Posted on Jun 22, 2015
Should US military bases named after Confederates be renamed?
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What do these US military bases have in common?
Fort Bragg
Fort Rucker
Fort Hood
Fort Lee
Fort Benning
Fort Gordon
Fort A.P. Hill
Fort Polk
Fort Pickett
Camp Beauregard (Operated by the Louisiana National Guard)
They are all named for Confederate generals. There’s been talk for years about whether this is appropriate, and now in wake of Charleston and the South Carolina Confederate flag, it’s coming up again.
Do you think these posts should be renamed to honor people who fought in the U.S. Army exclusively? Vote, and share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Take the Poll:
http://www.stripes.com/military-life/military-history/poll-should-us-military-bases-named-after-confederates-be-renamed-1.353890#
Fort Bragg
Fort Rucker
Fort Hood
Fort Lee
Fort Benning
Fort Gordon
Fort A.P. Hill
Fort Polk
Fort Pickett
Camp Beauregard (Operated by the Louisiana National Guard)
They are all named for Confederate generals. There’s been talk for years about whether this is appropriate, and now in wake of Charleston and the South Carolina Confederate flag, it’s coming up again.
Do you think these posts should be renamed to honor people who fought in the U.S. Army exclusively? Vote, and share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Take the Poll:
http://www.stripes.com/military-life/military-history/poll-should-us-military-bases-named-after-confederates-be-renamed-1.353890#
Posted in these groups: 
Confederate Flag
Confederate Flag
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 282
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No, it's part of our history why should we try and stamp it out? Let's stop letting the media and it's sheep try and change our great military history!
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CPT Quentin von Éfáns-Taráfdar
There is an Italian saying that goes "It is better to live one day as a lion than 1000 years as a sheep."
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Did they perform well militarily? That should be the criteria that gets military assets named for one. As service members we can not exercise much latitude in choosing the policies of our civilian bosses. Retaining the names of effective military figures, even those who fought for opposing sides, helps keep that notion.
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No, by a Congressional Act they are all recognized as Veterans. There was no distinction made between them and the Union soldiers when it comes to memorials or benefits.
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No, All this confederate stuff is really getting rediuculous. As som,eone pointed out, the names were all American. It's part of our history. People associate the Confederacy with slavery and other things but forget it started before the CSA existed. Even George Washington had slaves but there's no BS about taking him off the money.
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History is not pretty, it's not fair, and someones feelings in it are going to be hurt. As far as the flag goes, it has no place on a government building other than a museum. I do not see any shackles, whips, or tattered clothes on display on top of any flag poles. Nor would I want to see any. They too belong in a museum. We cannot erase the past, but that doesn't mean we should "glorify" it either. Using the "Heritage NOT Hate" slogan is a load of crap, if you're not willing to show all sides. No flag should be displayed on Federal or State grounds besides the Colors. In the respective states cases, the state flag is appropriate as long as it's lower than the US flag. Now is the time for this country to have a true "sit down" and talk about what means what to whom. No more hiding behind rank, privilege, position, social status etc. Let's get it out in the open without the news making our decisions for us. We know there are NO mainstream media outlets that aren't slanted one way or the other. We should talk to our neighbors, friends, fellow vets, whoever and ask how do you feel? Getting the conversation started ourselves and finding out the answers ourselves is a lot better than having it force fed through a tv screen. The President campaigned on Hope and Change. It's up to us to rewrite the history books and put that "hope" and "change" in there. Not for us or our kids, but our grand kids and theirs who'll interpret what we do now and hopefully make something good out of it.
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SSG Warren Swan
SGM (Join to see) - I don't want history rewritten at all, but if one side wants to openly display their side, of it, then display all of it good and bad. And "Heritage" when used as an excuse can be bad if used as a scapegoat. "40 acres and a mule" wasn't made up by the slaves, it was made up by the federal government as a form of reparations that were never given. But I agree with you in showing "an unvarnished and unsanitized history". My issue with that would be the hidden atrocities that would be unearthed and make more issues that would further divide this country. It's a no win situation as it is, and while you and I might be able to constructively talk and come to some kind of agreement over things, there are minds that cannot and a media that will not allow this discussion to take place openly without bias in a manner meant to heal not destroy. Honestly imagine if the history books were really opened, and all the contents allowed to spill on the floor....no one would be safe, no religion would be better than the other, all races would be equal, and there would be no perfect country in the world......but that's what we want to see! The truth.
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SGM (Join to see)
SSG Warren Swan you and I are in complete agreement on the above. There have been those who proclaimed that since their ancestor didn't get the 40 acres and a mule, that they should get it, along with 160 years worth of interest. In short, my comment was about those who think that something that happened 160 years ago, that none of us were here for nor were responsible for, still means that they are owed something from everyone else.
I have a significant amount of Chocktaw and Cherokee blood, and yet the deliberate policy of the United States to reduce the native American population through destruction of the buffalo and through deliberately spread disease does not mean I have a claim against the government or a right to pick someone else's pocket to satisfy my hurt feelings.
I wasn't around then, and I don't accept responsibility to fix what I didn't mess up.Likewise I resent those who think they have the right to pick my pocket. I worked hard for what I have and no one who worked less hard has a right to complain about what I have.
And that's why I think an unsanitized and unvarnished history is the best one. In it Boston will be remembered for having more racial problems in the 70's than Selma, Alabama. In it, it will be remembered that the North wanted the South taxed on a per head basis, but without votes for the darker heads. In short, no one has the complete moral high-ground. We can and should make an attempt to make today better, because yesterday is over and done.
I have a significant amount of Chocktaw and Cherokee blood, and yet the deliberate policy of the United States to reduce the native American population through destruction of the buffalo and through deliberately spread disease does not mean I have a claim against the government or a right to pick someone else's pocket to satisfy my hurt feelings.
I wasn't around then, and I don't accept responsibility to fix what I didn't mess up.Likewise I resent those who think they have the right to pick my pocket. I worked hard for what I have and no one who worked less hard has a right to complain about what I have.
And that's why I think an unsanitized and unvarnished history is the best one. In it Boston will be remembered for having more racial problems in the 70's than Selma, Alabama. In it, it will be remembered that the North wanted the South taxed on a per head basis, but without votes for the darker heads. In short, no one has the complete moral high-ground. We can and should make an attempt to make today better, because yesterday is over and done.
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CPT Quentin von Éfáns-Taráfdar
Minor technical adjustment: In Texas the state and national flags fly at the same height. This was part of the agreement between Texas and the Union when the Union joined Texas :-)
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SPC Ronald "Ron" Jensrud
I think the people pissing and moaning want: Fort Snowflake, Base Buttercup and Camp Rainbow. Walmart is having a sale on coloring books and play doh.
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Before I vote; I need to get this off my chest. First it is a bunch of nonsense, second it has to go to committee in congress to change the name of any military installation. With that said; what are they going to name these installations? Are they going to use 20th century war heroes? Like Pershing, Patton, Puller, Abrams, etc, etc.
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