Posted on 07/13/2019 6:16:58 AM PDT by conservative98
Tennesse Gov. Bill Lee was under fire from Republicans and Democrats alike Friday after signing a proclamation designating Saturday, July 13 as Nathan Bedford Forrest Day, a state "day of special observance" honoring a Confederate general and early leader of the Klu Klux Klan.
"I signed the bill because the law requires that I do that and I haven’t looked at changing that law," Lee said Thursday according to reports by the Tennessean.
Senator Ted Cruz, R-Tx., took to Twitter to demand that the state "change the law."
"This is WRONG. Nathan Bedford Forrest was a Confederate general & a delegate to the 1868 Democratic Convention. He was also a slave trader & the 1st Grand Wizard of the KKK. Tennessee should not have an official day (tomorrow) honoring him," Cruz said.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
He should have said Democrat instead of Democratic.
So since the left has no end game and Washington and Jefferson are now coming down, you can thank your “no issues with that” for helping to start something that can not be easily ended now.
Ted Cruz should have more important things to worry about.
He will be a 1 term gov, already making conservative base mad.
Forrest outshined Stuart in every way except pedigree IMO.
Good ole Dougout Ted never misses an opportunity to virtue signal. Is there anything more useless than a United States Senator?
As much as the Average Tennessean, which isn’t much. He’s a business man by trade, not a politician. He was the more palatable of the batch running.
And if Kustoff doesn’t get off his Chamber of Commerce Photo Ops, he won’t last either.
Got a survey which wanted money yesterday for the 8th district, trouble is I live in the 9th. Nor do I give to orgs, direct to the candidate if I give at all.
Nathan Bedford Forrest was a great scholar and wise leader according to the conditions prevailing in his time. A careful study of his life will show this to be true.
I like Ted, but he is wrong on this one. He has not done his research. It is a knee-jerk reaction to a symbol - not a thoughtful response to the context and life of a man. The TN governor’s response is weak also.
He committed a class act when he told Jefferson Davis to hit the road at last when Davis tried to continue the war using guerilla rules.
I don't care this much whether we are white, black, red, brown, yellow or any combination. What I do care about is the effort in this country to erase our history because most of our predecessors were not perfect. Why does the United States have to be the only nation in history to have every link in the human chain be more perfect than Jesus, absent which, the United States should not exist?
I don't know that Nathan Bedford Forrest deserves a special day of honor. I might argue that Andrew Jackson should not be on that list. Maybe no one should be on that list.
Without these people and a million others of every ilk going back to 1492, the United States would not be the place today that everyone on earth from every nook and cranny wants to get to. For that matter, she would not be the place where the millions already here who hate this country won't leave.
There were many obstacles this nation had to overcome to make progress in the world. Instead of scrubbing the blemishes from our history we should teach the ideas that that all those flawed men and women put on the table that moved the human race up a step on the ladder.
He just won election to another six year term in 2018, so I doubt that's the reason.
Agreed.
Without Klansman Byrd, nothing in West Virginia would have a name. You would just have Bridge, Highway and Flying Animal. It would like the generic shelf at a grocery store.
Forrest was a remarkable man. By the end of his life, he was pushing for advancement among blacks. One needs to look at his life from birth to death and see the road he traveled before judging him. I’d guess 99% of people who recognize his name would be unable to describe anything about his life other than “KKK” - and THAT is a gross distortion of his life!
“Ladies and Gentlemen, I accept the flowers as a memento of reconciliation between the white and colored races of the Southern states. I accept it more particularly as it comes from a colored lady, for if there is any one on God’s earth who loves the ladies I believe it is myself. (Immense applause and laughter.)
“I came here with the jeers of some white people, who think that I am doing wrong. I believe I can exert some influence and do much to assist the people in strengthening fraternal relations and shall do all in my power to elevate every man, to depress none. (Applause.)
“I want to elevate you to take positions in law offices, in stores, on farms and wherever you are capable of going. I have not said anything about politics today. I don’t propose to say anything about politics.
“You have a right to elect whom you please, vote for the man you think best, and I think, when that is done, you and I are freemen. Do as you consider right and honest in electing men for office.
“I did not come here to make you a long speech, although invited to do so by you. I am not much of a speaker, and my business prevented me from preparing myself. I came to meet you as friends and welcome you to the white people.
“I want you to come nearer to us. When I can serve you I will do so. We have but one flag, one country; let us stand together. We may differ in color, but not in sentiment.
“Many things have been said about me which are wrong, and which white and black persons here, who stood by me through the war, can contradict.
“Go to work, be industrious, live honestly and act truly, and when you are oppressed I’ll come to your relief. I thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for this opportunity you have afforded me to be with you, and to assure you that I am with you in heart and in hand.” (Prolonged applause.)
After the speech Forrest thanked the young black woman for the bouquet and kissed her on the cheek.
“The myth of Forrest hinges largely on the pre-war man. Forrest was the ultimate self-made southerner. His wealth was built on the despicable vocation of slave-trading, and his insecurities over his background caused him to promote himself as a well-dressed tough-guy. Still, Forrest aspired to be a planter.
Ashdown and Caudill use the preeminence of death and suffering in Forrest’s life to explain much of the general’s mythic appeal. His upbringing on the frontier of white American society hardened him. His slimy occupation allowed him to seem more humane than other slave-traders, but at best the Forrest myth could only transform him into the “best of a bad lot.” And Yet Forrest’s wife remains by all historical accounts a good woman, and Forrest, notoriously violent, remained a good husband.
No two periods have served to confuse the myth of Forrest more than his Civil War years and his postwar years. Forrest’s wholesale slaughter of troops (mostly black) at Fort Pillow tarred any national reputation he might have had forever. But his raiding prowess earned him the respect of his soldiers, and his benevolent protection over Confederate civilians earned him massive esteem in the post-war South. His leadership and subsequent rejection of the Klu Klux Klan allowed him to be represented as a racial moderate in reconstruction; his reconciliation and support of Memphis’ blacks in the 1870s causes the historian and the myth-maker even further confusion.”
http://personal.tcu.edu/swoodworth/Ashdown%20&%20Caudill-MNBF.htm
I think Forrest outshone Stuart by a long shot; Forrest was like a modern day Belisarius, but he was never given the opportunity to command at campaign level, so he showed his genius at the tactical/skirmish level in raids and other small-scale operations in Union controlled territory.
Agree.
He was the original Lost Causer
His actions at Fort Pillow we’re not honorable
This is Ted’s Golden Sacks masters whispering in his ear.
If we celebrate Kwanza and Gay Pride Month (whatever) and tear down Civil War monuments, Tennessee can certainly honor a man who was an exemplary leader and warrior and who fought for his side valiantly.
Keep Cruz confined to Texas. Must be very mindful of his mounting a campaign to become President in 2024. There are plenty of other strong leaders with experienced backgrounds to support, and who are also natural born citizens.
Sorry Cruz fans, I still don’t trust this chameleon with the silver tongue. He’s still bought and paid for — and a kind of closet Rat Romney.
Forrest was also a very effective military leader from his state.
“Get there the fusest with the mostest.”
So come off it Cruz. Go fight live DemocRats instead of pandering to the left by attacking dead ones.
Would you oppose a monument to John Bell Hood in Texas?
“..One can respect a man for his strengths while not admiring him for every single aspect of his history...”
True enough.
If the People of the great state of Tennessee WANT a day honoring Forrest, that’s their Right to do so and have it. It was a law, legally and lawfully passed and signed.
Gee... we’re back to “State’s Rights” here, aren’t we?
And since the Dems are ALL about “State’s Rights” when it comes to gun control (See “NJ, People’s Socialist State of,”)... they should have NO complaint here!
And one more - just ask the Left about Stalin and Mao... they LOVE those two murdering butchers; amazing how they’re able to ignore the deaths of millions of people, ain’t it?
They’re hypocritical idiots to complain about anything Confederate. It’s just something to use to inflame a segment of the population and keep them under control.
As for Ted Cruz... there’s real enemies to fight here now, Ted. Not someone who has been dead for a long, long time. They’re right across the aisle from you...
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