How Lincoln Was Dissed

[brtmchl]

Liz, you wrote : according to Jean Baker's biography of MTL, it's likely that the only reason they did not have more children is because MTL breast-fed her children well beyond their first year, and sometimes breast-fed other babies in the neighborhood if their mothers were ill. Apparently, breast-feeding acts as a natural form of birth control.

The idea of breast feeding other people 's children and parents allowing it, makes the whole notion of men sharing a bed during that time period ( or any ) seem as normal as tying ones shoes.

You also wrote :unlike many others in his own party. And there is no question he was very open-minded.

I would say there is no doubt in my mind, especially now, that he was VERY open-minded

Thank you for the remarkably strange, and semi disturbing bit of history.

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(08-30-2013 12:44 PM)L Verge Wrote:  I am in your corner also, brtmchl. Tripp's work is a disgrace to history, IMO. I've mentioned before that we have a travelers' bedroom at Surratt House and incorporate in our tours that it was nothing for two male friends/strangers or even three to share that bed. To my knowledge, we have never had to contend with any visitor associating the homosexual context with that.

Lincoln was obviously able to stand his wife long enough to father four children. Willie Jett was arrested while sleeping with his girlfriend's brother at the hotel in Bowling Green. While I am in favor of the present learning from the past, I am not in favor of proposing things without factual arguments.

Laurie, I agree it is disgracful. Does he actually call it history? I find it tabloid-ish. To me it just seems like such a grasp at straws. Tripp would have had to know the historical period, which leads me to believe that he was intentionally trying to "reshape" history. I guess I will never know since I will never read his book.

Aside from just Tripp, I think there is an idea that if you write a historical piece now, people will believe it because you say it is backed up by historical data. Hoping that people will read it, take your word for it and never research anything for themselves. Creating " New " history. I find it especially true with children. The farther a generation/s become from a time period. The easier it can be to rewrite it or at the very least " white wash " it, in way that best suits the time they are in now.

Whether it be to erase old wrongs, eliminate shame, to be politically correct, to make someone look the hero or the hero a villain.

Why is there such a need to create new history? History alone should be fascinating enough.