QOTD

[randy_byers]

'People who say "the Civil War was about tariffs" should be distinguished from people who debate the stimulus package, or tax cuts, and categorized with birthers, truthers and assorted Holocaust-deniers.'

-- Ta-Nehisi Coates, "Why We Fight"

Comments

[mcjulie.livejournal.com]

Random vaguely right wing/libertarian person: The Civil War was really about state's rights.

Me: That's true. It was about state's rights to own slaves.

[voidampersand.livejournal.com]

Funny how they can be so strongly opposed to taxation as an unfair imposition upon their liberties but they don't see what's wrong with slavery. I guess for them it's all about who gets to do the imposing.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

They would be more honest if they tried to defend the rightness of slavery. Instead they pretend they are defending something else and that slavery has nothing to do with it.

[voidampersand.livejournal.com]

Honesty is hard. Deep down we're all lizards.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Animules, for sure.

[janetl.livejournal.com]

It's been really interesting to follow Coates' journey into Civil War history.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

I certainly have learned a lot in the process. The post-CW history (i.e., Reconstruction) is almost more fascinating in a sick way, as white supremacy reshapes itself to the post-slavery world. Looking at the war itself from the perspective of the slaves and free blacks is also sadly eye-opening -- sadly, because it reflects poorly on my own ignorance! But even more sad that the Lost Cause is still such a force in our country 150 years later.

[mvt.livejournal.com]

You were home having deep thoughts. I was at First Thursday thinking
you might have had a good time drinking with all of us. Beer does bring you to mind : )

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Right. First Thursday in Toronto would be my kind of thing, probably. Where do you guys meet these days?

[mvt.livejournal.com]

The Foxes Den on Bay St very ordinary. But fun.