Brickbat: Fighting Old Battles

In Illinois, Lakewood Forest Preserves District President Angelo Kyle attempted to cancel this year's 27th annual Civil War re-enactment, which is scheduled for July. He rescinded the cancellation after other Lake County commissioners complained, and the organizer noted that they already have a contract. But Kyle says he doesn't want to host the event in the future. It is the largest event hosted by the park, drawing about 3,000 people each year, a fact that seems to grate on Kyle. "Why isn't (the largest event) pertaining to the mission of the forest preserve—preserving our natural resources and environmental quality of Lake County?" he said.

Comments

[68W58]

Mr. Kyle seemed to believe that a distorted version of history was being taught at the event:

Kyle, who is African American, said on Tuesday that history is written by the victors, and he believes there is only one side to the story being told at re-enactment events.

“Our ancestors told us what really happened. Did you know that black soldiers were put on the front line in the North and Southern front lines so they would be killed first?” he asked fellow board members.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/news/ct-lns-lake-county-civil-war-days-st-0612-story.html

Of course, this isn’t remotely true, but any event that flies in the face of whatever nonsense Mr. Kyle’s “ancestors” told him had to go.

[Ray McKigney]

This is the first time I've heard that particular myth. I wonder how many people actually believe that?

[Fats of Fury]

Myth? Don't you know your Ebonistory? Get woke.

[creech]

B.S. Gen.Meade and Gen. Grant removed the black troops , who had trained for the famous Crater episode, and replaced them with untrained white troops, because they were afraid how it would look if the black troops got slaughtered. So the white troops got slaughtered instead. Maybe he gets his history from the movie "Glory?" Unlike portrayed in the movie, a white regiment took place in the assault too.

[Earth Skeptic]

Soon to be a Netflix special, starring Jussie Smollet.

[Fist of Etiquette]

“It generated a lot of calls and emails from people for it and against it,” he said.

He started the conversation that the defeated South has been trying to have for 150 years.

[Longtobefree]

"He started the conversation that the defeated South has been trying to have for 150 years."

So now we are going to take a lesson from the middle east, and begin to demand the return of our occupied territories. If losing multiple wars doesn't end the palistinian "right" to take Israel, why should a small piece of paper from a Virginia backwater have ended our property rights?

[Jerryskids]

Due to safety concerns, we are canceling the Civil War Days event scheduled for July 13 and 14, 2019.

"After consulting with local and state law enforcement agencies, we made the decision to cancel the event due to public safety concerns. Our number one concern is the safety of participating Lake County residents and visitors, reenactors and vendors, as well as our staff and volunteers operating the event. They are our top priority," said Ty Kovach, Lake County Forest Preserves Executive Director.

“During the past week, there have been many responses to information stemming from a June 11 Forest Preserves board meeting where Civil War Days was discussed. Some of these responses were very concerning,” said John Tannahill, Director of Public Safety for the Lake County Forest Preserves. “We consulted with local and state law enforcement agencies that specialize in events like this about the responses. Based on their advice, and in an effort to keep everyone safe, canceling is the best decision.”

"We're canceling this due to the threat of violence."
"Really? You're expecting violence? From whom?"
"Us."

How many bureaucrats does it take to run a park? Illinois, for the love of God, you've got to start a spay/neuter program to keep the parasite problem in check.

[Jerry B.]

“For 27 years, you have the same reenactment every year. What new can you learn from it?”

That those who forget their history are doomed to repeat it, perhaps?

[Rat on a train]

Next year they will change it up by reenacting the Battle of Trafalgar.

[Vernon Depner]

Maybe they could reenact the Watts Riots, for balance.

[Eddy]

More pearls of wisdom:

"Kyle questioned the value of a Civil War-themed event, saying the conflict, “didn’t end slavery. Slavery wasn’t over that day.”

"“Slavery went on for another 100 years,” he added, referring to Jim Crow and discrimination. “And what do you think happened with the angry slave masters who just lost the war? Hundreds of slaves were killed, and chained and shackled. They took revenge out on the slaves.

"“They made the black man plow the field all day and then slept with their women at night,” Kyle said. “Who can tell you more about slavery than the victims?”"

"Woo-eee! I done told ya the War Between the States weren't about slavery!" /Guy with Confederate battle flag bumper sticker

[Ray McKigney]

“Woo-eee! I done told ya the War Between the States weren’t about slavery!” /Guy with Confederate battle flag bumper sticker

Hehehe

[Á àß äẞç ãþÇđ âÞ¢Đæ ǎB€Ðëf ảhf]

"Why isn't (the largest event) pertaining to the mission of the forest preserve—preserving our natural resources and environmental quality of Lake County?" he said.

Because you can pass all sorts of laws about what is legal, but popular is beyond your control. You, a politician, ought to understand that better than most.

[Eddy]

Nonsense, if you want popular environmental event, just hold a tree-hugging, anti-logging re-enactment. One team will be the environmentalists, tying themselves to trees. The other team will be loggers, cutting down trees and and hoping to avoid the trees the environmentalists have spiked.

[Eddy]

(I just thought of something - does hugging trees qualify as "bitter clinging?")

[Á àß äẞç ãþÇđ âÞ¢Đæ ǎB€Ðëf ảhf]

"Popular" in people coming out to spike trees? No, that's just newsy, it's not popular.

[Eddy]

At least I'm being proactive in coming up with ideas, you're just being critical.

[Chipper Jones]

Just means it's time to ban popularity.

[Earth Skeptic]

How about replacing Civil War era reenactments with Revolution War reenactments, starting with tarring and feathering "Tory" government officials?

[Quo Usque Tandem]

I practically certain Kyle is a Tory.

[Unicorn Abattoir]

"Why isn't (the largest event) pertaining to the mission of the forest preserve—preserving our natural resources and environmental quality of Lake County?"

My favored cause will be the biggest even in the park, even if I have to cancel every other event to do it!

[Robert]

This is an artifact of Illinois's naming as forest preserves what in other states would be called "parks".

[Longtobefree]

You say preserves, I say jelly - - - -