Did you know my avatar was Nathan Bedford Forrest?

Question

How many smart people made the remark he looked hispanic? hmmm, I wonder where they were going with that?

aidamaria what were you saying?

Answer 1

Everybody knows about Nathan Bedford Forrest founding the KKK. But everybody has conveniently forgotten that he built schools for the blacks before the war. I would not have brought this up as it is controversial and easily twisted, as there are webs of lies spun around it so much that most people cannot see the truth about Forrest. But since it is mentioned, I may as well bring up his other side.

It is said that he built schools for black people. The reason was that many black slaves were uneducated (for that matter, there were also a lot of whites who did not get a stellar education). If you are going to free all the slaves someday, you need to have them educated. Having a mass blanket emancipation at the time would only result in Hugh ghettos in the cities. What do you have then? High crime rates.

Even today, some blacks still retain this tribalism mindset that can be rather hard to break. When all other groups got up and prospered within a few generations--the Irish, the Chinese, or the Italians--there is still a lot of blacks who live on the bottom. I think this could have been made different if they had educated the slaves before releasing them into the population where they would have to make a living other than picking crops.

It is a do-gooder's emotional view that we should have immediate emancipation. But they do not see the reality and the necessary steps to do it the proper way that will work and not actually be a detriment to everyone including those they think they are freeing. There is the actual slavery. Then there is the other kind of slavery where you can't get ahead and out of the mills and slum.

Answer 2

i reconized him but couldnt place why that picture was so familure . i remebers once you said his name. seems there was a big stink here in jacksonville fl regarding his honor and a school named after him. they wanted to change the name trying to change it to a black person to be politically correct.


he founded the kkk ...... seems there was a time that when the kkk was first started it wasnt a racial thing it was a militia organized and reconized to root out imorality and to aid the local law enforment. yes they did hunt down blacks. but during that time not only was it legal it was also thought to be as moral as owning live stock. doesnt make it right what the later became.

just for the sake of arguement if they made smoking illegal tomorrow should you be treated as a crimal for the rest of your life? becuase you did it before the law. it applies across the board to every thing.

Answer 3

I thought he looked like Abe Lincoln too. Or Jefferson Davis

Answer 4

I thought he looked like Abe Lincoln

Answer 5

Em, in light of the replies you are getting, perhaps better to just think of the overall impression...???

;) Myself, I believe what makes the BEST avatar is when the individual achieves a fairly-good in-depth self-portrait: I honestly worked HARD to CHOOSE the best options where mine WOULD be! :D

[I am honestly even MORE blue in my DL pic.]

Mine turned out to be an internal self-portrait combined with an external one--it looks like the sum of my self: philosophical, medical, all components considered, an image of the inadequately-breathing dead, a way of being honest with myself in regard to my overall health picture, a coping mechanism in its way [just like my nick, I think they make a good match]. ;)

I think that is the BEST way to reflect one's overall look, if one does in fact capture the WHOLE of one's *look*--looking outside AND INSIDE, the honest facts of their lives.

In that sense, I believe my avatar is a declaration that I am at peace with myself, my life, my fate, which is a gift I would wish for anyone on the path to happiness. :)


I think overall the avatar system is fun, light-hearted, and I actually appreciate the somewhat entertaining way to express my more macabre reality. ;)

I mean, where else can you find such a *cute* way to visually express that I have lost my ever-lovin' mind than that pic showing me there holding my head after it's gone and rolled off? ;)

I also appreciate that it gives ALL users the chance to sort through what they value, how they perceive themselves, how they wish to appear vs how they DO actually appear...what they hope to see in the mirror vs reality...whether they like ALL their components...whether they like THEMSELVES...key factors brought to light by your excellent question--THANKS! :D

Answer 6

I find it interesting that you have an avatar of the "founder" of the KKK..........I had little respect for you before.......there is NO hope now!

Answer 7

SID!! SID VICIOUS!! I'd know him anywhere! Whassup Sid?!?

Answer 8

And he founded the KKK, you proud of that?