Pursuing Historical Truth

It's coming any day now said the captain
It's coming any day now said the priest
The people in high places may defend you
But son you better hope they keep the peace
--Bruce Hornsby and the Range

If you are interested in the truth, then popular narratives of certain historical events don't ring true to you. The JFK assassination is one of those. Despite all the king's horses that have been marshaled to tell the 'official' story, there are simply too many problems with the stream of evidence to suggest that the party line is much more than classic naked emperor pretense.

Another such event is the Civil War and its prosecution by Lincoln--a subject that these pages have considered. Once again, the evidence does not follow party line discourse. Fortunately, the divergence between the story line and fact is attracting more historians interested in setting the record straight.

It should not be surprising that those who question party lines face personal attack from those committed to the pretense. Those who challenge the Civil War/Lincoln myth, for example, are often labeled racists, pro-slavery, Southern sympathizers, etc.

It's the old juvenile defense mechanism learned on the playground: When lacking a valid counter argument grounded in truth, just call them names.

If you're committed to the truth, then you simply don't take such attacks personally. Perhaps the truth threatens them.

But why they attack doesn't matter. You stay focused on your pursuit.

Because you know that gaining a better understanding of the true course of historic events helps set you free.