Jewish center to stage play on Grant's anti-Semitic order

The Louisville [KY] *Courier-Journal ^ | 10 August 2003 | JUDITH EGERTON /KEITH WILLIAMS

[archy]

I had some trouble with cut-and-paste in seperating the sidebar advertising for tickets etc, from the body copy, think I got it pretty close to as-written. If in doubt, consult the original source at the link.

[steplock]

Very interesting! I was expecting an anti-defamation league pile of **** report, but this is an informative historical event.

A bit embarassing for the Grant family, but Lincoln did revoke Grant's order immediately (for those days) so it reflects well on how our govt's checks and balances USED to work.

[Shermy]

Maybe a Union Army liquor "requisition" was ignored.

[JohnGalt]

Interesting story that I had not heard before.

I did some quick Google searches on the issue and found this. While the article does not get into why Lincoln revoked the order, this piece sheds some light on the greasy politican on the penny.

http://militaryhistory.about.com/library/prm/blgrantsignobleact5.htm

"On January 21, Halleck sent Grant another communiqué. In it, he explained why he had revoked the order. "It may be proper to give you some explanation,"

Halleck wrote. "The President has no objection to your expelling traitors and Jew peddlers, which, I suppose, was the object of your order; but, as it in terms proscribed an entire religious class, some of whom are fighting in our ranks, the President deemed it necessary to revoke it." Halleck's letter seemed nearly apologetic. After he received the message revoking his order, it still took Grant three days to put it into effect."

[DonQ]

It appears that Grant originally intended to remove from the war zone peddlers -- at that time a vocation largely dominated by Jews -- on the supposition that, traveling back and forth across the lines between the Union and the Confederates, they were spying or otherwise providing information to the Confederacy.

[Alouette]

General Orders #11

[elbucko]

"Even an American hero can be anti-Semitic," she said,

(sigh)!

[billbears]

When are they going to portray an American hero as being anti-Semitic? I just see a play about Grant. Thug, drunk, criminal, and swindler

[archy]

Maybe a Union Army liquor "requisition" was ignored.

You know, I thought the possibility that liquor peddlers among the sutlers dealing with the troops might have been involved, and was going to make a comment along those lines in the remarks block, but figured the editing problems I had in cut-and-pasting the ticket info out deserved comment, lest it appear I'd butchered the piece to eliminate content.

But it looks like we had some similar thoughts aliong those lines, though I doubt that Grant had any problems keeping his personal supply well enough stocked.

Then, on the other side, there was Benjamin Judah....

-archy-/-

[missyme]

Seems to me people just love focusing on Negative history, I guess cause deep down people are negative and feel comfortable being that way.

My goodness: Anti-Semitism, Bigotry, Prejudice, hate in all forms has been out there, why cannot we focus on the future and make this world a better one. Don't we have enough negativity by the Terrorists, we need more by drudging up the past????

I hope the next generation will do a better than the ones of there past, stop whining, bitching and complaining, get off your duffs and try being positive.

[stainlessbanner]

In contrast, the Confederacy had the highest ranking Jewish politician:

Statesman Judah P. Benjamin held the positions of attorney general, secretary of war, and secretary of state and became a confidant of President Davis throughout the "unpleasantries"

[elbucko]

Seems to me people just love focusing on Negative history,..

I agree. This play seems to be a pitiful attempt to turn incidence into co-incidence. That is; this order must be anti-Semitic because it mentions Semites. There were Jews on both sides of the conflict, Union and Confederate. From Judah P. Benjamin to recent immigrants at the time that wanted to prove themselves to be good Yanks or Rebs, depending on their port of disembarkation.

[kazatzkeh]

Also see http://www.jewish-history.com/Default.htm

[archy]

It appears that Grant originally intended to remove from the war zone peddlers -- at that time a vocation largely dominated by Jews -- on the supposition that, traveling back and forth across the lines between the Union and the Confederates, they were spying or otherwise providing information to the Confederacy.

I'd considered that, thinking maybe it had something to do with sutlers teravelling in the troops wake, or with peddlers supplying them with liquor. But that would be more neatly dealt with by restricting them to their homes, not driving them from them. There's something more at work here, I believe, but I'm not certain quite what.

-archy-/-

[Dems_R_Losers]

I grew up in a Jewish family in Kentucky and this story was well known in our community. Glad to see some light being shed on it, and by a Kentuckian too.

[OPS4]

Perfection was only realized by one, Jesus Christ, and we are to follow his Golden rule, so I forgive Grant!
Ops4 God Bless America!

[OPS4]

Perfection was only realized by one, Jesus Christ, and we are to follow his Golden rule, so I forgive Grant!
Ops4 God Bless America!

[archy]

My goodness: Anti-Semitism, Bigotry, Prejudice, hate in all forms has been out there, why cannot we focus on the future and make this world a better one. Don't we have enough negativity by the Terrorists, we need more by drudging up the past????

I hope the next generation will do a better than the ones of there past, stop whining, bitching and complaining, get off your duffs and try being positive.

Well, if you're about to take a bite of a well-baked cake, beautifully crafted and frosted with an artists touch, do let me know if you'd like to know if it's infested with weevils and maggots or not before you begin eating.

Likewise, I hope the next generation can avoid a few of the errors and sins my generation and those before committed, as they will surely have their own faults and need not carry the excess baggage of ills from the past just from habit.

It may not be possible to open their eyes to such flaws; but keeping them concealed or covered over by the dust of history will do them no good either. I hope the moral judgements of the young are illustraited well enough with failures and flaws from the past that they can avoid at least some similar temptations in their future.

But never mind that. Have some more cake.

-archy-/-

[archy]

Perfection was only realized by one, Jesus Christ, and we are to follow his Golden rule, so I forgive Grant!

Aw what the heck, Grant wasn't that bad I guess, pass me the booze and send a couple of those girls on in here. Partytime!

I forgive him too. But I believe I'd rather follow the examples of some of the better examples of followers of Christ- to be found on BOTH sides- or Abraham, rather than deify Grant or follow those examples set by him.

[OPS4]

I know very few who have deify'ed Grant.
The point is forgivness, makes You and I better
in the eyes of our God and Creator.

Ops4 God Bless America!