Thank You Facebook

Greetings Cosmic Americans!

Not a Civil War post today...it's Super Bowl Sunday anyway - so I am sure people are thinking about football and not the Civil War. I would like to make just a few comments about my favorite social media website: Facebook. There is a lot of hullabaloo these days concerning Facebook and public trading - but the main issue is (and probably will remain) privacy. One of the principle concerns is the now all-too-familiar practice of selling your personal data to advertisers. That means pictures, profile updates, information, and all the rest. Some of you might even be genuinely upset by this. RELAX.

My friends. Facebook provides a platform for you to connect with old friends and make new friends. It has allowed Cosmic America to reach thousands of people - potentially hundreds of thousands or even millions. And they provide this platform for no charge. So from where I sit, if the company wants to increase their revenue by selling my profile updates to advertisers who are trying to figure out what kind of toothpaste I should use then they have my blessings. I mean really - did you think the good people at Facebook create web platforms out of the kindness of their hearts? Sheesh.

Here are a few words of wisdom to those who might be in a fury over Facebook's policies. If you have something to say or a photograph that is so sensitive that "breaches" of privacy could cause you anxiety...DON'T POST IT ON FACEBOOK. Better yet, delete your account. There are lots of ways to communicate with your friends - like the US Mail. Now that's an efficient service (snicker).

And one last thing - if you ever plan on running for an elected office. You might reconsider that profile picture of you sitting on the toilet eating a sandwich.

Enjoy the game!

Keith

If Robert E. Lee had a Facebook Page

Greetings Cosmic Americans!

Today, just for fun, let's see if the impossible can actually shed a little light on something. I mean...why not? I am home sick with a cold and it is pouring down rain outside.

This past summer, when I was attending the Civil War Institute 2011 conference in Gettysburg, historian Peter Carmichael wondered what Robert E. Lee's Facebook page would have looked like. After stating to the audience (correctly) that they probably were somewhat unfamiliar with the medium, he went on to discuss how on Facebook, you live your life for all the world to see - and that it is all about approval and affirmation.You make a statement...and people can "like" it.

Now - Lee understood that military policy needed the support of the Confederate populace. Without it, the efforts to secure independence would surely fail. So in this regard, a Facebook page would have been entirely helpful. "Should I invade Pennsylvania?" he could ask...and wait a minute or so to see how many of his friends clicked the little thumbs up button.

Of course, this is an utterly ridiculous proposition - but it does make one think about the connections between military policy and the homefront in a democratic republic. Lee understood that his army was the physical manifestation of the will of the Confederate people...and that so long as his army could continue the fight, his country's citizens could hold on to their dreams of independence.

Hey! Guess what. Lee actually does have a Facebook page (in case you were wondering, he has a Twitter account as well). I sent him a friend request - not because I support his efforts, but because I want to click the like button should he ever post anything about surrendering at Appomattox. He has not accepted just yet...maybe he thinks I am a Yankee spy.

Peace,

Keith

Cosmic America on Facebook

Greetings Cosmic Americans!

So - are social media the future of teaching? Well, maybe not entirely - I find it hard to imagine the classroom...in the traditional sense, ever disappearing in favor of Internet platforms. I will say this however. In terms of the dissemination of resources and searching the historical record, the Internet and its behemoth networking platforms like Facebook and Twitter are not going anywhere any time soon. So at the very least, we teachers should embrace them - and likewise utilize them to their full potential.

In the spirit of getting on board and not rejecting the "nonsense waste of time" that 14-year-olds flock to to get the latest on Justin Bieber, I have been a champion of social media for some time. And in this same spirit, I have created a Facebook "fan" page for Cosmic America. I will be stepping up my game over there - so I invite those of you who like to put in their two cents on the Civil War to join me.

The idea, naturally, is to discuss the various pictures, videos, and articles that I post on the page - and I suppose you can mention Justin Bieber too, if you feel so compelled. I have to admit that I have actually seen his film Never Say Never, and after I managed to get over my hives, I found his performance at Madison Square Garden....interesting. Do what you want with that information - I digress.

Besides the profoundly broad topic of Civil War history and memory, I propose no specific theme for this page - whatever comes up that day (like the picture to the left or this article on the sesquicentennial) will be wide open for comment, whether you love it or hate it or think I am way off base (that happens from time to time), the forum will be open to anyone.

At any rate - I anticipate some good and hopefully even valuable discussion. Civil War students, teachers, buffs, wingnuts...come one come all!

Peace,

Keith