tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533010775907799154.post3481352950898386872..comments2023-08-01T01:15:40.086-07:00Comments on Northwest History: Preliminary Notes for the Case Against Ken BurnsLarry Cebulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798046652983001155noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533010775907799154.post-23663288908930750162017-03-15T14:09:22.621-07:002017-03-15T14:09:22.621-07:00I'd like to leave one more recommendation. Th...I'd like to leave one more recommendation. The Spokane downtown library once had a collection of Civil War diaries in its open stacks. They featured memories of soldiers from both sides, and very balanced and instructive.<br /><br />What struck me was how genteel and old-school that officers from both armies behaved. At first, invading Union forces paid Southern farmers for any provision that they took. Another example: southern society members often hosted parties for Union officers, where wounded, paroled, or other Southern officers on leave mingled graciously with their counterparts. It was a throwback to the age of gentlemen.<br /><br />Then it turned dark. It culminated with Sherman, whose philosophy was that total warfare, while brutal in the short run, was humane in the long run because it minimized bloodshed overall.<br /><br />He applied that same mindset againt the western tribes. And, in his mind, it worked fabulously. And, for practical reasons, he had no choice. The Civil War bankrupted the national treasury and eventually contributed mightily to the Panic of 1873, something as terrible as the Great Depression. The Army was only a shell, and there was no other realistic way to keep the settlers and tribal members from greater mayhem.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17087209804258901054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533010775907799154.post-44855847980929844742017-03-15T12:50:33.247-07:002017-03-15T12:50:33.247-07:00The Civil War was a masterpiece of imagery that ot...The Civil War was a masterpiece of imagery that otherwise rots in archives, or is viewed only by historians. The American public got a fantastic history lesson that explored the impact on both sides, rather than a simplistic white hats - black hats morality sermon which plays to the biases of the modern left. Enough of the breast-beasting, already, that forms the majority of what this blog does anymore.<br /><br />What really is needed is a documentary about those former Northern idealists, who later became bigots after encountering the migration of the former slaves northward. Their experiences evidently did not quite match their expectations. It is a story that is NEVER told.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17087209804258901054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533010775907799154.post-21791544183218072632017-03-14T23:30:16.257-07:002017-03-14T23:30:16.257-07:00Okay, The Civil War was syrupy sweet, and the cons...Okay, The Civil War was syrupy sweet, and the constant reappearances of obviously bourbon-drunk Shelby Foote didn't help. (Don't forget the effects of almost nauseating- but fulfilling --Ashoken Farewell played to death.) Still I liked it as a respite from the all-too-moralized it was all about race and that's it privileged white people approaches. Hell, I want a confection.Hank Vandenburghhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09965708066300137144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533010775907799154.post-30139429045769274402017-03-14T21:03:49.526-07:002017-03-14T21:03:49.526-07:00More academic jealousy of the bigly success of Ken...More academic jealousy of the bigly success of Ken Burns. Failing Northwest History Blogg. Bill Youngs and all 10 of History 590 students who want a good grade for his course!<br />Bill Youngshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08250559856339052697noreply@blogger.com