This was definitely an interesting class with an interesting topic. I remember taking a War and Remembrance class here at GMU where we talked about the Text Book Scandal. While it is unlikely there were that many color soldiers in the Confederacy, due to the laws restricting them joining the armed forces, the possibility of any of them being rear-guard so not to rouse suspicion is possible. Still, when Lewis Steiner claims to have seen 3000 “negro men under arms” it raises numerous questions about that. As discussed in class, they probably weren’t actually soldiers, merely ancillary staff and support units. Then, looking at the picture of Shane and James (I think those were they’re names) makes me wonder about the people who owned slaves and the like. Did any of them actually see blacks as people, or were they all indoctrinated?

Also, faking a photograph to show black and white soldiers dead on the field together is an interesting tactic, and would certainly be something to talk about. The real question however, is who staged it? Confederates trying to show that their slaves were loyal unto death? A Unionist trying to show that the slaves weren’t worth saving? Hard to say, maybe even impossible to know.

On the topic of Confederates, the “Son of the Confederate Veterans.” Of all the scum of the earth, these are some of the worst living on American soil. Why glorify what is now generally considered to evil? Why defend your ancestors who were either mere cannon fodder troops or slimy racist? I was in Norfolk once, and I saw the statue memorializing the “southern dead.” I commented, “They should add a sign that says, ‘they fought on the wrong side.'” Rude and ignorant, I know, but the praise a batch of deep South tourists were giving it boiled my blood.

One of the historical topics I still argue about today is that the South should have been punished. The Union should have crushed the old plantation owners into the ground and made sure that none of the Confederate supporters got a position in any form of government, local or federal. Because the North desired “reconciliation,” Southern politicians got off Scott Free! No fines, no jail time, nothing! They were allowed to keep their jobs, which, I argue, is one of the major reasons we had Jim Crow Laws able to be put into effect. Because the South was never punished, they never learned.

Thought of the Day:

Don’t cut off the head of a movement; they body will still struggle. Instead, cut off their feet; that way they never get anywhere.

Tosches was not a fun read. His work was interesting in a few places with strong feelings towards his subject, and more than once he caught my attention with neat trivia, specifically with the history of Minstrel Show actors making it big in the new world of motion pictures. But he has a bit too much a preachy tone, and is never consistent with his examples or points.

More than once, Tosches makes me cringe with his disregard of academic writing. Why does he dislike historians so much that he has to butcher the medium they work with? The world may never know, or care too. But as it stands, Tosches writing is too middle school for my tastes. High School at best. He uses poor imagery and rarely connects his examples with anything relevant to his current speech. For example, at one point he discusses French theater while mere sentences ago was explaining the development of motion pictures. I can’t say they aren’t dissimilar, and don’t have a connection, but he never goes beyond, never bridging the two or explaining why he brought it up in the first place.

Final review: 5 out of 10. Has some intriguing concepts, and is at least written in coherent English, but Tosches’ ramblings and contempt of academia makes it a hard read for anyone with ties to scholarly anything.

Thought of the day:

Learn your enemy’s ways. That way, you crush them on their own field, at their own game. Victory from that is oh so much sweeter.

If timekeeping was more or less down town to town, what about clocks? There were, to my knowledge, mechanical clocks that abounded in the cities. Did these not have a universal measurement for them? What I mean is, who decided the day had 24 hours, or two sets of 12 (like on a clock) and when? We take it as a given today, but back then, such nuances were more or less unnecessary for the common citizen. How and when did such standards such as numerical time measurements come about? I think I’ll look this up on my own time, since I can’t stop questioning this.

Is “Lomax” a Yiddish or Jewish name? It sounds somewhat like that, and it certainly doesn’t sound or look like a common Christian European name.

Thought of the day:

God created man. Man created clocks. And thus man created a way to control God and all his other creations. Time waits for nothing, now.

Not much to say, honestly. The info about the different beats between oceans was interesting, but I couldn’t help but keep thinking about Roombas when Rumba was brought up, making my thoughts drift and wonder if I’d turned mine off before I left for class.

Other than that, the fact that banjos were an African American instrument was fascinating, since nowadays when you think banjo, you think white trash red necks.

I do have to thank you for introducing me to Post Modern Juke Box! I’ve already subscribed, and I am really enjoying their work! I have to say, its nice to have new things to listen to, especially on a professional level. Ever heard of Lindsey Stirling? She’s also on Youtube with her own channel, and produces original violin music. Its peppy and upbeat, so I’d recommend giving her a listen.

https://www.youtube.com/user/lindseystomp

Thought of the day:

Focus, and you will see the goal. Reach out, and you will grab it.