History Channel Special on Gettysburg

[Jay Bee]

Ah. Makes sense. I read the book a couple years ago and found it facinating.

But was it fascinating?

[ChicosBailBonds]

Watching it now. Its ok. A little over-produced. Pales in comparison to ken burns.

Ken Burns had plenty of issues with his stuff over the years as well.  Again, bias knows no bounds when it comes to who is telling the story and the lens they use...nothing wrong with that as it's human nature but too many people watch these things and think its the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth

[GGGG]

Ken Burns had plenty of issues with his stuff over the years as well.  Again, bias knows no bounds when it comes to who is telling the story and the lens they use...nothing wrong with that as it's human nature but too many people watch these things and think its the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth

I was specifically talking about the production quality of the presentation.  Some of the stuff I see from History Channel is informative, but they really could tell the same story in about half the time because they constantly re-tell the same things and are overuse the "acting."

[Mayor McCheese]

Ken Burns had plenty of issues with his stuff over the years as well.  Again, bias knows no bounds when it comes to who is telling the story and the lens they use...nothing wrong with that as it's human nature but too many people watch these things and think its the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth

One of the best things I heard, and what I tell my students - is that History is NOT concrete.  Very rarely do we have information that is the end all be all.  And I advise them that since history is not concrete - be open to ask questions, do some investigation, and personalize yourself with History - over the year, I would say about 60-70% understand this message and follow the instructions.

And yes, I do watch How the States get their Shapes - it's ok, I learn new information I didn't have a clue about.  It is better then a lot of the stuff they have on the History Channel these days.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

One of the best things I heard, and what I tell my students - is that History is NOT concrete.  Very rarely do we have information that is the end all be all.  And I advise them that since history is not concrete - be open to ask questions, do some investigation, and personalize yourself with History - over the year, I would say about 60-70% understand this message and follow the instructions.

And yes, I do watch How the States get their Shapes - it's ok, I learn new information I didn't have a clue about.  It is better then a lot of the stuff they have on the History Channel these days.

what, ax men and swamppeople isn't historical enough for you?

I was shocked to turn on history a week or 2 ago and see a show on the war of 1812.  didn't get to watch much, but it was nice to actually see them run a show where you could learn something.

[Benny B]

Did anyone sit down and watch this last night?  If so, I was just wondering what your responses were to the documentary.  As a US History teacher, and who takes his students to Gettysburg, PA every year - I will hold my opinions on the documentary - I just want others opinions.

A very good friend of mine is a Civil War buff.  It's his hobby.  He's an attorney with an undergrad degree in general studies.  Said he only took one history class in college and that they never covered the Civil War.  He's been to Gettysburg a dozen times "just for the hell of it," nearly every place of significance in Georgia and the Carolinas, sends a $100 bottle of wine every Christmas to an acquaintance who happens to be a great-great-great grandson (or something like that) of a wealthy landowner that attended West Point with Grant (and gave him some priceless letters, memorabilia, etc.), buys any documentary, book, etc. published on the topic... it's freakish how he can rattle on for hours about how someone's three-legged blind cat caught a field mouse one day and that set off a chain of events that ultimately led to Sherman being dubbed Uncle Billy by his men.

I'm still burnt out on the six-hour lecture he gave me on the Civil War a few years ago while we waited for one of his clients to show up for court.

[wildbillsb]

As the Battle of Gettysburg sesquicentennial approaches, you may want to read THE KILLER ANGELS by Michael Shaara.  Very readable look at the personalities /behaviors of the principal generals/leaders leading up to and during the battle.  The book is historical fiction, a very fast read, utterly absorbing and a wonderful intro to this complex pivotal battle of the Civil War.

[ChicosBailBonds]

One of the best things I heard, and what I tell my students - is that History is NOT concrete.  Very rarely do we have information that is the end all be all.  And I advise them that since history is not concrete - be open to ask questions, do some investigation, and personalize yourself with History - over the year, I would say about 60-70% understand this message and follow the instructions.

And yes, I do watch How the States get their Shapes - it's ok, I learn new information I didn't have a clue about.  It is better then a lot of the stuff they have on the History Channel these days.

You are an A+ teacher for teaching that way in my opinion.  Well done.   My kids come home from school and everyday I try to ask them about what they learned in school.  There are days when I hear what they learned and how concretely driven into their heads it was and I ask if the teacher said this was absolute or open for interpretation.  Certain things, math principles and such, are absolute.  Other subjects are not....history is one of them.  Let's put it this way, I enjoy parent teacher meetings.   

[Mayor McCheese]

You are an A+ teacher for teaching that way in my opinion.  Well done.   My kids come home from school and everyday I try to ask them about what they learned in school.  There are days when I hear what they learned and how concretely driven into their heads it was and I ask if the teacher said this was absolute or open for interpretation.  Certain things, math principles and such, are absolute.  Other subjects are not....history is one of them.  Let's put it this way, I enjoy parent teacher meetings.  

One of the best things I got from a parent was she came up and said "What are you doing to my daughter... you are turning her into a nerd - instead of her normal TV, I am catching her watching historical things..."

To tell you the honest truth - my goal for the class is to gain an understanding of the history, but also an appreciation and a respect - and to enjoy it so that when they leave my classroom, learning doesn't cease.

[HouWarrior]

One of the best things I got from a parent was she came up and said "What are you doing to my daughter... you are turning her into a nerd - instead of her normal TV, I am catching her watching historical things..."

To tell you the honest truth - my goal for the class is to gain an understanding of the history, but also an appreciation and a respect - and to enjoy it so that when they leave my classroom, learning doesn't cease.

Keep up the great teaching effort. Teaching continuing thought, and lifetime learning is a priceless gift you are imparting.
I am addicted to documentaries, and find the Netflix instant download service(appleTV, Roku, new HDTV sets --for access), are loaded with commercial free History Channel, PBS, and independent (not aired elsewhere) docus.

[ChicosBailBonds]

One of the best things I got from a parent was she came up and said "What are you doing to my daughter... you are turning her into a nerd - instead of her normal TV, I am catching her watching historical things..."

To tell you the honest truth - my goal for the class is to gain an understanding of the history, but also an appreciation and a respect - and to enjoy it so that when they leave my classroom, learning doesn't cease.

Nice compliment.  My son was doing some Roman history the other day in 6th grade and he got done with his report and said to me..."I love this stuff...I love history....I'm a total nerd about this stuff"

[Henry Sugar]

Not really related to Gettysburg, but it is related to the Civil War.

Who had the best Civil War Facial Hair?

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Who-Had-the-Best-Civil-War-Facial-Hair.html

[GGGG]

I'm going with Alpheus Williams and the rest of you are wrong.

[mu03eng]

I think you have to go with the only one on that list that has a hair "style" named after them, Ambrose Burnside is the answer and its not even close.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Surprised Peyton Manning didnt hand deliver it himself....

Like I said, they've been a bit busy, but have it on good authority they are huge Gettysburg buffs.

http://www.tmz.com/2011/06/10/peyton-manning-eli-manning-directv-commercial-police-officers-ads/

[HouWarrior]

I think you have to go with the only one on that list that has a hair "style" named after them, Ambrose Burnside is the answer and its not even close.

Yup
Best hair , on top, was the flowing locks of the youngest  general, George Armstrong Custer, as he led those fightin' Wolverines

[Mayor McCheese]

The better question is:  Can we bring the facial hair styles of the 1860's back?

[leever]

The better question is:  Can we bring the facial hair styles of the 1860's back?

Let's start with Buzz!

[ChicosBailBonds]

Like I said, they've been a bit busy, but have it on good authority they are huge Gettysburg buffs.

http://www.tmz.com/2011/06/10/peyton-manning-eli-manning-directv-commercial-police-officers-ads/

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/06/23/introducing-football-cops/


Having some fun

[BrewCity83]

The better question is:  Can we bring the facial hair styles of the 1860's back?

Have you seen some of the major league bullpens lately?

[HouWarrior]

Have you seen some of the major league bullpens lately?

Best baseball facial hair--
75 Brewers
White Sox in the 70s,
 and all of MLB before the turn of 1900