Robert E. Lee, Southern Heritage, Media Bias, and Al Sharpton

Canada Free Press ^ | 01/15/15 | Gail Jarvis

[Sean_Anthony]

Many American presidents have held Robert E. Lee in the highest regard and publicly paid homage to him. Today, we have a president who holds Al Sharpton in higher esteem than Robert E. Lee.

As you can probably surmise by my detailed caption, this article is a collection of random thoughts. It is typical at the beginning of a new year for people to reflect soberly on the state of events, and make optimistic resolutions and predictions for the future. Although I will try to maintain a hopeful outlook, I’m afraid I am unable to make any starry-eyed predictions.

My random thoughts are heavily influenced by the anniversary of Robert E. Lee’s birthday, which falls on January 19th. The anniversary of the birthday of this remarkable man should be a very special day, not only for Southerners, but for all Americans who acknowledge true heroes. Unlike today’s media-created celebrities, Lee was a genuine hero. In addition to his exemplary public life, General Lee’s personal life didn’t involve scandals or debauched behavior that had to be hidden from the public eye.

Theodore Roosevelt characterized General Lee this way: “the very greatest of all the great captains that the English-speaking peoples have brought forth.” Lee is also venerated in Europe, as evidenced by this tribute by Winston Churchill: “one of the noblest Americans who ever lived.”

[Pelham]

ping

[stinkerpot65]

Little difference between the two. Both defend the slavery of black people.

[outofsalt]

Neither man defends slavery. Robert E. Lee letter dated December 27, 1856:

"I was much pleased the with President's message. His views of the systematic and progressive efforts of certain people at the North to interfere with and change the domestic institutions of the South are truthfully and faithfully expressed. The consequences of their plans and purposes are also clearly set forth. These people must be aware that their object is both unlawful and foreign to them and to their duty, and that this institution, for which they are irresponsible and non-accountable, can only be changed by them through the agency of a civil and servile war. There are few, I believe, in this enlightened age, who will not acknowledge that slavery as an institution is a moral and political evil. It is idle to expatiate on its disadvantages. I think it is a greater evil to the white than to the colored race. While my feelings are strongly enlisted in behalf of the latter, my sympathies are more deeply engaged for the former. The blacks are immeasurably better off here than in Africa, morally, physically, and socially. The painful discipline they are undergoing is necessary for their further instruction as a race, and will prepare them, I hope, for better things. How long their servitude may be necessary is known and ordered by a merciful Providence. Their emancipation will sooner result from the mild and melting influences of Christianity than from the storm and tempest of fiery controversy. This influence, though slow, is sure. The doctrines and miracles of our Savior have required nearly two thousand years to convert but a small portion of the human race, and even among Christian nations what gross errors still exist! While we see the course of the final abolition of human slavery is still onward, and give it the aid of our prayers, let us leave the progress as well as the results in the hands of Him who, chooses to work by slow influences, and with whom a thousand years are but as a single day. Although the abolitionist must know this, must know that he has neither the right not the power of operating, except by moral means; that to benefit the slave he must not excite angry feelings in the master; that, although he may not approve the mode by which Providence accomplishes its purpose, the results will be the same; and that the reason he gives for interference in matters he has no concern with, holds good for every kind of interference with our neighbor, -still, I fear he will persevere in his evil course. . . . Is it not strange that the descendants of those Pilgrim Fathers who crossed the Atlantic to preserve their own freedom have always proved the most intolerant of the spiritual liberty of others?"

Al Sharpton is just in it for the hustle.

[manc]

Lee was respected by the north and the south and yet today we have the media portraying the likes of Sharpton as some civil rights leader while they ignore his racist comments.

[manc]

He actually never though Sharpton does this for the money .

[DoodleDawg]

The blacks are immeasurably better off here than in Africa, morally, physically, and socially. The painful discipline they are undergoing is necessary for their further instruction as a race, and will prepare them, I hope, for better things. How long their servitude may be necessary is known and ordered by a merciful Providence. Their emancipation will sooner result from the mild and melting influences of Christianity than from the storm and tempest of fiery controversy. This influence, though slow, is sure. The doctrines and miracles of our Savior have required nearly two thousand years to convert but a small portion of the human race, and even among Christian nations what gross errors still exist! While we see the course of the final abolition of human slavery is still onward, and give it the aid of our prayers, let us leave the progress as well as the results in the hands of Him who, chooses to work by slow influences, and with whom a thousand years are but as a single day.

That doesn't sound like someone overly opposed to slavery to me.

You have your heroes. Sharpton has his. I'm not sure I understand the why's or how's of either.

[exPBRrat]

Seriously we need a trust busting President to break up the MSM’s, one sided anti-American, news conglomerates. Way too few people controlling the editorial opinions of thousands of news outlets...

...it’s as poisonous as cancer, Ebola, cigarettes, illegal drugs you name it.

[apocalypto]

Yes! There are so many block against reporting the truth. For example, a gay activist revealed that Matthew Shepard was a drug dealer, had sexually abused a child, and his killer was his boyfriend, he started getting threats, one of them from somebody associated with Bill Clinton. The media, of course, was none to eager to publish any of this.

[ek_hornbeck]

It’s hard to argue with the first sentence in the quote from General Lee, even in his time.

[DoodleDawg]

It’s hard to argue with the first sentence in the quote from General Lee, even in his time.

Depends on one's point of view, I guess. I cannot imagine a situation where I would consider being owned as someone's property as being better off.

[central_va]

August 9, 1960

Dear Dr. Scott:

Respecting your August 1 inquiry calling attention to my often expressed admiration for General Robert E. Lee, I would say, first, that we need to understand that at the time of the War Between the States the issue of Secession had remained unresolved for more than 70 years. Men of probity, character, public standing and unquestioned loyalty, both North and South, had disagreed over this issue as a matter of principle from the day our Constitution was adopted.

General Robert E. Lee was, in my estimation, one of the supremely gifted men produced by our Nation. He believed unswervingly in the Constitutional validity of his cause which until 1865 was still an arguable question in America; he was thoughtful yet demanding of his officers and men, forbearing with captured enemies but ingenious, unrelenting and personally courageous in battle, and never disheartened by a reverse or obstacle. Through all his many trials, he remained selfless almost to a fault and unfailing in his belief in God. Taken altogether, he was noble as a leader and as a man, and unsullied as I read the pages of our history.

From deep conviction I simply say this: a nation of men of Lee’s caliber would be unconquerable in spirit and soul. Indeed, to the degree that present-day American youth will strive to emulate his rare qualities, including his devotion to this land as revealed in his painstaking efforts to help heal the nation’s wounds once the bitter struggle was over, we, in our own time of danger in a divided world, will be strengthened and our love of freedom sustained.

Such are the reasons that I proudly display the picture of this great American on my office wall.

Sincerely,

Dwight D. Eisenhower

[central_va]

[Ohioan]

All thoughtful Americans will gather inspiration from the noble example of Robert E. Lee, and indeed from the Lee family, which epitomized the role of Virginia in the achievement of American independence.

I will state, however, that I cannot imagine why you would --even as a demonstration of Obama's ongoing hatred of the American heritage--mention an outrageous scoundrel like Al Sharpton in the same sentence as Robert E. Lee.

Other than that comment, I thank you for the reminder. We should remember the General on Monday with prayers of gratitude for his magnificent example.

Would that we had such men to guide us today!

William Flax

[whtabtbill]

You would need to understand that the places where they came from they were either sold into slavery or killed. Not excusing slavery here in our states, but most slaves had a better life here. Africa was still suffering from wars at the time and of course, continue suffering wars to this day.

[ansel12]

Perhaps you should look at the Africa of the time, and what role slavery played in their culture.

[Lee'sGhost]

Ignorant of history much?

[DoodleDawg]

Perhaps you should look at the Africa of the time, and what role slavery played in their culture.

I know slavery was big over there at the time. I don't recall ever hearing about people in Africa jumping at the chance to be slaves, either here or there.

[wardaddy]

No

Just ignorant in general looks like

It’s an off the shelf username

[Lee'sGhost]

I agree with your tagline as well.