(GA) House proclaims 2007 the Year of Robert E. Lee

[The Straight Story]

House proclaims 2007 the Year of Robert E. Lee
Coastal Empire | Local News
Walter C. Jones | Thursday, January 25, 2007 at 12:30 am

Civil War general has deep ties to Savannah

ATLANTA - With little fanfare or controversy, the House proclaimed 2007 as the "Year of Lee" in honor of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.

Lee's birthday was celebrated Friday by a small crowd at the Capitol. Officially, the birthday is one of three Confederate state holidays, but government employees are off the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Resolutions saluting people pass the General Assembly almost daily without discussion or much notice, but those recognizing controversial figures usually trigger a debate. For example, last year, a measure commending Oscar-winning actress and Georgia resident Jane Fonda for her contributions to curbing teen pregnancy resulted in national headlines when lawmakers voted it down because of her protests during the Vietnam War.

So House Resolution 28 is noteworthy because of how little stir it caused when it passed unanimously Jan. 11.

As a slaveowner who led the South in the war that eventually abolished slavery, Lee has been reviled in some circles. He was stripped of his U.S. citizenship until President Ford restored it. Last week, his memory caused friction in Tampa, Fla., when the city council there adopted its own resolution proclaiming a "year of Lee," according to The Associated Press.

Another icon of the Old South - the Confederate battle flag - remains a source of debate in Georgia, even during last fall's campaign as "flaggers" protested Gov. Sonny Perdue for not putting it back into the design of the official state banner.


http://savannahnow.com/node/217337

[ClintonTyree]

1. It's Georgia...

nothing else needs be said.

[GreenZoneLT]

3. Rigggghhhhht, we're all Confederates.

The blacks who make up 30 percent of the population just humbly do what Mr. Charlie tells 'em to. OK, whatever.

What state do John Lewis and Cynthia McKinney live in, again?

[GreenZoneLT]

2. Not a bad guy, ole Marse Robert

Considering the context of his birth and rearing, he was a fairly progressive sort. He was in favor of gradual manumission and opposed to secession, and was reportedly torn about which army to serve with once Virginia did secede. Certainly no worse on the slavery issue than Thomas Jefferson was.

He was instrumental in ensuring that the conflict ended with finality and didn't drag on as a guerilla war. And unlike a lot of seceshes, he went right back to public service after the war, leading Washington College (late renamed Washington & Lee in his honor), despite ill health. Any punishment he deserved was more than meted out; the feds confiscated his family estate and turned it into Arlington National Cemetery.

No surprise that the Georgia House black caucus didn't raise a murmer; Lee isn't a racist icon like Nathan Bedford Forrest.

[unhappycamper]

4. Forrest was a pretty interesting character.

He had no formal military education, yet he set new standards for speed, stealth and subterfuge in his encounters. FWIW, don't bother touring the Brice's Crossing battlefield unless you want to say you've been there. Most of the battlefield is now working farms.

[GreenZoneLT]

5. Yeah, his problem was he apparently hated blacks.

Forrest apologists say he didn't have knowledge of the Fort Pillow massacre, and that he was a figurehead of the Klan who quit after it became a night-riding pogrom outfit. But the guy sold slaves for a living before the war; hard to ignore that.

Amazing general, though, that's true. Possibly the best self-taught tactician since Shaka Zulu.

Git there first with the most men.
Hit 'em on the eeyund.
Keep up the skeer.

[The Straight Story]

6. Let us hope Gettysburg does not go the way of Brice's crossing

Heard talk off and on of giving up part of it for parking or something.

[SaveElmer]

7. Every Northern state should have Ulysses S. Grant Day...

A man far more important to the country that Lee...

Second in importance only to Lincoln in the effort to save the Union...

And for my money a better General that Lee!!!

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

8. Really? When's Hitler day?

Timothy McVeigh Appreciation Week?

[The Straight Story]

9. or worse - bush appreciation month.....

that would be freaky indeed.