Comments on: Shelby Foote on American Exceptionalism http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/18/shelby-foote-on-american-exceptionalism/ Where History, Heritage, and Education Intersect Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:35:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Arleigh Birchler http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/18/shelby-foote-on-american-exceptionalism/#comment-29442 Arleigh Birchler Wed, 31 Aug 2011 23:03:55 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5513#comment-29442 Regarding Rob's statement: I would not assume that Foote meant that we would have allowed slavery to continue. I take him to be saying that if we were really superior we sould have figured out a better way to end slavery. I do not see that as implying that it would have "just died on its own", but that if we were really superior, we would have found a way. Regarding Rob’s statement: I would not assume that Foote meant that we would have allowed slavery to continue. I take him to be saying that if we were really superior we sould have figured out a better way to end slavery. I do not see that as implying that it would have “just died on its own”, but that if we were really superior, we would have found a way.

]]> By: Arleigh Birchler http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/18/shelby-foote-on-american-exceptionalism/#comment-29441 Arleigh Birchler Wed, 31 Aug 2011 23:01:21 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5513#comment-29441 I am not sure I have ever set down and watched all of the Burns/Foote series on "The Civil War". I did see some parts and that inspired me to learn more about the War. I read all three volumes of Foote's Narrative. As I recall, he did not paint himself as anything more than a novelist. I could easily be mistaken about that as I did not pay that close attention to all of it. My impression was that Foote's interest in Nathan Bedford Forrest was as a General and a Tactician. Bedford's cavalry captured my great-great grandfather and most of his company. His raid on the M&O was, from a military point of view, an immense success. That does not make him a good man, simply either a good general or very lucky. I agree with Foote's appraisal of the "American" ego. I have never thought of him as a conservative in any sense of the word. From my limited point of view I thought he was fairly liberal in his political views. Another quote that I have heard attributed to Shelby Foote: "I love to see a computer --- flying out a window." I don't know if the person who told me that story was being totally honest, but it does sound like the kind of thing Foote would say. I am not sure I have ever set down and watched all of the Burns/Foote series on “The Civil War”. I did see some parts and that inspired me to learn more about the War. I read all three volumes of Foote’s Narrative. As I recall, he did not paint himself as anything more than a novelist. I could easily be mistaken about that as I did not pay that close attention to all of it.

My impression was that Foote’s interest in Nathan Bedford Forrest was as a General and a Tactician. Bedford’s cavalry captured my great-great grandfather and most of his company. His raid on the M&O was, from a military point of view, an immense success. That does not make him a good man, simply either a good general or very lucky.

I agree with Foote’s appraisal of the “American” ego. I have never thought of him as a conservative in any sense of the word. From my limited point of view I thought he was fairly liberal in his political views.

Another quote that I have heard attributed to Shelby Foote: “I love to see a computer — flying out a window.” I don’t know if the person who told me that story was being totally honest, but it does sound like the kind of thing Foote would say.

]]> By: Marc Ferguson http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/18/shelby-foote-on-american-exceptionalism/#comment-12688 Marc Ferguson Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:01:48 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5513#comment-12688 No apology necessary.<br><br>Marc No apology necessary.

Marc

]]> By: Rob Wick http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/18/shelby-foote-on-american-exceptionalism/#comment-12687 Rob Wick Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:23:03 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5513#comment-12687 Marc,<br>Allow me to apologize for failing to realize your comment was not meant to be taken seriously. After I wrote my comment, I started to wonder if that wasn't the case. Hopefully no harm, no foul!<br><br>Best<br>Rob Marc,
Allow me to apologize for failing to realize your comment was not meant to be taken seriously. After I wrote my comment, I started to wonder if that wasn't the case. Hopefully no harm, no foul!

Best
Rob

]]> By: Marc Ferguson http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/18/shelby-foote-on-american-exceptionalism/#comment-12686 Marc Ferguson Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:12:16 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5513#comment-12686 I thought it would be obvious that my tongue was firmly planted in my cheek when I made that comment. I momentarily forgot that there are people out there, some of them writing "history" blogs, that say such things in all seriousness.<br><br>;^) I thought it would be obvious that my tongue was firmly planted in my cheek when I made that comment. I momentarily forgot that there are people out there, some of them writing “history” blogs, that say such things in all seriousness.

;^)

]]> By: Marc Ferguson http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/18/shelby-foote-on-american-exceptionalism/#comment-12332 Marc Ferguson Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:01:48 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5513#comment-12332 No apology necessary.<br><br>Marc No apology necessary.

Marc

]]> By: Rob Wick http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/18/shelby-foote-on-american-exceptionalism/#comment-12328 Rob Wick Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:23:03 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5513#comment-12328 Marc,<br>Allow me to apologize for failing to realize your comment was not meant to be taken seriously. After I wrote my comment, I started to wonder if that wasn't the case. Hopefully no harm, no foul!<br><br>Best<br>Rob Marc,
Allow me to apologize for failing to realize your comment was not meant to be taken seriously. After I wrote my comment, I started to wonder if that wasn't the case. Hopefully no harm, no foul!

Best
Rob

]]> By: Marc Ferguson http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/18/shelby-foote-on-american-exceptionalism/#comment-12321 Marc Ferguson Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:12:16 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5513#comment-12321 I thought it would be obvious that my tongue was firmly planted in my cheek when I made that comment. I momentarily forgot that there are people out there, some of them writing "history" blogs, that say such things in all seriousness.<br><br>;^) I thought it would be obvious that my tongue was firmly planted in my cheek when I made that comment. I momentarily forgot that there are people out there, some of them writing “history” blogs, that say such things in all seriousness.

;^)

]]> By: Kevin Levin http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/18/shelby-foote-on-american-exceptionalism/#comment-12304 Kevin Levin Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:22:23 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5513#comment-12304 Thanks for the link. That was hilarious. Thanks for the link. That was hilarious.

]]> By: msimons http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/18/shelby-foote-on-american-exceptionalism/#comment-12303 msimons Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:19:37 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5513#comment-12303 I agree with Foote on this one. I agree with Foote on this one.

]]> By: Andy http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/18/shelby-foote-on-american-exceptionalism/#comment-12302 Andy Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:58:09 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5513#comment-12302 Lewis Black clarifies this point (language NSFW): <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mCDZMWVWuc" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mCDZMWVWuc</a> Lewis Black clarifies this point (language NSFW): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mCDZMWVWuc

]]> By: markrcheathem http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/18/shelby-foote-on-american-exceptionalism/#comment-12292 markrcheathem Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:41:20 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5513#comment-12292 Good point. In light of his other statements in the series, maybe I gave Foote too much credit by focusing on the latter part of his statement. Good point. In light of his other statements in the series, maybe I gave Foote too much credit by focusing on the latter part of his statement.

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