Patriotism, Desecration and Monuments of the Confederate South

I interview Lafayette Lee, former US serviceman and American patriot, about the Naming Commission, set up to erase Confederate history in the Federal military.

What do you think the motivation is behind the Naming Commission?

I think the creation of the so-called Naming Commission is just another front in the Biden Administration's overall campaign to consolidate power and convert the US Department of Defense into a subservient political bureaucracy. In this postmodern age, ideology is upending the grand narratives of the past, and the hard-won reconciliation between North and South in this country is no exception. The motivations of the Naming Commission members are strictly cynical. These are political actors who provide an air of legitimacy to the US government's ideological crusade against the values, culture, and traditions of the historic American nation. And these efforts will be handsomely rewarded. But make no mistake, the purpose of these efforts is to exact greater control over the US military and other public institutions, not to mention the population at large. "Who controls the past controls the future."

Do you think that the armed services of the USA are even-handed custodians regarding Confederate physical culture (names, graves, monuments)?

Unlike other government departments and agencies, the US military used to reflect the values and culture of the country's population, and not that of our ruling elite. But over time the US Department of Defense has succumbed to the same ideological forces that have infected countless other public and private institutions. The US military today is being used as a political weapon against the very foundations of the historic American nation. Therefore, this is more than just an attack on Confederate monuments and graves, it's a shot across the bow against the American people and their precious national past. There are no timeless values being consulted here, no limiting principle involved. In time this project will consume and disfigure each chapter in American history until every trace of the past reflects the values and culture of our current elite and preserves their stranglehold on power. Those tasked with reinterpreting the past will be incentivized to uncover greater historical injustices and put today's heroes on trial tomorrow. As such, graves, monuments, names, and other elements of our cultural inheritance as Americans will not just be examined and revised, but destroyed. When nothing is sacred, everything becomes kindling for the bonfire.

Do you think the suppression of Confederate honour will heal wounds or cause greater resentment?

The real tragedy in all of this is that the peace achieved at Appomattox was a remarkable accomplishment that required courage and decency from both sides. Robert E. Lee demonstrated great character by endorsing peace and refusing to comply with calls for an extended guerilla campaign against the Federals. This desire for peace and reconciliation was shared by many prominent figures in both North and South, and it says everything that after so much blood and devastation, most of the fighting men would lay down their arms and live peaceably alongside the monuments, memorials, and other remembrances of their former foes. For moderns to pick at those old wounds again and pretend to understand our nation's most bloody conflict better than the belligerents themselves is to tempt fate. It also breeds resentment and sets free a number of old spirits that have been kept at bay for centuries. 

Does the Federal Government's retrospective action against the Confederate war dead influence today's servicemen (and potential servicemen) from the South? I'm thinking of retention, recruitment, goodwill and so on.

A sizable number of servicemembers today join as part of a family tradition. And many of these soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen come from the South. Opinions may vary as to certain aspects of our shared history, but there is great patriotism in this region, and the hard-won reconciliation between North and South is enduring enough that the descendants of Confederate soldiers are willing to serve under the same banner that their forebearers once opposed. I don't think it's an accident that the US military is struggling with retention. While benefits are important and the nature of our global conflicts will inspire some to serve over others, most Americans- especially those from the South- are not willing to put their lives on the line on behalf of an institution that is openly hostile to their values, culture, and traditions. If the US military loses the South, it will never recover. 

If you could address the Naming Commission, what advice would you give?

I would encourage the Naming Commission to side with the American nation over the American Empire.

You can read my article on the Naming Commission Final Report for free here: https://www.lotuseaters.com/erasing-the-dead-02-11-22

My thanks to Lafayette Lee for his time and thoughtfulness. His Substack blog may be found here: