[jjotto]

Growing up in rural Iowa public schools, the memory of Robert E. Lee was treated with the utmost respect. This was in Iowa, which contributed more in Union manpower per capita than any other state. Seems like any demonization of Lee is historically recent or was limited to certain quirky locales.

[cripplecreek]

Growing up in rural Iowa public schools, the memory of Robert E. Lee was treated with the utmost respect.

Exactly. In Michigan I was taught that he was an honorable man doing the duty he believed was his to do. More intensive education showed that no one was more vocal about reuniting the nation and putting the war behind us.

[oldvirginian]

Growing up in Virginia Lee was considered somewhere just below the Holy Trinity.
I was taught to live as “The General” had: to be honest and truthful, abstain from liquor and to have malice towards none.

We never heard Grant spoken of harshly, probably because of his leniency at the surrender.

The only Union leader universally despised was Sherman.
Murderer, rapist and looter were the kindest names for him.

I know of no Virginian who took any pride in J W Booth.
I was taught the only thing worse than losing the war was the death of Lincoln.

Southerners only get agitated when northerners try to come here and tell us how to live and conduct ourselves.
Yet so many people from the north still have a level of hatred for all things southern.

I keep hearing the south is still fighting a lost war, it seems like the north refuses to let reconstruction go.

They need to “get over it and move on”.