Traitors

raincat · Post by **raincat** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 5:30 pm

Over on the Athletic board the discussion again rages as to weather a Bobcat should root for a griz. Which brings me to this...How is it that Benedict Arnold is such a traitorous ba$tard and Robert E. Lee is viewed with a certain respect and reverence?

CelticCat · Post by **CelticCat** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 7:31 pm

Because we were fighting for our freedom, and they (CSA) was fighting for theirs. Somehow the idea of a man defecting to defend his home, Virginia, is more noble than switching sides in the middle of the fight (correct me if I'm wrong, I don't know a lot about the American Revolution). Besides, Robert E Lee was a brilliant commander in the field, that a lone wins you respect. They say he was probably the most beloved general in American history, though it shouldn't be counted as American...

Post by **SonomaCat** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 8:09 pm

I think some people are just a bit too proud of the forefathers who fought for the ironic freedom to maintain their states' rights to continue slavery. As to being a brilliant commander, there have been a lot of those throughout history and even in modern times (OBL, for instance) who haven't gotten a lot of love from the American public. They have to sympathize with the cause before they give anyone much credit. In the modern context, Lee would be seen as a terrorist.

It's all about who writes the history. If England had won the War of the American Uprising, Benedict Arnold would have been seen a great hero in the fight against the insurgents in North America.

geogfather · Post by **geogfather** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 8:32 pm

Lets keep in mind that Lee was against the institution of Slavery as well as against the secession of the southern states. He fought in his own words, because he wouldnt fight against his family, friends, and his home.

Lee left before the war started and actually resigned his post in the United States military. It wasnt like he was giving away the plans of the north to the south or anything.

Benedict Arnold switched sides in the middle of a conflict. He was wounded in Battle and while recovering he met, fell in love with and married a loyalist who convinced him that England was the way to go. (at least in her eyes) He then proceeded to help the Crown in thier cause by giving intellegence to them.

all this talk of civil war traitors has me wondering where to put Mclellon. THe guy continually told lincoln he wasnt ready to fight and when he was he moved very slow at best. He cold have probably ended the war a lot sooner and saved a lot of lives had he followed Lee as Lee retreated to Virgina after antietam. But I guess seeing as how lincoln fired his rear end after that mix up I guess he got what he deserved.

Anyways.....

I just have to add that even though I am a griz fan and I enjoy the ribbing we give eachother. I Love this board for its content. People are more willing to talk about all ideas here as well as far more accepting of all ideas then they seem to be over there. Just my opinion I guess.

CelticCat · Post by **CelticCat** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 9:16 pm

Don't get into a Civil War chat with me. There a billion could-of and what-ifs. What if the South would have just marched straight to Washington after Bull Run?

Cat Grad · Post by **Cat Grad** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 9:19 am

I really agree with geofather's analysis; one would suppose bouncing back to the Cat-Fizzlie thread we could compare how similar we are out here to the conflicting sentiments of so many that actually fought in the War of Northern Aggression/Civil War/whatever and look at our history: virtually every major gold field discovered here was between 1861 and 1865 by Southerners and one would suppose the two major facts that pre-doomed the South to lose was dissertion and the fact the North began with a population of 22 million and the South 8 million. Go to the South today and their loyalties are pretty specific; Auburn-Alabama; Ole Miss-Miss State; UGA-FL; choose ONE FL school; etc. Gosh, Taps was written by a Union officer upon discovering his son breathing his last few breaths in a Confederate uniform. I suppose that's why we're more open to to many various viewpoint and are possibly a tad more tolerant than others; however, the divergence happens when we refuse to accept the Great Fizzlie God's rationale that all must bow to their "superiority"

raincat · Post by **raincat** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 6:28 pm

I don't know how many of you had the honor of taking classes from history professor Dr. Alton B. Oveitt (sp?). But he posed the Lee vs. Arnold questions on one of his American history tests.