

If our founding fathers could form a "more perfect union", then why can't our children?

[mdmc]

58. I thought Texas did hold on to the right to secede..

could be wrong..

[vadawg]

28. dude you need to get out more, or crack open some history books...

[FailureToCommunicate]

31. "an island of decency among a sea of ignorance" Gotta remember that one.

[Blue-Jay]

32. Sure, that's stupid, but it's hardly "the worst".

Just a buncha rednecks who still think that Texas should be a country instead of a state. You can't swing a dead cat in Texas without hitting a few of those deep-thinkers.

[anonymous171]

36. That is nothing. Watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI59yBU60-0

Fuck the poor! Spend your excess money on high quality meals for your fucking dog who doesn't give a shit about it!

[KonaKane]

42. War reenactments are sheer stupidity to begin with.

Why on earth would sane individuals want to replay the absolute worst of human behavior, the total breakdown of moral and social order?

Hell, why don't we just reenact Jeff Dahmer eating his victims. How about that? Or Charles Manson at the Sharon Tate home, overseeing his minions carving up a pregnant woman?

Honestly I don't get people sometimes. Looking for sanity, morality and ethics in a war play. Are you kidding?

[vadawg]

43. yeah because people should never honour what their forefathers fought and died for

for right or wrong, whether you agree or not, jeez you think that if there was no re enactments then all wars would cease, its the same logic that if we dont allow young boys to play with guns then their will be no more violence in the future..

[KonaKane]

45. Honor WHAT they died for. Not how they did it.

War is an awful means to a necessary end, when it actually has a point at all. War reenactments are stupid, brutish replays of the means instead of the end.

[vadawg]

46. you do realise that there is honour also in the means, to stand and hold a line

or to storm a stronghold, or repel an assault all have honour in them too, it just means you have a different opinion than others, you are not right and they are not right, just neither of you is wrong..

[KonaKane]

47. If one is a fan of warfare, yes. I, however, am not.

Correct, that is my opinion. "That's just your opinion" is not an argument.

[Forkboy]

50. You never fail to crack me up.

Not for reasons you'd hope for, most likely, but still.

Maybe a simple, solemn memorial to honor them? I dunno, color me crazy......

[w8liftinglady]

52. My Mom worked for Ft Concho Museum.They were proud to sponsor the Buffalo Soldiers

http://www.fortconcho.com/buffalo.htm
Organized in February of 1987, the Fort Concho Buffalo Soldiers take part in the living history program of the Fort Concho Museum. With the Fort Concho Infantry and Cavalry units, the Buffalo Soldiers help the museum tell the story of the military frontier.

Our Buffalo Soldiers recreate Company "A" of the 10th Cavalry, one of the two all-black cavalry regiments that protected the Southwest and Great Plains in the late 19th century. Two all-black regiments of infantry and two cavalry performed various duties in the American West with distinction in the Indian Wars period (1866-1891). Fort Concho's Buffalo Soldiers portray a dismounted cavalry company from the late 1870s.
According to various stories, the term "Buffalo Soldier" was a compliment to the black soldier's courage given by his Indian foe. Equating the hair style of the previously unseen blacks to that of the sacred buffalo, the Indians fought but also respected their infantry and cavalry adversaries. The term has endured and the buffalo remains on the 10th Cavalry's regimental crest.

The uniforms and equipment of the unit accurately reflect what was worn and used a century ago. The unit is composed of volunteers. Members donate their time to training and public activities in San Angelo and other Texas communities to interpret the life of the black frontier soldier.

While in uniform, members follow late 19th century military rank and procedures as part of the accurate portrayal of the period. A separate "out-of-uniform" system allows all active members a voice in unit affairs. There are no fees for membership and Fort Concho Museum supplies most of the necessary uniform and equipment except for minor personal items. Most unit activities take place on evenings or weekends. The average time commitment is four to eight hours per month.

[jobwithout]

44. Thats the worst you have seen?

Really? If so the you have really led a sheltered life. And tell me...why was it so important to mention that the person next to you was "an African-American." Does it really matter what his race was?

[MichaelHarris]

55. I watched

Americans cheer the removal of the American flag, I watched Americans cheer for state's rights that included slavery. I call that pretty bad in my book.

[Brickbat]

48. Stupid doesn't always mean evil.

I don't think it does here.

[KonaKane]

49. War isn't "evil". It is more of an "epic fail"

In today's venacular. And no, I don't think epic failures are worth immortalizing with theater.