Comments on: The sin of Confederate hero worship http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2008/09/26/the-sin-of-confederate-hero-worship/ The voice of Clarksville, Tennessee Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:52:43 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: enlightenedliberal http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2008/09/26/the-sin-of-confederate-hero-worship/comment-page-1/#comment-10574 enlightenedliberal Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:10:29 +0000 http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/?p=9224#comment-10574 Rabbi Boteach should read his own article: he says that he is "baffled." Perhaps he should spend more time writing about things he understands and less about subjects that "baffle" him. I am somewhat "baffled" about the fact that women and black men did all the work that kept the Confederate army fed. I am "baffled" that both racist/sexist groups and revisionist progressives equally wish to ignore this fact. I am "baffled" that there were black men wearing gray uniforms during the war. I am "baffled" that there were Jews who engaged in some degree of accomodation with authorities in Nazi-occupied nations during the Second World War. I am "baffled" by a lot of periods in history when people did things that did not fit in with the current sensibilities that we may have today. But these things that "baffle" me are things that I would not deign to write an essay about. I would not deign to presume that I know enough about them to offer an opinion. The good rabbi has established clearly in his essay that his knowledge and understanding of 19th Century American history is limited, at best. Being sanctimonious is not the same thing as being introspective, much less intelligent. But maybe he can help us avoid the sin of improper hero worship by suggesting some proper heroes who are, like him, without sin. Rabbi Boteach should read his own article: he says that he is “baffled.” Perhaps he should spend more time writing about things he understands and less about subjects that “baffle” him. I am somewhat “baffled” about the fact that women and black men did all the work that kept the Confederate army fed. I am “baffled” that both racist/sexist groups and revisionist progressives equally wish to ignore this fact. I am “baffled” that there were black men wearing gray uniforms during the war. I am “baffled” that there were Jews who engaged in some degree of accomodation with authorities in Nazi-occupied nations during the Second World War. I am “baffled” by a lot of periods in history when people did things that did not fit in with the current sensibilities that we may have today. But these things that “baffle” me are things that I would not deign to write an essay about. I would not deign to presume that I know enough about them to offer an opinion. The good rabbi has established clearly in his essay that his knowledge and understanding of 19th Century American history is limited, at best. Being sanctimonious is not the same thing as being introspective, much less intelligent. But maybe he can help us avoid the sin of improper hero worship by suggesting some proper heroes who are, like him, without sin.

]]> By: George Purvis http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2008/09/26/the-sin-of-confederate-hero-worship/comment-page-1/#comment-10071 George Purvis Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:14:21 +0000 http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/?p=9224#comment-10071 Prayer for the Confederacy This prayer was composed by Rabbi Max Michelbacher of Congregation Beth Ahabah, Richmond, Virginia. Shemang Yisroel, Ad-nay El-hainoo, Ad-noy Achod! Hear, O Israel, the L-rd our G-d, the L-rd is One. Oh G-d of the Universe! Although unworthy through my manifestold transgressions, I approach the seat of thy mercy, to crave thy favor, and to seek thy protection. I supplicate thy forgiveness, O most merciful Father, for the many transgressions and the oft repeated disobedience, which cause Thee to command destruction over me. Behold me now, O my Father, supplicating Thy protection! Thou who art near when all other aid faileth! O spare me, guard me from the evil that is impending! This once happy country is inflamed by the fury of war; a menacing enemy is arrayed against the rights, liberties and freedom of this, our Confederacy; the ambition of this enemy has dissolved fraternal love, and the hand of fraternity has been broken asunder by the hands of those, who sit now in council and meditate our chastisement, with the chastisement of scorpions. Our firesides are threatened; the foe is before us, with the declared intention to desecrate our soil, to murder our people, and to deprive us of the glorious inheritance which was left to us by the immortal fathers of this once great Republic. Here I stand now with many thousands of the sons of the sunny South, to face the foe, to drive him back, and to defend our natural rights. O Lord, G-d of Israel, be with me in the hot season of the contending strife; protect and bless me with health and courage to bear cheerfully the hardships of war. O L-rd, Ruler of Nations, destroy the power of our enemies! "Grant not the longings of the wicked; suffer not his wicked device to succeed, lest the exalt themselves. Selah. as for the heads of those that encompass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them. Let burning coals be cast upon them; let them be thrown into the fire, into deep pits, that they rise not up again." (Psalm 140). Be unto the Army of this confederacy, as thou were of old, unto us, thy chosen people— Inspire them with patriotism! Give them when marching to meet, or, overtake the enemy, the wings of the eagle— in the camp be Thou their watch and ward— and in the battle, strike for them, O Almighty G-d of Israel, as thou didst strike for thy people on the plains of Canaan—guide them O L-rd of Battles, into the paths of victory, guard them from the shaft and missile of the enemy. Grant that they may ever advance to wage battle, and battle in thy name to win! Grant that not a standard be ever lowered among them! O L-rd, G-d, Father, be thou with us! Give unto the officers of the Army and of the Navy of the Confederate States, enterprise, fortitude and undaunted courage; teach them the ways of war and the winning of victory. Guard and preserve, O L-rd, the President of the Confederate States and all officers, who have the welfare of the country truly at heart. Bless all my fellow-citizens, and guard them against sickness and famine! May they prosper and increase! Hear me further, O L-rd, when I pray to Thee for those on earth, dearest to my heart. O bless my father, mother, brothers and sisters. (if married: my wife and children.) O bless them all with earthly and heavenly good! May they always look up to Thee, and may they find in Thee their trust and strength. O L-rd, be with me always. Show me the way I have to go, to be prepared to meet Thee here and hereafter. My hope, my faith, my strength are in Thee, O L-rd, my G-d, forever— in Thee is my trust. "For thy salvation do I hope, O L-rd! I hope for Thy salvation, O L-rd! O L-rd, for Thy salvation do I hope!" Amen! Amen! Shemang Yisroel, Ad-noy El-hainoo, Ad-noy Achod! Hear, O Israel, The L-rd our G-d, the L-rd is One. Amen ! Amen ! Prayer for the Confederacy
This prayer was composed by Rabbi Max Michelbacher of Congregation Beth Ahabah, Richmond, Virginia.

Shemang Yisroel, Ad-nay El-hainoo, Ad-noy Achod!
Hear, O Israel, the L-rd our G-d, the L-rd is One.
Oh G-d of the Universe! Although unworthy through my manifestold transgressions, I approach the seat of thy mercy, to crave thy favor, and to seek thy protection. I supplicate thy forgiveness, O most merciful Father, for the many transgressions and the oft repeated disobedience, which cause Thee to command destruction over me. Behold me now, O my Father, supplicating Thy protection! Thou who art near when all other aid faileth! O spare me, guard me from the evil that is impending!
This once happy country is inflamed by the fury of war; a menacing enemy is arrayed against the rights, liberties and freedom of this, our Confederacy; the ambition of this enemy has dissolved fraternal love, and the hand of fraternity has been broken asunder by the hands of those, who sit now in council and meditate our chastisement, with the chastisement of scorpions. Our firesides are threatened; the foe is before us, with the declared intention to desecrate our soil, to murder our people, and to deprive us of the glorious inheritance which was left to us by the immortal fathers of this once great Republic.
Here I stand now with many thousands of the sons of the sunny South, to face the foe, to drive him back, and to defend our natural rights. O Lord, G-d of Israel, be with me in the hot season of the contending strife; protect and bless me with health and courage to bear cheerfully the hardships of war.
O L-rd, Ruler of Nations, destroy the power of our enemies! “Grant not the longings of the wicked; suffer not his wicked device to succeed, lest the exalt themselves. Selah. as for the heads of those that encompass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them. Let burning coals be cast upon them; let them be thrown into the fire, into deep pits, that they rise not up again.” (Psalm 140). Be unto the Army of this confederacy, as thou were of old, unto us, thy chosen people— Inspire them with patriotism! Give them when marching to meet, or, overtake the enemy, the wings of the eagle— in the camp be Thou their watch and ward— and in the battle, strike for them, O Almighty G-d of Israel, as thou didst strike for thy people on the plains of Canaan—guide them O L-rd of Battles, into the paths of victory, guard them from the shaft and missile of the enemy. Grant that they may ever advance to wage battle, and battle in thy name to win! Grant that not a standard be ever lowered among them! O L-rd, G-d, Father, be thou with us!
Give unto the officers of the Army and of the Navy of the Confederate States, enterprise, fortitude and undaunted courage; teach them the ways of war and the winning of victory. Guard and preserve, O L-rd, the President of the Confederate States and all officers, who have the welfare of the country truly at heart. Bless all my fellow-citizens, and guard them against sickness and famine! May they prosper and increase!
Hear me further, O L-rd, when I pray to Thee for those on earth, dearest to my heart. O bless my father, mother, brothers and sisters. (if married: my wife and children.) O bless them all with earthly and heavenly good! May they always look up to Thee, and may they find in Thee their trust and strength.
O L-rd, be with me always. Show me the way I have to go, to be prepared to meet Thee here and hereafter.
My hope, my faith, my strength are in Thee, O L-rd, my G-d, forever— in Thee is my trust. “For thy salvation do I hope, O L-rd! I hope for Thy salvation, O L-rd! O L-rd, for Thy salvation do I hope!” Amen! Amen!
Shemang Yisroel, Ad-noy El-hainoo, Ad-noy Achod!
Hear, O Israel, The L-rd our G-d, the L-rd is One.
Amen ! Amen !

]]> By: Debbie Boen http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2008/09/26/the-sin-of-confederate-hero-worship/comment-page-1/#comment-10064 Debbie Boen Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:03:28 +0000 http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/?p=9224#comment-10064 If this article was written by someone who had been involved in these groups I would consider it very differently. As it is I have met several people involved in portraying the history of the south. I'm not an expert but two things are clear to me so far in my small amount of research: 1. The North did not go to battle with the South in order to free the slaves. That issue was introduced later in the war. The young men who fought on the side of the south did not do so in order to protect the wealthy slave owners. When the slaves were freed there was no plan to help them have a better life. Prejudice in the north was extreme. 2. All of the people whom I've met (8) who are into dramatizing the Southern battles are fascinated with history. One of those eight does harbor prejudice that I have seen come out in his writings. Several (4) are freethinkers who believe in equal rights for everyone. It is not a KKK meeting. If there are prejudices, members don’t know. If General Lee fought for the south, despite being against slavery, what were his reasons? If brother fought against brother, then why? There is (and rightly so) bitterness about the issue of slavery. The horrors of it have still not been confronted and admitted by this country as well as the prejudice that still exists. There is much work to do. If this article was written by someone who had been involved in these groups I would consider it very differently. As it is I have met several people involved in portraying the history of the south. I’m not an expert but two things are clear to me so far in my small amount of research:
1. The North did not go to battle with the South in order to free the slaves. That issue was introduced later in the war. The young men who fought on the side of the south did not do so in order to protect the wealthy slave owners. When the slaves were freed there was no plan to help them have a better life. Prejudice in the north was extreme.
2. All of the people whom I’ve met (8) who are into dramatizing the Southern battles are fascinated with history. One of those eight does harbor prejudice that I have seen come out in his writings. Several (4) are freethinkers who believe in equal rights for everyone. It is not a KKK meeting. If there are prejudices, members don’t know.
If General Lee fought for the south, despite being against slavery, what were his reasons? If brother fought against brother, then why?

There is (and rightly so) bitterness about the issue of slavery. The horrors of it have still not been confronted and admitted by this country as well as the prejudice that still exists. There is much work to do.

]]> By: GMForsythe http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2008/09/26/the-sin-of-confederate-hero-worship/comment-page-1/#comment-10062 GMForsythe Sun, 28 Sep 2008 10:08:07 +0000 http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/?p=9224#comment-10062 I would hope that this rabbi's knowledge of the Torah and Bible would be more extensive than his knowledge of American history. His statement that the principal reason behind the mis-named "Civil War" (see Walter Williams: http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/williams120298.aspz) ignores the fact that in his first inaugural address, Abraham Lincoln announced that he had neither the authority nor the inclination to abolish slavery. Moreover, AFTER the secession, Lincoln offered the original states of the CSA the right to keep their slaves if they would simply return to the union in peace. To argue that they were fighting for this right which they already had and were guaranteed is the height of determined ignorance. Moreover, Rabbi Boteach appears not to have been aware that every ship from the US bringing slaves to America was owned and registered by northern states. Not a single slaver ship came from a southern city or was owned by a southerner. To further debunk Rabbi Boteach, one can read the Constitution of the CSA which specifically forbids the foreign slave trade. Why would men go to fight a war for a Constitution that forbade the foreign slave trade and to fight it against those supporting a Constitution that ALLOWED that slave trade? And why would those of the other nation, supposedly fighting the other side of the issue do so when their country supported the cause they fought against? Rabbi, get your history straight. The War to Prevent Southern Independence was fought for the purpose contained in that more accurate appelation. The south objected to the north's betrayal of the principles of the US Constitution and wished to start anew with a strikingly similar constitution which they intended to abide by instead of distorting it. Rabbi, while you're visiting those battlefields, get some education from credited historians both of the period and of today. I would recommend Clyde Wilson and Thomas DiLorenzo as good exemplars of the latter period. I would hope that this rabbi’s knowledge of the Torah and Bible would be more extensive than his knowledge of American history.

His statement that the principal reason behind the mis-named “Civil War” (see Walter Williams: http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/williams120298.aspz) ignores the fact that in his first inaugural address, Abraham Lincoln announced that he had neither the authority nor the inclination to abolish slavery. Moreover, AFTER the secession, Lincoln offered the original states of the CSA the right to keep their slaves if they would simply return to the union in peace. To argue that they were fighting for this right which they already had and were guaranteed is the height of determined ignorance.

Moreover, Rabbi Boteach appears not to have been aware that every ship from the US bringing slaves to America was owned and registered by northern states. Not a single slaver ship came from a southern city or was owned by a southerner. To further debunk Rabbi Boteach, one can read the Constitution of the CSA which specifically forbids the foreign slave trade.

Why would men go to fight a war for a Constitution that forbade the foreign slave trade and to fight it against those supporting a Constitution that ALLOWED that slave trade? And why would those of the other nation, supposedly fighting the other side of the issue do so when their country supported the cause they fought against? Rabbi, get your history straight.

The War to Prevent Southern Independence was fought for the purpose contained in that more accurate appelation. The south objected to the north’s betrayal of the principles of the US Constitution and wished to start anew with a strikingly similar constitution which they intended to abide by instead of distorting it.

Rabbi, while you’re visiting those battlefields, get some education from credited historians both of the period and of today. I would recommend Clyde Wilson and Thomas DiLorenzo as good exemplars of the latter period.

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