Althouse: Memorial Day at Union Rest in Forest Hill Cemetery.

May 25, 2026

Memorial Day at Union Rest in Forest Hill Cemetery.

That is Meade's video of the ceremony of The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, in the cemetery very near where we live.

On the way home, he photographed this:

130 comments:

Smilin' Jack said...: Wonder if the Daughters of the Confederacy is still around. Probably keeping a low profile these days.; 5/25/26, 9:32 AM
Dave Begley said...: Meade:

What’s the status of the CSA POW cemetery in Madison?; 5/25/26, 9:32 AM
FullMoon said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 5/25/26, 9:35 AM
n.n said...: The end of wars decades in progress. #HateLovesAbortion; 5/25/26, 9:37 AM
n.n said...: No Mas; 5/25/26, 9:42 AM
Aggie said...: No War is an admirable sentiment, but not as admirable as a society that embraces and tolerates dissent while being determined to be ready to make war, if it's unavoidable.

Thanks to all who gave their all, R.I.P.; 5/25/26, 9:52 AM
Original Mike said...: I want to hire whoever built that rock wall.; 5/25/26, 9:55 AM
Freder Frederson said...: but not as admirable as a society that embraces and tolerates dissent

And under Trump this is rapidly disappearing.; 5/25/26, 9:55 AM
DINKY DAU 45 said...: Our outdoor American flag now flying at half staff until 1200pm tomorrow at noon, in memory of the brave men and women I served with (65-72) and all those who didn't make it back out of theater ,I salute you. 300PM we will stop for a moment once again in a final salute to those who gave all. Have a blessed and meaningful Memorial Day reflecting 1st and foremost on the reason for this day.. God bless America..; 5/25/26, 9:55 AM
Wince said...: "NO WAR"

Lindsey Graham and TDS Democrats hardest hit?; 5/25/26, 9:59 AM
Big Mike said...: I missed my 50th high school reunion recuperating from knee replacement surgery but made it to the 60th. We graduated high school in 1964 but the war in Vietnam was still going strong in 1968 for those of us who went to college. No surprise that so many of us from the class of ‘64 wore the uniform; the surprise was how few few of us — from a graduating class of 484 — wound up with our names carved on the Wall.; 5/25/26, 10:02 AM
Aggie said...: "...And under Trump this is rapidly disappearing...."

Another Colbert fan struggles to cope with losing his Daily Affirmation.; 5/25/26, 10:02 AM
Jaq said...: Who’s the traitor against wars? Usually these types are just mad that other people are not sending their sons to fight the wars that they think should be fought instead of, is my experience.; 5/25/26, 10:02 AM
Jaq said...: Whenever a Democrat talks about the suppression of dissent, I give you Roseanne Barre and the unknown rodeo clown. It’s always the wrong people whose opinions are getting suppressed.; 5/25/26, 10:06 AM
narciso said...: Just light your fauci candle; 5/25/26, 10:11 AM
Curious George said...: "Original Mike said...
I want to hire whoever built that rock wall."

Sorry, deported.; 5/25/26, 10:12 AM
Curious George said...: No war? You know every idiot in Madison has a "I stand with Ukraine" post on their Facebook page. Oh, and a "We can do it" vaccine one too.; 5/25/26, 10:14 AM
john mosby said...: Hippie bumper sticker: "What if they gave a war and nobody came?"

My retort 50 years later: "What if they gave a war and only the other side came? To your house?"

Old New York hippie: "They told me if I didn't vote for Nixon the commies would take over New York. I didn't vote for him, and the commies have taken over New York."

CC, JSM; 5/25/26, 10:14 AM
Meade said...: “ Our outdoor American flag now flying at half staff until 1200pm tomorrow at noon, in memory of the brave men and women I served with (65-72) and all those who didn't make it back out of theater ,I salute you.”

Salute.

DINKY DAU 45 ,
Would love to learn more of your life story including, but beyond, your expertise on the ponies. For starters: when and where were you when you decided to go into the U.S. military? Marine Corps, correct? What prompted you to serve? As a veteran now, are you being treated well, averagely, poorly?
Regardless of whether or not you wish to share your story, thanks and respect to you and your brothers in arms for your service and sacrifices to our great nation.; 5/25/26, 10:14 AM
bagoh20 said...: ""...And under Trump this is rapidly disappearing...."

Under Trump dissent is at an all time high, along with mental illness. Coincidence? The fact that you see just the opposite recommends a doctor visit.
But, seriously, do you really think dissent is disappearing under Trump? Is that what you see? We have thousands if not millions openly calling for the death of the President and his supporters, and you think that equates to less dissent? I'm collecting data for my dissertation on delusional thinking. I may be sending you a release form in the mail.; 5/25/26, 10:17 AM
Meade said...: https://youtube.com/shorts/MFN9upGm5SQ?si=Qzl2oVz3Ix5aHj0p; 5/25/26, 10:19 AM
Meade said...: https://youtube.com/shorts/GawDT2juNdI?si=1pHLa0s7uKqCiikX; 5/25/26, 10:20 AM
bagoh20 said...: That is a nice wall, but I heard that walls don't work.; 5/25/26, 10:26 AM
Mason G said...: "And under Trump this is rapidly disappearing."

To think something like that, you have to be an idiot or a liar.; 5/25/26, 10:27 AM
Meade said...: Freder Frederson said...
but not as admirable as a society that embraces and tolerates dissent

And under Trump this is rapidly disappearing.
——————
Tell us where and when your dissent has been repressed by President Trump, Freder. Have you even once expressed appreciation to the professor in whose blog your dissent, trolling, and nasty attitude have been been tolerated for decades? I think not.
Look in the mirror. You are a classic ingrate.
5/25/26, 9:55 AM; 5/25/26, 10:31 AM
Howard said...: It's a somber holiday. Those whom politicize it are legit cringe as the kids say.; 5/25/26, 10:37 AM
Big Mike said...: A note to whomever put that “No War” sign up — going back to the murder of Otzi the Iceman (killed by a flint-tipped arrow shot from behind) and no doubt millennia before him, there have always been people who sought to acquire by violence what they chose not to acquire by hard work and/or persuasion. In recent times we have seen cities being burned and attempted assassinations. Can we stop that without resorting to violence in our turn? It doesn’t look promising.; 5/25/26, 10:52 AM
Big Mike said...: Those are my classmates in those cemeteries, Howard, how about you STFU?; 5/25/26, 10:54 AM
Curious George said...: "Howard said...
It's a somber holiday. Those whom politicize it are legit cringe as the kids say."

It should be, but it's not for most sadly. I mean if an alien landed today he would think the holiday is about getting mattresses for 50% off.; 5/25/26, 10:55 AM
Humperdink said...: Wait a minute, didn’t we have a war to end all wars? Or am I mistaken?

Let’s face it, we are all sinners. Evil, envy and greed surfaces and wars result.; 5/25/26, 10:55 AM
Bob Boyd said...: Almost No War!; 5/25/26, 10:57 AM
narciso said...: In the mirror universe; 5/25/26, 10:58 AM
Big Mike said...: @john mosby, the “joke” goes back to 1964:

“They told me that if I voted for Barry Goldwater I’d wind up being drafted to fight in Vietnam. Well I did, and sure enough I have been drafted to fight in Vietnam.”; 5/25/26, 11:00 AM
bagoh20 said...: If your nation gets overrun and conquered, and you refuse to resist, have you lived up to "No War"?
I prefer "Don't Tread On Me"; 5/25/26, 11:02 AM
narciso said...: Like the co in toko ri put it 'where do we ger such men'
And how do we like up to the sacrifice they made; 5/25/26, 11:02 AM
bagoh20 said...: On this day, and every day in this exceptional nation, we thank you heroes, and hope to live up to your sacrifice.; 5/25/26, 11:06 AM
Original Mike said...: "It should be, but it's not for most sadly. I mean if an alien landed today he would think the holiday is about getting mattresses for 50% off."

LOL. I'm watching a war movie and a mattress ad just came up ($1,000 off).; 5/25/26, 11:06 AM
narciso said...: Goldwater was probably least likely to engage ijn vietnam because he knew how it would be fought; 5/25/26, 11:08 AM
Achilles said...: Freder Frederson said...

but not as admirable as a society that embraces and tolerates dissent

And under Trump this is rapidly disappearing.

If you actually believed this you wouldn't be posting on a public message board.

But you were all for throwing Trump i jail and kicking him off social media.

You are just too stupid to understand what you are saying or how retarded you look saying this crap.; 5/25/26, 11:09 AM
MikeD said...: Curious as to why Althouse didn't accompany Meade to the ceremony. Seems to support my belief she doesn't want to interact with anybody, anytime, anywhere.; 5/25/26, 11:09 AM
n.n said...: In Stork They Trust; 5/25/26, 11:28 AM
DINKY DAU 45 said...: MEADE
DINKY DAU 45 ,
Would love to learn more of your life story including, but beyond, your expertise on the ponies. For starters: when and where were you when you decided to go into the U.S. military? Marine Corps, correct? What prompted you to serve? As a veteran now, are you being treated well, averagely, poorly?
Regardless of whether or not you wish to share your story, thanks and respect to you and your brothers in arms for your service and sacrifices to our great nation.
I was17 and had already buried 3 school mates who went in in 63 early days of WAR. I was getting married to my 1st wife, she was pregnant and my number for the draft was pulled. I decided that it was my duty to serve the country I loved and instead enlisted into the US NAVY. During my service of 6 years active4 , inactive and reserves for 2 We had 2 children.I served 4years on the USS CASA GRANDE LSD 13 as a 2nd class Boatswain Mate. During that period man friends of mine were drafted in to the Corps,the Army and 4 more of them were killed . I put in for transfer to Patrol Boat duty in Nam but my wife said that cant happen as our little babies barely knew me becaus eof 4 years deployments. I am an active member of the VA and just about every male (and emale )in our extended families have served this great country froM WW1THRU later conflicts.We have family members KIA and we all are buried in the Military burial grounds with our spouses when time comes. I detest unfounded wars based on lies(Gulf of Tonkin )WMD'S and WARS that are distant from facts and reality. I am forever grateful and in humility for those who gave all whether in combat or just doing what they thought was the right thing for our country.We were treated horribly coming back from the Nam WAR and shouted on as baby killers and dregsof the earth ,young men and women just trying to do the best they could. We servein the VA hospitals,lay wreaths on the memorials and seek to help members in the bestof our ability. I believethe men and women today are treated with a little emore respect then we were because of the nature of the conflict.My father ,his father and brothers served inWW 11 and Korea .My aunt was a colonel in the ARMY and their fathers served in earlier wars overseas. Thank you for asking and as always WE REMEMBER THE ONES we buried and the hugs we gave to the families.I will be buried in the; 5/25/26, 11:37 AM
thesixthmoon said...: Thanks for those clips, Meade.; 5/25/26, 11:39 AM
narciso said...: Sherman said 'war is hell' but its not the worse thing; 5/25/26, 11:42 AM
Narr said...: @Smilin' Jack

The United Daughters of the Confederacy are still around, though the membership (like that of the Sons, IIRC) is only a fraction of what it used to be. Google it for more.

My mother's mother was an actual daughter of an actual Confederate (I bear his given name) and very active in the UDC (and the DAR, so there).

Her only son, my mother's brother Jimmy, had been a radio-operator/gunner in a B24 flying out of Foggia in 1943-44.
He was awarded the UDC Cross of Service to add to his Air Medal and OLCs after completing the required missions. The paper had an article about it.

Of course it was not recognized by the USG and I suspect he wore it only for that afternoon among the biddies.

I just put our flag out, and may visit the cemetery and flag his grave, and my father's, this afternoon.; 5/25/26, 11:45 AM
DINKY DAU 45 said...: I will be buried ,with my spouse in the Military National cemetery among other Veterans from our Family with honors and though the conflicts with exception or 1and 11 (the last actual declared wars, ) I believe even those forced to go(or run) did the best they could to honor another life commitment, AS it was sung "most weren't no senators sons "May the God of my understanding(Jesus Christ)guide over the brave men and women who serve and protect in all situations.Let this be a meaningful Memorial Day honoring THE REASON for today; 5/25/26, 11:48 AM
john mosby said...: Big Mike, yes, I have always known about the Goldwater joke (which is probably descended from an FDR joke, and in turn from a Wilson joke). I wanted to turn the logic around, as I did with the bumper sticker. CC, JSM; 5/25/26, 12:03 PM
john mosby said...: Probably comes from "they said if I voted against the Declaration, we'd have redcoats in the streets of New York...." CC, JSM; 5/25/26, 12:05 PM
Freder Frederson said...: and the DAR, so there

The DAR wouldn't let Marian Anderson sing in Constitution Hall (owned by the DAR), forcing her to the Lincoln Memorial for the concert, so there.; 5/25/26, 12:28 PM
Freder Frederson said...: If you actually believed this you wouldn't be posting on a public message board.

I said disappearing not gone. When Trump extorts law firms, networks, and universities to become less woke, threatens to rescind broadcast licenses, calls the press "the enemy of the people" and demands late night hosts be fired (he has directly called for the removal of Jimmy Kimmel and Steven Colbert from their shows), he is certainly not a fan of free speech.

On the other hand, you all were apoplectic when Biden requested that social media not post falsehoods about Covid.; 5/25/26, 12:34 PM
Freder Frederson said...: Have you even once expressed appreciation to the professor in whose blog your dissent, trolling, and nasty attitude have been been tolerated for decades? I think not.

Why should I express appreciation to someone who has called me an asshole more than once and berates me regularly (just the other day she called me devious for no good reason). And I am not a troll. I am serious about what I post (unless I am being facetious or sarcastic).; 5/25/26, 12:39 PM
bagoh20 said...: " I am serious about what I post"

That's not good.; 5/25/26, 12:45 PM
narciso said...: Because we are being accurate gramscian garbage is not to be subsidized; 5/25/26, 12:46 PM
narciso said...: Go to blue scream where they solicit murder on the hour; 5/25/26, 12:47 PM
narciso said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 5/25/26, 12:47 PM
MadisonMan said...: The gunfire there has a big effect on my dog. Glad that's over.; 5/25/26, 12:57 PM
boatbuilder said...: A sincere Thank You, Dinky Dau, for your service. And the same to all of the others reading this blog who served.; 5/25/26, 12:57 PM
Big Mike said...: (just the other day she called me devious for no good reason)

No reason aside from the obvious fact that you were, in fact, being devious.; 5/25/26, 1:07 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: Cool. Great video. BTW, what ever happened to the Confederates that were buried there?; 5/25/26, 1:16 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: I appreciate the service of those who fought in Vietnam and other wars. That includes most of my the men in my family born from 1895-1950.

So, thank you for your service. Now lets stop fighting any more of these stupid wars.; 5/25/26, 1:21 PM
Peachy said...: Freder - YOUR party kills people and throws them in jail for fake crimes.

Your party is corrupt.; 5/25/26, 1:26 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: Here's the thing about Wars. Once they're over, and we've buried the dead, no one wants to admit it was a mistake and we should have shot the Politicians who lied us into war instead of the so-called "enemy".

Instead we do the opposite. We glorify the war, and blather about "it save the world from X" or "saved the union" or whatever. The problem in doing that is just tees us up for another useless war.; 5/25/26, 1:28 PM
narciso said...: He sides with the terrorists whether they be weather underground or al queda; 5/25/26, 1:30 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: I appreciate the brave noble men who fought in the Civil war. The Northerners thought they were saving the Union. The southerners thought they were fighting for their homes and Southern Independence.

But the whole thing could've and should've been settled around a conference table. It wasn't because the wealthy and powerful on both sides made sure they stayed safe. It was a "Rich man's war, and a poor man's fight".; 5/25/26, 1:31 PM
Peachy said...: How much Money did Biden spend on the endless Ukraine/Russia war?; 5/25/26, 1:33 PM
gadfly said...: Wiki tells us that, from 1940 until 1973, during both peacetime and periods of conflict, men were drafted to fill vacancies in the U.S. Armed Forces that could not be filled through voluntary means. Active conscription in the United States ended in January 1973, which is why I joined the Army. So for the privilege of two years of impoverishment, the wife and I went deep into debt.

When my wife died, I was suddenly entitled to burial rights in a National Cemetery. So her ashes are contained in an urn in a columbarian niche, awaiting my remains as well. That is little or no benefit.

Being a Veteran does not necessarily entitle us to be thanked for our forced service.; 5/25/26, 1:36 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: Jefferson Davis was the perfect example of this. No surrender. No compromise. In 1865, he was yapping about "Dying in the last ditch".

Needless to say he didn't "die in the last ditch". He took off for Texas with his buddy Judah Benjamin and got caught by a Yankee patrol. Of course, he put up a great fight right? Oh wait, he meekly surrendered. Because...uh... his wife was there. And if he had fight uh..something or other.

I think Davis is the spiritual forefather of the all Southern fried clowns we see in Congress. All tough talk - backed up with nothing. When they went to put chains on Davis in Ft Monroe, He was insulted. "I will die first, before you put those on me!" he thundered. And then meekly let them put chains on. And lived.; 5/25/26, 1:39 PM
gadfly said...: Peachy said...
How much Money did Biden spend on the endless Ukraine/Russia war?

Can you ask Google?; 5/25/26, 1:39 PM
narciso said...: Nearly a century of jim crow suggests otherwise; 5/25/26, 1:41 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: Conscripts vs. Volunteers. A distiction without a difference. During WW II, after December 1942, if you were of draft age, you couldnt volunteer. Look it up.

And even if you were drafted, you didn't have to fight. You could've gone to jail instead. Or ran off when someone fired a shot. Talking to my relatives, a lot of men wanted to stay out, but once they were drafted they felt they had to do their duty.
At least in WW2, it was a dirty job that everyone knew had to be done. Guys hoped they wouldn't be picked, but when they were they did the job.; 5/25/26, 1:46 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: As for my family, everyone was a volunteer. They were too stupid to dodge the draft.; 5/25/26, 1:47 PM
narciso said...: Really i thought the Germans were misunderstood by your own blog that appears to be true,; 5/25/26, 1:54 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: "The DAR wouldn't let Marian Anderson sing in Constitution Hall (owned by the DAR), forcing her to the Lincoln Memorial for the concert, so there."

Who gives a fuck? Marian Anderson was terrible. They wanted a good singer.; 5/25/26, 2:06 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: Can we talk about racism, so more? I'm not racist. So, i'm superior. What a joke!; 5/25/26, 2:06 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: "Really i thought the Germans were misunderstood by your own blog that appears to be true"

Forgot to take your meds? Or playing low-effort Troll?; 5/25/26, 2:08 PM
Levi Starks said...: Will there be anyone at the unmarked confederate cemetery?; 5/25/26, 2:09 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: Everybody has an opinion. No matter how stupid or dishonest. Adios. Happy Memorial day.; 5/25/26, 2:09 PM
Dogma and Pony Show said...: RCOCEAN said: "But the whole thing could've and should've been settled around a conference table."

On what set of terms do you think it could have been settled in 1861?; 5/25/26, 2:17 PM
tcrosse said...: No War is a noble sentiment, but one might just as well post a sign saying No Hunger, No Disease, No Death.; 5/25/26, 2:18 PM
Ampersand said...: Once upon a time, atheists, pacifists and freethinkers risked their lives by publicly proclaiming their unorthodox beliefs. The current crop of lawn signers are often complacent dopes.; 5/25/26, 2:20 PM
Achilles said...: Freder Frederson said...

If you actually believed this you wouldn't be posting on a public message board.

I said disappearing not gone. When Trump extorts law firms, networks, and universities to become less woke, threatens to rescind broadcast licenses, calls the press "the enemy of the people" and demands late night hosts be fired (he has directly called for the removal of Jimmy Kimmel and Steven Colbert from their shows), he is certainly not a fan of free speech.

Conservative students on University grounds are physically assaulted on a regular basis. Conservative speakers like Kirk are killed for their views. Colbert and Kimmel are government propagandists losing their companies millions of dollars a year. Nobody is trying to thrown them in jail like you do.

There is no reason why ABC CBS NBC should be given public airwaves for free to produce democrat propaganda. I have just as much a right to those RF bands as they do.

On the other hand, you all were apoplectic when Biden requested that social media not post falsehoods about Covid

You mean like:
1. COVID was developed in a Chinese lab?
2. Fauci and the NIH funded COVID?
3. Masks never worked?
4. Lockdowns never worked?
5. "Social Distancing" was a lie?
6. Schools never should have been shut down because COVID wasn't a threat to young people?

You are just a dishonest fascist piece of shit. You are complete amoral scum. Democrats are just detestable violent evil dishonest pieces of shit.; 5/25/26, 2:34 PM
Peachy said...: What Bagoh said at 11:06.; 5/25/26, 2:47 PM
n.n said...: Some "burdens" must be Planned with cause, cannot be aborted, sequestered in darkness with clinical sterility indulging social distancing. #BabyLivesMatter, a pro-life sentiment, is a noble pursuit.; 5/25/26, 2:49 PM
Narr said...: Freder, have you ever seen Eddie Murphy's joke about Anderson and Constitution Hall?

Classic. What's on YT isn't as raunchy as what I recall, but it's good.; 5/25/26, 2:52 PM
J Severs said...: Extremely touching and very well done. Thank you, Meade.; 5/25/26, 3:20 PM
Jim at said...: And under Trump this is rapidly disappearing.

And yet here you are - running your mouth - without the slightest fear anybody, anywhere is trying to shut you up.; 5/25/26, 3:37 PM
Jim at said...: Why should I express appreciation to someone who has called me an asshole more than once ...

There's a very simple way to avoid being called an asshole. Let's see if you can figure it out.; 5/25/26, 3:49 PM
Humperdink said...: My lovely bride was recently recognized and certified(???) as member of the DAR. Who knew I married a rebel?

They are going to find out she’s a real rebel as there is a move afoot to let male mentally ill trannys join.; 5/25/26, 3:54 PM
Mason G said...: "And yet here you are - running your mouth - without the slightest fear anybody, anywhere is trying to shut you up."

He had a part in a Monty Python movie, you know. Dennis...

"Help! Help! I'm being repressed!"; 5/25/26, 3:56 PM
narciso said...: But he got better; 5/25/26, 4:01 PM
john mosby said...: Ocean: "the whole thing could've and should've been settled around a conference table."

I kicked off a semi-long CW thread here by bringing that up: all we got for the war was 100 years of Jim Crow, so why not negotiate straight to Jim Crow without a war?

Lots of answers came out. Maybe the biggest one was that Southern leaders had lost all respect for Northern ones. That's why, for example, Preston Brooks caned Charles Sumner, instead of challenging him to a duel. You only duelled with people you respected.

Does that remind us of anything now? Calling one's opponents bitter clingers, deplorables, etc? Breaking the norms to lock them up, or just kill them? And the occasional caning, too - see eg Rand Paul.

And it's the same party doing it.

More Ocean: "the wealthy and powerful on both sides made sure they stayed safe."

Not totally true. Southern elites especially tended to put their asses behind their ideology - it fit their view of themselves as Athenians (who of course held slaves). Bobby Lee was the son of Revolutionary War cavalryman Light Horse Harry Lee. Lots of Many Northern elites did, too. Memorial Hall at Harvard lists 136 rich Massachusetts boys who put on blue coats and never came back. Joshua Chamberlain, a hero of Gettysburg, was a Bowdoin College professor. Both sides suffered from notables appointed by state governors to command militia units (which they often funded themselves), who then turned out to be incompetent.

Probably had more elites serve in the CW than in the Vietnam and post-VN military. CC, JSM; 5/25/26, 4:05 PM
narciso said...: Its very embarassing how thin his premises are; 5/25/26, 4:48 PM
narciso said...: Chamberlain was one of those who they tried to cancel in 2020; 5/25/26, 4:50 PM
John said...: Big Mike -- According to Google, 3.1 million served in Vietnam. So 60,000 killed is about a 2% chance of dying. But there were a lot of wounded, 300k, so good chance to have been wounded, and apparently many more were serious crippling injuries relative to WWII.

https://vietnamveteranproject.org/statistics-2/

I was lucky. High school class of 1975.; 5/25/26, 5:16 PM
Curious George said...: "I was lucky. High school class of 1975."

Me too.; 5/25/26, 5:27 PM
Saint Croix said...: Some people are still fighting the Civil War.

For instance, these Ivy League people at the NYT, who want to claim that 1776 is irrelevant, and want to shift our birthday to 1619. Horrible journalism, NYT.

The entire media class now pretends that Black is moral, righteous, and good, and white males need to go to the back of the grammar bus. They don't actually mean it, of course. White leftists think nothing and feel nothing. All they do is pretend. And regurgitate. Kind of like AI.

This morning I read a "confession" on Substack: I Was Wrong on Barack Obama. It's fine to be wrong on Barack Obama. I was wrong on Donald Trump, in 2016. My "analysis" at the time was that an army of white trash was voting for the man. And damn if I could vote for Cruella De Ville. I had to vote for the pothead libertarian. And then later I was like, oops. But what you did not see from me was some damn Substack "confession" about how I had demonized my fellow Caucasians 10 years ago. That's water under the bridge, I reasoned, guilt-free.

Anyway, the #1 comment on his article, is from somebody nicknamed SAS. They wrote...

This is why being Black is awesome. You HAVE to question shit. A nation that would enslave other human beings and then try its damndest to destroy them is not a place where you can take anything at face value. Obama had to live in complexity--it’s the only way to survive being Black in America. Everything else is noise and for people who don’t have to worry about their humanity being questioned at every turn. James Baldwin, DuBois, Washington, Morrison, Angelou, and countless others understood this implicitly. Black people cannot survive this place drinking the same kool-aid as white folks. It wasn’t made for us not matter how many times people try to shove it down our throats. Obama knew that well and still loves this country!

I responded...

I hope you know that slavery was a worldwide phenomenon. It was widely practiced in Africa, Asia, South America. People were captured in wars and enslaved. It was quite common, throughout human history. It was the norm.

Getting rid of slavery was a huge step forward in humanity's progress. The Declaration of Independence was a big part of that movement. Don't hate the USA. Forgive the sins of others and know that in everybody's past, we have ancestors that were horrible people -- killers, rapists, criminals, and so forth. It should not matter to us, as we all have free will.

SAS wrote...

Ignorance is loud. Please go read a book on the difference between American enslavement and other systems of slavery.

I wrote...

You're defending slavery in Africa and Brazil? Slavery is horrific, wherever it's practiced. You ought to read Thomas Sowell or Stanley Crouch.; 5/25/26, 5:33 PM
narciso said...: The songhai and other empires in west africa were critical; 5/25/26, 5:36 PM
narciso said...: In the slave trade, the horn of africa was colonized by oman; 5/25/26, 5:37 PM
Mason G said...: "Some people are still fighting the Civil War."

Some people's identity is defined by their grievances.; 5/25/26, 5:37 PM
Original Mike said...: "Why should I express appreciation to someone who has called me an asshole more than once ..."

C'mon Freder. You revel in being an asshole.; 5/25/26, 5:38 PM
Jupiter said...: "You only duelled with people you respected."

I don't think that is accurate. Plenty of duellists despised each other.; 5/25/26, 5:38 PM
narciso said...: The dahomey kingdom that inspired some aspects of wakanda the reign of mansa musa and the ashanti who baden powell ultimately crushed; 5/25/26, 5:42 PM
narciso said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 5/25/26, 5:42 PM
john mosby said...: Jupiter, you can despise someone but still consider them part of your class. Maybe I shouldn't have said 'respected.' If you're challenging a guy to a duel, you are accusing him of dishonorable conduct, so of course he has lost your respect. But the non-gentleman never had your respect. So you challenge the gentleman and beat the crap out of the non-gentleman.

Serfs in England were called 'villains,' which later became synonymous with a career criminal. Lord Mansfield even said "A man in England can be a villain, but not a slave' in his famous opinion. Even serfs had rights. But getting challenged to a duel was not one of them. CC, JSM; 5/25/26, 5:52 PM
john mosby said...: Shakespeare has Henry V say "be he e'er so vile, this day shall gentle his condition" - ie, even the peasant footsoldiers who fought at Agincourt should be looked upon as honorary gentlemen for it. CC, JSM; 5/25/26, 5:54 PM
Saint Croix said...: Stanley Crouch, like Clarence Thomas, thought about race a lot. He his new book, published after his death, got a magnificent review in Tablet magazine: America's Least-Wanted 'Negro' Critic Rides Again.; 5/25/26, 6:01 PM
Saint Croix said...: Yes, it is a lie, but it is a good lie; 5/25/26, 6:08 PM
Mr. T. said...: Pedo Fredo said:
Why should I express appreciation to someone who has called me an asshole more than once and berates me regularly (just the other day she called me devious for no good reason). And I am not a troll. I am serious about what I post (unless I am being facetious or sarcastic)"

Objection overruled.

Opposing law prof counsel has established facts in evidence.

Best to return your law degree to your Robert Kook (TM) Quality Lawing Center for refund.; 5/25/26, 6:21 PM
Narr said...: Some people want to refight the Civil War by denying it was a civil war. They show up here sometimes.

When I was first going online and discovering ACWABAWS chat and discussion groups, I learned that some non-Southerners refight the Civil War by accusing Southerners of always refighting the civil war.

I grew up aware of "Professional Southerners" but was a bit surprised to find that "Professional Anti-Southerners" also exist.; 5/25/26, 6:23 PM
Narr said...: Jeff Davis was sent a special gift by the Pope when he was incarcerated.

The Catholic Church, as an institution, shared the fear and loathing of our great secular republic that you might expect from the conservative elites of post-1848 Europe.; 5/25/26, 6:32 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: Was it a Civil war? Certainly in the border states and parts of appalachia it was. But most Southerners and Notherners lived in almost separate countries. And didn't really know each other that well. Most people lived in small towns and farms and rarely traveled more than 25 miles from home. Even fewer went "Up North" or "Down South".; 5/25/26, 6:34 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: Civil war = primary loyalty to the country. War between the states = primary loyalty to your state. One preferred by the north, the other by the south. Oh wait, the official nothern name "The war of the rebellion". So civil war is a sort of concession on the part of the North to southern post-war feelings.; 5/25/26, 6:37 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: Jefferson Davis should have been hung for Andersonville. As Harry Truman said - "The buck stops here".; 5/25/26, 6:44 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: Certainly more of the Southern Elite fought than those in the North. But you could get out of the draft by a communtation fee or hiring a substitute in the North. 150,000 approximately got out of serving that way. Including TR and FDR's fathers.

The same was true of the South until 1864. And then there was the 20-slave rule which exempted one man for every 20 slaves. Anyone working for the Government or Post Office was also exempt.; 5/25/26, 6:52 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: "On what set of terms do you think it could have been settled in 1861?"

Easy. No seccession and no new slaves states except in Arz and NM territory. OTOH, No right of congress to get rid of Slavery. Cf: Corwin Admendment.

The average southerner didn't want to leave the union. The average Northerner didn't want to interfere with slavery.

In any case, if the south wanted to leave, we should have let them.; 5/25/26, 6:59 PM
narciso said...: Most of that was lincolns program

Why should slavery expand at all; 5/25/26, 7:06 PM
john mosby said...: Narr: "Jeff Davis was sent a special gift by the Pope when he was incarcerated."

That would have been Pio Nono (Pius IX), the great enemy of Italian unification. Excommunicated Victor Emanuel. Odd that he would support a rebel or secessionist from anything, though. You'd think he'd be for keeping all borders as-is. CC, JSM; 5/25/26, 7:42 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: According to Wikipedia ( take that for what its worth) the Pope sent imprisoned Jeff Davis an autographed photo along with a "Keep your chin up" note.

The Pope wanted the war to stop and for both sides to negotiate. Standard Christianity 101. I don't see how the North's war for Union would comply with Catholic "Just war" doctrine - but i could be wrong.

Most Catholics needless to say were in blue during the Civil war.; 5/25/26, 7:49 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: Most Englishmen, including I suppose the C-of-E Bishops, supported the South during the war. They squared that with their supposed hatred of slavery by coming up with a lot of dubious "reasons".

Charles Dickens for example, thought the North didn't care about the "Negro slaves" and the Empancipation Proclamation was a fake. Others said "Slavery is doomed anyway".; 5/25/26, 7:55 PM
Maynard said...: The best way to kill a thread is to have the same person bombing the threads.; 5/25/26, 8:43 PM
Narr said...: Catholics and Jews, like Lutherans and Methodists and everyone else, tended to go with their neighbors when it came time to throw down.

I haven't done a study of Lincoln's cabinet, but Davis had a Jew and a Catholic (SecNav Mallory) in his. Whenever someone asks if Jews are white, I think of that.

The Southern Slavocrats were notoriously persnickety about such matters.; 5/25/26, 8:50 PM
Thomtum said...: If the people of Wisconsin had just put those yard signs up earlier Wisconsin kids probably wouldn’t have died at Gettysburg, Antietem and Vicksburg, etc. The yard signs are an awesome statement of your commitment to whatever, but you need to get then planted earlier.; 5/25/26, 9:03 PM
Interested Bystander said...: Nobody wants war. Well, maybe Lindsey Graham. But most people don’t want war.; 5/25/26, 9:06 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: "The best way to kill a thread is to have the same person bombing the threads."

I think you lost the thread. But if that's your only contribution - thank you for your service.; 5/25/26, 9:21 PM
Narr said...: "Nobody wants or enjoys war" is, I fear, a comforting fib we tell ourselves.

IMO, if some powerful men (and a few women) didn't want war, and other men didn't enjoy war, there would be fewer of them.; 5/25/26, 9:22 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: Judah Benjamin was the sec of war, sec of state, and AG. He was Jefferson Davis' Best friend forever. Unfortunately he was a disaster as Secretary of War. He did better as Secretary of state.

I find it amusing that while he was advising davis in 1865, to "Fight in the last ditch and never surrender", he'd sold cotton on his own account & had a tidy sum waiting for him in England.

So, while Davis tried to run off to Mexico, Judah made his way to England and never looked back. Eventually becoming a famous Lawyer, and dying in Paris. Its good to be flexible in your loyalties.; 5/25/26, 9:27 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: I can definitly see Davis as a modern day Lindsey graham or even a Mike Huckabee.; 5/25/26, 9:28 PM
Thomtum said...: Yeah, yeah; but you’re all disregarding the point about the importance of timely placed yard signs. Done timely enough there probably wouldn’t have been a Civil War.

if you disagree, feel free to reject the null hypothesis.; 5/25/26, 9:53 PM
Mike (MJB Wolf) said...: “Why should I thank her?” is classic Freder! Before she (rightly) called you an asshole, before you actually wrote assholery on here, before you ever started spouting your weird ahistorical nonsense (“Every war since 1945 has been illegal!”) there was a law professor who used her own money and time and talent to build a blog to which people found and read and shared with friends. Her writing was so fresh that even Rush Limbaugh took to quoting her blog.

She built this. She allowed an outpost for free speech even as Twitter and FB were actively censoring conservative voices and vaccine skeptics Althouse kept her site free and open. Thank you Althouse and Meade for hosting this unique and special forum. It’s a wonderful place. Even a thorough ingrate and asshole like me can still express himself and the worst thing that has happened is being called out for assholery.; 5/26/26, 5:34 AM
Saint Croix said...: Bugs Bunny in the South; 5/26/26, 7:06 AM