** FIGHTING THE CIVIL WAR -- YET AGAIN
George Ewert, the director of the Museum of Mobile, Alabama, found himself in hot water after writing a critical review of the film "Gods and Generals," which was published in the Southern Poverty Laws Center's Quarterly. His review echoed the criticism that others have made of the film. But the Lee-Moses-Dixon Vindicator Camp #408 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) took exception to the review, wrote to the city council and mayor, and made an impassioned appeal to the city's governing authority demanding the director's dismissal.
Apparently, the real issue focuses on the museum's Civil War exhibit.

The veteran group wants to see the exhibit overhauled to de-emphasize the origins of the war (slavery) and refocus it on "southern virtue" -- aspects of the overhaul opposed by Ewert. In response to the move to oust the director, the director's supporters launched a letter-writing campaign which included several prominent local and regional Civil War historians.

One letter to the city council stated, "the proposed changes in that part of the museum [advanced by the SCV]...[and] criticisms of Ewert's review...have no support among serious scholars... [Supporters of the move to oust Ewert] are propagandists for a long discredited myth, and should not be allowed to dictate policy."

At this writing Ewert's supporters appear to have carried the day and the director's position appears safe.

NCH [Natinal Coalition for History]
Update V9N40, 16 October 2003
http://www2.h-net.msu.edu/~nch