Navy ship names and the Confederacy

[dragon53]

LINK: https://www.military.com/daily-news/202 ... _210203.nl

[drasticplastic]

Ummm...if I remember history correctly the Confederate States of America, made itself a sovereign state (name, flag, government, currency, etc.), declared war on the United States of America making itself an enemy of the latter. Naming government buildings, ships, military bases, etc., after Confederate personages is akin to naming a new ship "USS Adolf Hitler", or "USS Tojo". A little extreme, but you get my point??

[gms]

Political correctness has gone amok. The Civil War was an epic event in American history. The Union won. The victory was made more memorable and significant by the high cost in lives and the tenacity and doggedness of the Confederate opposition, which unconditionally surrendered. For 155 years, we have honored both sides and the outcome, a nation freed from slavery and its people united. This was the truly politically correct position to take.

[InchHigh]

By the same logic, do you oppose naming anything after Native American tribes or leaders?

[Rick E Davis]

I have something like a dozen ancestors that fought for the UNION during the American Civil War, including a Great-Great Grandfather who was disabled as a result. Plus, one of his two brothers he served with was killed in battle. A number of my other relatives died during the war from diseases or in action. The Union and Confederate veterans in their later years forgave each other and recognized that they were American brothers before and after the war, forming joint reunion organizations. All (ok most) Confederate individuals responsible for crimes, were tried and punished post war. Many of the commanding officers on both sides served as fellow junior officers in the Mexican War with honor.

How the former slaves were treated post-Civil War is another matter. The rise of the KKK and discrimination policies in general immediately after the ACW and continued for a hundred years was a disgrace. The KKK as an organization had largely died away until revived by the political party who governed the Confederate States Of America and whose first letter starts with "D" in the post-WWI era as a recruitment tool. Some of those KKK leaders remained leaders in their party into the 1960's (and beyond). Many of the Bases named for Confederate officers, were established in the pre-or during-WWII era (Camp Polk, Camp A.P. Hill, Camp Pickett, Fort Hood, Fort Rucker, and Fort Gordon) during the FDR administration, with the rest established during WWI. I don't know who they will rename these bases for now?

I have little concern about renaming ships directly named for known and unrepentant KKK leaders. But, why there is a need to rename a ship named for a city/battle (USS CHANCELLORSVILLE) fought during the ACW by both sides is puzzling. Does that mean USS GETTYSBURG will need a change of name as well?

[Timmy C]

Locking this thread.