"A Yankee Metrosexual with Purple Sunglasses"

Greetings Cosmic Americans!

It turns out that Cosmic America has readers from all walks of life, who hold dear all kinds of world views. I discovered this morning that the author of the blog Occidental Dissent has a few issues with yours truly. For those of you not familiar with this blog - its mission seems to be 1) The preservation of western race and culture  against what the author terms a "black run Amerika" and 2) A dedication to a neo-Confederate opposition to anything resembling Yankeedom.

First things first - thanks OD for helping  spread the Cosmic America message - I have a sneaking suspicion that your readers will disagree with me but hey, you never know. For your readers, I just wanted to provide a little biographical information to set the record straight about this whole "Yankee" thing.

I was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1967. My ancestors were from northern Alabama (Lawrence County) and fought for the Confederacy with the 16th Alabama Infantry and the 27th Georgia Infantry. I moved to California in the 1970s. So - I am not what most people would consider a Yankee, but thanks anyway for the compliment. Oh, and yes...I do sometimes wear purple sunglasses and yes...I have been to Compton many times but have never had my ass kicked.

For my readers, I would like to direct you to the comment section of of the OD post. Wow!! This is quite a display of anger. These guys sort of leave the "Heritage not Hate" groups behind - a loooong way behind. For the record, I have spoken with a lot of people in the Sons of Confederate Veterans, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Confederate reenactors, and other heritage groups who are appalled by this sort of racist agenda coupled with twenty-first century support for the Confederate cause. I wind up disagreeing with the SCV members on just about everything else, but most (not all...but most) agree that carrying forward virulent racist hatred is a bad idea.

Peace and well wishes (to all)

Keith

21st Century Technology on a Civil War Battlefield

Greetings Cosmic Americans!

I never go anywhere without my iPhone. I love it. I really do. I shoot all my videos with it, take all my pictures, post to my blogs, Tweet, and post Facebook updates. And I can't wait for the next one to come out. If the iPhone 5 outdoes the 4 - I will be stoked.

But until then, this little black device is my favorite thing. And now....you can get Civil War battlefield apps for free! Not all battles have one, mind you - but Manassas, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg are all currently available through the app store.

These are really handy tools - if you download all the info straight to your iPhone, you don't have to worry about reception when you are on the field. There are maps, videos, interpretive segments, even trivia games.

I could have really used this the last time my wife and I got hopelessly lost at Manassas. Really - it was embarrassing...I mean, I am supposed to be a Civil War historian and I got lost!

Oh well, next time I will be armed with my Manassas app and will find my way around perfectly well.

Peace,

Keith

What is Your First Memory of a Historical Event?

Greetings Cosmic Americans!

Brooks Simpson over at Crossroads posted an inquiry the other day that stimulated a lot of discussion. Along the lines of a "where were you when..." sort of question, he recalled the news of President Kennedy's assassination and noted that this was his first memory of historical significance. His post inspired me to roll that notion over in my mind for a minute.

So today I step away from the Civil War in historical memory and throw in my personal memory of some - shall we say - more recent history. The date was August 8, 1974 - I was only seven but I remember clearly as if it were yesterday....Nixon addressing the nation and resigning the presidency, effective the following day at noon. What I remember most were not the details of the scandal leading up to this broadcast, but simply the term "Watergate" and how it had been dominating the media for what seemed like (to a seven-year-old) forever. What I do remember is venting my frustration to my grandmother, the person with whom I usually watched television, explaining (in an Alabama accent that I have long since lost) that "Watergate was the only thing on TV anymore." She, a Nixon supporter, had to agree.

In those days, my favorite shows were Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom and The Wonderful World of Disney. I had had enough of Watergate, especially when it preempted my programs. These days, I do not own a TV.

So....tell me, what is your first memory of a historical event?

Peace,

Keith

Civil Warriors Round Table: A Debriefing

Greetings Cosmic Americans!

As you all know by now, one of my favorite things to do is attend local talks on the Civil War - and yes...these take place in the Los Angeles area all the time. Last night I hauled my cookies (Coni joined me - for her first Civil War round table) all the way out to the West Valley for the Civil Warriors Round Table - a small and friendly gathering that takes place at a deli once a month. Attendance was a little lighter than usual, but that mattered little  - we got a taste of a artillerist's life in the Army of the Tennessee...as told by said artillerist's grandson, David E. Wall.

Wall's talk, "Always in the Middle of Battle: Edward Kiniry and the 1st Illinois Light Artillery," followed his ancestor throughout the western theatre of war - from Forts Henry and Donelson to Atlanta and finally North Carolina. Following the talk, I asked Wall about Kiniry's position on politics and slavery - I found his wartime lack of interest for such matters intriguing - I am wondering if he just didn't record his opinions. I did turn out that after the war Kiniry (a person of Irish descent originally from Manhattan, mind you) tended to promote some degree of racial tolerance. One could assume that the war had made a difference on Kiniry's worldview. At least that is what Wall implied.

Next month, I will be speaking to this group about Robert E. Lee in the years following Appomattox...his public conciliation, his private reflection, his sense of duty, and Lee in public memory. It should be a rousing talk - hope to see you there!

Peace,

Keith

It's Movember! Men - Time Has Come to Sport a Moustache!

Greetings Cosmic Americans!

Digressing from my usual commentary on things that happened during the Civil War era, I thought I would take a minute to let you know about Movember - men around the world are rockin' moustaches to raise awareness for men's health issues - such as prostate and testicular cancer.

No, your town has not suddenly been invaded by hordes of Civil War reenactors, just a bunch of blokes raising money for a good cause. Naturally, an advocate of better living through just being plain healthy, I am on board. I started growing mine  on November 1st - according to the rules - and it is already shaping up nicely. You can bet I will have pictures posted as the month progresses.

If you would like to donate to this glorious cause or even join Team Cosmic America and help raise money (donations go to the Lance Armstrong foundation, LiveSTRONG and the Prostate Cancer Foundation) you can click HERE. I will be forever grateful!

In case you were wondering, the Civil War soldier pictured is Confederate general Robert E. Rodes (killed in action outside of Winchester in September, 1864) He sported a rather tremendous stache indeed. I hope to equal it.

Peace,
Keith