N. Bedford Forrest? Come ON people....

I've been a TN resident for 4 years, and just moved to Chapel Hill.

I'll start by saying my experience living here so far has been nothing but positive and I've received a warm welcome by my neighbors.

However (I'll keep this short and sweet)...is it just ME, or are their other residents who find it just a LITTLE uhhh....anti-progressive... to have Forrest's statue standing in your town square? And the school name???

Yes, I'm aware of his historical significance...but we all know what he's KNOWN for....nothing good.

Other communities in other southern states such as Florida and North Carolina have abolished his name completely from public landmarks and businesses.

Call it tradition, I call it something else, Personally, I'm perplexed.

Anyone else share my feelings? Please say yes.

NO offense. But i find nothing wrong with his name and do not know what you are reffering to about that he's known for nothing good. Yes he did help start the KKK but not for the reasons they are known for now look it up somewhere he actually tried to stop it after it took a wrong turn... But i am proud to have that statue and the school named after him.

Jackie wrote:

NO offense. But i find nothing wrong with his name and do not know what you are reffering to about that he's known for nothing good. Yes he did help start the KKK but not for the reasons they are known for now look it up somewhere he actually tried to stop it after it took a wrong turn... But i am proud to have that statue and the school named after him.

AMEN TO THAT!!!

You obviously don't know anything about his history or his signifigance to say such a thing. His starting of the KKK was a way to police all people, not just black people. So what you are proposing is for us to take his name off our school, remove our "statue" of him, and forget he ever existed because you are to closed minded to take the time to study and see the good things he did? I don't see that happening.

http://www.tennessee-scv.org/ForrestHistSocie...

Looks like ChapelHillYank doen't know much history except what he was taught in Yankee schools. Yankees just think they know everything but they are sadly lacking in knowing the truth.

Jackie wrote:

NO offense. But i find nothing wrong with his name and do not know what you are reffering to about that he's known for nothing good. Yes he did help start the KKK but not for the reasons they are known for now look it up somewhere he actually tried to stop it after it took a wrong turn... But i am proud to have that statue and the school named after him.

Good job of defending our traditions.

chapelhillbilly wrote:

<quoted text>
AMEN TO THAT!!!
You obviously don't know anything about his history or his signifigance to say such a thing. His starting of the KKK was a way to police all people, not just black people. So what you are proposing is for us to take his name off our school, remove our "statue" of him, and forget he ever existed because you are to closed minded to take the time to study and see the good things he did? I don't see that happening.

ChapelHillYank probably still believes that there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. He believes everything that he reads from the US government. They would never stoop to using lying!

Truth seeker wrote:

http://www.tennessee-scv.org/F orrestHistSociety/forrest_spee ch.html
Looks like ChapelHillYank doen't know much history except what he was taught in Yankee schools. Yankees just think they know everything but they are sadly lacking in knowing the truth.

I was going to come on here and say that since my original post, I've been researching the subject and that I now have a better understanding of the history that revolves arount Forrest's name.

It was actually a lifetime resident of Marshall County who you can blame for the misinformation. It was his venting to me about why the monument of Forrest should not be in the Chapel Hill square that got me going on the subject in the first place. So please don't judge me or the "yankee schools" by where I was born. Blame ME as an individual before you do this.

Instead of sharing my findings and admitting to my lack of understanding, I'm defending MY upbringing and heritage.

This yankee is not afraid to do research, does NOT in any way claim to "know it all", and is not afraid to admit when he's wrong. I personally don't take offense to your comments...just keep in mind that we yankees are more open minded than you may think. And by the way...I don't think there are weopons of mass destruction in Iraq...never have.

ChapelHillYank wrote:

<quoted text>
I was going to come on here and say that since my original post, I've been researching the subject and that I now have a better understanding of the history that revolves arount Forrest's name.
It was actually a lifetime resident of Marshall County who you can blame for the misinformation. It was his venting to me about why the monument of Forrest should not be in the Chapel Hill square that got me going on the subject in the first place. So please don't judge me or the "yankee schools" by where I was born. Blame ME as an individual before you do this.
Instead of sharing my findings and admitting to my lack of understanding, I'm defending MY upbringing and heritage.
This yankee is not afraid to do research, does NOT in any way claim to "know it all", and is not afraid to admit when he's wrong. I personally don't take offense to your comments...just keep in mind that we yankees are more open minded than you may think. And by the way...I don't think there are weopons of mass destruction in Iraq...never have.

Chapel Hill Yank, I have talked with you before on the Lewisburg website and normally agree with you on most subjects. Although I didn't on this one, I do apologize for jumping to any conclusions. I didn't see your reasonings as due to being a "yankee". I was born and raised here but I do have family members from up north. I just saw it as someone who had believed what he/she had heard others say. I'm glad you did take the time to find out for yourself and I think it takes a big person to admit they were wrong. I think we all should put our preconceptions aside and not generalize any group of people, northern or southern.

chapelhillbilly wrote:

<quoted text>
Chapel Hill Yank, I have talked with you before on the Lewisburg website and normally agree with you on most subjects. Although I didn't on this one, I do apologize for jumping to any conclusions. I didn't see your reasonings as due to being a "yankee". I was born and raised here but I do have family members from up north. I just saw it as someone who had believed what he/she had heard others say. I'm glad you did take the time to find out for yourself and I think it takes a big person to admit they were wrong. I think we all should put our preconceptions aside and not generalize any group of people, northern or southern.

I agree, chapelhillbilly, and thanks for the acknowledgement.
I would like to clear up something though...out of coincidence, I gave myself the username "chapelHillYank" not knowing that another member already existed with the same name...so, my apologies to the original chapelHillYank. I also didn't want to change my name in the middle of a topic...so...any further postings I make will be under ChapelHillYank2.:)

ChapelHillYank wrote:

<quoted text>
I was going to come on here and say that since my original post, I've been researching the subject and that I now have a better understanding of the history that revolves arount Forrest's name.
It was actually a lifetime resident of Marshall County who you can blame for the misinformation. It was his venting to me about why the monument of Forrest should not be in the Chapel Hill square that got me going on the subject in the first place. So please don't judge me or the "yankee schools" by where I was born. Blame ME as an individual before you do this.
Instead of sharing my findings and admitting to my lack of understanding, I'm defending MY upbringing and heritage.
This yankee is not afraid to do research, does NOT in any way claim to "know it all", and is not afraid to admit when he's wrong. I personally don't take offense to your comments...just keep in mind that we yankees are more open minded than you may think. And by the way...I don't think there are weopons of mass destruction in Iraq...never have.

You are rare for someone born in Yankeeland if you are open minded to the Southern experience. Remember that there were carpetbaggers that came south after the war and even though their families have been here for 140 years, many don't know our real history.

Truth seeker wrote:

<quoted text>
You are rare for someone born in Yankeeland if you are open minded to the Southern experience. Remember that there were carpetbaggers that came south after the war and even though their families have been here for 140 years, many don't know our real history.

You might want to take some advice from chapelhillbilly and try not to generalize. Why bring up "Carpetbaggers"? It's almost 2008. I'm just here, trying to make a living just like everyone else.

ChapelHillYank wrote:

<quoted text>
It was actually a lifetime resident of Marshall County who you can blame for the misinformation. It was his venting to me about why the monument of Forrest should not be in the Chapel Hill square that got me going on the subject in the first place.

Even if they were lifelong residents of Marshall County, they still did not know the true history. Now put two and two together. I have been around long enough to know that many (I did not say all) newcomers generalize that we decendants of those that were here prior to 1860 are closed minded, ignorant, bigots and should be educated to become progressive. You have made a good start by trying to become educated yourself. Your mistake was complaining before becoming informed. I'll give it to you, it didn't take long to fain some knowledge, and for that I give you kudus. I also try to stay open-minded as well, but I am not going to let anyone degrade our town, to suit what is currently thought to be political correctness, without a fight. You aren't the first and it does get to be annoying. You will continue to find that most (not all) Chapel Hill natives are nice to you. Please return the favor. I can assure that not all newcomers were nice to the natives and all natives were not nice to the newcomers, but that was in the minority on both sides. The newcomers outnumber the natives now, so its hard for someone that has only been here for four years to sort out all the connections to know who is whom, so the natives get blamed for bad all the behavior.

Yankee go home

ChapelHillYank wrote:

I've been a TN resident for 4 years, and just moved to Chapel Hill.
I'll start by saying my experience living here so far has been nothing but positive and I've received a warm welcome by my neighbors.
However (I'll keep this short and sweet)...is it just ME, or are their other residents who find it just a LITTLE uhhh....anti-progressive... to have Forrest's statue standing in your town square? And the school name???
Yes, I'm aware of his historical significance...but we all know what he's KNOWN for....nothing good.
Other communities in other southern states such as Florida and North Carolina have abolished his name completely from public landmarks and businesses.
Call it tradition, I call it something else, Personally, I'm perplexed.
Anyone else share my feelings? Please say yes.

You know what, go back home if you can't respect our culture, history, and way of life. Being anti-progressive isn't all that bad if you ask me. The only progress we're making is becoming a minority to the illegals in another 50 years. Hope you enjoy speaking spanish. Multiculturalism has done so much. Take a drive down Nolensville Road. Such an eyesore. I think we all know who's responsible for that God forsaken dump. I say keep Nathan Beford Forrest right where he is.

"Anti-Progressive" BlAH!!!!!!!!!!

NB Forrest was a military genius who could whip any Union force that he engaged. He was
usually outnumbered 2 or 3:1. He did a few things I consider cruel and unethical during his
time as a commander. Those were cruel times; and the soldiers were human after all. Over all, he has received a lot of uninformed bad press.|| Oddly enough, the 'Yanks' I meet here are the nicest people.

scopper wrote:

NB Forrest was a military genius who could whip any Union force that he engaged. He was
usually outnumbered 2 or 3:1. He did a few things I consider cruel and unethical during his
time as a commander. Those were cruel times; and the soldiers were human after all. Over all, he has received a lot of uninformed bad press.|| Oddly enough, the 'Yanks' I meet here are the nicest people.

Wow. It's been quite a while since I started this thread. After I got slammed for it, I did research and came to some conclusions.

Long story short, I still have mixed feelings on this topic. However, I will say this: There definitely is another side of history that is not taught in the "Yankee Schools" I was taught in. My apologies to those who took offense to my original comments.

check out more about the legend. modern day generals study his strategies for war. I belive Rommrl told macArthur"I studied forrest" to which macArthur replied"I studied you"
I also think we should embrace our historu and heritage even if it isn't politically correct today.
Be proud of who you are and where you come from no matter what.

bedford believer wrote:

check out more about the legend. modern day generals study his strategies for war. I belive Rommrl told macArthur"I studied forrest" to which macArthur replied"I studied you"
I also think we should embrace our historu and heritage even if it isn't politically correct today.
Be proud of who you are and where you come from no matter what.

Well spoken!