On the one hand, we have some dedicated Southern patriots who put a lot of time – and money – into this project. We all owe them a debt of gratitude for their efforts, and I certainly don’t want to overlook that in the discussion. I know that I have been unnecessarily harsh and not given them credit for taking the initiative and making it happen.

On the other hand, the subject is a matter of history. The specific facts being presented should have been carefully checked and rechecked. The wording of the script should have been carefully checked. It just frustrates me that it didn’t happen. It frustrates me even more because I know that the facts are on our side and that we can do better.

Again, thanks for stopping by and commenting, Mike. There are few men who work as hard for the Southern Cause as you do and it is truly an honor to have you commenting here.

So the wording error was probably an oversight and is not a major thing from my perspective. Both Toombs (Georgia) and Rhett (SC) gave major speeches referencing the bill specifically by name before their State secession conventions.

During the campaign Lincoln openly supported the passage, support of the bill was one of the reasons he won the Republican Party nomination on the third ballot and prior to taking office after the election he stated if it was not in force it would be his first priority after taking office.

Sincerely
Mike Crane

http://www.aetn.com/global/feedback/contact.jsp?site=HistoryChannel.com&NetwCode=THC

This is the contact form for the History Channel. I figure that if one complaint got the videos pulled, we should show them the other side, which is that many people are also in favor of these videos.

Here’s my message:

“To whom it may concern:

I am saddened that The History Channel chose to stop airing the ads from the Georgia Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. While these ads expressed views that are unpopular to some, they are not unpopular to all. History is the progress of ideas through time and often we find out that our assumptions were bad, but before that occurs, those who claim anything other than the status quo belief system are demonized. This marginalization of important ideas often culminates in people demanding they be removed, or those who adhere to them removed, as happened when our world’s first democracy executed an elderly philosopher for corrupting the youth of Athens with his ideas.

Please reconsider your decision to drop these ads. I and other watchers who are open-minded to multiple views of history would be grateful.

Sincerely,

Brett Stevens
Houston, TX”

Maybe that will help.

Indeed. Every time an individual is offended by the facts, we edit history. And their “logical” argument that a single error in presentation constitutes a total negation of all other facts is a common tactic. The liberal generally cannot see beyond their emotional response to things, so why should they let something like pesky facts get in the way of them feeling superior and remaining deluded? All that matters is that they feel that they are right. You cannot argue logically with the illogical.

http://cwmemory.com/2010/10/24/rejected-by-the-history-channel/

The owner of this blog has referred to himself as an “activist historian.”

He’s right. He uses history as a tool to promote an agenda.

Michael,
This was a golden opportunity. A great idea that got lost in the execution.

This whole thing – and I refer mainly to the posts on another blog – is why I don’t try to get into historical discussions with folks. They were attacking the lack of attention to detail in the videos. They were legitimate points, but does it really matter that a piece of legislation was adopted in 1861 and not 1859? Certainly it matters to some degree and not getting that correct was inexcusable, but those who focus on that sort of thing are giving the right answers to the wrong questions. The focus was effectively shifted away from the topic and onto a date. They cannot argue on principle, so they focus on relatively meaningless details as though that somehow proves that The Southerners were the bad guys. Pathetic.