Lies Across America

[Mike Kluznik <mkluznik@HOTMAIL.COM>]

I'm currently reading history book that I'd recommend to others.  It's by
James W. Loewen entitled "Lies Across the Country."  His earlier work, "Lies
My Teacher Told Me," was also very good.
I'm skeptical of many history debunkers.  They can come up with some pretty
strange interpretations of history.  I also don't go in much for vitimology.
 However, Loewen seems to do a good job of debunking and also pointing out
how women, minorities and some political groups have been excised from our
history.
Lowen looks at the museums and historical markers that dot our country.  He
points out that you almost never find anything bad in those museums and
roadside markers.  That is what makes history so boring for most of us.
He points out that states like West Virginia and Kentucky, which were part
of the Union during the Civil War, have somehow been transformed into
Confederate havens by such groups as the Daughters of the Confederacy (I'm
not sure that's the exact name).  He also points out how Tennessee glorifies
Nathan Bedford.  The latter had been a CSA general.  He also, appparently,
started the KKK.  There are memorials to him all over Tennesee.  None ever
mention how Bedford murdered Union soldiers at Ft. Pillow, including many
free black soldiers.
Little if any mention is made of the murders and random violence that
occurred after Reconstruction came to an end.
By the way, for all you Texans and Texan wannabees, Texas has more markers
than any other state.  I guess more history happened in Texas.
In trying to tie this book into something relevant for listserv, I think it
would be interesting to see some of the fiction used in state history
standards.
Mike

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