I had a feeling that McWhiney’s death would re-kindle the controversies surrounding some of his more suspect historical theories. There is a thread on H-South which addresses the appropriateness of any serious critique of McWhiney’s views so close on the heels of his death. Unfortunately, the participants in this discussion don’t really get beyond petty bickering to a serious discussion except for Jim Loewen and Edward Sebesta. Start here with the reprinted obituary from the Chicago Tribune and then click here for May’s strand and scroll down to the bottom for the first entry. No doubt this discussion thread will soon grow sufficiently nauseating as most threads have in recent months. Has anyone else noticed the deteriorating quality of the posts on these listserves?
On the Memory of Grady McWhiney
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Reading though the list of posters in the string, I’m reminded of “Casablanca”: “Round up the usual suspects.” The crime would be the content deterioration on H-South and H-CivWar that Kevin mentions. These days, I mostly just read the reviews.
Even people with degrees can be silly. (or sillier)
As a student, rather than a professional, my exposure to Dr McWhinneys darker side has been nil. The “celtic” theme in Attack and Die caused me (A Celt by birth) to do nothing but laugh. Given the celtic diaspora throughout the extent of the British empire it appeared a lame subject. His assertion of the technological dominance of the battlefield thru new rifles has been more important, if still controversial.
I’m more disappointed he didn’t complete his study of Bragg.