# Should we change the names of military bases named after Confederate Generals? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 8, 2013, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-change-the-names-of-military-bases-named-after-confederate-generals/660481 "2013-06-08T18:23:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-change-the-names-of-military-bases-named-after-confederate-generals/660481/21 "2013-06-09T02:53:48Z")
I hate the Confederates as much, okay, MORE than the next guy, but let them have their toys. We’ll save on paperwork, letterhead, signs, and time wasted on stupid discussions about how fucking NOBLE those assholes were. But I do like the Sherman idea. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-change-the-names-of-military-bases-named-after-confederate-generals/660481/22 "2013-06-09T02:56:03Z")
I think we should take George Washington’s name off of everything because he owned slaves ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-change-the-names-of-military-bases-named-after-confederate-generals/660481/23 "2013-06-09T03:30:16Z")
Can we name bases after people we defeated? Why not? Fort Hitler Mussolini AFB Camp Yamamoto Works for me. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-change-the-names-of-military-bases-named-after-confederate-generals/660481/24 "2013-06-09T03:42:23Z")
No, **PSXer** , you see, George Washington fought on the side of right, our side, and we won, so he deserves honors. But we don’t have a Fort Cornwallis near Yorktown. Really, why honor the losers? We kept the names of the Rebs because they were the classmates of the Union generals anyway and the War Department wanted to throw the South a no-hard-feelings sop to popular sentiment. Sort of “we can’t stay mad at you”. Still…\* Fort Sherman, Georgia\*. Yes, **dropzone** , doesn’t it just sing? Inspiring, I tell you… ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-change-the-names-of-military-bases-named-after-confederate-generals/660481/25 "2013-06-09T03:55:00Z")
Better yet, let’s auction off the naming rights to major corporations, like we do with municipal sports arenas. “Welcome to Pepsi Naval Air Station!” ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-change-the-names-of-military-bases-named-after-confederate-generals/660481/26 "2013-06-09T04:11:28Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Well, I could see renaming Fort Hood (TX) as “Fort Thomas”… Fort Bragg (NC) as “Fort Grant”, and… Honestly, it never occurred to me until right now, but it is truly amazing that no active U.S. military base is named after the greatest general in American history, Ulysses S. Grant. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-change-the-names-of-military-bases-named-after-confederate-generals/660481/27 "2013-06-09T04:17:24Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > In most ways, I oppose celebrating the Confederacy. But after all this time, changing the name of a few military bases seems vaguely pointless. > > It reminds me a little of “Liberty Steaks” replacing “Hamburgers” during WWI. It really isn’t the “point of the spear” when it comes to protecting our heritage of liberty. > > In contrast, I agree with the highway department that refused to allow the KKK to “adopt a highway.” That is the kind of fight we have to take on today. IIRC, they were allowed to adopt a highway – however, a decision was made to change the name of that particular road to the “Rosa Parks Highway” shortly after the Klan was given the go-ahead. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-change-the-names-of-military-bases-named-after-confederate-generals/660481/28 "2013-06-09T04:26:01Z")
“Who was Nathan Bedford Forrest, daddy?” “Well, he was a real son-of-a-bitch, son! Look him up. That’s why we keep his name on this, so you will ask.” History is written by the winners. This is a bad thing for History. Kings and Pharaohs have been erasing their predecessors actions for a long time. This drives archaeologists crazy. If you don’t want something bad to recur, you leave the raw truth out where everyone can see it, you don’t erase it. That’s my take on it. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-change-the-names-of-military-bases-named-after-confederate-generals/660481/29 "2013-06-09T04:39:55Z")
So name the crappy stuff after them, like garbage dumps and sewage plants. "Adolf Hitler Porta-Potty Co. Call 555-SHITLER) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-change-the-names-of-military-bases-named-after-confederate-generals/660481/30 "2013-06-09T05:33:03Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > “Who was Nathan Bedford Forrest, daddy?” > > “Well, he was a real son-of-a-bitch, son! Look him up. That’s why we keep his name on this, so you will ask.” > > History is written by the winners. This is a bad thing for History. Kings and Pharaohs have been erasing their predecessors actions for a long time. This drives archaeologists crazy. > > If you don’t want something bad to recur, you leave the raw truth out where everyone can see it, you don’t erase it. > > That’s my take on it. Sure, which is why we keep his name on the battlefields, etc. Putting people’s names on schools , etc is a honor . ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-change-the-names-of-military-bases-named-after-confederate-generals/660481/31 "2013-06-09T05:53:05Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > (How the heck did Ulysses S. and William T. end up naming now-closed outposts in the Canal Zone instead of major garrisons in CONUS?) The former[Ft. Sherman i](http://images.military.com/UserImages/42408)s still known as “Sherman” locally. [Ft. Grant](http://www.coins-of-panama.com/views/pc175-01.jpg) is just a distant memory though. (Although I am currently developing and exhibit on endangered frogs that will [go in one of its bunkers](http://lifenbits.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/img_8417.jpg).) ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-change-the-names-of-military-bases-named-after-confederate-generals/660481/32 "2013-06-09T08:02:07Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Honestly, it never occurred to me until right now, but it is truly amazing that no active U.S. military base is named after the greatest general in American history, Ulysses S. Grant. Grant was immensely popular following the Civil War and most of the 19th century despite some political difficulties. There was a concerted effort by some historians to demonize Reconstruction and paint Grant as a drunkard who wasn’t a good military leader and an even worse president. These folks dominated the historical narrative well into the 1960s. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-change-the-names-of-military-bases-named-after-confederate-generals/660481/33 "2013-06-09T12:25:29Z")
I know that TPTB would not approve of a firebase in II Corps South Viet Nam being named “Fire Base Little Big Horn”\*, “Fire Base Dien Bien Phu Two”, or “Fire Base Balaclava”\*\*. \*Which surprised us because we were in the 7th Cavalry Regiment. \*\*Okay, it took them a while to disapprove of that one. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-change-the-names-of-military-bases-named-after-confederate-generals/660481/34 "2013-06-09T12:47:34Z")
You could have called it Fire Base Long Island and the brass would have been [none the wiser](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Long_Island). To the OP. The names have been around for decades. I wonder why you need to change them now. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-change-the-names-of-military-bases-named-after-confederate-generals/660481/35 "2013-06-09T19:11:01Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yes, enough with the honors for the racist traitors by their racist ancestors. Every statue of NBF should be torn down. His name shold be taken off everything other than historical battlefield markers. I agree with this ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-change-the-names-of-military-bases-named-after-confederate-generals/660481/36 "2013-06-09T20:12:56Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > You could have called it Fire Base Long Island and the brass would have been [none the wiser](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Long_Island). > > To the OP. The names have been around for decades. I wonder why you need to change them now. Well, for years the Southern apologists have had free run in the South. Many of the States flags were CSA versions, etc. Finally, education is starting to seep in. The “War of Northern Agression” is now belatedly realized as no such thing, and that indeed, Slavery was a major cause of that war. It’s only taken a hundred & fifty years. ---
**Author:** ![scratch\_llll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@scratch\_llll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scratch_llll)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-change-the-names-of-military-bases-named-after-confederate-generals/660481/37 "2013-06-10T04:45:12Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > But I do like the Sherman idea. Yep. And Hiroshima should be changed to Eisenhowerville. Damn bunch of losers. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-change-the-names-of-military-bases-named-after-confederate-generals/660481/38 "2013-06-10T05:37:27Z")
Why Eisenhower? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-change-the-names-of-military-bases-named-after-confederate-generals/660481/39 "2013-06-10T13:10:35Z")
Ah, ah – no, we’re not talking of renaming _somebody else’s cities_. We’re talking of naming OUR military’s installations on \*our _home soil. Which should be done to celebrate leaders we want celebrated for their valor, their success and their loyalty (loyalty to the right cause and nation, that is…). And some of the posters want to extend that to our p_ublic facilities \*in general. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-change-the-names-of-military-bases-named-after-confederate-generals/660481/40 "2013-06-10T14:14:06Z")
Why stop at military bases? Friends of mine who grew up in Jacksonville, Florida report every public school they attended was named for some officer of the Confederacy. I don’t mean 100 years ago; I mean in the latter part of the last century. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-change-the-names-of-military-bases-named-after-confederate-generals/660481.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-change-the-names-of-military-bases-named-after-confederate-generals/660481.md?page=3)