Comments on: Relocating the Jefferson Davis Plaque

By: John A. Currie Class of 1973

John A. Currie Class of 1973 — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 20:03:59 +0000

While accepting the formal surrender at Appomattox, future Bowdoin President Joshua Chamberlain had the courage to make a gesture of reconciliation and inclusion by ordering a salute to the defeated Confederate solders present. Do what you will with Jefferson Davis, but the dismissal of our fellow Bowdoin alumni saddens and angers me. How arrogant of President Rose to believe that he knows what was in the hearts of these men. I don’t know what they believed in, but I did learn at Bowdoin that many at that time felt greater allegiance to their state than any other entity. This PC reaction is an act of division rather than inclusion and reconciliation. I side with Chamberlain. In his words, “cause was, I believe, one of the worse for which a people ever fought. Before us, in proud humiliation stood the embodiment of manhood… thin, worn, and famished bet erect, and with eyes looking into ours, walking memories that bound us together as no other bond;- was not such manhood to be welcomed back into a Union so tested and assured?”

By: Bob Spencer"60

Bob Spencer"60 — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 18:27:16 +0000

If the College (and others) spent the same amount of time, effort, thought,action and money devoted to “being politically correct” toward constructive/positive change (ie not trying to re-write history) then maybe we would be getting somewhere!!!!

By: Jeffrey Huntsman, '64

Jeffrey Huntsman, '64 — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 02:05:17 +0000

“An entirely appropriate response. As a scholar who has taught about, among other things, how Shakespeare portrays Shylock, I agree that education demands a free but critical eye. I read “Mein Kampf” decades ago (while taking George Bearce’s “Political Philosophy” course, though it was not assigned reading), because I wanted to try to understand how any human being could become such a cold yet “rational” monster. (I could never get through his second, previously unpublished, book because the writing was simply unreadable.) I think the treatment of this plaque is very proper and intelligently handled. Very well done and entirely in the Bowdoin tradition.

By: Joe Cusack Bowdoin 1972

Joe Cusack Bowdoin 1972 — Sun, 20 Aug 2017 20:27:02 +0000

A suitable resolution to a controversial topic.
Others would do well to follow Bowdoin’s leadership on this.

By: Frank Thiboutot

Frank Thiboutot — Sun, 20 Aug 2017 14:15:53 +0000

Liberal snowflakes at Bowdoin and most colleges have little concept of history as it pertains to the War of Succession. The South wanted to secede for the same reasons the colonies wanted to secede from Great Britain. Abolition of slavery was a secondary issue until 18 months into the war. Lincoln was against the equality of the Negro with whites and Gen. Lee never owned slaves and thought slavery was repulsive. 750,000 deaths apparently is not enough of a sacrifice to Black Lives Matter which is simply another Marxist revolutionary group funded by George Soros that should not be given any credibility whatsoever. Millenials, the mainstream media and academia are sheep. Trump was right that the so-called Alt-Right AND Antifa are both reprehensible. It’s time for Bowdoin students and faculty to get a grip.

By: Elizabeth Davis

Elizabeth Davis — Sun, 20 Aug 2017 12:42:39 +0000

These actions the part of the college give us a chance to reconsider history in the light of present events and thoughtfully shift what we honor and how. Thank you President Rose. Special Collections is the best place for this item.

By: Allison Witton

Allison Witton — Sat, 19 Aug 2017 15:50:47 +0000

Thank you Bowdoin College for this thoughtful and reasoned change to the campus. Proud to be an Alumni!