wcaleb’s Twitter Archive—№ 16,568

…in reply to @wcaleb
2. Kelly says Lee "gave up his country to fight for his state, which 150 years ago was more important than country. …"
On twitter.com ♻️ 4 Retweets ❤️ 5 Favorites 2017 Oct 31 Mood +1 🙂

…in reply to @wcaleb
3. Kelly on Lee, cont.: "It was always loyalty to state first back in those days.” Many believe this, & Ken Burns’ Civil War didn’t help.
Permalink On twitter.com ♻️ 7 Retweets ❤️ 9 Favorites 2017 Oct 31 Mood +3 🙂

…in reply to @wcaleb
4. What it erases is how powerful nationalism was in antebellum U.S., & how the nation served the interests of slaveholders … until 1860.
Permalink On twitter.com ♻️ 7 Retweets ❤️ 26 Favorites 2017 Oct 31 Mood +3 🙂

…in reply to @wcaleb
5. R. E. Lee had no problem with loyalty to nation while fighting for United States in the Mexican American War.
Permalink On twitter.com ♻️ 4 Retweets ❤️ 16 Favorites 2017 Oct 31 Mood -3 🙁

…in reply to @wcaleb
6. It was Lee who, as a U.S. Colonel, & on the President’s orders, captured John Brown at Harper’s Ferry in 1859. catalog.archives.gov/id/300373
Permalink On twitter.com ♻️ 6 Retweets ❤️ 13 Favorites 2017 Oct 31 Mood 0

…in reply to @wcaleb
7. The nation usually worked for slaveholders, & they were powerfully committed to the Union … until Lincoln took charge & secession began.
Permalink On twitter.com ♻️ 11 Retweets ❤️ 19 Favorites 2017 Oct 31 Mood +1 🙂

…in reply to @wcaleb
8. After that, the notion that “my state comes first” became a convenient rationalization for treason made by Lee and many others ...
Permalink On twitter.com ♻️ 8 Retweets ❤️ 19 Favorites 2017 Oct 31 Mood -3 🙁

…in reply to @wcaleb
9. But what really happened was that Lee & other slaveholders turned against the nation when they perceived it no longer worked for them.
Permalink On twitter.com ♻️ 11 Retweets ❤️ 27 Favorites 2017 Oct 31 Mood -1 🙁

…in reply to @wcaleb
10. The idea that this desertion of the democratic experiment was “honorable” or explained by cultural state identity is special pleading.
Permalink On twitter.com ♻️ 7 Retweets ❤️ 16 Favorites 2017 Oct 31 Mood 0

…in reply to @wcaleb
11. And “in those days, state > nation” is belied by the tens of 1,000s who gave their lives for the Union. Honoring Lee dishonors them.
Permalink On twitter.com ♻️ 10 Retweets ❤️ 28 Favorites 2017 Oct 31 Mood +2 🙂