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239 reviews for:
Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner's Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause
Ty Seidule
4.4 AVERAGE
239 reviews for:
Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner's Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause
Ty Seidule
4.4 AVERAGE
Another book many should read because the lost cause movement has poisoned so many people’s minds. Seeing a person, a southern just like myself grow up idolizing Lee but then over time learning about the truth and the absolute wrong doings by him and the confederacy is something more need to do. Understanding he committed treason and wanted to fight for slavery should be an automatic red flag in people’s minds but yet it flies right over. Many in my family fall for these lies spread since the end of the war but myself and a few others are constantly learning and finding more about the truth and how to fight the lost cause movement that is a cancer to society.
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Powerful. Seidule wrestles with the racism that influenced how he grew up and how he saw the world as he works to understand the role Robert E. Lee played in this country's past and how this country refuses to honestly confront that. As he writes towards the end of the book: "We do have a responsibility to acknowledge the past, to acknowledge the facts. The past does not have to control us, especially if we understand it." I learned a lot and and I thought a lot reading this.
Excellent read.
Identified with the author on several facets - Southerner coming of age in the 1980s and as a career Army officer; we even have a West Point link - he taught there, I am a graduate (though not there at the same time).
I never particularly wanted to be a Southern gentleman, however, my early life was steeped in many of the same ideas - only a few generations removed from the Civil War era.
Funny how moving away from home, traveling the world, and constantly reading opens one’s eyes and changes your thinking (when willing - know plenty who never will).
The challenge now is to continue overcoming that thinking - to recognize we are all human and race should not be what ever divides us.
Identified with the author on several facets - Southerner coming of age in the 1980s and as a career Army officer; we even have a West Point link - he taught there, I am a graduate (though not there at the same time).
I never particularly wanted to be a Southern gentleman, however, my early life was steeped in many of the same ideas - only a few generations removed from the Civil War era.
Funny how moving away from home, traveling the world, and constantly reading opens one’s eyes and changes your thinking (when willing - know plenty who never will).
The challenge now is to continue overcoming that thinking - to recognize we are all human and race should not be what ever divides us.
informative
reflective
The subtitle of this book is A Southerner’s Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause. Ty Seidule is a retired Brigadier General in the US Army and Emeritus Professor of history at the US Military Academy at West Point who grew up revering General Robert E. Lee.
This book blends memoir/self-reflection with the historical record to demonstrate how the lost cause myth has persevered and why it needs to be addressed. As this book notes, “we find it hard to confront our past because it’s so ugly, but the alternative to ignoring our racist history is creating a racist future.”
A readable and fascinating history of racial politics in the US.
This book blends memoir/self-reflection with the historical record to demonstrate how the lost cause myth has persevered and why it needs to be addressed. As this book notes, “we find it hard to confront our past because it’s so ugly, but the alternative to ignoring our racist history is creating a racist future.”
A readable and fascinating history of racial politics in the US.
Dr. Seidule creates a thorough analysis and debunking of Lost Cause myths. He also analyzes his hometown of Alexandria, VA (Lee’s hometown, too) and shows what a dreadful influence they had on his own upbringing. As much as I appreciated the analysis, it goes on long after the point is made. This would have made a better shorter piece like a brilliant lecture; however, the persistence of these myths is why his analysis was so complete.
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
This book explains a lot of the MAGA movement and how the thinking of the south during the Civil War has shifted to the thinking of today for a number of Americans.
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
informative
fast-paced
It’s simple really:
The Civil War was about slavery. Robert E Lee committed treason when he violated his oath to the United States. He led armies of traitors that killed tens of thousands of United States soldiers. He did so to defend the enslavement, rape, torture and abuse of black people.
He is not a hero. He does not deserve statues or plaques or celebrations. The confederate flag symbolizes evil, just like the Nazi one.
This book is history told through the author’s experience growing up idolizing Lee. As a soldier and a historian he sees who Lee, and the confederacy, were and wants to help more people understand. I hope we understand.
The Civil War was about slavery. Robert E Lee committed treason when he violated his oath to the United States. He led armies of traitors that killed tens of thousands of United States soldiers. He did so to defend the enslavement, rape, torture and abuse of black people.
He is not a hero. He does not deserve statues or plaques or celebrations. The confederate flag symbolizes evil, just like the Nazi one.
This book is history told through the author’s experience growing up idolizing Lee. As a soldier and a historian he sees who Lee, and the confederacy, were and wants to help more people understand. I hope we understand.
hopeful
informative
medium-paced