MTSU Forrest Hall

#1
VolunteerHillbilly

VolunteerHillbilly

Spike Drinks, Not Trees
Joined
Sep 26, 2005
Messages
40,773
Likes
15,172
#1
I saw on the news this morning where the students at MTSU propose to change the name of Forest Hall, named for Nathan B. Forest. Does this ruffle anyone's feathers?

I did note that Forest Hall is where the ROTC program is based and I thought it odd that a U.S. Army training facility would be named after and enemy combatant. Is this normal? Do they have Tojo Hall for UCLA's ROTC? Santa Ana Hall at U of Houston? Or maybe Gen. Howe Hall at PSU?

I know Forest conducted a highly successful raid of Murfreesboro and his military tactics are supposedly still studied to this day. On the other side of the coin he was the KKK leader, which will not win him many smiley stickers, even if he did order it disbanded. Will this be another "heratige vs. hate" battle?
 
#5
#5
Also, Arnold Air Force Base was called Camp Forrest in the way-back when days.

As to your question realUT, maybe they should change the names of those bases. I had to listen to a lot of this debate in the 90s leading up to the flag change in GA.
 
#6
#6
I hope they don't do a double switch - in other words, removing the name of the guy because he was a racist is one thing but then to name it after a famous civil rights figure is another.

If it was named for him for military reasons then the new name (if changed) should maintain that motivation.
 
#7
#7
therealUT said:
Are you then proposing to rename Fort Lee? Fort Jackson?
Click to expand...

I have always been fascinated with the accpetance of the Confederates in our culture. I.E. Lee, Jackson, Stuart.........

Not that I do not do it.

Does any one consider them traitors?
 
#8
#8
OrangeEmpire said:
I have always been fascinated with the accpetance of the Confederates in our culture. I.E. Lee, Jackson, Stuart.........

Not that I do not do it.

Does any one consider them traitors?
Click to expand...

If you want to give them the benefit of the doubt you can say that they were acting under the belief that states had the right to secede from the union. The federal gvt. forced the states of the former confederacy to renounce their articles of secession. Since you cannot give up something that you do not posses it stands to reason that they acted in a lawful manner.
 
#9
#9
VolunteerHillbilly said:
If you want to give them the benefit of the doubt you can say that they were acting under the belief that states had the right to secede from the union. The federal gvt. forced the states of the former confederacy to renounce their articles of secession. Since you cannot give up something that you do not posses it stands to reason that they acted in a lawful manner.
Click to expand...

I would tend to agree, I hope you do not mind, but I made this into a larger discussion on the main page.

Hopefully it will draw some interest.
 
#10
#10
Ft. Gordon, Ft. Bragg, Ft. Hood....

Nearly every US Army installation is the south, is named for a Confederate.
 
#15
#15
Many of the Confederate Brass had distinguished military careers in the US Army prior to the War of Northern Aggression. Many were West Point Grads. That they served honorably on the losing side is no reason to diminishtheir leadership and military prowess.
 
#16
#16
'Boro-vol said:
Many of the Confederate Brass had distinguished military careers in the US Army prior to the War of Northern Aggression. Many were West Point Grads. That they served honorably on the losing side is no reason to diminishtheir leadership and military prowess.
Click to expand...
Nathan Bedford Forrest does not fall within these parameters. Although a heck of a tactician, he had no military service outside of the Civil War, no formal military training, and he was the first Grand Wizard of the KKK.

I have no problem with the building keeping the name, as long as those Cadets that are instructed within the confines of such building are made aware of Forrest's actions both during and after the Civil War.
 
#17
#17
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On a somewhat related note, I always thought it odd that they had a state park named after the guy.
Click to expand...

Why is that odd? He's one of the great historical figures in Tennessee's history.

Apples to aardvarks. Lee and Jackson were dignified military men who faught for a cause they believed to be just. Forrest was a bloodthirsty, avowed bigot.
Click to expand...

Forrest was not a bloodthirsty person. He led from the front, instead of from behind the lines. In several instances he led charges himself, which necessarily meant killing people. The Civil War was a WAR afterall.

The building at MTSU should retain Forrest's name, IMO.
 
#18
#18
Vol_4_Life said:
Why is that odd? He's one of the great historical figures in Tennessee's history.



Forrest was not a bloodthirsty person. He led from the front, instead of from behind the lines. In several instances he led charges himself, which necessarily meant killing people. The Civil War was a WAR afterall.

The building at MTSU should retain Forrest's name, IMO.
Click to expand...
So, why not give James Earl Ray a State Park?
 
#19
#19
Vol_4_Life said:
Why is that odd? He's one of the great historical figures in Tennessee's history.
Click to expand...

I don't think we have the same definition of "great".

IMO, I would prefer not to glorify someone who was the first Grand Wizard of the KKK.
 
#20
#20
But I suppose this is ok to everyone since it's not a white Confederate soldier? Does it not fit the same definition?

FOXNews.com - Report: Police Groups Angered by 'Terrorist' Honor at New York College - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News

"This is not the college or the administration's idea of a good name for this room, but we believe the university is a place to discuss and argue ideas, some of which are not widely supported," school spokeswoman Mary Lou Edmondson told the Daily News. The school has no plans to rename the room.
Click to expand...
 
#21
#21
So, why not give James Earl Ray a State Park?
Click to expand...

Irrelevant, as James Earl Ray was not from Tennessee.

I don't think we have the same definition of "great".

IMO, I would prefer not to glorify someone who was the first Grand Wizard of the KKK.
Click to expand...

And we all have the right to hold our own opinions.

It has never been proven that Forrest was the first Grand Wizard of the KKK. Besides, the KKK was a different organization in its early years. Later in life, Forrest embraced Christianity and actually became an outspoken supporter of civil rights for blacks. One instance of this is when he made a speech in Memphis in the 1870s saying he supported black civil right.

http://www.tennessee-scv.org/ForrestHistSociety/forrest_speech.html
 
#22
#22
Vol_4_Life said:
Besides, the KKK was a different organization in its early years.
Click to expand...
So, the White Chamelions was what? The modern equivalent of the VFW?

You should do a little bit more research, with your eyes open, into the issue before making blanket statements like that.
 
#24
#24
Vol_4_Life said:
Besides, the KKK was a different organization in its early years.


You guys are jumping all over this quote when it is absolutely historically accurate.

The point of it was to resist reconstruction measures. Having said this it is no surprise that an organization like this would include certain "unsavory" people. But early on it was mostly just a place for southern civil war vets to get together and "feel" like they have some say in what was happening when in fact they had none.
Click to expand...
 
#25
#25
hatvol96 said:
Apples to aardvarks. Lee and Jackson were dignified military men who faught for a cause they believed to be just. Forrest was a bloodthirsty, avowed bigot.
Click to expand...
The north had their share of bloodthirsty bigots.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top