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American History Meets an Agenda: Ban Re-enactments
Isn’t it frustrating that some progressives insist on denigrating white Americans with the dark history of slavery (systemic racism), but refuse to acknowledge how far we’ve come in overcoming the past? That attitude—that there is only one acceptable way to illustrate American history—has become part of progressive propaganda, and in particular, according to black progressives. They want to teach their incomplete version of black history, including their own depictions of the Civil War and other controversial conflicts.
In recent years, the Left is working to ban re-enactments in particular, with excuses that simply aren’t credible or honest. Slowly but surely, more excuses are used ranging from the rejection of violence, firing weapons, felonious use of weapons, the importance of gun control, the evils of the Confederacy, white supremacy, the use of Confederate symbols, and rejection of Civil War monuments. That these events and symbols depict our history is meaningless to the Left.
Here is a brief list of some of the re-enactments that have been affected:
In September, several groups canceled re-enactments in New York after the state banned weapons, including rifles that fire black powder, from public parks and other areas. Last May, dozens of people in Maine protested Civil War re-enactors carrying Confederate flags in a Memorial Day parade. . .
And there’s this additional explanation about the New York ban:
The new firearms law passed by the State of New York and effective September 1st changed more than the handgun permit requirements. Also added are prohibitions against possession of many types of firearms in ‘sensitive locations’ which include streets, sidewalks, parks and most public locations,” the event organizers posted on Facebook on Sept. 4.
The Bushy Run battle re-enactment outside Pittsburgh is the centerpiece of the multiday event, which is also the local historical society’s biggest fundraiser, said Mr. Malley, the board member. About 1,500 spectators typically watch as a total of 100 people portraying British soldiers and members of tribes, such as the Shawnee and Delaware, square off, he said.
Mr. Malley said the state commission had separately asked the historical society to stop the Bushy Run re-enactment last August because nontribal members portrayed Indians. The group refused the request, he said, because it came shortly before the planned event. He said his group is willing to consult with tribes as required by the commission.
Howard Pollman, a spokesman for the state commission, said it is working on guidelines that would require members of federally recognized tribes to portray tribal figures in re-enactments at its historic sites. A draft he provided says that appropriate roles for nontribal people include captives or adopted people, traders or ‘someone who is specifically married to an American Indian person in the 18th century.’
And in New York, this re-enactment was stopped:
As it has done each July for decades, Genesee Country Village and Museum will plunge into Civil War history this weekend.
There will be cannon fire, and there will be muzzle flashes on the Great Meadow as part of artillery demonstrations (using blanks, of course).
But for the first time since the early 1980s, the living-history institution’s Civil War weekend will not host battle re-enactments in which hobbyists dressed as Union and Confederate soldiers clash on museum grounds, and the event won’t include Confederate iconography, such as the “Stars and Bars” flag. . .
In the absence of the battle re-enactments, Civil War weekend will not have a physical Confederate presence. About 100 re-enactors will portray Union soldiers, Wehle said. Guests, the museum’s website explains, will be able to visit their encampment and listen to the stories of combatants, including ‘colored troops and women who disguised themselves to join the war.’
But no re-enactors will play Confederate troops, and no Confederate symbols will be displayed.
Other explanations have been given for eliminating re-enactments. At one location, a couple of people were injured. At another, capacity limitations and other restrictions from COVID are still in place. Some people think a Civil War re-enactment glorifies white supremacy or slavery. Other locations state that attendance has decreased.
But those dedicated to portraying American history in a dramatic and moving way believe that continuing re-enactments without politically motivated restrictions is important.
Tanya Haessly, in Janney Furnace, AL, shared her own viewpoint:
She told ABC News her job is to make sure history is told, and she wants her children to learn about what happened during the Civil War — especially when it comes to the Confederacy.
‘Some people think that we’re racist for doing this,’ she said. ‘I had people on the northern side. My mom was from Maine, my father was from the South. And so I had people on the northern side that died. I had people on the southern side that died.
‘We’re just trying to portray history, and we have people of all races that fight for both sides because they did. So for me, this is history. I homeschool my children and this is a history lesson for them.’
These banning efforts are just another way to weaken the first and second amendments and damage the reputation of the United States. They deprive participants and audiences with a lively experience of our history, engage everyone in our young history with stories of bravery and tragedy of all people.
I hope these groups are successful in continuing and re-instating their efforts to keep our history alive.
I haven’t attended a re-enactment, but I have been to several historic sights and read their stories. In some cases, people dressed in costume and it was educational. Yet I can understand how powerful our U.S. story would be for those who participate in a re-enactment or who watch events unfold. I hate the idea of losing these opportunities that allow Americans to better understand the American story. Having read some of their descriptions, it’s clear that they put much time and effort into preparing, practicing, and learning the stories of these brave men and women. They love participating in these events, to have the chance to identify with our ancestors, to imagine how demanding and difficult it must have been to fight on either side for the future of the country.
I can’t believe that there are people who demand that these activities must be stopped.
Have you visited historic sites, especially those that have re-enactments?
Could you share your experience?
Published in History
And since the Super Soaker was invented by an American engineer named Lonnie Johnson, who happens to be black, everybody should be happy.
Lonnie Johnson
In July 2013 I attended in the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. It was very moving. Part of the history is reliving the valor of all soldiers who fought there, both sides. I took part in the re-enactment of Pickett’s charge starting from the Confederate side and crossing that wide expanse with thousands of other attendees. It was amazing to be part of. I can’t remember if anyone carried a confederate flag. I was more amazed looking at the other side of the field imagining what the breastworks would have looked like, glancing up at Little Round Top where Union artillery was firing down on the charging Rebels.
All in all without the symbols of the Confederates, the event would have lost its lustre. I oppose the tearing down of any Confederate monument, it is a loss to this nation’s history when that happens. Two of my ancestors were Union soldiers active in the western battle fronts. Soldiers fighting under the Stars & Bars were trying to kill them. Still I have understanding in my heart for those rebels and can honor their valor without honoring all of what they were fighting for.
Is there anyone clamoring to tear down replica Viking villages despite the fact that they pillaged, raped, murdered and enslaved many parts of Europe? Just a thought.
It sounds like it was a once in a lifetime experience. Thanks, Brian.
For the woke, this is the same as recreating Normany or the Battle of the Bulge–no one should want to portray the Nazis. The premise of Civil War reenactments is that the Southerners were wrong but sincere and noble in their efforts. That notion was born in the post-war reconciliation but perverted more than a little by the 1950s when the nobility of the Lost Cause was cited to justify hardened segregationist policy and attitudes.
A mix of conflicting morality and chaos is what history is all about and the reenactments are wonderful lessons. And we should not be ruled by one-dimensional humorless pukes.
Yesterday I heard a clamor for tearing down the statue of Catherine the “Great” in Odessa. She is identified as the beginning of an explicit, aggressive campaign to wipe out Ukraine as a nationality and Russify the whole works. You can’t really expect people to defend statues of the enemy in wartime, though. Once the war has been over for a while, the victors can sometimes honor the defeated or study them dispassionately.
A famous liberal once said: “…the remedy to be applied is more speech, not enforced silence.”
He could also have said, “…the remedy is more statues, not tearing down of statues.”
And he also could have said something about reenactments.
In times of adversity, Catherine would advise us to just get back under the horse and carry on.
I’m visiting Colombia now, hopefully not for the last time as we have an apartment here, my dentist, cardiologist and neurologist are here as well and once a year check ups were ok when I was a little younger.
They’ve elected a communist, a real acknowledged one, so Colombia may be over if they can’t find a way to win an election after 4 years with this guy in power.. It still has one of the most diversified economies in South and Central America and it’s entrepreneurial class invests and exercises modest power in all countries down here and in the US. Most Colombians don’t know where they’re headed, because the news they get about the US is received from CNN and our networks just like most Americans, thus don’t know that powerful groups in the US are doing the same even though only their radical members even know the thrust is principally marxist. They don’t know they can’t count on our support. Most Americans are unaware of what goes on in Latin America or the rest of the world, but the Chinese are systematically, relentlessly and successfully fostering their interests. Their long term interests are normal. They want wealth and power but they also know that they can’t allow their business class to continue to acquire power and wealth; so to sustain political power, the Chinese government knows it must squeeze business while they can. But our economy still dominates and if they shrink production and diversification they won’t dominate. They control Biden and know he has only a couple of years left. That’s where we are.
No.
Amen!
I haven’t seen an enactment, but will point out reenactment means a lack of control of the narrative for those who wish to explain history in their way. How long before there is total denial of the abolitionist movement?
I’m not pessimistic about it. There is a heck of a lot of truth making its way into the open these days. Besides, reenactments in New York? The only thing that happened there was protests, just like every other war including the one we fought for independence.
True, but I feel like we shouldn’t take anything for granted. So I’ll keep ringing the bell! Thanks, Chris.
Please do. I noticed some dispirited comments and wanted to sound a better note.
. . . and we need people like you, too!
Columbia, SC, does a reenactment of Sherman’s shelling of the city and capitol, complete with cannons on the other side of the river, all loud booms but no real shells. The capitol has stars on the building showing the pits caused by Sherman’s shells. If the city he burned can do a reenactment of the event without all this childish drama, then whiny leftists can stuff it.
I know a lot of people are spoiler-averse, but they might be more comfortable with reenactments if they knew which side wins.