Confederate sympathizers must be beside themselves over the renaming of Fort Bragg. It’s now Fort Liberty—not very creative, but better than being named after a Confederate General.
So be it. May the name changes continue until there are no slavery-tainted monikers left. I see this as being less about erasing our past than it is about taking a closer look at who we want our heroes to be.
On a related note, what brand of history were we taught when we were in school? Was it anywhere near accurate, or was it the classic winner’s version of events—inherent bias bordering on jingoism, unencumbered by the reality of missing voices?
Recorded history is a messy enterprise, vulnerable to bias, subject to revision. To some extent, the onus is on the reader or student to learn to read between the lines, get the fullest picture. But more importantly, it is on teachers, who must not be afraid of or restrained from imparting a fuller, less sanitized version of the truth.
Unless you live in Florida. Then all bets are off.
3 Cents' 