The Deception of the Thrush

But the reverse is often true, as well, Karin.

As a Southerner, I felt short-shrifted in that history classes often did anything they could to avoid those same home truths about the Civil War, Lincoln, Reconstruction, etc. that you seemed to have dwelled upon. We got A LOT about Vietnam, The Civil Rights Movement, and "modern" history, at the expense of having the tread through the self-esteem-puncturing narrative that (no doubt) paints the South in the spilt blood of fellow fellow citizens and African Americans. Looking back, I could have used a little more iconography, if only to fill in the obvious gaps left by a curriculum that decided, apropos of regional identity, that if it can't say anything "good", it was best to say nothing at all.

Its interesting to me that national narrative pitches to such extremes, often at the expense of any one national historical narrative. What we call "history" can never be pried out of subjective experience, of course, but that America is so inept at even creating the illusion of cohesion is, in these times, a sad but telling fact.

Well, it was a quiet day in Vandalia, Illinois. The weather was hot for April, but the storm clouds came rolling in during the late afternoon . . .

Here's the news from your old hometown: front page of the Leader Union is full of pictures of our latest history celebration, a "Confederate Memorial Service." Seems our resident historian has spent many years proving that this confederate soldier is buried in the "Old State Burial Ground."

Now the certification of that burial is cause for a "re-inactment," complete with period costume and "actors" playing the roles of "family members." The ceremony was even presided over by members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans (out of Belleville--we are A-OK here, of course.)

Oh, what we'll do for entertainment in the "sweet little cornfield" that you left. Just "www" yourself right on over to "leaderunion.com" and see for yourself. The pictures are right nice, they are.

You can also read about our mayor's concern that Lincoln's experiences in Vandalia have been overlooked in the new Springfield museum. Gotta do sumthin' about that there misteak!

Now I'm gonna take off mah shoes, go sit on the front porch, and shoot out tires with my shotgun--oh, yeh. (You'd better explain that one to your readers!!!)

Be good, y'all

Sorry to take so long to respond to the both of you. It's been a busy week.

Interesting to hear your experience with history education, John. I blindly assumed that everyone was told the same stories I was. So, this is informative for me. The mechanisms deciding what you and I heard as students, however, seem the same -- avoid what causes shame and seek what gives glory. Or in some regions, there's obsessions of guilt as well (why am I not thinking of a good concrete example?) in which case that remorse is what dictates the stories that are passed on.

Not that this is a new and shocking revelation to anyone. Pick up any newspaper and I guarantee you'll find some current story about China, where the current anti-Japanese protests are (at least partly) driven by resentment at Japanese textbooks that have been accused of glossing over that country's past wartime conduct. As you note, these influences on our historical narratives are natural and inevitable, as sad as they are.

To my mother -- very very appropriate example with your Confederate Burial re-enactment. I couldn't think of a better one. The fact that I'm *sure* several Vandalians have period costumes in their closet, waiting for the occasion, seems telling enough.

You know, however, if I went to a far-away exotic land, and saw some people re-enacting the burial of a long-ago civil war soldier, in their own region's costumes and rituals, I would have found it fascinating, and lauded their respect for the past while decrying Americans' disconnectedness from their heritage. I don't know why it is that when I see these ceremonies take place amongst people of my own WASP-ish background, I immediately deem them insincere and empty of significance, the result of goofy "obsessions." So maybe I'm being unfair.

karin: You are the third Karin in my life. It is quite easy to distinguish between you : you are Karin, the others are Karren and Karen. so much for esoteria. and please excuse any type of graphical errors. This because I dictate all of this material through a headset microphone - my brain hand coordination is very poor.
so what can we say about icons and insomnia? First your insomnia seems to have leaked into my sleep habits as well. I hope you got more then two or three hours of sleep, and do not share the constant feeling of fatigue I have recently been experiencing, along with malaise,lassitude and other brain-fag manifestations . my commendation for your perseverance. When I awake between 0300 and 0630 hours, I manually write or dictate poetry into my word document file.
by the way, before I forget, please also send me instructions how to post a new thread subject.
respecting the USA iconery, it has been my observation as a southern alberta farm-raised-boy, a foreign neighbor to the north, a once-non-resident-alien at Berkeley, during the ron r peoples park and ho chi min park days, being tear-gassed out of classes as a result of over-zealous clashes between protestors and the visored, encountering blue-suited shock troups from alameda county who wore a very effective array of deterrents on their batman utility belts, following gas-spouting jeeps on my walk back to married student housing (the village)in el cerito, watching helicopters spout the same jeep gas, being met by baton-fixed rifles carried by fuzzy cheeked boys at the entry to any store in the berkeley downtown area where I could buy new under garments for my young children (one of whom was born across the bay in san fransisco), and having experienced the angst of another young couples sudden and untimely death of their baby son (perhaps) due to gases that pervaded the village on one day during that period. I too share your possible misgivings about the iconery - as well as your insightful hedge set out in the followup posting. I have, for at least for the period beween about 1960-2000, been very impressed with your county's insistence on allegiance to the country that resides south of my county's border. however, in the past few years, in what I will call the era of lou dobbs (positive), massive deficits and debts (negative) and gdoubleu (doublenegative), you individually, collectively (and hopefully) will begin to steer your country toward a gentler, kinder iconery and white house mindset. best wishes on that effort. and, despite your misgivings/doubts, I still believe in honouring the war-dead, despite the *justness* of the war itself, but also agree tht that at least as much attention must be given to healing the divisions (you are probably familiar with our east-west-east and english-french divisions up here as well). so, enough for now, hope I have not stepped on any toes, but if i have, i apologise in advance. by the way - your country still has a lot of good going for it, despite the hiprocrosy of relatively recent iraq, softwood lumber and mad cow disease decisions by the white house. and i promise not to invoke any more discourse that is or might be construed as *political*.

Brian,
Thanks for your comments. Sorry not to notice your previous comments to "Drawing a Blank". I often neglect to check posts for new comments once they've disappeared from the main screen.

You are actually the second person to find this site while searching for a medical term in google. The first person was looking up "jumpy knee" syndrome.

You were interested in posting a new thread subject. Since this blog is sponsored by a University of Minnesota service, one can only post new entries if they have a UMN username/password. Though I am currently in Pennsylvania I still have the password because I was staff at Minnesota just a year ago. Anyways, if you do have something you'd like me to post on your behalf, I welcome you to send it to me (I believe if you click my name at the bottom of this comment page that will give you an address to send to).

And don't worry about possibly offending or stepping on anyone's toes by talking politics. So long as everyone's polite and respectful (which to my good fortune they always have been) then making strong statements, including politically-charged strong statements, is perfectly acceptable.

Yes, so, I've been talking about regional icons --Lincoln/Civil War in Illinois, and so on, and I was talking with my mother on the phone the other day about how my current residence, Pittsburgh, still revolves around the figure of Andrew Carnegie and the Industry Will Save Us All ethic of its well-known past. But I'd have to think about who the current U.S. national icons really are. Are Americans united in their support of any single living person, or in their nostalgia for any figure of the past? The same question would be interesting to apply to Canada as well.

My experience tells me "no". The *expectation* for historical personages to "unite" is there, and usually held close enough to the larger conception of the nation to be above criticism in itself. However, from Toronto to Miami Beach you can rely on finding someone willing to besmirch the reputation of, or question the intentions of anyone from anytime, anywhere. The ability to tear down is codified in the building up of our system (any system, really: political, social, personal, etc.)

This fundamental disjuncture in our *expectation* and reality, when explored further, is rather disheartening. One would think that, as many times as our "freedom" to form dissenting opinions is name checked by the Capital Hill crowd that such a slippage in what we say and what we do would at least have some avenue by which to be discussed honestly. The only person I've ever seen mention anything like this in public was Al Sharpton, alluding to Clinton and the office of the Presidency, during the debates last year. Strictly speaking, from a rhetorical standpoint, it's fitting that the Reverend, who ostensibly understands the power of the speech act, would give voice to it.

Brian, I missed your comment, too. "Blank Mind" is my one and only blog--so far. I would certainly be glad to hear your thoughts--I care to share!

RESPONSE TO RANT ON THE "LINCOLN OBSESSION"

First, it was generous of you to label your blog entry a rant, and spare your Dad the search for a less offensive description. Describing your morning--and state of mind--will excuse some of your conclusions.

That said, let's mow some weeds, starting from the front: ". . . surely any municipality has the capacity to rake in tourist revenue, somehow. We've all heard of giant balls of twine. But more commonly nameless towns try to resusitate the past. For my home town that was Lincoln, Lincoln, Lincoln . . . Lincoln served as a state legislator in Vandalia, but he served all sorts of offices elsewhere, and those towns celebrate him equally, as well as probably any Illinois town were he . . . bought a cup of coffee . . . . recreating a legend of Abe leaping from a burning state capitol building. . . "

There is little evidence in the Illinois towns I've visited that celebrate Lincoln's life, that is the equivalent of your giant ball of twine (New Salem, Chicago, Charleston, Alton, Peoria, etc.). Most of the memorials celebrate his presence there as a successful lawyer, or are cities where he debated. Lincoln, e.g., secured the town of Lincoln's incorporation. He was instrumental in securing canals and interstate railroads that affected many Illinois towns. He did not just sip coffee. The statues, restored courthouses (e.g. Alton and Mt. Pulaski) recognize these contributions. They certainly are not direct sources of revenue. Nor, e.g., can the Lincoln impersonators be compared to Elvis imitators.

Incidentally, while still likely a legend, Lincoln jumped from the second floor window of the Vandalia Statehouse to avoid the possibility of a quorum. And, since Lincoln *lost* more elections that he won, it's fair to say his service at Vandalia was more significant than elsewhere (like his 2-year term in D.C.)--if for nothing else than having moved the capital to the more centrally-located Springfield.

"But it's not just my hometown. It's the entire state. . ." Why not? Illinois *is* the Land of Lincoln. Beyond his birth (KY) and the death of his mother, every significant event in Lincoln's personal and political life, until the Civil War, took place here--developing his railsplitter image while farming south of Charleston, his service in the Black Hawk War, his becoming a lawyer, his marriage and birth of his children, the Great Debates, and his nomination as President.

"So what could possibly be wrong with the Lincoln Obsession? First the excessive focus on this one historical figure overdoses us on the stories which surely have been stripped of meaning by now. . ."

One sentence here at a time: The Civil War is literally the dividing line in American History. One America ends--another begins--whether it's the end of slavery, the beginning of mass industrialization, the death of the Whig Party or the birth of the Republican, new waves of immigration, westward expansion, the growth of labor unions, the rise of America as a world power, etc. Lincoln was not only instrumental in the obvious changes (First Republican President/Emancipation) but in being the only President in history, save Polk, to carry out every major promise in his platform (like a high protective tariff and a railroad to the Pacific) "he" set in motion others as well.

The fact (as Obama suggested) that he did not support full equality for blacks doesn't take away from his role as the Great Emancipator.

Early in his career, to take an unqualified position in support of full equality would have meant Lincoln would have had no more chance of being elected than had any Free Soiler. Southern Illinois, itself, was little different than its slave neighbors, Missouri and Kentucky, in its sentiments. Charleston was a source of draft riots, Giant City hid deserters, Lovejoy was martyred in Alton. Post war, the KKK thrived in Williamson County, etc.

Lincoln's position was based partly on the fact that few blacks met the basic requirements that any immigrant would have had to meet to obtain U. S. citizenship. Remember this was a time approximately 55 years before women got the vote. It's fair to say he anticipated what might happen in the South, if full citizenship was immediately granted.

***A few more quick points. I'd welcome more time devoted to Lincoln, especially in a nation where the greatest number of statues built in honor of anyone are to Nathan Bedford Forrest--Civil War general and originator of the first KKK.

***If you had a teacher who treated the Civil War as simplistically as North--good/South--bad, perhaps you had a prototype of the afore-mentioned animatronic figure. Don't blame "too much discussion of Lincoln and the Civil War" for not getting to Vietnam. Blame a school system that thinks 2 semesters is sufficient time to cover 500+ years of U.S. history.

***I'm not going to argue spending priorities. However, consider these points. The Lincoln Library involves essentially a one "term" expenditure. It's fair to say that given the somewhat Disney World approach,there will be a return, financially, on the investment. If it's from out-of-state tourists (new money) so much the better. Your alternative proposals, while needed, carry a much larger price tag.

As sad as it may be, a large number of students (and adults) cannot be reached, short of appealing to nearly all the senses (except 'common'). I've shown Ken Burns' celebrated Civil War series, only to have students, within 10 minutes, object because the pictures were stills and not animated. I've had others object when films weren't in color.

If you've any doubt about whether people have been made sufficiently aware of Lincoln, keep in mind a recent survey asking who, in the public's opinion, were the greatest American Presidents. The majority of the respondents, if I recall correctly, did not name any President who'd been born outside of their own lifetime.

Hello Dad! Good to hear from you. I will respond to these comments shortly. For now I have to attend to grad school garbage...