OT Was Robert E. Lee really all that evil?

#fakesuperioritybutnicetrytory!
I always knew you were a loyalist!
2. An American who, during the period of the American Revolution, favored the British side. Also called Loyalist.
3. often tory A supporter of traditional political and social institutions against the forces of democratization or reform; a political conservative.

 

If you're not hooked to a feeding tube while you play on twitter all day, you might be a Republican.

 

You're entitled to believe whatever you like about me. I think my view of you is better grounded in what you've posted than your view of me is grounded in what I've posted, but I'm biased in favor of myself.

 

You're the one who claims all sorts of ridiculous things that even you don't believe in order to try to "win" exchanges. And you've admitted before that you say things you don't believe to try to annoy liberals.

So I'm comfortable with my prior evaluation of our respective holds on reality.

 

You can keep saying that as the local mayors and governors continue to take down Confederate memorials.

 

Indeed. States' rights and the sanctity of local governments making decisions for the people they represent.

 

Lee was not actually fighting to maintain slavery, he fought to defend his home state, Virginia. Most confederate soldiers did not even own slaves, they felt they were fighting to defend their states.

Here is one of his writings in slavery, misguided, but I don't see "evil" here.
In this enlightened age, there are few I believe, but what will acknowledge, that slavery as an institution, is a moral & political evil in any Country. It is useless to expatiate on its disadvantages. I think it however a greater evil to the white man than to the black race, & while my feelings are strongly enlisted in behalf of the latter, my sympathies are more strong for the former. The blacks are immeasurably better off here than in Africa, morally, socially & physically. The painful discipline they are undergoing, is necessary for their instruction as a race, & I hope will prepare & lead them to better things. How long their subjugation may be necessary is known & ordered by a wise Merciful Providence.

— Robert E. Lee, to Mary Anna Lee, December 27, 1856

 

So much black and white thinking these days. Anyone that had anything to do with slavery should be cast into an "evil and disgusting box". The truth is, everyone has flaws, and every culture has flaws. People will look back on us some day and think "what the hell were they thinking" about a number of things in our society. That doesn't mean we can't also honor the good in prior people and times.

 

Yes, I'm not a states' rights absolutist. If states or local governments do terrible things (like, you know, slavery), then I think the federal government has a role in busting that up.

You, however, are a states' rights absolutist, aren't you? You've certainly implied that you are. So if it's the local mayors and governors doing it, rather than the feds with their tanks, it should be absolutely kosher for you.

 

So if the statues are removed by the local governments, everything's working as intended in your view.

Seems like he wanted to avoid a scene like Charlottesville. It isn't as though doing it at night means no one knows it happened--if his constituents don't like it, he'll pay for it in the next re-election (or his party will, if he's not up for re-election). That's the accountability, as with all elected officials.

 

Rest easy, buddy, I'm not tearing down any statues. I'm not touching other localities from afar or forcing my brilliant and well-reasoned opinion upon them.