I love writing for the Atlantic, but I have learned to hate the comments section. My last post on changing attitudes surrounding the public display of the Confederate flag is now pushing 300 comments, but I would venture that 98% of them are worthless. It should come as no surprise that the post has been [...]
blogging
A good friend of mine recently set up a Facebook page for her forthcoming book on the role of Christianity in shaping the concept of race in early Virginia. She asked friends on Facebook as well as her Twitter followers to go ahead and “like” the page and within a couple of days had reached [...]
I can’t tell you how often I receive emails from folks who believe that my blog reflects a personal assault against the Confederacy and all things southern. Yesterday I received the most bizarre email from a Frederick Douglass impersonator who took issue with my blog’s banner. I should point out that the banner was part [...]
Last night I heard some rumblings on Facebook and Harry Smeltzer’s blog that the June 2012 issue of Civil War Times includes an editorial on Civil War blogging by Gary Gallagher. With my curiosity piqued and the issue not yet in stores I decided to secure a copy of the editorial from the author himself. [...]
I understand that the Internet and social media sites can be an empowering place. It also has a powerful democratizing effect, which I value. That doesn’t mean that everyone’s voice ought to be given equal weight. Though it should be utilized with discretion, sometimes the most appropriate response is the back of the hand. Here [...]
Today I was sad to learn that Ralph Luker is closing up shop over at HNN’s Cliopatria blog. Ralph has been blogging since before I was born – I mean my blog, of course. Early on it was the place to be seen and I certainly benefited from Ralph’s encouragement and support from making it [...]
Today I had the pleasure of skyping with a Civil War class at Marquette University High School in Milwaukee. Chris Lese and his class have made good use of my blog over the past few weeks so I offered to spend some time with his students to field questions. In addition to utilizing the blog [...]
